Motion Picture News (July-Aug 1921)

August 6 , i 9 2 i 775 FOR NEWSPAPER USE— FOR THEATER PROGRAMS Live Notes from the Studios C 0 N D~U C T E D BY LILLIAN R . GALE ABOUT PLAYERS AFTER a trip to Boston where some beautiful exteriors were made for " The Young Diana " which she has just completed Marion Davies, star of Cosmopolitan Productions, left last week for California for a vacation. All through the hot summer this young star has worked as few have worked in New York City without stopping even a day between pictures. In fact she worked right up until train time for several days of bad weather had necessitated postponement of scenes on the Massachusetts coast so that even her last minute in the East had to be utilized. She boarded the train at Boston. Great interest centers about this last and very unusual and original picture. "The Young Diana" is one of Marie Corelli's best stories. In it, for the first time, Miss Davies plays a character role in which she has been greatly praised by all who have seen it. Albert Capellani directed "The Young Diana." Luther Reed wrote the scenario. William H. Tooker, the veteran character lead, is completing work on " Peacock Alley " which is being produced by the Tiffany Film Corporation. Tooker's last role was that of a bootlegging lumberjack in " God's Country and the Law," the Pinetree picture finished by Sidney Olcott but in this, he plays a part that is almost the exact opposite. In " Peacock Alley," Mr. Tooker departs from the rough back-country character to portray a cultured and debonair impresario, one of the big parts in the picture. Mary Alden, whose skilful impersonation of the mother in "The Old Nest " has been receiving wide comment, has been cast for an important part in another Goldwyn picture. " The Man With Two Mothers." This is Alice Duer Miller's first original for Goldwyn. Cullen Landis has been chosen to play the leading role. One of the best parts Mr. Landis will have had. His first success as a Goldwyn player was in Rex Beach's photoplay, "The Girl from Outside," followed by " The Old Xest." Little Rita Rogan, the six-yearold child star, who began her screen career just one year ago and since that time has appeared in eight big screen plays, will be seen in a prominent role in " The Treshold " produced by the United States Moving Picture Corporation. The part which the tiny actress plays in " The Threshold " gives her ample opportunity to display her talents and magnetic personality which have won for her a host of admirers, in the short time she has been on the screen. "The Threshold" is an original story by Garfield Thompson, and was directed by Joseph Levering in cooperation with the author and Herbert L. Messmore, the technical expert of the United States Moving Picture Corporation. The cast includes, besides Little Rita Rogan, Walter Ringham, Belle Bennett, Jean Robertson, Logan Paul, May Kitson, James McDuff, and Denton Vane. Work begins in a few days on the next Vera Gordon production, sponsored, as was " The Greater Love," by Harry Rapf. The biograph Studio is clearing the decks for action, and, while neither the director nor the title of the picture is yet announced, it is said that the director is one well calculated to direct the mother of " Homoresque " and " The Greater Love " in a special different in theme and development from her previous cinematic successes. Mrs. Gordon has just returned to New York, following a special engagement as a headline attraction on the Keith circuit in Atlantic City. ABOUT DIRECTORS AFTER air flight from London, William D. Taylor was forced to abandon his German trip at the last moment. After getting his passport vised, which "took some arranging," he writes from the Hotel Meurice in Paris, the motion picture director found that sleepers to Germany were booked three weeks ahead, while he already had passage engaged on the Olympic from Cherburg in six days. "I might fly as far as Strasbourg," he wrote, "but they can't tell me when I can get on to Bellieu, so I am not going to take a chance." However, he had ample opportunity to study the film situation in England and in France, and he hints of much to divulge on his return. He saw Donald Crisp and John Robertson and other friends at the Famous Players-Lasky studio in London. "Personally I can't see where the British-made picture is going to pay for some time to come," comments Mr. Taylor. "They cost too much. "Saw the polo, last day of Ascot and three clays of the Horse Show, and a lot of shows, but no pictures. Only a few old ones and 'Connecticut Yankee' running. "I am feeling wonderfully fit and having a most enjoyable time. Flew over from London yesterday. Sat in front with pilot. Blowing like blazes, had a lot of fun. She sure stood on her ear. Took us nearly three and a half hours, instead of two and a quarter. "I am going to meet some French cinema people tomorrow." When William D. Taylor arrives in Los Angeles next week he will be welcomed by a delegation from the Motion Picture Directors' Association. Not only has Ferdinand Earle copyrighted his dramatization of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, but he has filed separate papers for the continuity, so the research and labor of years on the part of the artist-director is well protected from infringement. "California is good enough for me," declared Reginald Barker, denying a rumor that he had arranged to produce his own pictures in the East, which arose from efforts to re-establish Santa Barbara as a motion picture producing center. Business interests there are negotiating for the purchase of the idle American studio. The first J. Warren Kerrigan productions will be made in Santa Barbara, and a strong effort is under way to induce three other companies to share studio space and expense. Reginald Barker, Maurice Tourneur and Allan Dwan were named as those approached but, a news story erroneously stated, Mr. Barker ' had already made arrangements to produce in New York. " 1 certainly will make my independent pictures in California." declared Mr. Barker at his home in Los Angeles. "Most probably I will make them right here in the motion picture capital, where my family is, and where I have made my most successful productions hitherto." Director Barker again occupies the chair of Director of the Los Angeles lodge of the Motion Picture Directors' Association. When Mr. Barker's term in that office expired a few months ago, William D. Taylor, who has been senior past director since the death of Otis Turner, was elected to a third term. During Mr. Taylor's illness Charles Giblyn, second past director, took the chair. Shortly after Mr. Taylor sailed for Europe to recover his health, Mr. Giblyn was called to New York, and Reginald Barker, the remaining past director, stepped into the place he vacated last April. When Mr. Taylor returns from abroad, he again will take the reins. Scandenavish Film Centralen, Swedish producers, would make things pleasant enough for Anna Q. Nillson as to induce her to remain in her " homeland " and be the center of attraction in some two reelers in Denmark, but with due respect to the land of her birth Miss Nillson has put in writing: "To tell the truth, for all Sweden's particular style of beauty, and the wonderful welcome accorded me. I am longing for 'home'." So it would appear that before long, America may welcome the Swedish picturegale. Vignola Picking Locations The next production which Robert G. Vignola will make for Cosmopolitan promises to eclipse anything this director has yet done with particular reference to exterior scenic beauty. For more than a week Director Vignola has been touring New York state in search of the rare locations for which the story calls. The main part of the story is laid amid the rugged beauty of the Adirondacks and Mr. Vignola's trip to the mountains was made principally because he wants to find locations that are distinctive. A SEPTEMBER SUGGESTION TO EXHIBITORS DECLARE YOUR INDEPENDENCE SAY IT WITH HODKINSON PICTURES