Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

January J , 1922 411 Photoplay Edition on Zona Gale’s Novel AS a part of Paramount’s exploitation cam paign for William De Mille’s production, “Miss Lulu Betts,” copies of the photoplay edition of the novel by Zone Gale, from which the Paramount picture was adapted, are now being distributed to book stores throughout the United States. The book is published by D. Appleton & Company of New York, who arranged with the Paramount advertising department for the special jacket which will encase each volume placed on sale for the next several months, or during the picture’s run. Estelle Taylor Chosen as Team’s Mascot The honor of representing both the Eastern and the Western sections of the United States has been bestowed upon Estelle Taylor, the beautiful and popular actress, who for about two years has been playing leading parts in William Fox productions. Word has just been received from Los Angeles that Miss Taylor has been chosen as honorary mascot of the Washington and Jefferson football team of Pennsylvania, which has journeyed to California to meet the gridiron performers of the University of California in an intersectional match on January 2, at Los Angeles. Pickford and Fairbanks Studios Clean House House-cleaners in force swept through the offices of the Mary Pickford company, in the United studios, and the Douglas Fairbanks studio, at Hollywood, last week in preparation for the home-coming of the “ King and Queen of the Screen.” All invoices, statements and reports were assembled. At the Fairbanks studio a new fire protection system has been installed, new film vaults built, and a series of cutting rooms erected and equipped with the most modern ventilating apparatus that could be obtained. All of which is taken to indicate that the dynamic Douglas will make the film fly soon. Nothing definite is known at either studio regarding the plans of either Miss Pickford or Fairbanks. “36 a Year” Policy to Be Continued In reviewing the progress made during the past year, Playgoers Pictures declare that the exhibitors have justified the continuance of their policy of releasing feature productions on the basis of thirtysix a year. A statement just issued by that company says that they will proceed during 1922 on that release basis and will offer an array of program features which will be of consistently good quality and boxoffice value. * Commend “Our Mutual Friend” THE National Comm ttee for Better Films has placed “ Our Mutual Friend,” the Wid Gunning picturization of Dickens’ last complete novel, on its list of the best family pictures released during 1921, according to a notification just received at the Gunning home offices from Orrin G. Cocks, secretary of the committee. Two other Gunning releases, “ The Old Oaken Bucket ” and “ What Do Men Want?” the Lois Weber spectacular drama, have likewise been accorded the honor of a place on the list, making an unusual record considering the short time the Gunning company has been in operation, and the comparatively small number of pictures it has released thus far. The committee gave “ Our Mutual Friend” special mention in issuing its list, commenting favorably on the portrayal of the Dickens’ characters, adding that it possessed “ undoubted appeal.” The list consists of those plays considered as possessing a mass appeal, suitable for neighborhood and small town theatres as well as metropolitan houses. The Wid Gunning offices have PPROXIMATE plans of the W. W. Hodkinson 'Corporation for the year of 1922 were made public this week in an announcement from the Hodkinson offices. The statement includes a list of early 1922 productions and a summary of probable releases for the balance of the year. Two important items on the Hodkinson 1922 list are the “ Official Urban Movie Chats of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America,” which will be released at the rate of one a week beginning January 15th, and the more recently announced Great Authors series to be released monthly. The two-reel Triart productions based on the masterpieces of famous artists, of which two have already been released, will continue to be issued at the rate of one a month. The balance of the program includes a number of Hugo Baffin productions, Edwin L. Holly wood productions and several new productions not yet ready for announcement. Three productions are scheduled for release in January: “French Heels,” “The Young Painter,” and “At the Sign of the Jack O’Lantern.” “French Heels” is the first of the series of Edwin L. Hollywood productions starring Mrs. Irene Castle. It was written by Clarence Buddington Kelland, and the cast includes Ward Crane and Charles Gerard. “At the Sign of the Jack O’Lantern” is the second Renco Film Company’s production for Hodkinson release, the first having been “ Lavender and Old Lace,” by Myrtle Reed. “ At the