Moving Picture World (Sep-Oct 1922)

126 MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 9 192. Warner to Have Eighteen Features During 1922-23 ‘'Why Do Men Marry?” Gets Press Praise One of the most ambitious producing plans attempted by an independent organization for the season of 1923 was made known by Harry M. Warner, of Warner Brothers. The W arner organization at this early date have planned to produce eighteen pictures for next year, and it is declared that when the titles of the eighteen stories are made known they will startle the industry. With this announcement the Warner Brothers will become one of the largest producing units in the industry. To formulate the plans for 1923, Abe Warner left last week for the Warner coast studios to confer with his brothers, Sam and Jack, both of whom are at present producing several well known novels. LIVE NEWS Business in Canada is stiil unsettledN according to reports brought to New York by various buyers. According to Harry M. Warner, the productions will be made by a group of prominent directors, assisted by a corps of well known scenario writers and screen players. Sam and Jack Warner will head the producing units. “We are not ready at present to divulge the nature of the stories we plan to produce for next year,” said Mr. Warner. “But we will say that the titles of these stories, when they are finally made known, will startle the industry. “In the production of these pictures we will spare no expense in maintaining the highest production standard possible. And we will engage the best brains and ability that money can buy— as far as directors, scenario writers and players are concerned.” For this season the Warner Brothers will release seven productions, three of which are being made by Harry Rapf at the coast studios. The seven pictures include “The Beautiful and Damned,” F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel dealing with the flapper, “Main Street,” the novel by Sinclair Lewis, “Brass,” the Charles G. Norris novel of marriage and divorce, “Rags to Riches” and “Heroes of the Street,” both featuring Wesley Barry; “Little Church Around the Corner,” by Marion Russell, and “A Dangerous Adventure,” a wild animal picture featuring Grace Darmond. The directors for these productions include E. Mason Hopper, Sidney Franklin, Wallace Worsley, William Beaudine ; and the scenario writers are Julien Josephson, Monte M. Katterjohn, Olga Prinzlau, Edmund Goulding Mildred Considine and Isabel Johnston. “Fatty” Karr Signs with T. Ro Coffin That independent exchanges axe looking forward to a big season is evident from the extensive exploitation drive some of the bigger firms are conducting. S J Kollo, treasurer of Clark Cornelius Corporation, figured in an automobile accident in New York last Sunday and sustained Palofol inpir ies. Latest reports had it that he was recovering rapidly. Ivan Abramson announced this week that the first shipment of prints on his initial feature, Wildness of Youth,” which he made for ri™p'1' ■; Exchanges, Inc., was sent out to the exchanges this week. The Reliance Film Exchange of Washington will absorb the Rialto Productions. Inc., in that city. Nat Sauber of Rialto will be retained as general manager. Harry Levey is now handling the non-theatrical Pictures that Alexander Film Company of New York have been releasing in the past, according to announcement made this week. Balaban & Katz of Chicago this week signed a contract with Warner Brothers, whereby the former acquired the rights to “Your Best Friend” in Northern Illinois. A. H. Blank Enterprises of Omaha bought the same picture for Nebraska and Iowa. Edward Grossman, according to a despatch from Chicago, has been appointed the Windy City manager for A1 Liohtman Corporation. Grossman is making his headquarters with Celebrated Film Players Corporation, of which .Toe Friedman is the head, the latter holding the Lichtman franchise for that territory. Nathan Hirsh, president of Aywon Film Corporation, announced this week that he had completed the titling of his initial Maeiste picture, which he will release as “The Unconquered.” Special Representative Tossey, of Arrow Film Corporation, in a chat with a representative of this department this week, expressed it as his opinion that conditions in the South are improving faster than any other section he has visited. The South was particularly hard hit by the industrial depression. Los Angeles (Special). — “Fatty” Karr, who has attracted much attention of late from various producers, who aspire to land him the laurels forfeited by “Fatty” Arbuckle, this week signed a three-year contract with the T. R. Coffin Productions, which will star him in a series of two-reel “human interest” comedies, the first of which will be ready for release about the first of November, according to exclusive announcement made to the local representative of Moving Picture World this week. Bruce Mitchell, who has been directing the Monte Banks comedies and who is now in New York, will produce the comedies. In fact, Mitchell signed him this week through his local