The Moving Picture Weekly (1920-1921)

The Mo A MAGAZINE' . ^ tCTURE WEEI^By K rfoTION PICTURE EXHIBITORS Published Weekly by the MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY PL'B CO ^ ikil^P 'BROADWAY, $ffiW-:i'OrtK CITY '. 1^ J Vol 1 i MAY 14, 1921 No. 1 If STRONG STORIES BOUGHT for SCREEN Rights For Red Book Serial and Several Popular Novels Bought by Universal For Feature Photoplays DURING the last few months Universal has acquired the screen rights for some of the greatest stoi-ies of the year and they are now being put into continuity form. Upon completion they will be released as Special Attractions and several will be made into Universal-Jewel pictures, the highest standard of the Universal output. "The Conflict," a novel by Clarence Budington Kelland, now running in the Red Book and hailed as one of the best stories of the year, has been bought by Universal as a starring vehicle for Priscilla Dean. Negotiations between the author and John C. Brownell, scenario editor of Universal, regarding the purchase extended over a considerable period. "As soon as I read the opening installment of "The Conflict" in the Red Book," said Mr. Brownell, "I knew that it was what we call a Priscilla Dean story. I lost no time getting in touch with Mrs. C. C. Wilkening, the author's agent. Upon reading the entire novel, I was more firmly convinced that the story suited Priscilla Dean as it would no other actress on the screen. . Mystery Story of North Woods "The Kelland novel will be published in book form by Harper Brothers, after it has been completed in the Red Book. It is very likely that the book and the Universal picture will appear about the same time. " 'The Conflict' is a big powerful story of the north woods. It is as gripping a tale as has been written in many months. Its heroine is a blythe, care-free girl, raised with all the luxuries of society, who suddenly becomes the ward of her uncle, a weird, puritanical and miserly lumber magnate of the great North "Woods. "The story, despite its mystery and its gripping drama, is filled with thrills and virile action of the out-of-doors. It also has its humor. It is in its great characterizations and in the slow and remarkable transformation of the heroine, ranging between two extremes of womanhood, that 'The Conflict' is great and merits the best possible screen talent and production. I predict that it will be one of next fall's greatest screen dramas." Prize Story for Frank Mayo Among the stories which will be filmed as Special Attractions are "Harbor Road," a novel by Sara Ware Bassett; "The Mascotte of the Three Stars," by J. Allen Dunn, and "The Gossamer Web," by John A. Moroso. "Harbor Road" has had unusual success as a novel. The Pennsylvania Publishing Company, which put it out, reports that its distribution has been widespread throughout the country. Mrs. Bassett's latest novel, "Flood Tide," has just appeared. It is expected that "Harbor Road" will be used as a starring vehicle for Edith Roberts who is now producing "My Lady of the Island," a stirring tale of the South Seas by Beatrice Grimshaw, "The Mascotte of the Three Stars" is a strong western story which Universal thinks will make an excellent vehicle for Harry Carey. It recently appeared in Short Stories and is said to be one of Dunn's most popular stories. It probably will be produced as one of Carey's UniversalJewel productions. "The Gossamer Web," is a prize stoiY which recently attracted much attention in the Photoplay Magazine. It is scheduled to be produced with Frank Mayo in its starring role. It is the story of a man, sentenced to prison unjustly, who sees, in news reel moving pictures shown in prison, "shots" of his wife with the man who ruined him. This precipitates an amazing series of complications which give unusual zest to the story and make for suspense and a powerful climax. Humorist Writes for Moran Lee Moran, Universal's leading comedian, will hereafter have vehicles worthy of his skill, promises Universal. Arrangements have just been made with H. C. Witwer, one of America's foremost humorists, to supply Lee Moran with comedy stories for screen production, paying the record price for short length features. Witwer is one of the four highest paid writers of humorous stories in America. His pen creations are always featui-ed in the Saturday Evening Post, in Collier's, in the American and other prominent magazines, while his books have been read by millions. As a war correspondent he wrote about the funny sides of the world war, and his contributions to the American newspapers helped to relieve some of the sorrow and suffering of the nation. A score of editions of his stoiy, "From Baseball to Boches," have already been bought up, while many short stories have added to his reputation as a humorist. His character, Ed Harmon, has become a national figure. His most recent work, "The Leather Pusher*." is said to be the most popular feature Colliers has offered in a long time,