Moving Picture World (Aug 1920)

August 14, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 871 Billy Rhodes’ “ Nobody’s Girl” Will Be Released in August by Federated IN order to acquaint independent exchangemen and exhibitors throughout the country with the attractiveness of the Federated Film Exchanges first feature the Federated New York office offers for publication an outline of the story and the characters therein. As has been announced Billy Rhodes is featured in “Nobody’s Girl." Miss Rhodes will be remembered as leading woman with Universal, Strand-Mutual and Christy comedies, who not long ago made her debut as a dramatic star. In support of Miss Rhodes is Melbourne MacDowell, famous actor of the stage and screen. Mr. MacDowell was at one time leading man and husband of Fanny Davenport and was a matinee idol for more than a score of years. Those of the older generation will remember him when he toured the country with Miss Davenport. He has been cast in leading parts in many screen productions in recent years. Strong Cast in Support. Mary Alden and Lloyd Bacon are also seen in leading parts in “Nobody’s Girl.” Miss Alden has an enviable stage record, having played in several stock companies and with such players as Mrs. Fiske and Phillips Smalley. Her screen career matches her stage career. She has been cast in leading parts in such productions as “The Argyle Case,” “The Land of Promise,” “Common Clay,” “The Straight Path,” “The Unpardonable Sin,” “The Broken Butterfly” and in the recent “Erstwhile Susan.” Staged on Island. Lloyd Bacon has appeared in productions for Paramount, Artcraft, Robertson-Cole and Fox. In the story of “Nobody’s Girl” Billy Rhodes is cast as an orphan who when a baby was rescued from a sinking ship by a band of outlaws on an island several hundred miles from the mainland. The island is the home of a band of thieves who use a deserted lighthouse to attract passing ships. Once the ships are wrecked the valuables are confiscated by the thieves. As the little orphan waif, Miss Rhodes, is known as “Nobody’s Girl.” She grows to young womanhood, at which time she attracts the eyes of the leader of the bandits. She has been taught to read and write by a beach comber who is eventually killed by the bandit leader. The bandit leader’s wife, which part is played by Mary Alden, becomes jealous of the young girl and tells her that she will assist her to escape. Aviator Furnishes Thrill. She does this in a small skiff and the day following the night of her escape she is afloat on the sea alone. Fate brings an THE first announcement of any of the short subjects which will be handled by the Federated Film Exchanges of America is contained in the statement to the effect that Federated will distribute a series of eighteen Monte Banks comedies which are being produced by Warner Brothers. Several of the comedies have been completed and are now ready. Monte Banks is a comedian known to the screen for his original work. The trade announcement states that H. Raymaker is directing the comedies under the supervision of J. L. Warner. The comedies are being made on the West aviator from the mainland out over the ocean where he spies this lone boat. Investigating he discovers a lone girl and swooping low in his aeroplane he rescues her. He takes her to his home where she is adopted by his parents and where she receives the first touches of home kindness. Later she guides the aviator and an American government vessel to the bandit island and the result is the cleaning up of the thieves. The young aviator meanwhile has lost his heart to the little girl and shortly after the battle on the bandit island he asks her to become his wife. The picture was directed by Francis Grandon and is said to contain many exceptional scenic shots. According to a statement from the Federated offices, the picture is replete with exploitation possibilities and the “Nobody’s Girl” press book is said to contain complete details of these ideas. Coast and are in two reels each. The first four have been titled and are announced by Federated as follows : “A Rare Bird,” “His Naughty Night,” “Nearly Married” and “A Bed Room Scandal.” W. E. Shallenberger, general manager of Federated, in making the announcement of the first short subject release, stated that the comedies were selected after studying the wants of the independent exchangemen and exhibitors in the comedy line. Monte Banks comedies according to his statement are the type that can be played as a series and are of the type needed to balance a dramatic program. Federated Film Exchanges Will Offer Warner Brothers Monte Banks Comedies Scenes from a Feature and Three Comedy Productions to Be Distributed by Federated Film Exchanges of America Top Row, left to right: “Nearly Married,” “His Naughty Night,” and “A Rare Bird,” all Monte Banks comedies. The three bottom views are taken from the new Billie Rhodes feature, “Nobody’s Girl," which is the first to be released by the Federated Exchar_e.