The Moving Picture Weekly (1920-1921)

The Moving Picture Weekly A MAGAZINE FOR MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITORS Published Weekly by the MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY PUB. CO. 1600 BROADWAY, NEW YORK CITY Paul Gulick, Editor. (Copyriyht, 1921, Universal Fibn Mfg. Co. All Right Reserved.) Vol. 12 FEBRUARY 12, 1921 No. 26 Leading Writers Supply Universal Stories UNIVERSAL has embarked upon a period which will go down in its history as an era of "better .stories," and in which the big film company will go to unusual lengths to obtain the works of the best possible writers for its stars and directors. Mr. R. H. Cochrane, vice-president of Universal, in a recent statement indicating Universal's plan for 1921 in the story line, laid stress upon the policy which now acuates the Universal Scenario Department — that no writer is too big for Universal, and no .story too good. Universal is producing or projecting pictures by a list of prominent authors which includes many of the most popular writers in America. Among them are such recognized literary figures as F. Hopkinson Smith, Augustus Thomas, Booth Tarkington, Edna Ferber, the late Jacques Futrelle, Courtney Ryley Cooper, Clara Louise Burnham, Max Brand, Marorie Benton Cooke, Izola Forrester and Mann Page, Edwina Levin, Helen Christine Bennett, George Rix, Philip V. Mighels, James E. Hungerford, Wadsworth Camp, and such noted photo-dramatists as Forrest Halsey and Clara Beranger. "We plan to make the coming season a criterion in the production of great pictures, adapted from the work of great writers," said Mr. Cochrane. "The past few months have seen an unprecedented activity in Universal's Scenario Department, headed by John C. Brownell, who with an enlarged staff, has obtained for our company the screen rights of more popular plays, novels and stories than at any other period in our history. "Some of these stories were immediately put into production. With a full realization that photo-play patrons are becoming more critical in their taste and have grown to appreciate a good story properly told through the medium of the screen. Universal determined to lose no time in supplying this demand. Our production schedule for the opening months of 1921 looks like a list from 'Who's Who in Literature.' "Tod Browning, who wrote and directed 'Outside the Law,' the latest Priscilla Dean feature, now is busy selecting an all-star ca.st for the .screen adaption of Edna Ferber's remarkable novel, 'Fanny Herself.' This will b.^ one of the biggest pictures of the coming year, and Universal is sparing no pains to assure it a sumptuous production. "In the meantime, Priscilla Dean, under the direction of Stuart Paton, one of the veteran directors in the moving picture field, has started work on a photo-dramatization of Edwina Levin's great novel of stage life, 'False Colors.' This we expect to be the masterpiece of Miss Dean's screen career. In portraying the subtle characterizations of the dual role drawn by Miss Levin in her powei-ful story, the star will be called upon to exert her utmost screen talent. Both Paton and Miss Dean have had long experience in the theatre, and are well fitted to transfer to the screen the unusual back-stage atmosphere of Miss Dean's novel. "Not only has the Scenario Department in the home office been increased; the scenario staff at Universal City has been considerably augmented, within the last few weeks, by the addition of such experts as William Lord Wright, John W. Gray, George Plimpton and George Morgan. "Mr. Carl Laemmle, the head of Universal, soon will be in California to take personal supervision of the coming 'production wave' at our West Coast studios. I will join him there early in Febmary to assist in the supei-vision of Universal's drive for 100 per cent, pictures." In addition to the two big Universal-Jewel productions now being made from the hovels by Edna Ferber and Edwina Levin, Universal also has acquired the screen rights to "The Open Shutters," th? popular novel from the pen of Clara Louiso Burnham. This story now is being put into continuity form and will be used as the next starring vehicle for Edith Roberts. The next picture to be made by Harry Carey, Unversal's popular western star, will be an adaptation of Courtney Ryley Cooper's story, "Christmas Eve at Pilot Butte," which recently attracted great attention when it appeared in the Red Book. Cooper is regarded as one of the best writers of virile stories. His rugged characters are those of the country and customs that Harry Carey likes to portray, and in which setting he has now fam? as a screen star. Universal also promises the early screening of "The Flirt," Booth Tarkington's widely read novel. No star has been seleted for this picture, says Mr. Brownell, Universal scenario chief, but continuity writers at the coast are busy on its screen adaption, and a director soon will be assigned for its production. (Cifutinticd on jnigc 34.)