Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

Motion Picture News F2S Gunning Month Drive Opens WID GUNNING Month has gotten off to a flying start that bids fair to make it a record-breaker, according to sales reports from all the Wid Gunning, Inc., exchanges which have alreadybeen received at the home offices of the organization. Using as their motto, “ Start the New Year Right — Wid Gunning Month — January, 1922,” the members of the sales force in the field have gone out and are exceeding even their own best previous efforts in corralling exhibitors to sign up for the series of big specials which the Gunning company is offering for release during the present season. As an additional incentive to the members of the force to smash all standing figures, Wid Gunning announces a sales competition between the various exchanges, with substantial money prizes to the four branches which turn in the greatest amount of cash film-rental collections during the month of January, in proportion to its office percentage. There will be $2,000 in prizes, according to the announcement from the Gunning offices. To the office which stands at the head of the honor roll at the end of the month, a prize of $1,000 will be awarded. The runner-up among the offices will get $500 ; third prize will be $300; and fourth, $200. In case of a tie each of the offices so tied will be given the full award designated for the position they occupy in the race. The keenest sort of competition is already in evidence, and each office is going about the task of getting new business with all its wits sharpened, and its energies working overtime. One of the features of the contest is the fact, the announcement states, that the smaller offices have just as much of a chance to get in the prize-winning class as the big fellows. “ We have given many reasons why the exhibitor should play with this organization,” said Wid Gunning, in making his announcement of the Gunning Month program. “ The most important of all these is the fact that this organization takes the exhibitor’s dollar and divides it between the man who is actually selling and exploiting the film and the man who has made the film, with the big end of the Dollar to the man who made the film, this money being available then for the making of better films for the future.” Mr. Gunning paid a tribute to the members of the organization’s sale' staff and to the branch managers. He stated that many of the salesmen had walked right into the theatres where the exhibitor had filled all his playing dates months in advance, and had been given play •dates for Gunning products, because of their industry in going after the exhibitor and because of the outstanding quality of the Gunning releases. According to the reports thus far received from the exchanges, the big Gunning specials have reached the height of their stride for January“ What Do Men Want ?” Early Sales Reports Presage Record Bookings the big Lois Weber spectacle, is reported as breaking house record after house record wherever shown. “ Our Mutual Friend ” is winning a host of friends both among the lovers of Dickens’ stories and those who ’ are partial to good melodramatic pictures, with plot and a leaven of humor. It is being endorsed by schools, critics and the public generally, everywhere, as “AT the Sign of the Jack O’' Lantern,” a Renco Film Production directed by Lloyd Ingraham, is . the next picture scheduled for release by the W. W. Hopkinson Corporation, according to an announcement from the Hodkinson Home Office this week. This is the second Renco production to be released by Hodkinson, 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 exploitation possibilities of “ At the Sign of the Jack O’Lantern ” has prompted the Hodkinson advertising department to issue an unusually comprehensive plan book, which is now in the course of completion and will be ready at the time the production is released. Unique and unusually novel lobby displays and prologues are suggested with detailed descriptions WITH the completion of a special prelude in which historic American youths are portrayed, Marshall Neilan has just finished his picturization of Booth Tarkington’s “Penrod” with “Freckles” Barry in the title role. In the prelude Mr. Neilan in keeping with the story of “Penrod” introduces George Washington and Abraham Lincoln with a fitting dedication to the greatest institution of its kind in generations past, present and to come— the American Boy. “In portraying Tarkington’s story,” said the producer, “I have not attempted to detract or improve upon it. To try to cut Tarkington in this type of story would be just as foolish as to attempt to out Shakespeare in his particular field.” Mr. Ncilan’s selection of “Freckles” Barry for the part of “Penrod” has met with the author’s hearty approval, it is stated. For the part of “Penrod’s” father and mother, the producer