Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

526 Motion Picture News “Bride’s Play” Due on Broadway The Mediaevel wedding scene in “ The Bride’s Play,” a new Cosmopolitan production and a Paramount picture. Marion Davies is starred 4( rpHE Bride’s Play,” starring Marion Davies, will have its first New York screening at the Rialto Theatre, beginning Sunday, January 8th. “ The Bride's Play” is Miss Davies' first picture after “ Enchantment ” in which she was accorded much praise. In “The Bride’s Play” made by Cosmopolitan Productions and released by Paramount, Miss Davies has a vehicle that is not only gorgeous in settings and quality of story, but one that presents her at her best as an actress of charm, vivacity, winsomeness and appeal. Embroidered into its tapestry-like texture are many of the quaintest and most whimsical of Irish legends and customs. The story was written by Donn Byrne for Hearst’s Magazine. Mr. Byrne also wrote “ The Woman God Changed,” a Cosmopolitan Production, that has enjoyed great success. Mr. Byrne is of Irish extraction and spent several years in Ireland, studying ancient folklore and the customs of the present-day inhabitants so that he knows whereof he speaks when he writes of the Emerald Isle. Mildred Considine, who has more than one hundred screen plays to' her credit, wrote the scenario. George W. Terwilliger, noted as a critic and scenario writer as well as a director, directed “ The Bride's Play,” infusing into the production the delicate imagery and rich imaginative touches of Donn Byrne. Ably seconding the director was Ira H. Morgan, cameraman, who proves in the production his thorough knowledge of the technique of the camera. The title of the picture is that of an ancient ceremony at Irish weddings. After the wedding ritual, the men guests, form a circle and the bride goes £rom one to another, asking each : “ Are you the one I love best?” Of course each guest, unless he is looking for trouble, THE Selznick Company has been sending out statements to the effect that their new picture starring Owen Moore, now being completed, is the biggest production which they have ever made. When it is recalled that there have been a number of Owen Moore pictures made by the Selznick Company— and all of them of the program variety in so far as cost of production is concerned — there is considerable curiosity as to just what this new production is to be. William Faversham in “ The Sin That Was His,” for which a complete “ Canadian village ” was built in Fort Lee, N. J., and a number of other Selznick Pictures are remembered as “big” pictures from the production standpoint. It is a natural query as to just how a forthcoming release starring Owen Moore, whose forte is farce comedy, is to surpass all previous Selznick studio efforts. Exhibitors who have been playing the Selznick product for some time and are acquainted with the says “ No.” When she reaches her husband and puts the query, it is his cue to say: “ Yes, I am the one you love best,” and fold her in his arms. There are two wedding ceremonies in “ The Bride’s Play,” each in the same chapel which setting, by the way, is one of Joseph Urban’s finest creations. One wedding is seen in a mediaeval interlude which is rich in pomp and pageantry. The second is a modern nuptials. In both instances Miss Davies is the bride. The star plays two parts — that of Aileen Barrett, a modern, mischievous, sprightly and lovable Irish girl of to-day and that of Enid of Cashel, a radiant maid of the Twelfth Century. In the latter role Miss Davies is seen in her own blonde tresses. A fine cast supports Miss Davies, including Wyndham Standing as her leading man. Others are Carlton Miller, Jack O’Brien, Frank Selznick sales plan wall recall that during the season 1920-21 the Owen Moore releases were sold as star series, just the same as Selznick releases starring Elaine Hammerstein, Eugene O’Brien and Conway Tearle. For the season 1921-22, however, the Owen Moore pictures are being sold individually, making them specials in a sense, and making it possible to vary them greatly as to their nature and the cost of production of each release. It is in taking advantage of these new conditions surrounding the Owen Moore pictures that the Selznick Company are producing the biggest picture of their career with Owen Moore as a star. Henry Lehrman, widely known director and producer who has had his own releases through big distributing