Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

530 Motion Picture New* Lloyd Hamilton and his leading lady. Irene Dalton, appearing in Educational Mermaid comedies Jutland Film Hand Painted Educational Coloring 200 Feet; Prints Are Imported from England GEORGE A. SKINNER, vicepresident and manager of production of Educational Film Exchanges, Inc., has just returned from Providence, Rhode Island, where he has been supervising work on prints of “The Battle of Jutland,’’ the film reproduction of that great battle which Educational is preparing for early release. As soon as the prints are completed. Educational will release the picture as a special. Approximately two hundred feet of the picture illustrates gun fire and the burning of the unfortunate ships that went to the bottom in this terrific naval conflict. Each frame in this part of the picture has to be painted by hand to give the stirring effect of battle which so thrilled the audiences at the Rialto Theatre in New York, where the picture had the only showing it has been given so far in this country. The tedious work of coloring these frames is being done at the laboratory of the Coronet Films Corporation at Providence, where much work has been done on Educational’s pedagogical subjects, such as “ The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes ” and “ The Crater of Mt. Katmai.” * A considerable part of the picture, “The Battle of Jutland,” presents “shots” of British vessels that took part in the battle. The negative of these “shots” is the property of the British Admiralty, and is in the possession of the vessels pictured. Prints of this part of the picture, therefore, had to be imported from London. Part of these prints have already arrived and the rest are on the way, so that the complete prints of “ The Battle of Jutland” are expected to be ready in a very short time. The first complete print made with the new titles that have been written to substitute for the titles used in the British presentations, is expected to be completed for the showing of the picture at the Naval Academy at Annapolis and at the Marine Barracks at Washington. Universal Serial Is Started “ The Adventures of Under Way at TX7dTH the continuities, sets * » and production held up merely for the selection of a star, word has just come from Universal City that production of “ The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe ” has been started. This is the third of its new educationalhistorical series. The first one, “Winners of the West,” is just finishing its course of 18 episodes. No serial in the history of the Universal has made such a startling record as “ Winners of the West.” Its promise of a new and nobler era in the motion picture serial field is being carried on by the second of the series, “With Stanley in Africa,” the first episode of which will be released on January 23. It had been the intention when Eddie Polo was still with the Universal to star him in “ The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.” and Robinson Crusoe ” Universal City all preparations were made to start the serial by the 15th of December. I Iowevcr, events so shaped themselves as to make it necessary to begin production on the fourth oi the series," In the Days of Buffalo Bill," starring Art Acord', first. In the meantime, Universal considered a number of available stars suitable to play the part of Robinson Crusoe. This problem was solved by Mr. Julius Stern, the newly elected second vice-president of Universal. One of the objects of his recent trip to 1600 Broadwav was the selection of a serial star for “ The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.” This search culminated in the engagement of Jack O’Brien, who has all of the physical characteristics required and who has had enough experience in the serial, “ Bride 13,” to weather the arduous role mapped out for him. Goldwy n Finds Big Demand Last Season Products Still Going Strong in Many Parts of Country THAT Goldwyn chose wisely in making selections for its fourth year product is evidenced by the fact that last season's pictures are still in great demand in every section of the country, declares the Goldwyn home office. These pictures, it will be recalled, were made with the idea of presenting wide \ariety of types of stories. Mrs. Rinehart's delightful story of prep school life, “It’s A Great Life,” has met with unusual success in every part of the country. The humorous aspect of adolescents trying to act like grown folks is universal; and every audience has responded to it. Mrs. Burt's “The Branding Iron,” the first photoplay that this talented novelist and screen writer had produced, has held its public by the stern realities of its plot and through its uncompromising presentation of its crude characters. Rex Beach's “The North Wind’s Malice,” with the talented Vera Gordon in the role of a Jewish mother, is another North Woods picture that has won its audiences and is still finding new markets. Perhaps the most discussed picture of the rear was “The Penalty” by Gouverneur Morris, ■which presented Lon Chaney in the role of a legless monster of the underworld. This bitter portrait aroused many controversies; but the picture was so powerful that it is still one of the most sought after melodramas in the Goldwyn list. Another melodrama that has met wide approval is the Reginald Barker production of “ Godless Men.” It is a strong story of a fearless man and his worthless son, presented without sentimentality. In the field of rollicking farce, Rupert Hughes showed his deftness in “Hold Our Horses,” in which Tom Moore gave an admirable impersonation of a ditch digger who rose to heights he never dreamed of in his digging days. One of the most gratifying incidents in connection with the Goldwyn Fourth Year product is the increasing vitality of “Earthbound,” the Basil King photodrama fwrhich sought for its theme a dramatic probing of the land beyond. Another Goldwyn photoplay that will always be remembered and is still as much in demand as the latest Goldwyn picture is “Madame X,” starring Pauline Frederick. Cast for New Beach Story Betty Blythe Female Lead in Next for United A ANNOUNCEMENT has been made of the completion of the cast for the second Rex Beach film production for United Artist release. Miss Betty Blythe was selected for the leading feminine role, that of a Sicilian countess. Thurston Hall, who was the “ heavy ” in Mr. Beach's preceding picture, “ The Iron Trail,” is again cast as the foil for the hero. In the forthcoming production, however, Mr. Hall will portray a more smooth and suave villain than in the former Beach feature, a part however, in which he is a past master. In this role lie will bring to the screen much of the fine characterization seen in the Broadway stage play, “The Broken Wing.” Arthur Lucy, well-known on the speaking stage and on the screen, has been cast for the quaint comedy role. He will be best remembered by the public for his work in support of William Collier. Robert Elliott was selected for the straight lead opposite Betty Blythe, while Gladys Hulette was given the ingenue role. Other parts , are taken bv Florence Auer, Macey Harlem, Effingham Pinto, Henry Leone and Walter James. The story from which the new picture is being made, is practically an original one by Mr. Beach. Kenneth Webb is directing the film, under personal supervision of Whitman Bennett, who has arranged to take the entire company of players down to New Orleans on January 14, in which locality most of the exterior scenes will be made in the exact locale called for in Mr. Beach's story. Artists Release Following the rule for all his United Artists releases, Mr. Bennett insists that the background for every scene be correct in every detail. After having the studio sets designed by experts, the exterior wrork will be done, in the environment and on the actual location described in the script. The story of the new Beach feature opens in Sicily, where the action takes place in interior settings, and then shifts to New Orleans where the Italian quarter figures prominently in the scene embellishment. Realistic Snow Scene in New Mermaid An artistic bit of work of which the technical department of Hamilton-White Comedies, Inc., may justly feel proud, is in evidence on one of the stages on which scenes are being made for the latest Mermaid Comedy featuring Lloyd Hamilton, which will be released by Educational in the near future. A large portion of the stage hasbeen made to represent a small New England village in midwinter. Hamilton's trip to this town and his difficulties along the way give the picture its title of “ En Route.” Snow is piled high about the village buildings and trees which were hauled for many miles have been arranged in the background, apparently laden down with snow. Massive “ props” were required for other scenes in this picture, which promises to be one of the most elaborate productions of the series of six pictures featuring Hamilton