Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

January 7 , 1922 419 Jan. Releases Named by Fox Film Corp. FROM Fox Film Corporation comes announcement that “ Man’s Weakness,” the first production starring William Farnum since his return from Europe, will head the list of January releases for that organization. Adapted from the novel by Alexander Dumas, the story deals with a romantic chapter in the life of Edmund Kean, the famous English actoi ot the early nineteenth century. In the New York studios of William Fox, where the picture was made, there was erected an interior of the world-famous Drury Lane theatre of London. The picture carries an exceptionally large cast. Herbert Brenon directed. Tom Mix’s January release will be “ Sky High,” in which the star is supported by Eva Novak. “ Any Wife ” is the title of the Pearl White production in the January list. Herbert Brenon directed. Shirley Mason’s next release will be “ Little Miss Smiles,” from the story by the late Meyer Kelly. “ Gleam O’Dawn,” by Arthur Goodrich, will be the first starring vehicle of John Gilbert, recently raised to stellar distinction by William Fox. Jack Dillon directed. “ Winning With Wits,” starring Barbara Bedford, is the second Fox picture in which she appears as a star. There are three Sunshine Comedies on the January production list. They are “ Try and Get It,” “ False Alarm,” and “ Hold the Line.” Mutt and Jeff comedies complete the schedule. New Mermaid Comedy Titled “En Route” The greater part of the Hamilton-White stage has been utilized for the construction of train sets which are being used in the production of the latest EducationalMermaid Comedy featuring Lloyd Hamilton, which is to be called “ En Route.” In addition to a Pullman car, where much of the fun takes place, there is a dining car, observation car and sleeper, and a large locomotive. The sets are among the largest ever used in filming a Mermaid Comedy featuring Hamilton. Another Rupert Hughes Story for Goldwyn Goldwyn has purchased the screen rights to another one of Rupert Hughes’ humorous short stories. It is entitled “ Bitterness of Sweets” and has to do with an ambitious but poor young girl who often does not have enough to eat. The Goldwyn editorial and scenario departments believe that they have material in this Hughes short story for another motion picture comedy masterpiece. A scene from "The Unfoldment,” an Associated Exhibitors’ release Assd. Exhib’s January List Three Releases Due Next Month; “ The Unfoldment ” Heads Schedule Associated exhibitors announces that its January schedule of releases will include a Ray Rockett special, a George Kearn production, and a Playgoers picture made by Herald Productions. The George Kearn production is “The Unfoldment,” which will be released January 1. The Playgoers offering, “Reckless Chances,” featuring J. P. McGowan, will be issued January IS. On January 22 will be released the Ray Rockett special, titled “ Handle with Care.” The theme of “ The Unfoldment ” deals with the efforts of a newspaper girl to change the lives of her associates who, through contact with the rougher side of life and influenced by adversity, have lost the finest instincts of their better natures. The production is in six reels, and includes a list of players who are well known for their work in previous features. The cast includes Barbara Bedford, Florence Lawrence, Wm. Conklin, Albert Prisco, Murdock MacQuarrie, Chas. K. French, Wade Boteler and Lydia Knott. “ Reckless Chances,” is the third of a series of five made for Playgoers by Harold Productions. J. F. McGowan is director as well as star. Is is predicted that “ Reckless Chances ” will add further popularity to Mr. McGowan, who, it is said, made a distinct impression with the public in his previous Playgoers features. I11 “ Reckless Chances,” Mr. McGowan is supported by a new leading lady, Dorothy Wood, a slender blonde beauty who has come into prominence during the last few months. Other important roles are handled capably by Andrew Waldron and Robert Walker. “ Reckless Chances ” is a rousing railroad story, to which Mr. McGowan has given the best of the railroad thrills gained through long experience in directing pictures of this nature. Heralded as an unusually fine production, Ray Rockett’s “ Handle with Care ” is said to be one of the best audience pictures of the season, and certainly the title has wonderful exploitation possibilities. An indication of the class of “ Handle With Care ” is gained through a review of its large and well-known cast. The principal role is handled by Grace Darmond, while Patsy Ruth Miller, who has been coming along fast, plays the ingenue. The male characters include such names as James W. Morrison, Harry Meyers, William Courtleigh, Landers Stevens and William Austin. The original story is from the pen of Charles Belmont Davis, a brother of Richard Harding Davis. The production was directed by Philip E. Rosen under the supervision of Mr. Rockett. GoldwynProductWidely Sold Abroad Goldwyn has sold its fourth year product in widely separated parts of the foreign sales field, according to an announcement made by J. H. Hoffberg of the firm’s foreign sales department. In some cases new sales affiliations have been made and in a few isolated instances virgin territory has been added to the field served by the Goldwyn product. The fourth year product has been sold for Australia and New Zealand to Australasian Films. Limited, which serves all of the most important motion picture theatres in those two islands. Both the third and the fourth year Goldwyn pictures have been sold for distribution throughout the Dutch East Indies, the Federated Malay States and the Straits Settlements to the Middle East Films, Limited, a subsidiary of the South African Film trust. Goldwyn fourth year product has also been sold for Mexico. Kent-Selznick Week to Be Held in Detroit THE Select Pictures Corporation branch in Detroit, Mich., is putting on a special sales drive of its own the week which includes February 8th, designating it Kent-Selznick Week. On February 8th, J. O. Kent, manager of the Select office in Detroit, will have been in charge of Lewis J. Selznick’s business in Detroit just four years and will have been in Mr Selznick’s employ a little more than seven years. It also happens that February 8th is Mr. Kent’s birthday. The special sales drive was the idea of some of Mr. Kent’s exhibition friends who have expressed a desire to turn up for him an unusual volume of business during this particular week as “ something good to write home about.” Century Offers Varied Program for January Julius Stern, president of Century Film Corporation, announces the release of two Harry Sweet pictures in January. “ An Idle Roomer,” the first Sweet picture to be directed by Arvid Gillstrom, has to do with the adventures of a young man in a furnished room house — a subject which will find ready sympathy with many bachelors of small income who try to do light housekeeping by hiding the stove in the victrola and other stunts not in general favor with landladies. Of course Sweet falls in love with his landlady’s daughter, played by a new Century beauty, Thelma Dillerman. Bud Jamison fills his usual ungrateful role of villain and gets his deserts in the most approved comedy fashion. “ Horse Sense,” Sweet’s other comedy, is directed by Fred Hibbard. Margaret Cloud, Bud Jamison and Harry Cornells are in the cast. The action takes place both on land and on sea, and much of the fun is on board ship. “ Circus Clown,” starring Brownie and Baby Peggy, is on the way from the Coast. Fred Hibbard is the director, and the story deals with life under the big tents. Other January releases are “ The Straphanger,” Lee Moran’s first Century Comedy, and “ Shipwrecked Among Animals,” Sweet’s parody on the Universal success “ Shipwrecked Among Cannibals.” Bert Lytell to Be^Seen F in Role of Detective Bert Lytell, who has been seen as the gentlemanly crook of a score of screen dramas, has turned the tables on his underworld companions of the screen and is now appearing as a detective. In Bayard Veiller’s now Metro production, an as yet untitled story from his own pen, Lytell plays Henry Brown, the persistent seeker after government enemies.