offers Tully “ the perfect movie.” “ The Blot,” another Lois Weber production, is reported as among the popular leaders, while “ Quo Vadis,” in a brand-new dress, is crowding as many theatres as it did in its spectacular premiere years ago. “ The Girl from God’s Country,” the Nell Shipman picture of the North Woods, “ Good and Evil,” the Continental spectacle featuring Lucy Doraine, and “ The Old Oaken Bucket,” the great human-interest picture, are all being booked by both big and little houses, it is reported by the Gunning offices. for their use and adoption. Two pages of the book are devoted to illustrated exploitation stunts. The book will also contain a specially prepared four-page broadside insert showing samples of one-column, two-column and quarter-page newspaper advertisements. “ At the Sign of the Jack O’Lantern ” is a comedy-drama based on the trials and tribulations of a man who is literally “ bothered to death ” by his relatives. The cast which Director Ingraham has selected is an unusual appealing one and includes such wellknown and talented players as Betty Ross Clark, Earl Schenck, Wade Boteler, Victor Potel, Clara Clark Ward, Monty Collins, William Cortwright, Mrs. Raymond Hatton, Newton Hall and Zella Ingraham. The release date has been moved ahead from late in March to early in January. Marshall and Claire McDowell. In order to get the exact persons for other characters Neilan has had to look to the courtesy of his brother producers for such little stars as “Sunshine Sammy,” Hal Roach’s darkie, and “Baby Peggy” Montgomery, the two-year.-old Century comedy actress. Marjorie Daw, John Harron, Gordon Griffith and other equally known players comprise the supporting cast of some forty players. Collaborating with Mr. Neilan in the direction of this film was Frank O’Connor, prominent Lasky director. Lucita Squier adapted the story to the screen and David Kesson, the nineteen-year-old camera wizard was in charge of the photography. Under Mr. Neilan’s direction, D. J. Grey, film editor, is now cutting and assembling the picture, the advance print of which will be shipped to Associated First National Pictures, the distributors, within the coming week. “Behold theMan” Makes Dramatic Story “ Behold the Man,” Pathe’s beautiful hand colored story of the life of Christ, received a notable tribute from James Dean, film critic of the Newspaper Enterprise Association, recently. Mr. Dean, after proving that the Bible, judged from a literary standpoint alone, contained much dramatic material, spoke of the various film versions which had been made. Many of them, he said, failed because they did not emphasize the dramatic phases of the Bible. In this class be placed “The Life of Our Saviour,” the Pathe film before it was revised and re-edited. In its present form, under the title of “ Behold the Man,” states Mr. Dean, the picture is a work of rare dramatic merit, whereas before it embraced too much of the historical and religious detail of Jesus’ life. Mr. Dean was inadvertently misquoted in a recent issue of the Motion Picture News, making it appear as if he was not heartily in favor of “Behold the Man” in its piesent form. His criticism of “ Behold the Man ” was one of highest praise and commendation. Wm. Cabanne to Film Big Snow Scenes William Christy Cabanne, who is making “ Beyond the Rainbow,” an R-C picture, for release early in March, will complete the work on the interiors at the Sixty-first street studio, New York, during the week of January 1, and will then take the principals who appear in the big snow scenes to Lake Placid for that work. He expects to make those shots on or shortly after January 5, and will begin cutting and assembling immediately upon the completion of that work. Lloyd Ingraham Joins Universal’s Staff Lloyd Ingraham has been en1 gaged to direct Gladys Walton at Universal City. He will begin pro j duction immediately with the famous little flapper star on “Second Hand Rose,” a clever comedy drama adapted from the popular song of that name by A. P. Younger. Ingraham began his directorial career with Universal eight years ago. Recently he has done excellent work with Louis B. Mayer, Thomas Ince and Carter de Haven. Big Thrill Aids New Semon Comedy Larry Semon has been doing his utmost to make his new Vitagraph comedy one of the best in his career, according to reports from the West Coast studio where the picture is nearing completion. For the big thrill in the comedy there is the j blowing up of a locomotive, tender and box car, with some attending comedy results. The locomotive and tender runs into the box car supposed to be loaded with T. N. T. The scene is said to be one of the most dangerous and costly ever introduced in a comedy. New Hodkinson Release “ At the Sign of the Jack o’Lantern ” Will Be Issued in January Neilan’s “Penrod” Finished Special Prelude Dedicates Production to American Boyhood