representative. Production will be at the Cosmos Art Studios in Hollywood. Mr. Mitchell is expected back in this city the latter part of September and production will be started immediately. Late this week Mr. Mitchell wired his Coast office that he had completed releasing arrangements with Franklyn O. Backer, president of East Coast Productions, Inc., of New York, which will dispose of the comedies on the State rights basis. Karr is best known for his work in Universal’s “Human Hearts,” “Big Stakes,” and “Omar the Tentmaker.” Toe Brandt, director general of Federated Film Exchanges of America, Inc., arrived in this city this week. He had lengthy conferences with the various Federated producers here. Ben Wilson, one of the producers who is making two-reel comedies for Federated, is very much enthused over future prospects of Federated. Lou Baum, recently promoted to the Vice Presidency of Equity Pictures Corporation, is in California. The early part of the current week he spent in Los Angeles, going to San Francisco from here. He is on the road selling territorial rights to Equity’s feature. “What’s Wrong With The Women?” Harrv Ranf. having completed two pictures for Warner, is now busily perfecting plans for “Brass.” which he will make at the Warner studios, which right now are being extensively altered and enlarged. Ben Wilson is buving original stories for William Fairbanks, his new Western star. He already has turned over the first William Fairbanks feature to his distributor. Arrow Film Corporation. Clarence Bricker, of Clarence Brieker Productions, Inc., who is in New York, wired this week that he had signed with East Coast Productions, Inc., for the distribution of his new series of two-reel comedies starring Frankie Lee, the American boy. Marie Prevost will be starred in two more pictures that Harry Rapf will make for Warner Brothers’ distribution at the Warner studios. Lon Chaney will be starred in a series of special independent pictures as soon as he has completed his next big picture. “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” for Universal, according to reliable reports. “Only A Shop Girl,” the next melodrama on the “Rix Six” schedule of C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation, is scheduled for release the early part of October. Production is virtually completed. The local exchanges are looking forward to an unusual year, the exchangemen being of the belief that if they don't make money this coming season they’ll never cash in. Eddie Lyons has started work on the first of the new series of two-reel comedies that he will release through Arrow Film Corporation. One interesting development at studios where independent productions are being made brings forth the impression that the independents are leaving nothing undone in the way of getting the proper sets. Some of the pictures here have unusually big sets. “The Country Flapper.” with Dorothy Gish, a Producers Security Corporation picture, onens at the Alhambra here on Labor Day. The exclusive announcement published in Moving Picture World last week that Warner Rrothers had joined the Will Hays organization has created much comment among independent producers. The first special production o Unity Pictures, Inc., “Why D< Men Marry?” was screened for th staff at the Unity offices, 723 Seventi avenue, New York, Monday after noon, the final cutting, titling an< editing having been completed las week. The picture had been show: a number of times before, but th first formal screening of the com pleted film was given on Monday. The work of Edy Darclae, wh heads the all-star cast in this pic ture, was regarded as good, nc only by the members of the Unit organization, but by all who wit nessed the screening, and several o these men prominent in the in dependent film field. It is believe that Miss Darclae will score a even greater success in this pic ture than she did in the Fox filr spectacle, “Nero,” in which she play ed a prominent female role. “Why Do Men Marry?” is modern story of society an domestic life. The society atmo; phere presents a logical opportunit for lavish sets and gowns. A nei creation is worn by Miss Darclae i practically every sequence of th picture. John J. Hayes Signs Bertschy To fill the vacancy created b the resignation of Julius Singe: President John J. Hayes, of th Pacific Film Company, Inc., c Culver City, Cal., announces th appointment of Robert Bertsch as eastern representative. Mr. Bertschy was formed manager of Warner’s Alban (N. Y.) branch and is well-know in State rights circles. He wi have his office with Williai Alexander. According to M Hayes, Mr. Singer resigned t formulate a consolidation of Stat rights exchange managers fc booking purposes. C. B. C. Film Is Sol< In Canada Canadian rights were sold th week on the new series of Hal room Boys Comedies. C. B. ( Film Sales Corporation, which distributing this popular series c two-reelers. signed contracts wil Regal Films of Toronto, where! that company takes over the relea ing rights to the 1922-23 serit throughout Canada. FEDERATED FILM EXCHANGES BROADCASTING TUNE IN (ffe>