Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

1129 February 1 8 , 1922 territorial sales and purchases In the Independent Field s Ya t e YTg~ht ~an~d export news and views Julius Singer, who is now Eastern manager of the Pacific Film Co. All-Star Carewe Picture Arouses Interest When announcement was made to the trade last week by C. C. Burr of Affiliated Distributors, Inc., that Kenneth Harlan, Alice Lake, Rosemary Theby, Noah and Wallace Beery and Gaston Glass had signed with Edwin Carewe as director to appear in an independent production to be released through Affiliated Distributors, it brought forth the commendation of some of the largest independent exchanges in the country. Last week, a carload of props, and another passenger coach filled with principals and extra players arrived at Truckee, California, where the initial Edwin CareweAffiliated Distributors release will be produced. B. P. Fineman is in charge of the party which includes Alice Lake, Kenneth Harlan, Rosemary Theby, Gaston Glass, Noah Beery, Wallace Beery and cameraman Bob Curley. The scenario prepared by Raymond Shrock calls for a number of big mob scenes laid in the snow country. For this reason it was necessary to transport a large list of players from Los Angeles. Katherine Stuart Will Edit Bible Films Katherine Stuart has been engaged to edit the Italian film version of the Old Testament controlled by Weiss Brothers Artclass Pictures Corporation. Miss Stuart will work in association with Adolph Weiss. Renewed Buying Interest Robert W. Priest Reports Many State Right Sales Since Jan. i UNMISTAKABLE signs of renewed activity in state rights buying is to be observed everywhere just now, according to Robert W. Priest, president of The Film Market, Inc., who states that buyers are busy looking for pictures that exhibitors will book. He emphasizes the fact that his company has made more actual sales and received more inquiries regarding “The Supreme Passion” and “The Ne’er-Do-Well’’ since January 1 than during the entire ninety days preceding. The particular feature of recent sales which has struck Mr. Priest forcibly is the fact that new money is literally pouring into . the independent branch of the industry. “Andrew Carnegie’s wonderfully successful policy,” says Mr. Priest, “seems to be accepted by some of the wise business men who are edging in just now. Carnegie once wrote: ‘In time of depression and quietness I used to prepare for the better times which never failed to come.’ “Nobody would be stupid enough to dispute the truth and logic of Carnegie’s statement. And by the same token it would be stupid to gainsay the fact that every exchange that has pictures that the public wants to see can book them and make money. “This is not blind optimism; it is a statement of fact. The return to prosperity is due strictly to demand. For nearly two years mo tion picture production has been curtailed and every day during that period projection machines in thousands of theatres have, been consuming the stock on hand until today pictures are really scarce. This is why state rights buyers are rushing to New York in search of productions. Their exchanges are empty; they must have new goods with which to do business. Theatres must get new pictures to show to their patrons or close up shop. “Theatres that sell second-hand films are dying like flies on a hot griddle. The only thing that will bring them to life is cash at the ticket window and the only thing now that will bring cash to the ticket window is good, strong, clean features on the inside. Let us have a few big worthwhile independent productions and watch the result. “There is plenty of ready money to buy real pictures but not a dime to buy junk. Also there are capitalists with millions ready, willing and anxious to invest it in the motion picture business to finance independent producers with a definite policy and whose dependability can command the confidence of the man with money. “Every dollar that I take out of “The Supreme Passion” is going right back into good box office attractions and unless all signs fail the early spring and summer will see a healthy boom in production and sale of state rights pictures.” Backer to Handle New Amalgamated Series AN explanation of the extra amount of activity in the main offices of East Coast Productions, Inc., and the sudden decision of Franklyn E. Backer to leave for the coast on February 11 is forthcoming in announcement of a second series of Amalgamated Pictures to be launched through the franchise-holders of this organization upon Mr. Backer’s return. The second production of the first series, designated as co-star pictures, is “Any Night ” and will be followed by “The Greater Duty,” the prints and accessories of which are now ready for shipment to the exchanges. A feature of the distributing method of this series was the showing of three completed productions upon the screen before any contracts were closed with the independent exchanges holding Amalgamated franchises. The new series, which will consist of two reel refined Comedies, will be launched along the same lines, and the first three pictures are now ready and will be brought East by Franklyn E. Backer upon his return from the trip to Los Angeles. Sixteen Pyramid Features “ Old Kentucky Home ” Heads List of Exceptional Independent Pictures PYRAMID Pictures, Inc., announces this week its list of big pictures financed on a plan, it is said, whereby the American exhibitor can be given a maximum product at the lowest possible •rental. Pyramid Pictures has given its promise to the motion picture trade world to release sixteen super attractions during the current year. “ My Old Kentucky Home,” written by Anthony Paul Kelly and directed by Ray C. Smallwood and in which such stars as Monte Blue, Arthur Carew, Matthew Betz, Frank Currier, Billy Quirk, Sigrid Holmquist, Lucy Fox and Julia Swayne Gordon appear, is now ready for distribution. Production work has commenced on the second and third pictures. Paul M. Pot ter’s international .success “ The Queen of the Moulin Rouge ” is the second offering and is being directed bv Ray C. Smallwood. Betty Blythe, the “million dollar” box office attraction, has been signed by Pyramid to star in this third super attraction which will be directed by Kenneth Webb. Anna Katherine Greene’s best seller, “ The Mayor’s Wife,” will be Miss Blythe’s next starring vehicle. The plans as announced by Pyramid Pictures shows nothing but the most elaborate of super dramas that will be made under this companies banner in the ensuing twelve months. Mr. Greene is now arranging with two other celebrated directors to have them join the Pyramid organization. Foreign Rights Sold on “Heart of the North” Foreign rights on “ The Heart of the North,” the George H. DavisJoe Brandt feature of the Canadian Northwest featuring Roy Stewart with Louise Lovely, were sold this week by the C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation for Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. The purchase to this territory was made by Select Pictures Corporation. Slow Motion Used in Hallroom Comedy Slow motion photography as a means of securing comedy effects is one of the features of a new Percy and Ferdie Hallroom Comedy featuring Sid Smith and Jimmie Adams which has just been completed by producer Harry Cohn. The comedy, which will be released through Federated Film Exchanges of America, Inc., has been given the title “ Beware of Blondes.”