Moving Picture World (Aug 1920)

August 14, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 889 On Eve of New Season , Extends Greeting William Fox to All Exhibitors FOX FILM CORPORATION extends greetings to the trade at the beginning of its seventh year. To exhibitors everywhere it wishes to say that never before has it been so well equipped to serve both the trade and the public. “Fox Film Corporation has laid its plans, fully conscious of the fact that never in the past has the exhibitor been in the assured position of independence which he now occupies. It recognizes that the exhibitor of today is his own boss, whether he be a big or a little exhibitor. And right here let me say that no exhibitor is big except the one who progresses, and that no exhibitor who progresses long remains a little exhibitor. Wide Range of Material. “The independent position of the exhibitor is due in a great measure to the wide range of material from which he is at liberty to choose in making up the program which he will offer to the patrons of his theatres. Furthermore, it places upon him an obligation to examine fully before selecting; he is in duty bound to do so. “The wise men of the commercial world are very frank in stating their belief that this country is on the eve of a period of great prosperity. The ensuing profit-making will extend to all — men and women in every walk of life and in every trade. “This prosperity will reflect upon the boxtiffice of the exhibitor who shows worthwhile pictures to his patrons. Bearing this in mind, the exhibitor should examine the screen product at hand, and should arrange his plans for a year ahead. Importance of Fox Attractions. “Partial lists of our forthcoming' productions appear in other columns of this paper, in these, and in display announcements in trade publications, we have tried, in a small way, to portray the great variety, the magnitude and the importance of Fox Attractions for the coming season. These announcements show, in slight manner, less tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiimiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMimiiii Herman Robbins. General Sales Manager Pox Film Corporation. By WILLIAM FOX, P resident of Fox Film Corporation iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii than ten per cent, of our product for the year 1920-1921.” Fox Holds Preview of “While New York Sleeps” TF1E first glimpse of another of the Fox Film Corporation’s big specials scheduled for release this fall, occurred at a special showing at the Palace Theatre recently of “While New York Sleeps,” an eight reel melodrama written and staged by Charles J. Brabin, featuring an all-star cast composed of Estelle Taylor, Marc MacDer William Fox. President of Fox Film Corporation. mott, Harry Sothern, Earl Metcalfe and William Locke. It is a photodrama of New York City. It is told in three acts, each independent of the other. The first is a story of the suburbs and concerns a strange entanglement in the lives of a millionaire, his wife, a burglar and the former husband of the wife. The second story is laid in the atmosphere of “The Gay White Way” and depicts a version of the notorious “badger game." The third act relates a tragedy of the East Side in which the pawns are a tempestuous girl, her puny husband, the paralytic father of the husband, and the leader of a band of gangster thieves. Suspense is said to be one of the strongest factors in this production. The stories were for the most part taken from actual happenings as recorded in the records of the Police Department and Metropolitan newspapers. Throughout the production are indica tions of the skilful hand of the director and the invaluable assistance of the police and newspaper men. The excellence of the photography is one of the notewirthy features of the production. The firght scene on East River was taken at night and stands as a tribute to the skill of George W. Lane, the man at the camera. The dancing number from the Midnight Frolic and the exquisite scenes in the Palais Royal also deserve separate mention because of their photographic excellence. For this picture scheduled for September, the Fox concern have prepared a plan book, containing press stories, exploitation aids, catchlines, advertising cuts and scene cuts. “Merely Mary Ann” Furnishes Ideal Role for Shirley Mason THAT “Merely Mary Ann,” the Israel Zangwill story in which Shirley Mason is to be starred by William Fox, will prove as popular on the screen as it did on the speaking stage years ago, when Eleanor Robson gained fame through her interpretation of the title role, is the confident prediction of Fox Film Corporation. “Merely Mary Ann” as directed by Edward J. Le Saint, will lose nothing of its stage fascination and entertainment force in translation to the screen. Director Le Saint himself wrote the scenario. His technical director, David M. Edwards, who is noted for his scholarly accuracy took charge of the construction of the sets. In making these as true as possible to English life, Mr. Edwards had resource to old illustrations in the novels of Dickens, done by Cruikshank and by “Phiz”— drawings which are as famous as the novels themselves. Mr. Edwards also consulted early editions of Thackeray, which are filled with drawings. Besides this material, Mr. Edwards fortunately came into possession of a sketch, made by a London friend, of an oldfashioned English kitchen. This kitchen is reproduced in the Mason picture. A cast of well-known film people will be seen in support of Miss Mason. Winfield R. Sheehan. General Manager of Fox Film Corporation.