Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

628d Motion Picture News Vitagraph Special to Open “ Flower of the North ” Booked for Broadway Premiere on January 14 Hodkinson Plans Drive for Lincoln Week PLANS were perfected during the past week by Sales Manager Andrew W. Smith, Jr., ot the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation for one of the most extensive sales drives yet launched by the Hodkinson Corporation in the interests of the Dial Film Company’s production, “ The Light in the Cleaiing ” for the week of Lincoln’s birthday. The purpose of the drive is to keep every print on “ The Light in the Clearing ” working every day during the week of February 12th, and already, it is said, sufficient bookings are listed to more than meet this object. In support of the drive the Hodkinson Home Office has instituted a special service campaign for Lincoln Week, and special one-sheets, which are now being prepared, will be given free to every exhibitor who shows the picture between the days of February 12th and 18th. Wm. Alexander Back from European Trip Back last Sunday with added exploitation material for the Sir A. Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes productions that the Alexander firm is to release, commencing February 1st, Mr. Alexander is now already on his first leg of a cross country selling tour that will take him as far as the West Coast, the Canadian border and the main Texas cities. Already the police officials in the country’s biggest cities are searching their archives for records of the most notable detective achievements in their respective jurisdictions during the past year. The search is in response to a questionair dispatched broadcast last week by the Alexander firm offering a handsome volumed and specially author-autographed copy of the “Sherlock Holmes Adventures” to the secret agent of each of the big bailiwicks who figured personally in the district’s most notable crime sol-' ution of 1921-’22. First Nat’l to Revive Chaplin Successes THE first comedies made by Charles Chaplin for First National are to be revived, it became known this week. The comedian made four two-reelers before embarking upon the ambitious undertaking which resulted in “ The Kid,” and there has been such a perennial demand for the short comedies that it was decided to reissue them, with new prints and advertising accessories. The order of release will be as follows: Feb. 6, “ A Dog’s Life”; Mar. 6, “Sunnyside”; Apr. 3, “Shoulder Arms”; and May 1, “A Day’s Pleas ft ‘tjn' LOWER of the North,” the •t1 Vitagraph special adapted from the novel by James Oliver Curwood, will open at the new Cameo theatre, 42nd Street and Broadway, New York, on Saturday, January 14th. The strong story of the Canadian Northwest, featuring Henry B. Walthall and Pauline Starke, is reported by Vitagraph to be in great demand and is said to have been extensively booked throughout the United States and Canada, although its general release will not come until after the engagement at the Cameo. "Flower of the North” received general commendation by the reviewers when it was shown privately at Vitagraph’s executive offices, 469 Fifth Avenue, and the author himself, after viewing the picture, took occasion to telegraph Albert E. Smith, president of Vitagraph, his delight that the screen version of his novel had been so well done. "As the author of the novel ‘Flower of the North,’ I cannot fully express my appreciation of THE special showing of "The Battle of Jutland,” given by Educational at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, the evening of January 7 "went over with a bang.” With a midshipman’s "hop” going on at the same time and a local theatre near the post running two very popular pictures, students, officers and their guests turned out in such numbers to see “The Battle of Jutland” that the Academy auditorium, which seats 1100, was jammed to overflowing. With 400 people standing in the rear of the main floor and balcony and with midshipmen sitting on the floor in the aisles, there were still more than one hundred who were unable to get into the hall at all. Captain Kurtz, Commandant of Midshipmen at the Academy, declared the audience was the largest in his recollection at the Academy, in spite of the two big rival attractions. An official invitation to the showing had been extended to "all hands,” and the turnout was remarkable. A complete program of short subjects was given for the entertainment of the middies and their guests. After an overture, they saw a Robert C. Bruce Scenic, "Strolling Minstrels” ; Kinograms, Educational’s news reel, and “The White Mouse,” a Selig-Rork Photoplay in two reels, before the presentation of the three reel superspecial “The Battle of Jutland.” The program was closed with “A Barnyard Cavalier,” a new Christie Comedy. Admiral Wilson, superintendent of the Academy, and other officials, were highly pleased. All comments by the officers were decidedly favorable. A special request has jour picturization of the book,” telegraphed Mr. Curwood. “It is one of my favorite books of the big north, and I am delighted with the masterly way that Director David Smith has put it on the screen; not only has he kept my story in every detail, but he has added to it a craftsmanship that makes it one of the best pictures I have ever seen. “I am accused of being an ultrasevere critic of the picturization of my own stories, but in this instance, I cannot find words which can too fully express my satisfaction of the splendid piece of work you have turned out with ‘Flower of the North.’ Pauline Starke is exquisite. Henry Walthall has done his best acting. The entire cast fits in like a cross section of the Northland itself. The real Jeanne D’Arcambal and I tender you our thanks.” “Flower of the North” was directed by David Smith, who directed another of the Curwood stories, “The Courage of Marge O Doone” for Vitagraph and has since had to his credit splendid special productions. been made for an exhaustive report by Admiral Wilson for the Naval War College at Newport. The same program was repeated at the Marine Barracks in Washington on the evening of January 9. Copies of the program, with an invitation to attend the showing, were sent to all naval officers on duty in Washington, to the Army War College and to high ranking army officers. About 300 of the enlisted personnel at the barracks attended this showing, with officers and men on duty at the Navy Yard. Stanton to Direct for British Company Recent reports that Richard Stanton had cabled his acceptance of an offer to direct and supervise productions for an important foreign concern are verified. Mr. Stanton has sailed on the Nieu Amsterdam, leaving New York on January 4, under contract with the British International Film Corporation, Ltd. This is an organization of comparativeley recent advent in the film world, largely controlled by English and Scotch capital, and is said to have for its executive heads several of the best known motion picture men in the United Kingdom. A few days before sailing Mr. Stanton said that the policy of the company was to make pictures for distribution in the United States as well as abroad. His arrano-ement calls for distribution of “ Richard Stanton Productions ” — special features, for which three stories by celebrated authors already have been decided on. Paramount So. Ameri can Distribution Arranged THE signing of important contracts for the distribution of Paramount Pictures in six South American countries was announced this week by E. E. Shauer, director of the foreign department of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. Effective April 1st, Paramount pictures will be distributed in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Peru and Bolivia by Max Glucksman, one of the best known of the South American leaders in the film industry. Through this new contract increased facilities are obtained for the distribution of Paramount pictures in the southern republics, as Max Glucksman has been an important distributor in these countries for a number of years. A New York office is maintained at 220 W. Fortysecond street, with Jacob Glucksman, a brother, in charge. Photodrama Filmed in South Sea Islands A photodrama filmed in the South Sea Islands is shortly to be shown in New York. The production, which is titled “The Lagoon of Desire,” is the initial effort of the Far East Productions Company. The picture was directed by Arthur Rosson. Hundreds of natives are said to appear in certain scenes. The principal players are Ruth Renick, Edward Hearn, Walt Whitman, and Frederick Stanton. Shirley Mason in Story of Lower East Side A new typical Shirley Mason picture is announced by William Fox as “ Little Miss Smiles.” The dainty and attractive star is cast in this picture as the daughter in a Lower East Side family in New York’s “melting pot.” A scene from the new Cosmopolitan production starring Marion Davies, “ The Bride’s Play,” a Paramount picture “Jutland” Pleases Middies Educational's Famous Battle Film Gets Ovation at Annapolis Academy