Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1923)

V .. &M3L. News Frqm The Producers EDITED BY T. S. DA PONTE Boston Enthusiastic in Lauding “Going Up” One of the powerful love scenes in the William Fox Screen Version of “The Shepherd King,” which was filmed in Egypt by J. Gordon Edwards, with Violet Mersereau in the leading part as the Princess Michal. This Modernizes Barthelmess Richard Barthelmess returns to a modern role in his next picture, “Twenty-one,-” his new First National Picture, after almost a year in which he has played nothing but character parts. Dorothy Mackail plays her second role opposite Barthelmess in “Twenty-one.” Ivan Simpson, Joe King, Dorothy Cumming, Nellie Parker Spaulding, Bradley Barker and Elsie Lawson and a large cast of flappers and society belles play in support of Mr. Barthelmess. The picture reviewers of staid Boston, as well as the fans, used many superlatives to express their enthusiasm over Douglas MacLean in “Going Up,” when this Associated Exhibitors attraction played Gordon’s Olympia last week. In the course of his review in the Herald, “E. G.” said: “‘Going Up’ is one of the funniest films that we have seen, and Douglas MacLean is a delight. On the stage, ‘Going Up’ was, of course, a good comedy, but on the screen it is as ridiculously funny as an animated cartoon.” George C. Mackinnon wrote in the Advertiser: “Simon-pure farce of the genuine ‘screamingly funny’ brand is ‘Going Up,’ now dispensing rounds of hearty laughter at Gordon’s Olympia. It makes side-splitting entertainment.” The Hartford, Conn., papers also gave warm praise to the comedy during its run at the Palace in that city. “MacLean’s experiences in this picture,” says the Times, “give one enough laughs to last a week. It’s one of the peppiest films that has struck a local film for some time.” Robert E. Sherwood wrote in Life, New York: “Douglas MacLean, a graceful comedian and accomplished farceur, has had no opportunities in recent years so favorable as those that are presented to him in ‘Going Up.’ That he makes the most of them is greatly to his credit, because usually, when a movie star hears opportunity knocking, he mistakes it for the uproar of the destructive critics.” Unusual Day and Date Run for Pickford Film (7* Unusual is the day and date run in two big Pittsburgh theatres this week of Mary Pickford’s “Rosita,” the United Artists Corporation release. Beginning Monday, Nov. 5, this Mary Pickford attraction began showing to capacity audiences at Clark’s State and Blackstone theatres, both in the downtown section of Pittsburgh, their advertising stating that it was the first time anything of this kind had been done in these two houses on any production. The fact that the two theatres are directly adjacent to each other makes this exceptional booking all the more interesting from a sales point of view. The announcement that “Rosita” would play day and date at the State and the Blackstone not only caused comment among film men but aroused a good deal of interest and gossip with the Pittsburgh fan public as well. u Record Smashed by “Scaramouche” Rex Ingram’s “Scaramouche” is a popular current Broadway, N. Y., attraction. On Sunday of last week “Scaramouche” broke the 44th street house record for the third successive time. In Washington it is said that very few of the high governmental officials failed to review it. Blackmail” Completed Universal Announces Completed “Cupid’s Fireman,” the latest Charles Jones picture completed at the William Fox West Coast studios, is founded on the Richard Harding Davis story, “Andy McGee’s Chorus Girl.” The girl is played by pretty, dark-eyed Marion Nixon. William Wellman directed. Universal announces the completion of camera work on “Blackmail,” the big Jewel production being made by King Baggot from Rita Weiman’s stage play, “The Co-respondent.” It is a special cast production. Heading the list of players are : Ruth Clifford, Niles Welch and Buddy Messinger, Charles Clary, Herbert Fortier, Arthur Howard. Joe North, William B. Lawrence, Mary Mersch, John Merkyl, Emily Fitzroy, Jane Starr, Hayden Stevenson and Carl Stockdale. One of the outstanding features of the picture is said to be a graphic illustration of what one should do when faced with “black mail” threats. This lesson was woven into the picture at the advice of executives of the Los Angeles police department. To Film Scenes in Three Countries Motion picture scenes for Maurice Tourneur’s newest production. “Torment,” will be taken amidst locales in three countries, according to arrangements perfected by M. C. Levee, who is at present in New York. The story, an international crook drama, is laid in Russia, America and Japan. William Fox presents Tom Mix in. “North of Hudson Bay.” New York Manager Likes “Tiger Rose” Dr. Hugo Reisenfeld, Managing Director of the Rivoli and Rialto Theatres, New York, was so thoroughly impressed by the Warner Classic, “Tiger Rose,” starring Lenore Ulric, that he immediately set a booking date for the Sidney Franklin production following the special screening of the picture. “Tiger Rose” will open at the Rivoli Theatre December 2nd. “I want to congratulate the Warner Brothers and Sidney Franklin on ‘Tiger Rose,’ Dr. Reisenfeld declared following the screening. Exploitation in Omaha Mail carriers in Omaha, Neb., with permission of the United States Post Office Department, distributed to every person in that city card heralds announcing “post office week” during the engagement of “Loyal Lives” at the Moon Theatre in that city. The cards carried the post office slogan, “Mail early and often for service and efficiency.” Preferred Produces Balmer Story “The Breath of Scandal,” bv Edwin Balmer, will be produced immediately by B. P. Schulberg as the third of the next series of Preferred Pictures which will include “Poisoned Paradise" and “White Man.”