Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

534 Motion Picture News “The Foolish Age” Has Los Angeles Opening LOS ANGELES had its “one wild foolish week,” at Loew's New State theatre did recordbreaking business when Doris May’s first Hunt Stromberg production, “ The Foolish Age,” an R-C picture, was given its Los Angeles premiere last week. Preceded by a publicity exploitation campaign which heralded the advent of Doris May as a star in her own right, and enhanced by presentation music and features, “ The Foolish Age ” won the plaudits of both public and critics, the leading Los Angeles reviews summarizing it as “ a delightful and refreshing comedy that establishes a new record for outbursts of laughter.” On the opening night, Sunday, December 19, waiting lines that extended for a block and a half on Broadway and West Seventh street bore testimony to the interest assumed by the film capital in the first Doris May picture bearing the R-C Pictures trademark. Colleen Moore Scores as Comedienne When the Goldwyn production of Rupert Hughes’s photoplay, “ The Wall Flower,” is released, exhibitors will discover that a new comedienne of remarkable talent has been found in Colleen Moore, declares a statement from the Goldwyn offices. The picture was made from a short story by Rupert Hughes that appeared in Collier’s. Mr. Hughes also did the continuity and directed the picture. When this first Goldwyn picture in which Miss Moore has appeared is released, a new type of comedienne will have been added to the roster of artists that have become famous overnight, it is declared. The Goldwyn company feels sanguine that Miss Moore’s performance will meet all the tests that critics apply to a rising young artiste. A scene from Sir Gilbert Parker’s story, “ The Lane That Had No-Turning,” with Agnes Ayres and Theodore Kosloff, a Paramount picture Veiller-Lytell Picture Nearing Completion “ Sherlock Brown,” a comedydrama written and directed by Bayard Veiller, is the title of Bert Lytell’s latest Metro special photoplay. It is now nearing completion at the Hollywood studios of the company. Lytell plays the role of Sherlock Brown, a detective. Ora Carew is the leading woman in the cast, which numbers among its list of players Sylvia Breamer, De Witt Jennings. Theodore Von Eltz, Wilton Taylor, Hardee Kirkland, George Barnum and George Kuwa. Lenore Coffee, of the Metro scenario department in Hollywood, adapted Mr. Vciller’s story to the screen. Myron Selznick Active During European Trip THE home offices of the Selznick C o r p o ration are in daily communication by cable with Vice President Myron Selznick, in charge of production for the company, who is at present in Europe on a business trip. There is every indication that important announcements by the Selznick company will follow the return of Mr. Selznick to New York within the next two or three weeks. Metro Stars on Personal Appearance Tour BERT LYTELL and Viola Dana, Metro stars, are about to embark on a “ get-acquainted ” tour of the the United States that will take one player or the other into practically every big city in the country. When it was decided that a vacation of probably six weeks would be made possible through a readjustment of film schedules, both Mr. Lytell and Miss Dana decided to make use of this period to make their transcontinental dash. Although the dates of their appearances have not yet been settled, it is proposed that each start at the West Coast and zigzag to the Atlantic, stopping at the most important cities en route. “CensorProof” Films Win Tribute A remarkable compliment to Cosmopolitan Productions is paid by Royal A. Baker, censor of amusements of Detroit, Mich. In a letter to Hal Hodes, sales manager of the organization, Mr. Baker, who, besides being censor, is a lieutenant of detectives, congratulates the corporation “ for choosing plays of such a nature that the censors need not worry.” Hodkinson Pictures' Get Chicago First Runs Seven Hodkinson released productions have been booked for Barbee’s Loop theatre in Chicago, to be shown at the rate of two a month, according to an announcement from the Hodkinson home office in New York this week. They are “ The Mysterious Rider,” “ Rip Van Winkle,” “Jane Eyre,” “Cameron of the Royal Mounted,” “ Fifty Candle,” “French Heels” and “ The Light in the Clearing.” More than 100 recently released productions are still waiting for first-run showings in the downtown section of Chicago, it is said, and the booking of six Hodkinson productions for immediate showings in Chicago is interpreted as a special tribute to the worthiness of the Hodkinson product. Scene from “ Smiles Are Trumps,” a forthcoming William Fox production in which Maurice Flynn is starred Monroe Salisbury Making^New Picture Monroe Salisbury will have two leading women in his latest production, “The Great Alone,” which Jacques Jaccard is directing for the West Coast Films Corporation at the Pacific Studios in San Mateo, California. The two leads for whom the star braves untold perils in the drama are Miss Draga, a 15 year old blonde, and Lura Anson, late of Lasky productions. Producer Security will handle the releasing arrangements. “Disraeli” Endorsed by Various Classes From representatives of various classes there continue to come unsolicited and unqualified indorsements of George Arliss and his film version of “ Disraeli,” his first picture for United Artists. Adolph Steiner, rabbi, of Salt Lake City, Utah, writes : “ The production is superb. It inspires loyalty and the highest type of service to one’s government. Disraeli’s love for his wife teaches that real success can only come to one by the aid of true happiness in the home. Every man and woman should see this marvelous play and I am sure that they will learn a lesson of priceless worth.” “ The ‘ Disraeli ’ picture is a masterpiece,” says George Emory Fellows, head of the Department of History and Political Science, University of Utah. “As one familiar with the history of Disraeli, I would say I do not see how the spirit of the time and transactions could be better shown,” he declares. Old Favorites Support Elaine Hammerstein The cast supporting Elaine Hammerstein, in “ Why Announce Your Marriage?” to be released by Select Pictures Corporation January 30, will comprise an assemblage of old favorites. Niles Welch, Florence Billings, Frank Currier and Arthur Housman form a mixed foursome of players well known to “ fans.” “ Why Announce Your Marriage?” will be the third picture in which Niles Welch has appeared as Miss Hammerstein’s leading man. Two scenes from the forthcoming George Arliss picture, “ The Ruling Passion,” to be released by United Artists