Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

February i 8 , i g 2 2 1135 A D VANCE V I E fV S OF COMING ATTRACTIONS Li ive ] N ews From Producers IF H AT THE MAKERS SAY ABOUT PICTURES Fred Niblo Will Direct “ Blood and Sand ” JESSE L. LASKY announced in Hollywood this week that Fred Niblo, director of “ The Three Musketeers,” had been engaged to direct Paramount’s big special pro duction, “ Blood and Sand,” in which Rodolph Valentino is to be starred. John S. Robertson had been chosen to direct “Blood and Sand,” but owing to the magnitude of “Spanish Jade,” the production which Mr. Robertson has been making in Europe for Paramount, it was found to be impossible for him to reach Hollywood in time to start the new production on schedule. Vitagraph’s “ Little Minister” Scores Vitagraph’s “ The Little Minister ” established a new box-office record at the New Lincoln Theatre, Belleville, 111. “ Our crowds increased the second day to the extent that for hours an ever-lengthening line of people eagerly awaited an opportunity to get inside the theatre which has a capacity of 1,800,” writes Forrest C. Templin of the Lincoln Theatre Co. Richard Daniels, the youngster who plays the role of Micah in this picture, has been placed under contract by Albert E. Smith, president of Vitagraph. The youthful actor will be given a prominent part in a special production to be started shortly by Vitagraph. Guy Bates Post, who is starring in “The Masquerader,” being produced by Richard Walton Tully for First National release Costume Play for “Doug” Fairbanks Abandons “ Zorro ” Sequel and Will Film Crusade Feature Douglas Fairbanks announces that he will not film the further adventures of Zorro for his next offering as had been previously announced. Instead he will do for United Artists release, a stupendous costume feature, more elaborate than “ The Three Musketeers,” dealing with the period of the Crusades and the early history of England and called temporarily, “The Spirit of Chivalry.” The new vehicle will be a story of rip-roaring adventure, fiery romance and gripping drama, dressed in all the color and atmosphere of the period, and lavishly costumed, states United Artists. “ The thrust of D’Artagnan’s sword,” said Mr. Fairbanks, “ will give place to the slash of the broadswords of Ivanhoe, Richard the Lion-Hearted and other early English characters. Lovers of the age of chivalry will be thrilled anew by those bold adventurers as they walk onto the screen from that picturesque past.” While this play, like “ The Three Musketeers,” is to be a costume spectacle, it will be so different in setting and locale as to transport one into an entirely different epoch, and is said to rest upon a stronger dramatic foundation than the F rench play. Fairbanks will appear as a purely legendary character against a background of historical figures familiar to every man, woman and child the world over. Allan Dwan, who will direct the new feature, has been conducting a research drive in the Los Angeles public library with Lotta Woods and Kenneth Davenport, of the scenario department. This research campaign will continue until Mr. Fairbanks returns from New York, where he will go shortly on a business trip. It is expected that the picture will be ready for spring release. The story upon which Johnston McCulley is now working as a sequel to “ The Mark of Zorro ” will be held over for production after “The Virginian.” First Nat’l Producing Units Very Busy ACTIVITY continues unabated at the independent studios which are turning out motion pictures in Los Angeles and New York studios for First National release. Comprehensive plans for 1922 production are now being carried out on an elaborate scale. Marshall N e i 1 a n began shooting last week on “Fools First,” following the completion of the continuity. In the meantime his young star. Freckles” Barry, is making a transcontinental tour, appearing personally in connection with his latest picture, “ Penrod,” in the larger cities. Allen Holubar spent last week shooting seaside scenes for “ The Soul Seeker.” Dorothy Phillips is being starred in it. Editing of Norma Talmadge’s “ Smilin’ Through,” has been completed. Three costume pictures are now in the course of filming — Norma Talmadge in “ The Duchess of Langeais,” Mabel Normand in “Suzanna” and Maurice Tourneur’s “ Lorna Doone.” At the Louis B. Mayer studio work has been finished on John M. Stahl’s “ One Clear Call ” and on Anita Stewart’s “ Rose O’ the Sea.” Final scenes have also been taken on “ On Patrol,” a Mack Sennett Billy Bevan two-reel comedy. In the East Richard Barthelmess is working on “ Sonny ” and Hope Hampton on “ The Light in the Dark.” A scene from “Her Husband’s Trademark,” a Paramount picture starring Gloria Swanson “Jutland” Film First Runs Educational’s Special Receiving Big Bookings in A NAVAL parade in San Francisco, with a band of seventyfive pieces and a thousand men from the Naval Reserve in line, is just one of many events being planned to mark the first-run showings of “ The Battle of Jutland ” as the prints of this three-reel super special are being distributed to the branches of Educational Film Exchanges, Inc., for release. “ The Battle of Jutland ” is having its first theatrical showing outside of New York City in Rochester, N. Y., where the picture went into the Regent Theatre, Sunday, Feb. 5. Contracts for this special have been made in many other key cities, and the setting of dates awaits only the arrival of prints. This remarkable historical record of the World War’s greatest naval battle has received highest nraise from Rear Admiral William S. Sims, president of the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, where the film was shown at his special request to the War College class of naval officers following its presentation at the Naval Academy at Annapolis and at the Marine Barracks in Washington. “ The picture was shown at the War College,” writes Admiral Many Key Cities Sims, “ and was viewed with much pleasure and keen interest by the officers attached to the War College, and those from other naval and military stations in Newport. In my opinion this film would prove of great interest to any civilians who take any interest at all in such matters. There are a few people whose interest has led them to read the books that have been written on the subject, but the vast majority have no opportunity to read these rather expensive books, and there is no other way, or at least no way so good to give them an understanding of what the battle was like, as this film. While of course the limitations of the process forbid going more into detail, still they are sufficient to give the layman a very clear and very interesting idea of the nature of a modern naval battle. Uiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiinmiiis File the News ! | It will serve you many times 1 | over as a reference on pictures | 1 listed in the Booking Guide §