Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

January 28, 1922 749 Three scenes from the forthcoming Selznick special which will feature Owen Moore. This will be Moore’s biggest comedy. It is as yet untitled. Pathe Acquires Celebrated French Picture PATHE announces this week the acquisition of one of the most celebrated of recent European motion picture productions, “ Mathias Sandorf,” from the Jules Verne romance bearing the same title. This is the Louis N a 1 p a s production which enjoyed a first run at 54 Paris theatres, with second, third and fourth runs crowding more than double that number of houses, and which is now in the third month of a highly profitable engagement at Cirque D’Hiver, where, according to the Pathe homeoffice, it fills 2,000 seats at each performance. Mr. Nalpas arrived from Paris last week and signed contracts with Paul Brunet conveying to Pathe Exchange, Inc., distributing rights of “ Mathias Sandorf ” in this country. Century Film Names | February Releases The February releases of the Century Film Corporation will include “The Touchdown,” Lee Moran’s comedy of college life; “Horse Sense,” Harry Sweet’s comedy on an ocean liner; “Little Miss Mischief,” the story of a naughty little girl, starring Baby Peggy. Julius Stern announces that he has engaged Tom Buckingham to direct Harry Sweet. He has also given little Jackie Morgan a contract to play with Brownie, the Century Wonder dog in his next picture. Baby Peggie, Brownie’s usual starring partner, is engaged in making comedies at the head of her own company of grown-ups. Alpine Setting in New Gloria Swanson Film An Alpine hotel, perfect in every detail, has been constructed fpr “ Beyond the Rocks,” Elinor Glyn’s story which Jack Cunningham has translated to the screen as a Paramount picture starring Gloria Swanson. 2 More Talmadge Revivals Selznick Announces “ Good Night Paul ” and “ By Right of Purchase ” THE announcement comes from Lewis J. Selznick that he is ready with another brace of Talmadge revivals for early showings — “Good-Night Paul,” with Constance Talmadge the star, and “By Right of Purchase,” starring Norma. These revivals will be isused in January and February, “Good-Night Paul” being the first to be released. Showmen have found that “fans” are anxious to see the Talmadge girls in everything they have done, as much to exercise their expression of favoritism as to compare the present work of these stars with their earlier successes, declares a statement from the Selznick offices. It is a matter of record that in a majority of localities the revivals are accepted w ith as much enthusiasm and with as fulsome box-office results as are the newer works of these engaging young ladies, declares the Selznick statement. “Good-Night Paul” was a stage work of Roland Oliver and Charles Dickson before Selznick screened the adaptation Julia Crawford Ivers provided. Harrison Ford is leading man for Constance in the revival, with Norman Kerry, John Steppling, Beatrice Van and Rosita Marstini in prom inent supporting roles. “GoodNight Paul” was one of the last works the late Walter Edwards contributed to the screen as a director. “By Right of Purchase” will be hailed with particular delight by fans who recall the days when Eugene O’Brien and Norma Talmadge were making their way to fame under the Selznick management. They are here in this Margery Land May story, doing some of the best work that has been credited to them as star and leading man. Showmen will find an unusual billing opportunity in combining the names of Eugene O’Brien and Norma Talmadge in their advertising and publicity announcements— for two-star combinations come seldom in these days of individual advancement. Charles Miller directed “By Right of Purchase.” William Courtleigh, Jr., Charles Wellsley, • Ida Darling and Florence Billings are leaders in the support. As in the case of every Selznick reissue, “Good-Night Paul” and “By Right of Purchase” have been revised I and re-edited and printed on new stock, thus carrying every hallmark of productions but lately made. j] Jf “ The Prodigal Judge ” P Harmon Weight Directs “The Ruling Passion’’ ] Harmon Weight, director of the new George Arliss photoplay, “ The Ruling Passion,” which is being released by United Artists on February 19th, is one of the youngest directors in the film industry, but possesses the authority of much experience in the directorial field. Mr. Weight was born in Salt Lake City, and began a stage career when just a boy. Before he was twenty-two years old he had a stock company in the Utah city and soon extended his activities to Portland, Seattle and Tacoma. As an actor he essayed a variety of roles and as a producer he staged many big successes. “Peacock Alley’’ Sets Record for Metro MAE MURRAY’S newest motion picture, “ Peacock Alley,” has been booked more heavily than any production ever released by Metro Pictures Corporation, with the one exception of “ The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” declares a statement just received from the Metro home office. Although there was from the first, according to General Manager William E. Atkinson, promise that “ Peacock Alley,” would be a sensational box-office offering, It hardly had been anticipated that at this time it should have outstripped the record of every picture except “ The Four Horsemen.” One early indication of the instant attractive power of Miss Murray’s picture was its choice as an opening feature at B. S. Moss’s new Cameo theatre in New York, where it ran before capacity houses for three weeks. “Over the Hill” Breaking Records in South New glory is daily added to the record of “ Over the Hill,” the Fox special which enjoyed a solid year’s run on Broadway, New York, before it began to sweep through East and West on its triumphant tour. Its reception by exhibitors throughout the South, where it is now making its way, is most enthusiastic, according to a statement from Fox Film Corporation. Record runs have been established, for example, by every theatre in the key cities of Texas where the production has been shown, the statement declares. Theatres which heretofore have considered a three-day engagement as unusual have played “ Over thh Hill ” for a week. Exhibitors who feared to hold a picture more than a week found that the . Fox special continued to attract capacity houses after the second and third week.