Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

2176 Motion Picture News A scene from " The Invisible Power," a Frank LIoyd-Goldwyn picture, in which House Peters has a principal role "Sunshine Sammy" is Made a Star Frederick Ernest Morrison, otherwise " Sunshine Sammy," for several years past a ray of joy in comedies produced by Hal Roach for Pathe distribution, is now a screen luminary. This eight-year-old colored boy will be seen this Winter in a special two-reel comedy, called "The Pickaninny." Pathe will release " The Pickaninny " on December 4th. " The Custard Nine," first of the Harris Dickson comedies produced from a story in the Saturday Evening Post, will inaugurate the Pathe campaign with the release scheduled for November 1st. Two weeks later Pathe will inaugurate the Truex series with " Little, But Oh My." On December 18th, " Stick Around," second of the Ernest Truex offerings, will be issued. " The Beauty Contest," which completes the Harris Dickson series, is slated for issuance on January 1st, and on January 15th, "The Bashful Lover," third of the Truex attractions, will go out to exhibitors. Elaborate Posters for Wm. D. Taylor Film In keeping with the sumptuous production which has just been completed by William D. Taylor for Realart, that company announces that especially elaborate posters have been prepared. This is the picture which has for its foundation the celebrated stor>' by William J. Locke and in which May McAvoy is starred. With the exception of one onesheet, all the posters have an Oriental motif, the beautiful settings, gorgeous decorations and the colorful costumes of the East lending themselves peculiarly to the limitless effects of lithography. Adolphe Werkmeister Has Left Pathe Adolphe Werkmeister, who has been associated with the Pathe organizations, first in France and later in America, almost since Charles Pathe started the original French picture company, has left the Pathe organization to engage in a new motion-picture project the details of which will be announced in the near future. Both here and abroad, Mr. Werkmeister has served Pathe Exchange, Inc, in various executive capacities for a long term of years. Business Improving Rapidly So Declares Charles Rogers After Touring Key Cities of MidWest THE advent of cool weather and the gradual easing of business depression in many section have combined to bring marked improvement in conditions among exhibitors the country over, according to Charles R. Rogers, general manager of distribution for R-C Pictures Corporation. Mr. Rogers bases this belief upon his observations and his personal talks with leading exhibitors in many of the key points during his recent trip through the Middle West. He found, according to his statement, that exhibitors with very few, of any exceptions are extremely optimistic. Moreover, the cooler weather has served as an undoubted tonic to box offices which during the summer had been very weak. " I found a most impressive feeling of optimism wherever I went," declared Mr. Rogers. " The trend undoubtedly is toward a general revival of interest in all sorts of amusements, if, indeed, this revival has not already set in. Ex hibitors feel that the autumn and winter season hold much in store for them in the way of prosperity and they believe that the only way to reap the harvest is to show to good pictures. " That, in brief, is the answer to the entire problem — good pictures. The poor picture cannot get by now. The public is choosing its entertainment with far greater discrimination than it did during the abnormal years of the war when the craving for amusement was so pronounced that the public patronized bad pictures as well as the good ones. But that same public, having returned to normal, is now ' shopping ' for its entertainment and exercising a good deal of caution in doing it. Everywhere, too, I found enthusiasm over the R-C Twenty-six and it is evident that the popularity of Miss Frederick, Mr. Hayakawa and Miss May, who will soon make her debut as an R-C star in ' The Foolish Age ' is at high pitch." Jungle'' Critics in Accord All Agree That Martin Johnson's Adventures Will Interest Public MARTIN JOHNSON'S "Jungle Adventures," the first offering of Exceptional Pictures Corporation, which recently played a most successful pre-release engagement at the Capitol Theatre, New York City, which showing was referred to by one of the trade journals as "one of the talked about events in the metropolitan cinema world," is the combination of so many of the factors which spell success, that, since its initial presentation in New York, it has become "one of the most talked about events in the entire motion picture industry." Taking the consensus of the opinions of practically every film critic on the daily and weekly newspapers and all motion picture publications, as well as the expressed opinion of many of the most important executives in the film industry, Martin Johnson's "Jungle Adventures" contains the following important factors which shall make for one of the big triumphs of the 1921-22 season when it is released to the exhibitors of the country: First and foremost, this Exceptional Picture is conceded as being most unusual, far from the beaten P3th of the everyday photoplay. Further, it is unanimously agreed that "Jungle Adventures" is artistic, and has an exceptional entertainment value. And, then, "Jungle Adventures" is acknowledged as being thrilling, filled with romance and adventure such as everyone has at some time fondly hoped to undergo, and containing what is conceded the finest photography of its kind which has ever been seen. Some of the scenes contained in Martin Johnson's feature production are nothing short of remarkable, even if considered alone from their photographic standpoint. Of the twenty-four critics who reviewed this picture, every one praised Mr. Johnson's almost uncanny photography. And because this unique production is true to life, it cannot be other than convincing in every detail. It is the record of actual hfe beyond civilization's domain, of happenings, of birds and beasts, of human beings, regarding which the civilized world knows verj little. R-C to Release Foreign Production in Fall THE production, " Phroso," based upon the widely read novel of the same name, by Sir Anthony Hope, and converted to film by Louis Mercanton, one of the foremost motion picture producers of Europe, will be called " Possession," when it is released in November by R-C Pictures. Instead of employing built scenes that coiUd not fully create the atmosphere he sought for his subject, Mr. Mercanton took his players and his equipment right into the heart of Southern France, where Sir Anthony Hope had laid the original locale of his story. Another feature of interest is the fact that the cast includes Malvina Longfellow, an American actress of great beauty and talent, who appeared in the original production of " Kismet " in support of Otis Skinner. Jack Holt and Lila Lee in WillianJ De Mille's Paramount picture, " Aft;r the Show " Washington Press Lauds "Three Musketeers" The Washington dramatic critics were unanimous in their praise of the Douglas Fairbanks, United Artists production of "The Three Musketeers," which had its premier showing at the Nation's Capital at Loev/s Columbia Theatre, on Sunday, October 2nd. Nannie Lancaster, of the Washington Star, said: " It is not only Mr. Fairbanks' greatest picture; it is one of the great pictures of the screen." " Douglas Fairbanks' work as D'Artagnan entitles him to a position on the topmost rung of the ladder of fame," said the Washington Post. "Again Douglas Fairbanks has triumphed," says the Washington Times. "For photographic beauty, marvelous costuming and stupendous settings, there have probably been few pictures to equal it. And none that excels it" Century Lions to Appear in New Films Shortly Charles Gay, chief animal trainer for the Century Film Corporation is getting his lions trimmed up for a busy winter. Since filming the last Tarzan story with Elmo Lincoln some time ago, the animals have been resting. Preparations are now being made to use them in comedies and another animal serial, production for which wall start very soon. Gay's work with wild animals has been recognized throughout the countrj' where he has appeared. At one time he toured every prominent city in the world in charge of a w'onderful $50,000 group of Abyssian black-mane lions, which are recognized as the fiercest and most valuable of the whole lion family. 26 Sets Are Built for Rawlinson Picture Twenty -six specially built sets were used at Universal Citj' for Herbert Rawlinson's first starring vehicle, "The Millionaire." The story was purchased specialiv for Rawlinson from the estate of George Loane Tucker and -was filmed under the direction of Jack Conway. It is now being edited and soon will be ready for release.