Sign of the Jack O’Lantern” is also a Myrtle Reed story. The cast includes Betty Rose Clark, Victor Gunning Picture Selected by Better Films Committee been flooded with unsolicited testimonials from men and women, from all walks of life, who have seen and enjoyed “ Our Mutual Friend,” either during its run at the Lyric theatre, in New York City, or elsewhere. These communications indicate that the “ better film ” movement, endorsed by Wid Gunning, has started a successful drive to draw to the motion picture theatres people who would not ordinarily attend a screen production. Almost all of those who were impelled to write in, said that they rarely went to the movies, but would attend more often if they could be assured of seeing pictures possessing the drama, humor and charm of “ Our Mutual Friend.” Most of the letters of appreciation were from average men and women, but there were included communications from prominent artists, churchmen, educators, men Announcement Made of Early 1922 Productions Totel, Earl Schenck, Wade Boteler, Clara Ward, and others. “The Young Painter” is the third of the Triart Productions, which are being made under the supervision of an Advisory Board of eminent art patrons consisting of Robert W. De Forest, president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Francis C. Jones, treasurer of the National Academy of Design; Edwin H. Blashfield, president of the National Academy of Design; Charles Dana Gibson, president of the Society of Illustrators and editor of “Life”; Robert Aitken, president of the Sculptors Society of America; Louis C. Tiffany, founder of the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation, and Daniel Chester French, one of the world’s most noted sculptors. During February Hodkinson will release “ Heart’s Haven,” a Benjamin B. Hampton Production, featuring Claire Adams, Carl Gantvoort, Claire McDowell and Robert McKim; and “Hope,” the fourth Triart production. “Hope” is based on the immortal masterpiece of the same name by Watts. Also in February, or in early March, another Benjamin B. Hampton production, “ The Gray Dawn,” is scheduled for release. Another Triart Great Masterpiece production which is schedled for release early in 1922 is “ Mona Lisa,” based on the famous painting of the same name by Leonardo da Vinci. Extraordinary care and unusual treatment will be accorded this picture, and the Advisory Board of business, and writers. All of the letters gave emphasis to the fact that the picture was far from “ highbrow,” but that it was as much alive and fuff of action as if it had been written by a present-day thrillmerchant. “ Everyone should see this picture,” wrote Edward B. Shallow, associate superintendent of schools of New York City. “ It is interesting, clean and wholesome. It does great credit to its producers.” “ Every lover of Dickens and everyone who appreciates good things on the screen will enjoy ‘ Our Mutual Friend,”’ said Jessie Bonstelle, writing from the National Arts Club. Henry Alexander, treasurer of the Dickens Fellowship, stated that “ to the lover of Dickens, the presentation of ‘ Our Mutual Friend’ is an unalloyed pleasure. The Dickens world is under deep obligations to you for offering them such a rare treat.” “Our Mutual Friend” has been booked heavily throughout the country, -according to reports received at the Wid Gunning home offices, a great many of these being in small towns catering to neighborhood or family patronage. for 1922 will personally supervise the work of production. These productions, with subsequent Edwin L. Hollywood and Hugo Baffin products, augmented by the Urban products including the Official Urban Movie Chats, the Great Authors productions and a special four-reel feature entitled “The Four Seasons,” an Urban Popular Classic recorded by Raymond L. Ditmars, curator of the Bronx Zoo, provide the nucleus of a 1922 program which will be greatly enlarged and expanded. Already negotiations are pending for the acquisition by Hodkinson of several pretentious special productions, as well as such other special feature productions and star program attractions that may be acquired from time to time. Wm. Carleton Opposite Katherine MacDonald In “ Domestic Relations ” her latest photoplay, which Chet Withey is now directing at the Preferred Pictures Studio, Katherine MacDonald is supported by William P. Carleton. Carleton is well known as a leading man, having played “ leads ” for the past three years. Other screen favorites who are in the cast are Barbara La Murr and Frank Leigh. Frank D. Ormston designed the settings for “ Domestic Relations.” / Fox Completes Special with Mary Carr The special which Mary Carr has been making at the N w York studio of William Fox is about completed. It is a story of New York’s East Side, and the Ma Benton of “ Over the Hill,” it is said, has another wonderful mother role. Hodkinson’s Plans