Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

632 Motion Picture News Huge Covered Stage Is Added to Lasky Studio PROOF that production activity at the Lasky studio is to be pushed forward on an even greater scale in the near future is offered by the news of the completion of the mammoth glass-covered stag e — the largest structure of its kind in the motion picture world. This stage, which will be known as No. 4, measures one hundred and twenty-five feet in width and two hundred and fifty feet in length. It has a clearance height of thirty feet and rises to a maximum of forty-two feet at the apex of roof. The stage was appropriately dedicated by a successful employees’ dance held on the eve of its entrance into practical service. Credit for the construction work on the new structure goes to Victor H. Clarke, under whose personal supervision it was erected; Charles F. Eyton, general manager of Famous Players-Lasky West Coast activities, and James Scutter, Lasky studio superintendent. Prologue Staged for “Little Minister” Photographs of stage settings and prologues sent in to Yitagraph s executive office by branch managers and by exhibitors who have played Vitagraph’s new production, “The Little Minister,” indicate a surprising intimacy with the art of James M. Barrie. The hundred-odd theatres which played this production Christmas week in and around New York city did not, as a rule, use any prologues or stage settings in connection with the showing, but the public screenings of the past week have been coupled largely with elaborate stagings of scenes reflective of the Scotch atmosphere of the place, declares a statement from Vitagraph’s home-office. No Halt in Work on Mermaid Comedies While a number of companies on the West Coast were forced to suspend production work temporarily during the recent heavy rains, work on the Mermaid Comedies being made for Educational went right ahead. The schedule had been so arranged that all exteriors for the latest Lloyd Hamilton picture and Jack White production in this series wrere obtained before the rain began. During the deluge the companies worked at top-notch speed filming interiors. Chester in New Office The C. L. Chester Productions, Inc., producing Chester Comedies and Chester Travel pictures, have moved their New York office from 120 West 41st street, to 220 West 42nd street. Cubans HonorMaeMurray Pa^eNoveuzhideForme Havana Newspa] Space to Visit Mae Murray in a pose from “ Peacock Alley,” which will be distributed by Metro THE Havana newspapers recording the arrival of Mae Murray in Cuba for the Tiffany Production of “ Fascination,” to be presented by Robert Z. Leonard and released by Metro, have just reached the New York office Of Metro Pictures. Column after column, and, in some cases, entire pages were devoted to descriptions of the ovation she received, according to word from the Metro rs Give Abundant of Metro’s Star headquarters. Ramon B e c a 1 i , editor-in-chief of La Noche, who took advantage of the occasion to interview her himself, devoting five columns to the story, is quoted as saying that no screen star had ever stirred the enthusiasm of Havana to such a tremendous extent, but that the enthusiasm was easily understood, “ as Miss Murray was easily the favorite star among the Cubans.” Preliminary announcements had stirred the picture fans’ curiosity and thousands of people swarmed to the harbor to await the arrival of the seaplane by which Miss Murray arrived with her husbanddirector Robert Z. Leonard, flying from Key West, Florida. Huge floral pieces spelled out the word, “ Bienvenida 1” — Welcome. Crowds lined the streets as the star motored to her hotel, the Sevilla. Banquets of welcome followed, all of which were described in detail by the Havana writers, with special compliments for the quality of champagne that was served. The climax was reached with a special showing of “ Peacock Alley,” the first of the series of pictures that Miss Murray is making for Metro. Everybody who belongs in Cuba’s “ Who’s Who ” was there. Miss Murray and Mr. Leonard made speeches from their box. The reviewers were highly favorable in their comments on the picture. “White Eagle,” Ruth Roland’s ,! latest serial, released by Pathe on i January 1, goes to exhibitors, act I companied by special exploitation prepared with unusual thoroughness. This is a particularly effec I tive “White Eagle” novel, written I by Herbert Crooker from Val Cleveland's scenario and furnished to newspapers in matrix form. I Each of the fifteen episodes of the I serial is made