Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

2170 Motion Picture News Four New Pictures Started Reid, Meighan, Agnes Ayres, and Dorothy Dalton Begin Features REPORTS from Paramoiint's West Coast studio show that four new Paramount productions have just been started or will be under wa\' in the very near future. Philip E. Rosen has been engaged to direct Wallace Reid in " The Champion," J. E. Nash's screen adaptation of Grant Mitchell's well known New York starring success, " The Champion," by Thomas Louden and A. E. Thomas, and work is to start in a few days at the Lasky studio. One of the finest casts that could be assembled has been provided for " The Champion-" Lois Wilson, popular Paramount leading woman, who has just completed work in " Miss Lulu Bett," playing the title role in this William de Mille production, will have the feminine lead in " The Champion." Pauline Starke will be Thomas Aleighan's leading woman in his new Paramount picture, "If You Believe It, It's So," which he is just starting under the direction of Tom Forman. Other notable players who will be seen in Mr. Meighan's support in this picture are Joseph Dowling, Theodore Roberts and Charles Ogle. The first scenes are being made at Jamestown, Cal.) one of the old-time mining camp towns of '49 and colloquially known as ■' Jimtown." Agnes Ayres has started upon her career as a full-fledged Paramount star, having begun work at Hollywood in " The Lane That Has No Turning," which Eugene Mullin adapted from the novel by Sir (Gilbert Parker. An unusually strong cast has been engaged to support Miss Ayres, the line-up including Mahlon Hamilton Theodore Kosloff, Frank Campeau, Wilton Taylor, Raymond Brathwayt, Robert Bolder, Lillian Leighton, Charles West and Frederick Vroom. With Dorothy Dalton in the featured role, George Melford starts his production at once, " Moran ot the Lady Letty," an adaptation by Monte M. Katterjohn of the novel by the late Frank Norris. Miss Dalton has just returned from the East and the company goes on location in Northern California waters to get many of the scenes. Rudolph Valentine, who was featured with Agnes Ayres in " The Sheik," Mr. Melford's preceding production, has the male lead of Ramon Leredo. An interesting moment from Wanda Hawley's new Realart vehicle titled, " Her Face Value " Ray in Football Picture Geo. Melford to Make Norris Story Having finished his big production of "The Sheik," George H. Melford will next produce for Paramount, Frank Norris's novel, "Moran of the Lady Letty," according to a wire just received in New York from Jesse L Lasky " Two Minutes to Go " Timely Opening at N. Will Have Y. Strand COMING directly at the opening of the national football season, Charles Ray's next First National release, " Two Minutes to Go," is announced this week by Joseph Plunkett for premiere presentation at the Strand theatre. New York City, on October 23rd. The timeliness of the story, which deals with Adv. college football, furnishes an exploitation opportunity that is ex pected by its sponsors to develc into one of the most successful bo office stunts ever undertaken by the Strand. Negotiations are now under way for a tie-up with athletic authorities of the foremost colleges in Greater New York, including Columbia University, New York University, Fordham, College of City of New York and Stevens I stitute. In " Two Minutes to Go," whi is the seventh production in whi Arthur S. Kane presents Charl Ray for distribution through Fir National, there is promised " audience appeal " of the strongest typt. The narrative deals with the trials of a young college boy who has difficulties combining the job of early morning milk delivery, that earns him his way through college, with his social activities and vnth football, which he loves, but which he must forego. Not only do the producers promise all the amusing and lovable Ray situations that have won for this star a permanent place among picture fans, but they assure exhibitors that the same brand of action and suspense which made " Scrap Iron " a box ofiice drawing card will be found in the stirring football match in " Two Minutes to Go." In addition to a cast of unusual excellence, the feminine lead of which, " Sunshine " Marj' Anderson, contributes an appealing performance as a college sweetheart, Mr. Ray has brought to his film a line-up of football players who provide the thrills and rough and tumble of a classic football match. Although the star retained a fast knowledge of the game from his own school days, he worked for two weeks under the guidance of an expert coach before going into the line to make the winning touchdown, the stirring climax of " Two Minutes to Go."