Moving Picture World (Dec 1920)

758 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 11, 1920 STEADY NOW! Alice Calhoun seen here in “Princess Jones,” being released by Vitagraph Selznick Buys Rights to an E. Y. Mill zr Story Myron Selznick, president of Selznick Pictures Corporation, has announced his purchase of the screen rights of “The Woman Who Loved Life,’’ written by Elizabeth York Miller, a well known British novelist and short story writer. Published in England The story was published serially in the London Daily Graphic and is said to have an extraordinary plot. Miss Miller is one of the most widely read British novelists. She first attracted attention several years ago when her keen and powerful stories began appearing in the leading English magazines and newspapers. Titling* 'Idols” Finished R. A. Walsh has finished cutting and titling “Idols,” filmed from the famous William J. Locke story of that name, and it will be presented through First National by Mayflower as Walsh’s second independent production. The negative is now being cut at the Paragon Laboratory, according to John W. McKay, general manager of Mayflower, and is expected to be ready for delivery to First National before the end of the week. “Dice of Destiny” and “Velvet Fingers” on Pathe s December Release Schedule EVIDENCE of the continued favor and demand for crook melodramas may be observed in the schedule which Pathe offers for the week commencing December 5, which is headed by the new H. B. Warner feature, “Dice of Destiny,” and the issue of the first episode of George B. Seitz’s latest serial “Velvet Fingers,” both of which have gentlemancrooks as their heroes. Following trade shows of the Warner feature at the Pathe branches the New York office has received optimistic reports regarding it. It presents the star in the role of a prodigiously cunning crook who determines to reform on account of “the girl.” The reformation can claim no nov elty at this date as a story element, but in this play a series of melodramatic incidents and situations of marked effectiveness have been invented and are presented in an adroit manner, it is stated. The exploitation angles offered by the production are said to be many and according to reports there are under preparation some elaborate advertising campaigns by prominent theatres. The picture is from the Jesse D. Hampton studios and was filmed under the direction of Henry King. In the supporting cast are: Lillian Rich, the heroine ; Rosemary Theby, Howard Davies, Frederick Huntley, Harvey Clark, J. P. Lockney and Claude Payton. “Sunset Jones, ” American ’s Western, Inculcates a Spirit of Americanism AMERICAN FILM announces .its next production, “Sunset Jones,” starring Charles Clary and Irene Rich. This is a western drama of the present day, a feature of rapid action entertainment with many advertising and exploitation angles. An unusual photodrama of its type, it voices the spirit of the West as it is and not as it is so frequently pictured. It is an epic novel, wherein love, revenge and courage are threads interwoven into the action, and justice is the finished product. The many points that can be incorporated in publicity for selling the picture to the public are being utilized by the producers, who are already planning an extensive campaign in that direction. In this day of the oriental, eastern plays, the mystical and the sometimes overdone sex dramas, a vigorous western with the tang of the hills and the freedom of the open spaces should inculcate true Americanism. Such is the story of “Sunset Jones,” which has a red-blooded hero whose appeal to the rank and file is considered assured. The plot lays bare the astonishing conditions of freight stealing until very recent times prevalent in this country. The latest special, “Their Mutual Child,” to be released December 1, is a photoplay adapted from P. G. Wodehouse’s book of that name. With a mixture of humor and pathos, this drama, played by an all star cast, including Margarita Fisher, Nigel Barrie, Master Pat Moore and Margaret Campbell, presages the most brilliant future of American’s productions. This is more than satisfactory to the producers, who, after paying a large sum for the film rights, are finding that their opinions of the dramatic possibilities of this popular novel are verified. Advance bookings for “Their Mutual Child” are coming in rapidly, according to reports. A Mae Murray and a Dorothy Dalton Film Were Released by Paramount November 28 ALL the keen sense for colorful effects and knowledge of what constitutes the really thrilling -and dramatic which George Fitzmaurice displayed in “On with the Dance” and “The Right to Love,” are said to be contained in his latest production, “Idols of Clay,” which was released by Paramount November 28. On the same day also was released Dorothy Dalton in “A Romantic Adventuress.” The story of “Idols of Clay,” a romance of two widely divergent worlds, was written by Ouida Bergere, and no expense, either of money or of artistic effort, it is said, was spared in making it one of the most lavish and spectacular pictures of the current season. As in the previous Fitzmaurice special productions for Paramount, Mae Murray and David Powell are the two most prominently featured in the leading roles. Finished Actress The picture records one step more in the development of Miss Murray from ingenue dancing roles to those of a finished emotional actress. The cast which surrounds the featured players includes George Fawcett, Claude King, Leslie King, Dorothy Cumming and Richard Wangermann. As a box-office attraction, Dorothy Dalton’s new picture, “A Romantic Adventuress,” is declared by Famous Players to have a swift-moving story full of dramatic moments, sparkling humor and plenty of eye-filling and spectacular scenes. This picture is an adaptation of Charles Belmont Davis’s story, “A Winter City Favorite.” The scenario was written by Rosina Henley. The director was Harley Knoles. Miss Dalton is cast as a vivacious dancing girl from the Sunny South, who takes Broadway by storm. Her dancing as the Queen of the Carnival and later in a crowded Broadway theatre are the high spots in the picture. Miss Dalton’s leading man is Charles Meredith, and Howard Long, Augusta Anderson, Ivo Dawson and Robert Schable are also prominent in the cast. Robinson Leases Irvin Dee Robinson, owner of five theatres in Peoria, has added another to his list in the leasing of the Irvin in Bloomington, 111., for a ten-year period. This theatre is thoroughly up-to-date and is said to be one of the most beautiful in Illinois. It was built a few years ago by Clarence Irvin and has a seating capacity of 1,500. Guy Martin, present manager of the Irvin, will be retained as house manager, while Sam Robinson, former manager of the Princess Theatre, Peoria, and now head of the Robinson Advertising Company, will be general business manager.