Moving Picture World (Aug 1920)

August 14, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 895 Three Big Attractions Are Among Fox Pictures Listed for Release in August WILLIAM FOX opens the new season with the anouncement of three specials for release during August. The first of these is “The White Moll,’’ written by Frank L. Packard, and it will serve as the initial Fox feature for Pearl White. Miss White has been long heralded in this production, it being not only her debut under the Fox banner, but her first departure from the serial field. The picture tells the tale of a girl crook who has reformed and gains the title of the White Moll because of the good she does, the kindly word she drops; because she realizes that the average criminal is largely a victim of circumstances. She rubs shoulders with the toughest and worst, and in the contact many of them learn to live better lives. The production is in a prologue and five acts, and the megaphone was in the hands of Harry Millarde. E. Lloyd Sheldon made the screen adaptation from Mr. Packard’s story. A strong cast supports Miss White, including C. J. Slattery, and John P. Wade. Second Special Is “Skirts.” The second special to be released in August is the much discussed Sunshine Comedy de luxe “Skirts.” This is in six reels. This is the sort of comedy which will please everyone, it is claimed for it contains every element that goes to create laughs and thrills. Conceived and written by Supervising Director Hampton Del Ruth, “Skirts,” is jammed with funny situations. A feature of this comedy is the famous Singer Midget troupe, with their menagerie. These clever little folk have toured the country in vaudeville over the Keith circuit, and are known to theatregoers everywhere for their mirth-provoking antics. The cast of principals includes the famous comedian Clyde Cook (late of the N. Y. Hippodrome), “Slim” Summerville, Chester Conklin, Tom Kennedy, Harry Gribbon, ^Harry Booker, Laura LaVarnie, Alta Allen, 'Ethel Teare, Glen Cavender and Bobbie Dunn. A large ensemble of Sunshine Widows play a picturesque part in this spectacle, which, it is said, has all the sensational features of a three-ring circus, all the color of a musical comedy, and the wit and humor of the best vaudeville. Famum’s Big Release. Last, but far from least, of the specials for August is a screen version of Justin Huntly McCarthy’s famous stage success and novel, “If I Were King” with William Farnum as the star. The scenario was carefully and skillfully handled by E. Lloyd Sheldon, and the direction was in the hands of J. Gordon Edwards. Mr. Farnum enacts the role of the vagabond poet Francois Villon, which was originally played on the stage in this country by E. H. Sothern, who added greatly to his fame by this impersonation. The sumptuousness of the settings is notable in the screen version. Excellent support has been given to the star. Fritz Lieber, of Shakespearean reputation, enacts the role of Louis XI. Opposite Mr. Farnum is Betty Ross Clarke, who enacts Lady Katherine. Others of note in the large cast are Claude Payton, Walter Law, Henry Carvill and Renita Johnston. “Man Who Dared” Features Russell. Aside from these three specials, and close to September 1, is promised William Russell in “The Man Who Dared.” This is a corking good story from the pen of Julius G. Furthman, directed by Emmett J. Flynn. It is a tale of people of the lumber camp, and was filmed in the redwood country of Cali fornia. Eileen Percy, who plays opposite the star, has been elevated to stardom by Fox since then, largely through the recognition she gained in “The Man Who Dared.” Another August attraction which will be warmly welcomed is Shirley Mason in a delightful comedy drama entitled “The Little Wanderer,” written by Denison Clift and directed by Howard M. Mitchell. It is the story of a friendless girl who runs away from a hard taskmaster, and her experiences in a great city until love comes. Eileen Percy’s First Starring Play. “Her Honor the Mayor” serves as the first starring vehicle for Eileen Percy. It is from the Broadway stage success of the same name by Arline Van Ness Hines, and was adapted for the screen by Denison Clift. It is an amusing tale with a vein of serious purpose, and admirably suited to Miss Percy’s personality. Another name that will be welcomed among the August releases is that of Buck Jones, who will appear in two smashing western dramas, one is “Firebrand Trevison.” This story was written by Alden Seltzer, and he has provided some thrilling and unusual situations. The scenario was made by Denison Clift, and the picture directed by Thomas Heffron. Winifred Westover is the leading woman. The other Buck Jones picture is “The