Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

January 7 , 1922 413 Prominent Players in Assd. Exhib. Product Among the coming features released by Associated Exhibitors is the powerful outdoor lumber story, “ Clansmen of the North,” which was recently completed under the direction of John W. Noble. The lead is handled by Richard C. Travers, and the cast includes many familiar names. Another outstanding release is “Woman Wake Up,” a brilliant and appealing drama, featuring Florence Vidor. In a recent statement, Associated Exhibitors called the attention of theatre owners to the very representative list of stars appearing in their productions. Included in this list are such names as George Arliss in “The Devil;” Marv Thurman, Niles Welch, Jos. Dowling and others, in “ The Sin of Martha Queed;” Mr. and Mrs. Cartel De Haven in “ Marry the Poor Girl ; ” the all-star cast in “ The Unfoldment ; ” and Grace Darmond, Harry Meyers, Jimmy Morrison, Wm. Courtleigh and others in “ Handle With Care.” These, of course, are in addition to the famous Harold Lloyd, star of the big Associated-Lloyd comedies. Release of Irish Prisoners in Pathe News With 3,000 Sinn Fein political prisoners released — as pictured in Pathe News No. 102 — one of the earliest practical results of the signing of the Irish peace is realized. Prisoners are seen leaving Kilmainhan Gaol, saying goodby to British officers and being greeted by crowds of friends. Secretary of the Navy Denby is seen visiting a big naval gun factor}and scrambling over acres of 16-inch guns — a costly “ graveyard ” under the Arms Conference “ scrapping ” agreement. In the meantime Urban Ledoux preaches a “ sermon ” in front of the Pan-American Building, while banners are carried about containing peace Bible texts. Other timely topics are included. New Cosmopolitan Picture at Rialto “Just Around the Corner,” a Fannie Hurst story filmed by Cosmopolitan Productions, will have its first New York presentation at the Rialto Theatre beginning Sunday, January 1st. This production was directed by "Frances Marion, who also wrote the scenario. It was Miss Hurst who wrote the original story of “ Humoresque,” the Gold Medal winner of 1920, and Miss Marion who wrote the scenario of that great success. The new picture is released by Paramount. Emmett Flynn in N. Y. Emmett J. Flynn, who directed the Fox spectacle, “ A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” and “ Shame,” is in New York from the west coast, his third trip east in eight months. Flynn brought with him the film of a big special he had just completed in California from William Fox, with John Gilbert as the star. Fox to Make Educational Films WILLIAM FOX, president of F'ox Film Corporation, announces for the new year an important addition to his screen enterprises. He has organized Educational and IndusDivisions, planned on a broad scale. This new enterprise is inspired by what Mr. Fox regards as a crying need for educational films that really educate, and for films dealing with business that not only tell the manufacturer’s story instructively, but create lively interest while doing so. The Educational and Industrial Divisions, in their operation, will be wholly independent of the amusement enterprises of Fox Film Corporation. They have their separate and distinct staffs — directors, scenario writers, librarians, technical men, artists, animators, and clerical forces. The two divisions are under one head — Herbert E. Hancock, formerly director of Fox News. Supervisory direction, however, will be exercised by Mr. Fox and by Winfield R. Sheehan, vicepresident and general manager of Fox Film Corporation. The decision to establish an Educational Division was reached after mature deliberation and after exhaustive investigation had demonstrated that educational institutions to-day, with their progressiveness ideas, require what they have not heretofore had from motion picture producers — a comprehensive service embracing every type of educational film. The Educational Division possesses an immense advantage in Herbert E. Hancock, director of the new educational and industrial divisions ,of Fox Film Corporation its access to the libary of Fox News, containing more than 1,000,000 feet of negative film from which may be assembled hundreds of educational subjects. The Industrial Division, it is felt, has an appeal which must prove irresistible, inasmuch as it presents the latest method of advertising and one the tremendous pulling power of which is universally conceded. The progressive manufacturer realizes the extraordinary value of the screen as a means of reaching the public directly. He is desirous of telling his story in an attractive way in pictures. This has been demonstrated by widespread inquiry. But it is also a fact, states Mr. Fox, that American manufacturers thus far have hesitated to enter largely into this field of business exploitation because of the absence of any substantial motion picture producing company engaged in a comprehensive way in this branch of the industry. The Fox plan fixes the price charged for such films at the lowest figure that is possible, and also offers