Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1923)

December 1, 1923 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 497 Preferred Planning Ten Big Productions; Studios Active “The Thrill Girl” Under Way After spending several days filming horseback riding scenes and airplane stunts, the Robert Hill company has returned to Universal City to begin the interior scenes on “The Thrill Girl,” Laura La Plante’s first feature under her new contract with Universal. Edward Hearn, juvenile character actor, will play the lead opposite Miss La Plante. Others in the cast are William Welsh, Frances Raymond, Albert Hart, Bert Roach, Margaret Cullington, Rolfe Sedan, Fred De Silva and Stanley Blystone. Rex Beach Shearing Rex Beach has been spending a good deal of his time lately at the Paramount Long Island studio assisting Lloyd Sheldon in editing and titling the Paramount picture made from his story, “Big Brother.” Plans for ten special productions, to be filmed as Preferred Pictures in the immediate future, are making the Schulberg Studios in Los Angeles one of the busiest spots on the West Coast. Filming of three pictures is being started almost simultaneously. 'Poisoned Paradise,” from the novel by Robert W. Service, has been begun by Director Gasnier with an all-star cast headed by Clara Bow. With the completion of continuities, now being prepared, work will begin on “The Breath of Scandal,” from the novel by Edwin Balmer, and "White Man,” a screen version of George Agnew Chamberlain’s novel. Since the three stories are of widely differing characters, are laid in widely separated territories and involve the construction of settings of an elaborate nature, three armies of carpenters and technical men have been organized for the preliminary tasks that must be completed before cameras begin to grind. “Poisoned Paradise” will be filmed amid the picturesque luxuries of Monte Carlo and the equally picturesque but not so luxurious slum districts of Paris. In both cases photographic reproductions of the actual districts to be shown have been used in order to make possible as realistic glimpses of Monte Carlo and the French metropolis as if the companies actually had worked abroad. “White Man” is a drama of the jungle One of the most interest ing of the feats that must be accomplished during its filming is the moving of one of California’s famous big trees from its natural habitat to the Schulberg Studios. Other settings include a genuine jungle, which has been located not far below the Mexican border, and a glimpse of the Metropolitan Opera House and its stage in New York. "The Breath of Scandal,” based on Mr. Balmer’s story of modern society, required several elaborate American city backgrounds. The remaining pictures, seven in number, will be filmed as rapidly as the physical requirements can be met, in order to make possible the release on schedule time of the fifteen Preferred Pictures announced as the season’s output by this organization. Noted Bostonians at Brilliant Premiere Given “Scaramouche’ Rex Ingram’s “Scaramouche” was presented at the Park Theatre in Boston on November 12 last, marking another milestone in its meteoric career. Its premiere there was as brilliant as those which greeted the appearance of “Scaramouche” in Washington, New York and in other cities. Boston’s aristocracy was out in full force. The Park was filled to overflowing early and throughout the entire presentation a big crowd that could not gain admission was waiting outside. Among those present were Archie Roosevelt, Rudolph Valentino, Charles Hammond Gibson, Nathan Haskell Dole, Desmond Fitzgerald, internationally known art patron; Mrs. Oakes Ames, Philip Dana Orcutt, Mrs. Philip Saltsonstall, Henry R. Warren, Robert D. Andrews, Miss Sally Bradford, Mrs. Oliver Crocker Stevens, Frank H. Beebe, Frank G. Hale and many others socially prominent, as well as representatives from the Cabot, the Courtney and the Curtis families. Boston is taking a widespread interest in “Scaramouche.” Arrangements have been made for the students of the various schools and colleges to come in a body on special nights to study the historical angles of the production. Among the colleges so represented are Harvard, Emerson College, Wellesley, Boston University, the famous Dana Hall School and others. The Boston press accorded “Scaramouche” enthusiastic praise. Not only did the dramatic motion picture critics devote space to it but the art critics on the various Boston papers praised it highly because of its great artistry. Vitagraph Film Given Showing “The Man From Brodney’s” was given a pre-release showing for critics of trade and fan publications on Thursday afternoon, November 22. This is the latest production by David Smith, director of “Pioneer Trails,” and is a screen adaptation of the famous novel of India Seas. Records Broken by “Three Ages” A telegram from C. M. Morrison, manager of the Imperial Theatre at Jacksonville, Fla., to J. J. Burke, Jr., of the Metro Exchange at Atlanta, Ga., records the fact that Buster Keaton’s "Three Ages” broke the season’s record. New York Reviewers Release Date Set for Laud “Pioneer Trails” “Long Live the King” New York City critics joined with those of London, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco in praising Vitagraph’s super-feature, “Pioneer Trails,” which was shown at the Rivoli Theatre last week. This is a David Smith production, in which Alice Calhoun, Cullen Landis and * Otis Harlan have leading roles. The Evening Sun said: “It is a Western tale depicting the hardships of the early days and its remarkably swift action, expertly directed without a fumble in continuity, combined with pellucid photography, make it worth while inspecting.’'’ New York Evening Journal: “You will be struck with the great beauty of composition of many of the scenes.” New York Mail: “The film contained good old ‘Western stuff’ with fast and furious riding, a runaway stage coach and gun play.” Evening World: “It’s an enjoyable film and one we think you’ll like.” The News: “It means Alice Calhoun and Cullen Landis and these two members of the huge film force are by no means in the background when it comes to doing thrill stuff.” New York American: “There are gorgeous shots of scenery, thrilling fights and hair raising action.” New York Times: “David Smith, who made this film, has selected some really beautiful locations.” Morning Telegraph: “This new Vitagraph picture has all the elements of popular success.” War Veterans in Gloria’s Next One World War veterans of four armies, American, French, English and Canadian, will appear on the screen in the Armistice Day scene in Gloria Swanson’s latest Paramount picture, “The Humming Bird.” All of the soldiers used in these scenes were bona fide war veterans, many of them being sent to the Paramount studio by the Veterans’ Service Bureau of New York. “Long Live the King,” Jackie Coogan’s Metro production, is to be released November 25. It is by far the largest and most elaborate picture Jackie has ever appeared in. Massive sets form the background before which Mary Roberts Rinehart’s story is enacted. Among the largest of the sets built at the Metro studios in Hollywood for “Long Live the King” were the enormous castle, a large opera house and a huge cathedral. The castle is a replica of the Castle of Neuschwanstein and occupied some 240,000 square feet of ground. The cathedral duplicates that in Herzegovina and the opera house that in Dresden. These sets are among the largest ever built in Hollywood and give some idea of the stupendous production. “By far the best thing Jackie Coogan has ever done. His acting is nothing short of marvelous,” is a brief excerpt from the Motion Picture News review. “By far the most ambitious production yet made for the juvenile star. Beautiful and lavish settings, splendid direction, a fine supporting cast and a good holding story,” said Exhibitor’s Herald. “A big spectacular picture extremely rich in pathos and human interest with delightful comedy touches. Should pack any theatre,” is the opinion of Moving Picture World. School Kids See Dickens Film Associated Exhibitors’ “David Copper'field,” on Broadway, New York, developed into a three weeks’ engagement. So strong was the endorsement of school teachers, and their insistence that pupils should see the presentation, that the B. S. Moss offices issued special tickets, admitting high school students at half price to all matinees this week except Friday and Saturday.