Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

881 ’bruary 4, 1922 mining’s Novelty Reel /ork of Ashley Miller itrr^HE GOOD THINGS OF LIFE,” the weekly short-feature novelty just acquired for distribution by Wid Gunning, [nc., is the creation of Ashley Wilier, who has many notable ichievements to his credit luring a career of thirty-five ^ears on the stage and in modon pictures. For twenty years, Mr. Wilier devoted himself to theatricals, as actor and playwright. Several of his plays, ncluding a musical comedy, saw New York production. Then motion pictures at:racted his interest, fifteen years ago, and he started, luspiciously, with D. W. Griffith, who produced some of lis stories. For some time, ae worked in the old Bio»raph with Mary Pickford ind others who developed world-wide fame. From Griffith, he went to the Edison company, where be wrote and directed short comedies, for seven years. He left that company to direct specials for Pathe, Famous, Lasky, Vitagraph and Community Productions, but his strongest interest remained with the short subject. He tried various experiments in the short subject jfield, inventing the plastic modelling, which was released on the Paramount program. He continued his experiments and “ The Good Things of Life ” is his latest achievement. ‘‘The Good Things of Life ” is a weekly single reel release, the first number of jwhich will be issped on February 15. French Heels” Will Be Released January 29 “French Heels,” an Edwin I Hollywood production, which arks the first appearance of iene Castle on the screen in a riod of more than two years, will released on January 29th, by the |'. W. Hodkinson Corporation. French Heels” is the first of a ries of four productions starring rs. Castle which will be released Hodkinson. The second proiction of the series, “ The Rise ! Roscoe Paine,” has been comieted and is now in the cutting and ling stage. It is scheduled for jlease about the middle of March. econd Leah Baird Production Under Way Word from the Coast states that ork is well under way on the secid Leah Baird Production for rease by Associated Exhibitors. The ;st, “ Don’t Doubt Your Wife,” ill probably be released during arch. The working title of the feature >w_ being made is “ When the evil Drives.” Mr. Paul Scardon directing and the cast includes :ah Baird, Richard Tucker, .ernon Steel, Arline Pretty and atherine Lewis. Reproduction of the four block teasers issued by the Paramount exploitation staff for “ The Mistress of the World.’ color contrasts and unusual flash effects are obtained Novel R-C Renews English Contract THE increasing popularity of R-C productions throughout the United Kingdom is attested by the renewal of the contract for a period of two years, for the distribution of R-C Pjctures in that country by Jury’s Imperial Pictures, Ltd., Sir Wm. Jury, managing director. The complete R-C output is involved in the transaction, including the star productions featuring Pauline Frederick, Sessue Hayakawa and Doris May and the director subjects produced by Wm. Christy Cabanne and L. J. Gasnier. These embrace such attractions as Pauline Frederick in “The Lure of Jade,” in which the noted star has proven such a success throughout the United States; “Two Kinds of Women”; Miss Frederick’s forthcoming production, “ The Glory of Clementina,” founded on the novel of the same title by Wm. J. Locke. Some of the Hayakawa series included in the transaction are “ Five Days to Live,” reported to be one of the greatest scenic and dramatic subjects in which the JapaneseAmerican star has ever appeared, and “The Vermillion Pencil” scheduled for release in March and in which the eruption of a volcano and an earthquake furnish scenic novelties that have already created Where Is It"\ What Is It “THE ISLE OF ZORDA” Sir Wm. Jury Will Continue Distribution in United Kingdom widespread interest among American exhibitors. Among the Doris May offerings to be distributed by Sir William Jury are her first two successes “ The Foolish Age,” a fast-moving satire on the customs of rich young American women and “ Eden and R.ectum,” a farcical comedy of high originality in which Miss May impersonates the bubbling sub-deb type which has established her as one of the foremost young stars in this country. Other Doris May productions which the Jury interests will distribute in England are her forthcoming vehicles “ Boy Crazy,” now completed at the R-C Studios in Hollywood, Cal., and “ Gay and Devilish,” another swiftmoving comedy designed for laughing purposes only. The Gasnier productions listed for early release a,re “ Silent Years,” in which Rose Dionel, Pauline Starke, Tully Marshall and a distinguished cast enact a drama of life in the St. Lawrence River Valley in Canada. The story was based on Harriet Comstock’s novel “ Mam’selle Jo.” The other Gasnier subject scheduled for distribution in England is “ The Call of Home,” which already is thrilling audiences throughout the United States with its spectacular flood scenes. It is, according to the unanimous verdict of screen critics, one of the biggest scenic productions of the year with the flood episodes standing forth as masterpieces of the directing art. Other big thrill scenes mark “ The Call of Home ” as a truly big production in theme and development. The Cabanne productions include his smartly produced “At the Stage Door,” which affords an intimate glimpse of life behind the scenes in a big New York theatre and details in most engrossing fashion the story of a young and high spirited girl who went to the metropolis to forget a broken romance in her old home town. A number of prominent Ziegfeld Follies beauties appear in “ At the Stage Door,” including Lillian (Billie) Dove, most beautiful of all Follies girls. Another Cabanne production is “ Beyond the Rainbow,” enacted by a cast of truly prodigious attraction power. Among the fifteen stars who take part are Helen Ware, Lillian (Billie) Dove, Rose Coghlan, George Fawcett, Huntlv Gordon, Edmund Breese, Virginia Lee, Clara Bow, James Harrison, Marguerite Courtot, Walter Miller, Charles Craig, Harry Morey and William Tooker. Pathe News Shows Hays Grinding Camera Pathe Newrs in current issue No. 6 screens outstanding events here and abroad almost up to the minute. Apropos of the news of Postmaster-General Hays’ acceptance of a motion picture DirectorGeneralship at a salary of $150,000 a year, he is pictured rehearsing a detail of his new job — “grinding” a movie camera. At Cannes, France, Premier Lloyd George is seen leaving the conference chamber following receipt of the news of Premier Briand’s resignation. The great English leader is visibly disturbed. Briand goes for a “ solitary ” walk, but finds himself liberally accompanied. In Ireland, De Valera is seen taking a last farewell of the Irish National army prior to his resignation. In the great lumber regions of Deer Park, Wash., discarded artillery tractors are seen demonstrating their usefulness for loghauling. Alice Calhoun Starts Vitagraph Feature Alice Calhoun, the young Vitagraph star who went to the Hollywood studios late last year especially to play the role of Lady Babbie in James M. Barrie’s “The Little Minister,” has begun a new production at the West Coast studios under the direction of David Smith, who directed her in “ The Little Minister.” The Child of the Bear