Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1923)

-1-l2 MOVING PICTURE WORLD November 24. 1923 “Is Sure-Fire,” Say Warners “A sure-fire box-office attraction— one of the most thrilling and dramatic romances that has ever been filmed !” That was the consensus of opinion of the Warner officials following a private showing in the home office projection room of the Warner Classic, "Lucretia Lombard,” produced by Harry Rapf. Ireite Rich and Monte Blue co-starred in the production, and other prominent roles are interpreted by Marc McDermott, Alec B. Francis, Norma Shearer, John Roche, Lucy Beaumont and Otto Hoffman. “Lucretia Lombard” is a screen adaptation of the novel of the same name by Kathleen Norris. Tarkington Stories Are Ideal Screen Material “Scaramouche” Debut in Toronto Twice winner of the Pulitzer award for fine American fiction, Booth Tarkington, creator of "Gentle Julia” and a host of other lovable juveniles, is rated high in modern American letters. His story of "Gentle Julia” has been adapted for the screen by William Fox, who gave Bessie Love the title role and cast Harold Goodwin as the awkward Noble Dill, her small town swain. Booth Tarkington was born in Indianapolis, on July 29, 1869. He graduated from Princeton and almost immediately became a successful author of short stories. He published ‘‘The Gentleman from Indiana,” in 1899 and thereafter, in remarkable succession, ‘‘The Conquest of Canaan,” “His Own People,” “The Flirt” and in 1914, began his Penrod stories with the first under that name. Then came "Penrod and Sam,” “Seventeen,” “Alice Adams,” and between his novels were scores of masterful short stories and lesser books. Among the successful plays Tarkington has written are “Monsieur Beaucaire,” “The Man From Home,” “Cameo Kirby,” “Your Humble Servant,” “Mister Antonio,” “The Country Cousin,” “Up From Nowhere,” “Clarence,” “The Wren,” “The Intimate Strangers” and others. He collaborated with Harry Leon Wilson in the writing of “Cameo Kirby,” which William Fox has adapted for the screen among the 1923-24 specials. “April Showers” Has Big Runs “April Showers,” Tom Forman’s recent production from the Schulberg studios, is proving its popularity with exhibitors by a long list of first runs reported from the offices of Preferred Pictures. This comedy-drama, starring Kenneth Harlan and Colleen Moore, is now playing the Keith, Moss and Proctor circuits in New \ork City and will have early exhibition dates in the following places : U. S. Theatre, Paterson, N. J.; State, Long Beach, Cal.; Strand, San Francisco, Cal.; Waldorf, Akron, O. ; Strand, Flint, Mich.; Nemo, Johnstown, Pa.; Arcadia, Reading. Pa. ; New Grand Central, St. Louis, Mo.; Hippodrome, Spokane, Wash.; Strand, Washington, D. C. ; Strand, Hartford, Conn.; Jefferson, Fort Wayne, Ind. ; Park, Asheville, N. C. ; Lincoln, Troy, N. Y., and the Leland, Albany, N. Y. The “Get Together Club” composed of the executives and employees of the New York Exchange for Educational Films, Inc., held its first dinner at Keene’s Chop House. Oct. 26. The “Get Together Club” is a social and welfare club, holding meetings at the exchange at 729 Seventh Avenue every week, where matters of social interest and welfare of the exchange are discussed. Charles A. Greenblatt is president of the club. Finishes Job Mildred Davis has practically completed her first Ben Wilson production for Grand-Asher release, under the direction of Arthur Rosson. Carl Miller is also featured. Rex Ingram’s “Scaramouche” opened at the Tivoli Theatre (formerly the Allen) in Toronto last week and reports of the newspaper critics show it was given the same hearty reception it has received everywhere else. “A crowded house saw ‘Scaramouche,’ ” wrote the critic of the Toronto Daily Star, “while a thousand people were turned away. Many of those who saw it pronounced it as the greatest screen drama they had ever witnessed.” Carewe’s Force Sails from N. Y. on S. S. Paris Griffith Meets the President D. W. Griffith recently was presented to President Coolidge by Representative Treadway. The noted motion picture director and producer showed President Coolidge several scenes of his forthcoming film feature, “America,” a picture of the Revolutionary War. American soldiers of today, attired as were those earlier fighters, re-enacted the battle scenes. Many of the historic relics of those days were used in Mr. Griffith’s scenes. The second section of the Edwin Carewe company sailed Wednesday, November 14, on the French liner S. S. Paris. Those who left to join the director and to proceed to Algiers where exteriors for First National’s “A Son of the Sahara” will be made included Claire Windsor, Rosemary Theby, Bert Lytell, Montagu Love and Paul Panzer beside the production and technical staffs. • The change in sailing date from Saturday to Wednesday was made necessary owing to the inability of Miss Windsor to finish her work out west in time to enable her, to arrive in New York by Saturday. Mr. Carewe has been abroad for a month now and has already looked over the desert locations in Biskra, Algeria. He reports everything in readiness for the arrival of the company and will meet its members in Paris and accompany them south to Marseilles and then across the water to Algeria. Aside from the roster of players already mentioned Walter McGrail will be in one of the principal roles of the picture. He preceded the main party, accompanying Director Carewe a month ago. Louis N. Jerome will have charge of the business management of the company. The complete personnel of the production and technical staffs is as follows: John D. Schulze, technical director. Robert Kurrle. cameraman, Wallace Fox, assistant director, Cleo Fox, secretary, A1 Greene, second cameraman, Richard Easton, second assistant director, and Lawrence Coursier, laboratory expert. Smith Ties Up Traffic David Smith, who is producing "Red Roses,” a super-feature for Vitagraph adapted from the novel by George Randolph Chester, effectively tied up all traffic at the junction of the main thoroughfares of Los Angeles last week. Director Smith obtained permission from the police department of the southern California metropolis to stage some of the scenes in the heart of the shopping district. Scores of automobiles were used and when the congestion was at its height an ambulance came clanging down the street. Doris Kenyon Stars in Blaney Film Doris Kenyon has the leading role in Charles E. Blanev’s production “The Love Bandit,” which Vitagraph will release. \ ictor Sutherland and Cecil Spooner are also in the cast. Production on the second of the BlaneyVitagraph pictures will begin soon. The selection of the second super-feature has not yet been announced. “Get Together Club” Holds Dinner Extended Runs N,ot only is “If Winter Comes” hanging up a new record for extended engagements all over the country but it is teaching a new set of patrons the path to the picture theatres. Columbus, Ohio, and Buffalo are two of the latest cities to acclaim the film version of the A. S. M. Hutchinson story by holding it over for a second week. Detroit ran the picture for four weeks, and Los Angeles will post a long run record with it. Named Branch Manager Claire Windsor and Bert Lytell who play the leads in “A Son of the Sahara,” an Edwin Carewe Production for First National. The V . W. Hodkinson Corporation announces that Sherman S. Webster is now branch sales manager of the Cleveland office. Mr. Webster replaces C L. Peavey, resigned.