Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

September ? , i p 2 i 1227 Constance Talmadge Revival Due in Sept. IN the pre-season announcement made by Lewis J. Selznick revivals of Norma and Constance Talmadge pictures (issued in the days v*rhen Selznick was making the Talmadge girls screen stars) are listed. There will be a dozen in all — six each for Norma and Constance — and the first of the series is " Scandal," set for distribution late in September. This feature was made from Cosmos Hamilton's novel of the same title and was the first picture released by Selznick with Constance Talmadge the star. The original presentation has been edited and re-titled for the circulation of new prints. Charles Giblyn directed the presentation. Harry C. Browne acted as Miss Talmadge's leading man and the support otherwise included J. Herbert Frank, Aimee Dalmores, Gladden James, William P. Carlton and Ida Darling. Tenth Picture Starring "Brownie" Completed The tenth picture featuring "Brownie," the Century wonder dog, has just been completed. The title is "Brownie's Little Venus." "Brownie" has appeared in comedies with Harry Sweet. Charles Dorety, Baby Peggy the talented little two year old comedienne, Bud Jamison, and many others. At present "Brownie" is working under the direction of Fred Fishback. All of the releases of the canine star are distributed by Universal Film. The Century Comedies in which "Brownie" has been featured are as follows: "The Dog Doctor," "Fire Bugs," "His Puppv Love," "The Kid's Pal," "Playmates," "Pals," "Society Dogs," "Alfalfa Love," and "Golfing." Another player who has attracted favorable attention in these animal comedies is the versatile two-year-old comedienne, Bahy Peggy Jean. Busy Production Season Ahead UNIVERSAL is starting the busiest production period in the company's career, reports I'lotn Universal City indicate. Irving G. Thalberg, general manager at the Universal studio plant has just outlined a schedule that will keep e\ er\ outfit at Universal City busy. Fifty-two special attractions and iialf a dozen super-features form the back bone of this production activity, it is stated. Harry Carey will open the season with "Man to Man," a novel by Jackson Gregory, which is to be filmed as a Universal-Jewel. The continuity has been assigned to George 6. Hull by Lucien Hubbard, scenario editor. Simultaneously with the start of " Man to Man," Priscilla Dean will begin to work on " Wild Honey," a colorful drama of the African \cldt from the famous novel by Cynthia Stockley. The story will he widely different in theme from ■' Reputation " and " Conflict," the star's recently completed UniversalJewel productions, but it is expected to exceed in romantic appeal anything that the noted actress has done. Lucien Hubbard himself is writing the continuity. Gladys Walton will begin the fall season with " The Guttersnipe " a Every Camera at Universal City to Be Turning Soon stor> by Percival Wilde for which Wallace Clifton is writing the continuity. It is expected that Dallas Fitzgerald will direct it. Miss du Font's second starring vehicle will be " Ropes," to be filmed from Wilbur Daniel Steele's one-act play of that name, which appeared in Harper's Magazine. The star has just completed "The Rage of Paris," her first Universal starring vehicle, which is scheduled for early release. After " Ropes " Miss du Pont will film " You Can't Live on Love," a clever comedy-drama by John B. Clymcr for which George Hively is writing the screen version. Frank Mayo has a vigorous sea story for his first post-vacation starring vehicle. It is called "Dr. Jim'' and was written by Stuart Paton, the Universal director. Following that he will probably star in " The Altar Stairs," a romance of the South Seas written liy G. B Lancaster. Marie Prevost will give the screen another speedy comedy-drama in " Kissed,'' a sparkling story by Arthur Sommcrs Roche which originally appeared in the Argosy Magazine, A. P. Younger is writing the screen version. Herbert Rawlinson, who just finished his role in support of Priscilla Dean in " Conflict " will start his own Universal starring career with " The Black Bag " by Louis Joseph Vance. Then he will turn ins attention to " The Substitute Millionaire," a story which was purchased from the estate of George Loane Tucker. About that time Marie Prevost will be ready for another vehicle and she will begin work on " Princess Virtue,'' a delightful comedydrama which Doris Schroeder is adapting to the screen. While filming is in progress on " Princess Virtue," Miss Schroeder will work on the continuity for " Sandman," a magazine story, which will be used by Gladys Walton for her forthcoming Universal release. Hoot Gibson's recently completed story " Bransford of Rainbow Ridge " will be on the screen about the time he starts " Headin' West," an original story by Harmey Gates. Jack Ford, who directed the star in his recent successes, will probably continue in this capacity. Optimism Growing InMid-West MR. ROY CRAWFORD, who is treasurer of Associated Exhibitors, Inc., gives below bis impression concerning the business aspect of the near future. Mr. Crawford is a business man of long standing and has acquired an excellent knowledge of business conditions, especially in the Middle West. He is considered an authority on business in that section of the country and lieing known as exceedingly conservative in his statements, his impressions on the present .business conditions are regarded as interesting and valuable. " One of the outstanding facts apparent to anyone who is a close student of business conditions in that section of the country is the Eugene O'Brien appearing in " Clay Dollars," a new Selznick picture Ass'd Exhib Treasurer Sees Return to Normalcy on Way increased optimism and activity of business men," says Mr. Crawford, " which is conducive to certain return of normal conditions, and I wish to say that my observations are based on absolute facts and figures which are gleaned from certain banks and theatres in which I am interested. " The depression in general business was felt not only in this country but all over the world, as any careful reader of newspapers will be ready to confirm, and other industries felt it much earlier and to a much greater extent than did the motion picture field. " We all remember that motion picture theatres were crowded and exhibitors were making loads of mone\ when other business men were complaining bitterly about what they called the ' bux ers strike.' And many of them thought that bad times simply could not come into the moving picture business. But it came. And pretty strong at that, combined with premature and very hot weather. The result was inevitable. Many an exhibitor got nerv\ous. And this nervousness communicated itself to the film salesman with the result that business was far from satisfactory. " An excellent proof of the fact that in many cases it wasn't so much bad business conditions, but rather a form of psychosis which had fallen on the moving picti\^e people, and with which the hot weather had a lot to do, is, that immediately the cool weather set in business took a tremendous jump. In fact, the change was surprising. As soon as the drop in temperature became universal in this country, activity increased to a very great extent. " Associated Exhibitors, I am glad to say, did not suffer very much during the general depression, although the effects of the hot weather psychosis were noticeable to a certain degree. Yet our untiring Sales Force, combined with good product, withstood even bad business conditions, and our financial returns are the best proof of this assertion." Mr. Crawford points out the adaptability of the current Associated Exhibitors' releases, including " The Rider of the King Log," Bryant Washburn's " The Road to London," and the Harold Lloyd comedies, to the summer season, and announces for the Fall and Winter schedule " Home Keeping Hearts," Lottie Pickford's "They Shall Pay," " The Family Closet," "Discontented Wives," and " Tropical Love." Prints of New Goldwyn Films at Home-Office Prints of the Goldwyn releases for the fall are being rapidly shipped to the twenty-two Goldwyn branch exchanges. Two more prints have been received from the studios at the home office, making twenty-three of the twenty-six of Goldwyn's fifth sear productions announced for autumn releases. These will be in the exchanges within a brief time. The two latest prints received are " The Man from Lost River," a Frank Lloyd production, written directly for the screen by Katharine Newlin Burt, author of " The Branding Iron " and " Snowblind," and Will Rogers' new starring v'ehicle, " A Poor Relation," adapted from .Edward E. Kidder's comedy in which the late Sol Smith Russell appeared for so many years.