to the manufacturer a system of circulation to meet every need. The guaranteed circulation is either local, national, or international, according to requirements. The United States is divided into service zones; but the Industrial Division is also inviting orders from business firms in foreign countries. Its activities cross both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. The Fox exchanges and branch offices abroad are co-operating energetically with both the Educational and Industrial Divisions. Three hundred cameramen in all parts of the world will serve these new divisions, being subject to call at any time. Wherever a firm may be located — in the distant East, West, North or South, or close to home — its needs will be attended to with equal promptness and care. The main offices of the new Educational and Industrial Divisions are in the Fox Studio building, in West Fifty-fifth Street, New York. They occupy almost an entire floor of the big plant. “Molly O” IT is doubtful if any producer or star, or their production ever received the ovation accorded to Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand, when “ Molly O,” the latest feature production of the creative genius of Mr. Sennett was given its premiere showing at the Mission Theatre, Los Angeles, Wednesday evening, November 30. “ Molly O ” enjoyed a real first night audience. Invitations signed by Mr. Sennett were issued and forwarded to the stars, producers and directors of filmland, the same being extended to their immediate families and intimate friends. Miss Normand and F. Richard Jones, her director, chaperoned the entire cast of the production. City officials and representatives of the clergy were also invited and present. According to schedule, the curtain was to rise at eight fifteen, word reached the world outside the realms of the studio that the idols of the thousands and thousands of fans would be at one time under one roof, with the resultant effect that the Chief of Police was appealed to to assign sufficient uniformed men to handle the masses who collected an hour before the doors were opened, to secure a position of vantage from which to get a close-up in the flesh, of their screen favorites. Two local commercial photographers mounted their stepladders to be in readiness for the first car to Opens on approach the curb. After the first automobile discharged Its weight of stars, it was closely followed by another and another. So fast did they come the sharpshooter found it difficult to keep cartridges in his flashlight pan, and the policemen found it hard to keep passage way to the entrance. Though numbering many, many hundred, the crowd was very orderly and sent up round after round of applause as the stars, both men and women, took the few steps from the curb to the theatre lobby. When Mabel Normancl’s big Pierce Arrow rolled up to the entrance and the waiting throng spied the little star of “ Molly O ” half hidden among the cushions, with Charlie Chaplin as her escort, the best imitation of a mob scene (lacking, of course ,the rough stuff) was witnessed immediately. It took fully ten minutes to escort the couple, known and loved the world over as the foremost stars of comedy. Inside the beautiful Mission theatre were gathered as close as possible in row after row, all the luminaries of the Pacific Coast studios. Outside the theatre not a star of any of the other celebrities of filmdom was to be seen. It was a gorgeous assemble of beauty and talent which Mable Normand and her greatest production mastered out. The happiness registered by the Coast Miss Normand at seeing so many of her friends of the profession present for the Occasion, was so sincere as the appreciation shown by them during her performance in “ Molly O.” Sharp on the dot of the time appointed for the presentation, Mr. Fred Niblo, at the request of Mr. Harry David, manager of the Mission, introduced and christened “ Molly O ” In its initial run in Southern California. That the audience was practically a professional one in its entirety is evidenced by the following list submitted by First National : Agnes Ayres, Sylvia Breamer, Constance Binney, Neal Burns, Ethel Clayton,^ Miss Du Pont, Helen Ferguson, Eddie Gribbon,. Chas. Chaplin, Hope Hampton, Gareth Hughes, Raymond Platton, Jack Plolt, Alice Joyce, Buster Keaton, Bert Lytell, Harold Lloyd, June Mathis, Doris May, Tom Moore, Kathryn McGuire, Jack Mulhall, Mary MacLaren, Conrad Nagel, Paul Powell. Irene Rich, Wallace Reid, Colleen Moore, George Beban, Wesley Barry, Billy Bevan, Betty Blythe, Betty Compson, Dorothy Devote, Wm. S. Hart, Mabel Normand, Sessue Hayakawa, Wanda Plawley, Anna Hernandes, Molly O’s mother; Walter Pleirs, Mahlon Hamilton, Alice Lake, Cullen Landis, T7Tla Lee. PT»os. Meighan, William De Mille, Frank Mayo, Douglas MacLean, Katherine MacDonald, George Nichols, Molly O’s father; Kate Price, Dorothy Phillips, Ruth Rowland, Theodore Roberts, Mildred Davis, Edith Storey, Milton Sills, Ben Turpin. Constance Talmadge, Wally Van, Lois Wilson, Claire Windsor, Carl Stocklalo, Mack Swain. Gloria Swanson, Norma Talmadge, Bobby Vernon, ITenry Walthal, Bryant Washburn.