Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

1146 Motion Picture Newt' Praise “Turn to the Right” N. Y. Critics Render Highly Favorable Verdict on Ingram’s Special Pathe Negotiates Australasian Distribution Alec b hellmrich, of Sydney, Australia, has taken over the distribution of the entire product of Pathe in Australasia for a period of three years under an exclusive contract just arranged by Arthur Rousseau, export manager of Pathe Exchange, Inc. The terms of the deal make it one of the biggest ever recorded in the foreign film field, states Pathe, and insures the Pathe product greater exploitation than it has ever before received in the Antipodes. The product will be marketed on a cooperative basis, through an organization modeled along the lines of the Associated Exhibitors in this country. Pathe was considering opening its own exchanges in this country, when it received a proposition from Mr. Hellmrich, who, in addition to being a pioneer in film distribution in Australia, has the confidence of exhibitors in his country that places him on an enviable plane. Exploitation Ideas for “The Barnstormer” Telling the story of a stagestruck youth, “The Barnstormer,’’ Charles Ray’s current release through First National, offers peculiar opportunities for effective exploitation at a minimum of expense to exhibitors. Every town boasts its budding young Thespians who are certain they will draw the world to their feet when only they “get the chance.’’ Arrange an “amateur night,’’ the “night” consuming a half hour or an hour just previously to the screening of the feature, and invite the local geniuses to display their talents. In towns where there are high schools it should be easy to interest their dramatic societies in such an entertainment, and where there are more than on such institution and the pictures shown several days, each school might have its own night, its society arranging and presenting the entire prologue. In many communities the oldfashioned “speaking day” continues to be a regular feature of the grammar school week and each school has its prize orator, declaimer, recitationist, pianist and ■vocalist. This offers a chance for a tie-up also. GYPSY PASSION ADAPTED FROM cJEAN RICHEPINS FAMOUS GYPSY STORY Ml I A. HR IK A The Child op the bear THE New York newspaper critics gave Metro’s “ Turn to the Right ” an unusual measure of praise following the opening presentation of that picture at the Lyric Theatre, New York City, on January 23: “ Go and see it,” was in the opinion of Frank Vreeland, of the New York Herald, “the best criticism of ‘ Turn to the Right,’ ” and, although the other theatrical reviews varied from this phrasing, they expressed practically the same opinion. The Evening Mail charges Rex Ingram with another success, when it says : “ Ingram has done it again. . . A new phase of this splendid director’s ability. . . In ‘The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’ he showed his mastery of spectacular production. In ‘ The Conquering Power,’ his powers in delineating character and dramatic action; in ‘ Turn to the Right ’ he demonstrates his versatility by turning out an extremely good light comedy drama. . . A mighty good entertainment.” The Globe and the Evening World predicted another long career on the screen in New York, one as long as its stage life, which lasted 443 performances. “ One couldn’t ask,” remarks Don Allen in the Evening World, “ for a better evening’s entertainment PATHE EXCHANGE, Inc., announces that an exceptional list of subjects have been scheduled for release the week of February 19th, headed by the next Pathe playlet, “ Hunting the Hawk,” starring William Courtenay and Marguerite Snow. The offering, now in three action-jammed reels, re-edited from its original five-reel feature length, was directed by one of America’s foremost directors, George Fitzmaurice, and was written by George B. Seitz, the famous serial authordirector-producer-star. “The Island of Terror” is the eighth episode of “ White Eagle,” the new Pathe serial starring Ruth Roland. “The Big Idea” is the current reissued one-reel comedy starring Harold Lloyd. The spectacled comedian appears as a clerk in an antique shop; Bebe Daniels is his sweetheart, the saucy cashier; and “ Snub ” Pollard plays his usual role of the hated rival. “Rich Man, Poor Man ’1 is the title of the latest Hal Roach comedy featuring the funniest comedians among the Roach staff of funmakers. “ Paul ” Parrot appears as a janitor at a fashionable hotel, and is wooed by Ethel Broadhurst, as an heiress, who is seeking a poor man for a husband. “ Sunshine Sammy” is the second lieutenant janitor, and Mark Jones