Square Shooter,” a tale of the land where the best man wins. The story was written by Denison Clift. An excellent hot weather Fox attraction is “Rose of Nome,” with Gladys Brockwell. The settings are in the lands of perpetual snow and are most effective, and a story by primitive passions in the far north is told. Five sparkling and riproaring Fox Sun shine Comedies are to be released during August, and their titles alone suggest their merriment. They are “Slipping Feet,” “Virtuous Husbands,” “Mary’s Little Lobster,” “A Waiter’s Wasted Life,” and “Kiss Me Quick.” Mutt and Jeff, those grotesque animated cartoon stars, will appear in a series of funny films entitled “The Cow Puncher,” “The Yacht Racers,” “Home Sweet Home,” and “Napoleon.” , S Drama and Spectacle in “The Face at Your Window” COMBINING gripping drama with thrilling spectacle in one great production, and to convey a powerful lesson by means of action alone, without a hint of preaching, is what Fox Film Corporation claims to have done in “The Face at Your Window,” a special all-star feature which is to be released shortly. The author is Max Marcin, author of “Eyes of Youth,” “Cheating Cheaters,” “The House of Glass,” and other Broadway successes, The director is Richard Stanton, who made “Checkers,” “The Spy,” and other William Fox screen classics. The cast includes Gina Relly, Parisian actress, who came to America specially to play in “The Face at Your Window,” Earl Metcalf, Diana Aller, Frank Farrington, William Corbett, Edward Roseman, Robert Cummings, William McEwen and Henry Armetta. The theme of “The Face at Your Window” lends itself to grand scale production. It is the struggle of capital and labor. Into it are woven a strong love story, a murder mystery, a romance of the Secret Service and a plot to overthrow the American government by violence. The American Legion plays a great part in the story, and members of the Legion server under the direction of Richard Stanton. I Fox Is Better Equipped than Ever I with Big Productions, Says Sheehan g g By Wintield R. Sheehan, General Manager of Fox Film Corporation g iw yEVER in the history of Fox Film Corporation have we entered the year g g so splendidly equipped to furnish exhibitors sure-fire productions of the g g biggest calibre as we are today. g g “Massiveness is the keynote of the great group of Fox specials which already g g have been prepared for the new season just bc.'rre uu In the past, the Fox g g product has embraced a few specials each season. For the year 1920-1921, we g g have ready a group of special attractions such as never befroe offered the in g g dustry by any other producing concern. These specials are twelve in number. g g “The phrase ‘no expense has been spared’ is frequently on the lips of pro g g ducers,_but it happens to fit the case this time. Fox showmanship trained and g g tested in past seasons, made accurate through many past successes has been g g applied to the production of the great list of attractions which will be dis g g tributed under the Fox banner this year. g g “ ‘Showmen’s pictures’ is the term which aptly describes the Fox output for g jg the new season. I have every confidence that throughout the world exhibitors g g showing Fox pictures will find that we have prepared for their artistic success g g and financial profit a group of screen productions unequalled by any past record. g g “Both as regards its splendid special pictures and the superb list of star g = attractions released in series, the Fox output for the year at hand must impress g g one with its unusual opportunities for successful exhibition purposes. Theatres, g g no matter where located, no matter what the class of their patronage, will g g find their needs catered to in this long list. In accordance with its well estab g g lished policy, Fox Film Corporation has produced screen attractions which g g every type of house can play. All along the line, however, these pictures are B g stronger, and more massively produced than ever before. g With William Farnum, Pearl White and Tom Mix at the head of our series H g of star pictures; with William Russell. Shirley Mason and George Walsh; with S g fine splendid popular entertainment afforded by our new series of Twentieth g g Century brand productions, presenting Eileen Percy, Buck Jones, Louise Lovely g ■ °“ler^ W1th the first Fox serial, ‘Bride 13,’ ready for release, with Fox g g News firmly established and Fox Sunshine Comedies and Mutt and Jeff cartoons g g more popular than ever, and especially with out great group of specials, we feel 1 g that Fox is undeniably and pre-eminently fitted to supply the needs of the S g motion picture exhibitor throughout the world for the season 1920-1921.”