organizations, joined the Selznick organization under a special arrangement with VicePresident Myron Selznick to turn out the big Owen Moore picture which is listed as a Henry Lehrman Production. The story is by Mr. Shannon, Richard Cummings, Eleanor Middleton, Thea Talbot, John P. Wade, Julia Hurley and George Spink. Much of the action centres about an ancient castle which is one of the most majestic ever built for the screen, and is, moreover, notable for the remarkable detail of its carving, fretwork and other details. The costumes, the churchly implements and the knights’ armor are as authentic as patient study and contemporary knowledge can make them. This same care and superb effect are shown in the costumes. All of the splendor of the Golden Age of Gil Bias is reflected in the mediaeval wedding gown worn by Miss Davies. The gown was discovered by the star in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York City, in a treasured fabric depicting the marriage of Jeanne, Queen of Navarre, to Phillip V, King of France. Lehrman and he and Mr. Moore spent many weeks on it before the first camera wTork was done. A cast of unusual excellence was engaged to support the star, some of the members having been brought on from the Pacific Coast. Pauline Garon, prominent in the “ Lilies of the Field ” success now on Broadway, is Mr. Moore’s leading woman. Robert Cain, Tom Wilson, Frank Wunderlee, Togo Yammamoto, Adolf Millar, and Nita Naldi are also in the company. No permanent title for the production has yet been selected. The story is of the same general farce nature as others which Mr. Moore has done with so much success, notably “ The Poor Simp,” “ The Chicken in the Case,” 'and “A Divorce of Convenience.” It is filled to overflowing with novelty, however, and it is said that few pictures ever made before have had so great a variety of action and location. “Why Men Forget” Set for February Issue Scheduled for release during February is “ Why Men Forget,” presented by R-C Pictures, which promises to the reviewers and the photoplay-going public something new in the form of screen productions. The play, “ Why Men Forget,” is adapted from the novel “ Demos,” by George Gissing, an English writer. A fine cast was engaged by Director Clift to produce “ Why Men Forget.” Milton Rosmer, in the leading role, that of Richard Mutimer, has gone from success to success on the British stage and screen, but in “ Why Men Forget ” he has outstripped all his former efforts. The cast also includes Miss Haidee Wright, who is described as having a wonderful gift for unforced pathos. She is a natural screen mother and one of the most likeable characters that ever appeared on a screen. Gerald McCarthy, who has a large following in Great Britain and Continental Europe, has a role that gives him opportunity to display his histrionic talents to the best advantage. Others in the cast are Vivian Gibson, Evelyn Brent, Irene Foster, Bettina Campbell, Daisy Campbell, Olaf Hytton, James C. Butt. Leonard Robson, Warwick Ward, George Travers and Thomas E. MontaguThacker. Frisco Judge Praises Gunning Release Judge Thomas F. Graham of SanJ Francisco gave an unsolicited testimonial to the interest and value ofl “What Do Men Want?” when that Lois Weber production wras shownl by Wid Gunning, Inc., at the Tivoli theatre, San Francisco, recently. In a letter written by Judge Graham to William A. Crank, manager of the San Francisco office, whose guest he w7as at the showing, Judge i Graham said the picture had a con-l vincing quality and that the themel of the play was true to life. He also pointed out that the play had ! particular appeal to young married; people. Requests Extra Days on “The Beggar Maid” The Strand Theatre in Camden, N. J., one of the foremost in the Stanley circuit, having originally booked “ The Beggar Maid,” released by Hodkinson, for a threeday engagement, has made a request for three additional days on the same subject, according to advices received at the Hodkinson home office ’ from Sales Manager Gebhardt of the Hodkinson Phila ' delphia branch. Christie'/ ‘ Heavy” and Dancer Marry Victor Rodman, chief “ heavy 1 r of the Christie company, and Dagmar Dahlgren, a classical dancer who has appeared in Christie com* . edies, were married recently in Los ; Angeles. The two became acquainted when they were playing ir : “ A Pair of Sixes,” a late Educa _ Bonal-Christie release. Elaborate Owen Moore Picture