Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

634 Motion Picture News A scene from “ The Rosary,” the Selig-Rork feature which will be distributed by Associated First National Tully with First National Famous Playwright-Producer and Guy Bates Post to Film Big Hit Nineteen-twenty two will witness the screen debut of two of the foremost figures in the “ legitimate ” field — Richard Walton Tully and Guy Bates Post. They will begin their motion picture activities by filming “ The Masquerader,” which was written and staged by Mr. Tully and in which Mr. Post played for years in all sections of the country, setting records for popularity and box office receipts which have been attained by few plays. “ The Masquerader ” will be released by Associated' First National Pictures, Inc. Production has begun in the United studios in Los Angeles, and no effort is being spared to make the film version of the famous play one of the outstanding successes of the year. The picture is being directed by James Young, one of the leaders in his field. Wilfred Buckland, who is the art director, will be remembered as the first man in the industry to hold such a position. George Benoit, a veteran cinematographer, is at the camera. Richard Walton Tully is conceded to be America’s foremost playwright-producer. Every production with which he has been associated has registered a bull’seye on the target of popular approval, at the same time setting a high standard of artistic achievement. No single producer on our stage has been as consistently successful. Commencing with “ The Rose of the Rancho ” written by him and staged in collaboration with David Belasco, his every play has enjoyed record-breaking runs on Broadway and throughout the country. His second play was “ The Bird of Paradise,” originally written by Tully twelve years ago and still one of the biggest stage properties in the business. “Omar the Tentmaker,” his third play, was another big money-maker. So were “ The Flame,” “ The Masquerader ” — which he is now filming in Los Angeles — and “ Keep Her Smiling” which looked fair to establishing comedy records when it was closed by the untimely death of Sidney Drew. This year Tully was represented on the New York stage by “ The Right to Strike.” In Guy Bates Post, the star of this film, the screen is gaining the most distinguished actor on the American stage today. His performance in the leading roles of “ The Masquerader ” for over seven consecutive years, added to his achievements in “ Omar the Tentmaker,” “The Bird of Paradise,” “The Nigger,” “The Challenge ” and a number of Clyde Fitch’s plays, places him in the foremost ranks of his profession. Gunning Sales Drive Is Proving Big Success WITH the Wid Gunning Month sales drive half over, reports received at the Gunning home offices are daily piling up evidence that the exchanges are beating all their past performances for the amount of business brought in during a single month. Important first-run bookings on the big Gunning specials are being made all over the country, according to word from the Gunning headquarters, and many well-known exhibitors who had booked up solid for several months in advance, rearranged their schedule to make a place for “ What Do Men Want? ” “ Our Mutual Friend,” or other Gunning releases. One of the features of the booking is the fact that a number of exhibitors after showing one Gunning picture to crowded houses have booked all the other releases, announces a statement from the Gunning headquarters. “Call of Home” R-C Release Big Flood Scenes in New Gasnier Picture to Be Released Shortly Exhibitors throughout the country who have been clamoring for unusual productions with plenty of action and at least one big thrill that lends itself to exploitation are promised that R-C Pictures’ latest Gasnier special “ The Call of Home ” will be up to specifications in every detail, according to Charles R. Rogers, general manager of distribution for that organization. “ The Call of Home,” which is the picturized version of George A g n e w Chamberlain’s novel “ Home ” has been produced with one thing uppermost, says Mr. Rogers, and that is its box-office appeal. Besides unfolding a story of poignant dramatic interest that carries the beholder from the drowsy hills of New England, where the tale begins, to the distant wastelands of South America, “ The Call of Home ” depicts a spectacular flood scene. The scenes were filmed in the Colorado river region when that stream was swollen from storms and over ran its banks, causing widespread destruction. This enabled Mr. Gasnier to film scenes that are notable for their realism, according to Mr. Rogers. “ ‘ The Call of Home ’ is unlike anything Mr. Gasnier has done for us in recent months,” declared Mr. Rogers. “ Heretofore he has specialized in dramatic subjects at which he is admittedly one of the most skilful directors in the industry. This time he has laid great stress on his big, spectacular scenes although not omitting a fine treatment of the dramatic elements in the love-story which forms the basis of the production. “ ‘ The Call of Home ’ has been designed for one purpose. It has been made to have direct box-office appeal. It is a production the smart exhibitor can exploit very handily because of its big flood scenes that are actually the last word in screen direction. “ In addition to the flood scenes is still another spectacular episode in which Ramsey Wallace, as the wandering husband, is catapulted from a canoe in which he is pad 1 dling, and thrown headlong into the water as the craft goes over a cataract. This is all fine show stuff, and should enable all exhibitors to make a tidy clean-up.” Air. Gasnier assembled a brilliant cast including Irene Rich, Leon Bary, Ramsey Wallace, Jobyna Ralston, Carl Stockdale, Sidney Franklin, Margaret Mann, Wadsworth Harris, Genevieve Blinn, . James O. Barrows, Harry Lonsdale, Norma Nichols and Emmet King. A Revolutionary Step The following one reel and split reel comedies and dramas are now being offered in the open market for showing in theatres, schools, churches, community centres and homes in the United States, Canada, and every other country in the world. Territorial Rights and NEW Prints on NON-INFLAMMABLE FILM Standard (35 m /m) and Narrow (28 m/m) Widths. PEARL WHITE and other well-known stars are featured in most of the subjects below: — What Papa Got Girls Will Be Boys Her Burglars and Wise Mama A Rich Uncle How to Get Married A Pair of Fools Will Power Pearl’s Hero What She Did to Her Husband The Kitchen Mechanic Much Ado About Nothing Her Secretary Ohl You City Girl Pearl and the Tramp Pearl’s Dilemma It May Come to This Pearl the Detective Girl Reporter Mad Lover Book Agent Mary’s Romance False Love and True Expensive Drink Her Necklace Hubby’s Night Off and many Lost in the Night Cabaret Singer Paper Doll Man with the Black Beard College Chums Hallroom Girls Who Is in the Box Uncle’s Last Letter Woman and the Law Caught in the Act His Aunt Emma Broken Spell A Call from Home The Child’s Influence A Greater Influence When Duty Calls Hour of Terror Out of the Grave Red Heart The Ring True Chivalry In Death’s Shadow Out of the East Hidden Love The Convict’s Daughter M. H. SCHOENBAUM 220 West 42nd Street, New York City Cable Address Cinoptic, New York