up for a separate matrix. These occupy on an average about the space of 2,000 words of type and make complete installments, several being accompanied by special matrix illustrations, enabling their use when space permits. Printed sheets of the complete novelization are supplied to exhibitors for examination by their local editors, who, upon application, are furnished with the matrix in j stallments. These sheets also are mailed direct to the many newspapers throughout the United s States and Canada which have pub-.jj lished Pathe serial novelizations heretofore. ‘ ‘ Boy-Crazy , ’ \. with Doris May, Finished William A. Seiter, directing Doris May, has taken the final , scenes in “ Boy-Crazy,” Hunt Stromberg’s third production with this star for R-C Pictures. The photoplay is from an original story] by Beatrice Van. Harry Myers has the leading male role. “Hail the Woman” in'Frisco luce Production Is Acclaimed by Press During Showing at Tivoli urjAIL THE WOMAN,” lJ Thomas H. Ince’s masterpiece, which is being released under the banner of Associated First National Pictures, Inc., opened at the Tivoli Opera House in San Francisco on Christmas Day, and won unprecedented and unanimous praise from the critics of all the newspapers in the Golden Gate City. Among the comments were the following : The Bulletin : “In ‘Hail the Woman,’ Thomas H. Ince has given the screen a picture which will stand alone for a long time. This play opened yesterday at the Tivoli theatre, and notwithstanding that it comes so late in the year, it will go down as one of the big productions of 1921, and there is nothing in sight at the present time for the coming year which will to any extent equal it.” The Daily News : “ ‘ Hail the Woman ’ is intensely human, always natural and completely interesting. There is a gulp in your throat many times as the film unrolls and a clutch at your heart. “The story is magnificently told, splendidly acted and finely photographed. It strikes a new note of naturalness and vigor in pictures and stands out as an example for other directors to follow.” The Chronicle: “Once in a long while, although perhaps not more infrequently than in other lines of artistic endeavor, a motion picture is produced that can be given unqualified endorsement as a genuine achievement of real merit, fundamentally sound, significant and artistically satisfactory in every detail. Such a picture is Thomas H. Ince’s 'Hail the Woman,’ now at the Tivoli.” The Call : “Whether or not ‘Hail the Woman’ sets a new standard in motion picture production may be a question for dispute. But there certainly will be no question about its attaining a standard that closely approached perfection in every phase of movie making, story, directional, settings, acting, titling and photography. “‘Hail the Woman’ is a plain story of plain American people. It is told in homely language that any one can understand and deals with incidents that could easily come into the lives of the ordinary family.” R-C Posters Ready Posters are being distributed to R-C Pictures exchanges on two productions for early release. They are “ The Call of Home ” directed by Gasnier ; and “ Why Men Forget,” from the novel “ Demos,” by George Gissing. First National Releases ( Continued from page 631) starring vehicle, “ The Divorcee,” | an original story by Edgar Selwynl under the direction of Sidney Franklin, at the United Studios.l Supporting Miss Talmadge are Harrison Ford and Kenneth Harlan. The company has been on location to Big Bear Valley as well as Catalina Island. John Emerson, one of the most noted of directors and photoplaywrights, has become a producer also. His first picture, “ Red Hot Romance,” has been completed and is to be released by Associated First National Pictures, Inc. It was written by Mr. Emerson and his talented young wife, Anita Loos, and their combined talents are responsible for one of the most entertaining of pictures within recent years. Basil Sydney. May Collins and Edward Connelly head the cast. Buster Keaton has completed “ Cops,” his latest two-reel mirthquake for Joseph M. Schenck,* which is to be released through Associated First National. The picture is now being cut and titled) and will be ready for preview in New York City within a fortnightJ The casting of Richard Walton Tully’s “ The Masquerader,” has commenced. Guy Bates Post plays the star role. Kenneth Gibson, son of Ida McGlone Gibson, famous newspaper woman, has the role of Bobby Blessington. the secretary.' Brook, the valet, will be played by E. M. Kimball, veteran character man.