Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1922)

248 MOVING PICTURE WORLD November 18, 1922 Famous Players Forces Working on Big Releases Plunged into the heaviest production schedule which has ever prevailed in the Paramount studios, Jesse L. Lasky, first vice president of the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation, in charge of production, returned to New York this week with the prediction that the next six months of this season will see even greater improvement in the quality of pictures than has already been shown since the opening of the season in September. Thirteen companies are now at work producing Paramount Pictures in the Lasky studio in Hollywood and in the Long Island studio; but, imposing ~asthe list of productions is, they are only a few of the big pictures to be released by Paramount after February 1. “Every one of these thirteen companies,” said Mr. Lasky, “is making a picture which will surpass those we have already released so far this season, wonderful as our record on ‘The First Forty-One’ has been. “For instance, James Cruze is now producing what I firmly believe will be the biggest production ever released by Paramount. It is ‘The Covered Wagon,’ the epic story of the old West by Emerson Hough, published first as a serial in the Saturday Evening Post and later as a bestselling novel. “Another sensational picture will be the one that Cecil B. DeMille is now making. With unusual settings and with a wealth of artistic detail Mr. DeMille plans to tell in this picture the story of the girl of today — the most discussed subject in our modern life. “Pola Negri, after recovering from the overwhelming reception accorded her by the American public, has begun production under the direction of George Fitzmaurice on Robert Hichens’ powerful novel, ‘Bella Donna.’ “One of the most novel pictures Paramount has ever made is ‘The White Flower,’ the picture which Julia Crawford Ivers is making in Honolulu, from her own story, with Betty Compson in the leading role. “Even greater than ‘The Impossible Mrs. Bellew’ will be Gloria Swanson’s next picture, ‘My American Wife,’ an original story by Hector Turnbull, author of ‘The Cheat.’ This will be a Sam Wood production, with a strong cast headed by Antonio Moreno and Walter Long. “The growing army of Jack Holt fans will be pleased to see him in the picture he is working on now, ‘Nobody’s Money,’ which will give this sterling artist an opportunity to show his skill in comedy. “Agnes Ayres will have something different in her next picture, ‘Racing Hearts,’ which is being directed by Paul Powell, the man who made that rarely beautiful picture, ‘Borderland.’ “Mary Miles Minter has the biggest role of her career in ‘The Drums of Destiny,’ which Charles Maigne made from Stephen French Whitman’s popular story, ‘Sacrifice.’ Alan Dwan is beginning this week at the Long Island studio on ‘The Glimpses of the Moon,’ from Edith Wharton’s latest novel. Bebe Daniels will play the role of Susy Branch and another featured player will be Nita Naldi. “George Melford, having completed ‘Ebb Tide,’ one of the most powerful screen dramas I have ever seen, is now engaged in producing Joseph Hergesheimer’s novel, ‘Java Head,’ with the active collaboration of Mr. Hergesheimer. “Thomas Meighan is now engaged on the first of the series of the greatest Meighan stories the screen has ever seen. It is ‘Back Home and Broke,’ an original story by George Ade. Following this Mr. Meighan will be seen in a story by Rex Beach, and Booth Tarkington, who has been acclaimed America’s greatest novelist, has consented to write an original for Mr. Meighan entitled ‘Uncle Jack.’ “Dorothy Dalton is now engaged on an original story by Edmund Goulding under the direction of Victor Fleming and Alice Brady is working on ‘The Leopardess’ by Katherine Newlin Burt, under the direction of Henry Kolker. “These are only a few of the productions which Paramount will release in the six months after February 1, but, although we made a sensational record by our first forty-one pictures of the season, the production department is confident that this performance will be surpassed in the pictures of the last six months of the season.” The Sin Flood” Is Praised by Critics Goldwyn’s film version of Henning Berger’s , drama, “The Sin Flood,” is the week’s attraction at the Capitol theatre. It is said to have held up to Goldwyn’s