plays the role of the proprietor of the Hotel Gougem. “ The Dog and the Thief ” is the than ‘Turn to the Right’ which started what by all rights should prove an all-season run at the Lyric Theatre last night. Everyone, that is about 95 per cent, of New York population, knows what a corking good speaky ‘ Turn to the Right ’ was, and how it ran on and on with always the S. R. O. sign doing yeoman service. Well, all we can say is that ‘Turn to the Right’ as a film is so far ahead of ‘Turn to the Right ’ as a play that there is no basis for comparison.” And the Globe agrees, when R. W. Potter comments : “We . . . predict a prosperous future for this picture.” Harriette Underhill, of the New York Tribune, said: “ Abounds in beauty ... If you do not wish to renounce a career of crime do not go to see Mr. Ingram’s picture, for you will learn that the only way to be truly happy is to have a home sweet home and live in it.” The Morning Telegraph's reviewer, Helen Rockwell, declares : “ The film is everything that one would expect it to be and even a trifle more because of the mother love.” Alan Dale, in the New York American, found that “ it is impossible to resist the lure of this film.” He further characterized it as “ a well-made picture, with the . . . interest that bespeaks popularity.” current animated cartoon of the series of “Aesop’s Film Fables.” Pathe Review No. 143 presents a series of entertaining subjects headed by “The Jungle Harvest,” showing the copra gatherers of the Philippine Islands at work with their water buffaloes. Other subjects included are: “Art by the Acre,” a glimpse of the achievements of American landscape artistry ; “ When Daddy Comes Home,” a Pathe Slow-Motion novelty of the children’s hour and how Daddy entertains ; “ Here and There in the Zoo,” the latest Hy Mayer Capitol Travelaugh; and “Teddy in Glazierland,” the third of a series in which five-year-old Teddy adventures among the Alps. Elaine Hammerstein on New Selznick Subject Production work on the new Elaine Hammerstein release for the Selznick Pictures Corporation is being pushed under the supervision of Vice President Myron Selznick at the Selznick studios in East Forty-eight street, New York City. The story is by Cosmo Hamilton. Ralph Ince is directing. The title announced is “ Reckless Youth.” Niles Welch continues to appear as Miss Hammerstein’s leading man. Huntley Gordon, Myrtle Stedman, Frank Currier, and Constance Bennett are prominent in the supporting cast. “Four Horsemen” Bad on Broadway t4-T->HE FOUR HORSE * MEN OF THE AP L A O C A L Y P SE” re f turned to Broadway February 1 5, when this Rex Ingram I screen production of Vicente Blasco Ibanez’s novel, pre j sented by Metro Pictures j Corporation, opened at the I Capitol theatre. Two Rex Ingram pictures are now on Broadway at J once. The young director’s " subsequent photoplay, “ Turn . to the Right,” began its run at the Lyric theatre, January 23. It is a picturization of 1 John Golden’s stage hit of a few seasons ago, a play written by Winchell Smith and John E. Hazzard. The return of “The Four-: Horsemen ” is in response to a popular demand, states Metro. This picture was pre ' sented in New York last season, first at the Lyric and later at the Astor theatre, for a long period, and its termination was brought about only by the then existing shortage of playhouses suitable for a long-run attraction. School Official Lauds Educational Films After using a considerable number of single-reel pictures released by Educational in the public schools of Detroit, Edwin H. Reeder, supervisor of visual instruction in the schools of that city, has pronounced them of distinct merit and great value. The pictures shown to the school children included releases from the Hudson’s Bay Travel series, Robert C. Bruce Scenics Beautiful, Chester Screenics and pedagogical subjects. “ For two months,” writes Mr. Reeder, “ we have been using Educational Film Exchange pictures in the public schools of Detroit These films have met with uniformly enthusiastic responses from both pupils and teachers. They have been used by forty teachers and shown to about 50,000 children. I am glad to commend them.” New Owen Moore Film “ Sink or Swim ” “Sink or Swim” has been definitely chosen as the title for the forthcoming Selznick picture starring Owen Moore which has been widely heralded as the biggest production which the Selznick company has ever made. This announcement was made by Vice President Myron Selznick in charge of production, a day or two ago. Consult Your Conscience! Your Secret Is Common See page 1076 Pathe’s Feb. 19th Releases “ Hunting the Hawk,” a Pathe Playlet, Heads Short-Subject Schedule