Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

532 Motion Picture News Scene from “ Handle with Care,” an Associated Exhibitors picture, with Grace Darmond, to be released through Pathe Vitagraph Production Plans Jose on West Coast; Rights to Booth Tarkington Novel Bought T NTENTLY absorbed in produc1 tion plans for 1922, President Albert E. Smith of Vitagraph has been in close touch with West Coast production conditions since his arrival in Hollywood a few weeks ago from New York. Together with W. S. Smith, manager of the West Coast Vitagraph studios, the company president has well under way the schedule which marks the closing of 1921 and which will usher in the New Year. Among the announcements made this week by Mr. Smith was the item that Edward Jose has arrived from Vitagraph’s Brooklyn studios. Mr. Jose arrived in Los Angeles just before Christmas, having completed the work of many months on “ The Prodigal Judge,” starring Jean Paige. Mr. Jose is to assume direction of Earle Williams in a new type of story for Mr. Williams, “The Man from Downing Street.” Another item of news from the West Coast is to the effect that Alice Calhoun, who starred in the Vitagraph production “ The Little Minister,” will remain on the West Coast and start immediately upon a picture entitled “ Angelface.” David Smith will continue to direct her. President Smith announced this week that he had purchased the rights to the novel, “ The Magnificent Ambersons,” by Booth Tarkington. “ The Magnificent Ambersons ” will be one of the early Vitagraph specials of 1922. Star and director have not as yet been determined. An Irish story also lias been decided upon for one of the 1922 specials. William Duncan and his co-star Edith Johnson, have just commenced camera work on “ Man Hunters.” a story of the Alaskan Northwest. During 1922 Duncan is scheduled to produce eight pictures of a dramatic nature. Larry Semon, Vitagraph’s comedy king, is in the midst of his latest comedy which is being hinged, upon events that originate in a theatre. Jimm\ t Aubrey is just putting the finishing touches on his latest two-reel comedy. Mr. Smith is now perfecting plans and completing negotiations which will enable him to make another announcement concerning increased Vitagraph productions during the early stages of 1922. Vitagraph’s president reiterates the fact that the company will continue to produce pictures based on the quality of cleanliness and wholesomeness. QUALITY VAUDEVILLE AND SOLOISTS FOR MOTION PICTURE AND VAUDEVILLE THEATRES THE FALLY MARKUS TANDARD VAUDEVILL AGENCY BRYANT 4103 1547 BROADWAY NEW YORK CITY Pathe Releases Due Jan. 15 “ Bashful Lover, Truex, Included A NOTHER well-balanced schedule of short subject features and one serial episode has been arranged by Pathe for release the week of January 15th. Included in the schedule is “ The Bashful Lover,” the third two-reel comedy starring Ernest Truex, who has scored a tremendous hit at the Harris Theatre in New York this season in “ Six-Cylinder Love.” Julia Mills plays opposite the star in this offering, and a carefully selected cast of players, including a ballet of classic dancers, appear in his support. “A Strange Message” is the third episode of the new Pathe serial, “ White Eagle,” starring Ruth Roland. Miss Roland is aided in the episode by Earl Metcalfe, Virginia Ainsworth, Otto Lederer, Harry Girard, Bud Osborne— and five hundred Indians and cowpunchers help keep the action going at a break-neck rate of speed. “The Non-Stop Kid” is the current re-issued one-reel comedy starring Harold Lloyd. “ Loose ” Starring Ernest in the Schedule Change” is the title of the latest Hal Roach comedy, presenting a satire on plays of crookdom. For the offering, the funniest players from the staff of the Roach comedians were chosen, including “ Sunshine Sammy,” Paul Parrott, Ethel Broadhurst, George Rowe! Mark Jones and a galaxy of “ second story ” men. “ The Dog and the Flea ” is the newest animated cartoon of the series of “Aesop’s Film Fables.” Pathe Review No. 138 presents a series of interesting and entertaining subjects. “The Devil’s Fool” shows views of one of Nature’s natural wonders in Bermuda ; “ Two Men and a Pickle ” is a slow-motion study in facial expression; “The Little Mountaineers” presents views in the vicinity of Vonga, Portugal; “A Bare-Hand Alligator Hunt” is an exciting adventure sale of the Florida Everglades ; and “ The Holy City, Today” is a Pathecolor presentation showing places of interest in Jerusalem, Palestine. Releasing“HailtheWomen” Ince Special Direct to Exhibit ors Through tiT_JAIL the Woman,” the Al Thomas H. Ince special production which is to be released by Associated First National Pictures, Inc., will go direct to the exhibitors of the country instead of playing in legitimate theatres in the key cities. There has been incessant inquiry ever since “ Hail the Woman ” was first screened from exhibitors to find out whether Mr. Ince would follow his custom and release this picture to the motion picture theatres of the country or to legitimate houses. The first booking of “ Hail the Woman ” was at Balaban & Katz’s magnificent Chicago theatre, where the picture played the week before Christmas. The Chicago is Balaban & Katz’s first venture into big theatre presentation in downtown Chicago. Exhibitors in some territories took advantage of the Christmas appeal of “Hail the Woman ” to present the production during Christmas week. Among the houses which played the Ince special commencing Christmas day were the Palace at Wichita, Kan., the Grand at Topeka, Kan., and the A. H. Blank theatres of Des Moines, Burlington Decorah, Davenport and Fort Dodge, Iowa. The first general presentation of “ Hail the Woman ” in big theatres will occur the week of January 14 when play dates have been set for Rubin & Finklestein’s two big twin city theatres, the Capitol. St. Paul and the State theatre of Minneapolis, the Grand of Greenville, Miss., and the Palace of Mandan, N. D. New Year’s week bookings include the Auditorium of Dayton and the Majestic of Columbus, O., Garrick, Duluth and Grand, Northfield, Minn. First National Other big bookings already listed at the First National home office on Hail the Woman” include: Strand Emporia, Kans., State, Hibbing, Minn., Alamo Louisville; Princess, Minneapolis; and Skorus Bros., and New Grand Central and West End Lyric theatres, St. Louis, the latter of which will play the last week in January. The New York date for “ Hail the Woman ” has not been set, but it probably will have a run in January at one of the big Broadway theatres. “Over the Hiir’ Totals Record Revenue “ Over the Hill,” the William Fox special production, which ran one solid year on Broadway, has created another fine record. According to an announcement made by Fox Film Corporation, the picture’s revenue has totaled more than $2,500,000 since its release to the large first-run houses in the key cities of the United States alone. These statistics were compiled for the several months up to December 15, 1921. Canadian Opening for Kipling Picture Rudyard Kipling’s “ Without Benefit of Clergy,” released by Pathe, is registering a sensational success in Canada, according to all reports coming from the Dominion. This touching story of India had its premier last month in Toronto, and led the motion picture critic of the Toronto World, to place it in the same class with “ The Four Horsemen” and “The Old Nest.”