great expectations as to its popular appeal and as to the artistry that has gone into its making. The New York Herald critic wrote : “A fine picture and a distinct credit to the Goldwyn corporation which sponsored it.” The reviewer on the Tribune said: “Lloyd has seized upon the material and made it into a fascinating screen comedy. ... A delightful picture play.” The New York Times said: “Sharply realistic. . . . All of the parts are well played. . . . Frank Lloyd has done remarkably well as the director.” The World wrote: “Here is a cork ing good idea for the screen. . . . Gripping film melodrama.” Morning Telegraph: “Intensely dramatic photoplay.” Evening Telegram: “One of the most absorbing and gripping photoplays of the year.” Evening World: “Even more gripping on the screen than it was on the speaking stage.” Sun: “Likely to draw floods of patronage. . . Was keen ly appreciated by audiences.” Mail: “From the play a surprisingly strong picture has been evolved.” Goldwyn Announces Dates for Releases Goldwyn Pictures Corporation announces the release dates of six of its productions following “Remembrance,”' Sherlock Holmes” and “The Sin Flood.” The latest schedule carries the Goldwyn company up to the latter part of January and assigns definite release dates to two pictures that are awaited with particular interest: Marshall Neilan’s production of “The Strangers’ Banquet,” December 31, and Maurice Tourneur’s production of Hall Caine’s “The Christian,” January 21. “Ben Hur” is another super production now in the making. “Brothers Under the Skin,” made from a Peter B. Kyne story, directed by E. Mason Hopper, with a star cast, will be released November 19. On November 26 “Hungry Hearts,” founded on Anzia Yezierska’s book, directed by E. Mason Hopper, will be released. A picturization, under the title of “A Blind Bargain,” of Barry Pain’s story, “The Octave of Claudius,” directed by Wallace Worsley, will be released December 10. Lon Chaney is featured. The Chicago Daily News $10,000 prize winning scenario, which Goldwyn produced, is scheduled for release December 24. This is an Allen Holubar production. Two of Playgoers Two features have places in Playgoers’ schedule of November releases. One is a drama, the other a Western. “The Man and the Moment,” after the novel of the same name by Elinor Glyn, is set for release November 5. It is a five-reeler and was placed with Playgoers for distribution by Attractions Distributing Corporation. “The Man Who Waited,” a five-part Western, is to be released November 19. Universal Works on “Ghost Patrol” The Sinclair Lewis novel, “The Ghost Patrol,” which Universal is filming with Nat Ross as the director, has been put in work with a cast of unusual strength. Bessie Love and Ralph Graves, stars in their own rights, portray the romantic leading roles. The big character of the story, an old New York “copper,” is impersonated by George Nichols. George B. Williams and Max Davidson, both noted for their character w'ork in the UniversalJewel success, “No Woman Knows,” are enacting roles of similar importance in “The Ghost Patrol.” Lydia Yeatman Titus is one of the most capable character women and one of the most outstanding “types” of the screen, and her work in a principal part promises noteworthy quality, George Cooper, Melbourne MacDowell and Jack Carlyle handle other roles. “The Ghost Patrol” was prepared for filming by E. T. Lowe, Jr., and Raymond Schrock, the scenario editor at Universal City. Nat Ross, director of several Hoot Gibson successes, is in charge of the production. Breaks Records of Film Showings All records for the exhibition of Paramount pictures in Stockholm, Sweden, were broken during the week of October 22, when fourteen recent Paramount pictures were on exhibition in the leading theatres of the city. During that week, also “The Sheik” was in the third week of its run at the Rialto and Sibyllan theatres, Stockholm, where all previous box-office records have been smashed, both for duration of run and receipts. Success Expected with New Film A six-reel feature which officials of the organization confidently predict will prove a great popular success, is “Breaking Home Ties.” set for release by Associated Exhibitors November 12. From all reports the production has been excellently done. Richard Farrell. Arthur .'\shley. Lee Kohlman, Rebecca Weintraub and Betty Howe have the principal parts.