Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1923)

December 8, 1923 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 571 Three New Goldwyns “Innocence” Has Been Due for Production Completed by C. B. C. With the announcement that Rupert Hughes, author-director, had completed the continuity on his next picture-story, and would begin work upon it as soon as his cast is selected, Abraham Lehr, vice-president of the Goldwyn Company, spiked rumors that his studio would join the general shutdown. Hughes will film an original screen story, written and adapted by himself, to be called “True Steel.” He now is considering players. Hughes recently completed editing of his last picture, to be released in the near future under the title, “Reno.” It is a study of the divorce problems in America, produced on an elaborate scale with an all-star cast. Victor Seastrom, Swedish director, who recently made his first picture in America for Goldwyn, also is preparing a story for the screen and will begin work as soon as the continuity is finished. Two companies now are working for Goldwyn, one headed by Alan Crosland, filming Elinor Glyn’s “Three Weeks,” the others under the direction of Emmett Flynn, making “Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model.” Still a third Goldwyn unit is to begin production in the near future, when June Mathis and Charles Brabin start “Ben-Hur,” the immortal Lew Wallace story, which he will make in Italy. The director is now in Italy with his technical staff, .and Miss Mathis will leave soon. Erich von Stroheim’s “Greed,” from Frank Norris’ novel, “McTeague,” is being titled, while Victor Seastrom’s “Name the Man!” from Sir Hall Caine’s novel, “The Master of Man,” King Vidor’s “Wild Oranges,” from Joseph Hergesheimer’s novel, and Rupert Hughes’ “Reno” are completed and awaiting release. Production has been completed by Harry Cohn, producer for C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation, of that company’s newest feature, “Innocence,” in which Anna Q. Nilsson heads an all-star cast, it is announced this week. The production is a picturization of Lewis Allen Browne’s famous magazine story, “Circumstances Alter Divorce Cases.” Edward J. LeSaint, who directed many other C. B. C. successes, directed “Innocence” also. The story is said to be especially timely in that it embodies in the working out of its theme a strong plea against conviction on circumstantial evidence — a woman’s honor and future happiness being involved. It is said to have aroused much enthusiasm ait a special showing on the Coast to which were invited many well known lawyers and several prominent judges. Harry Cohn expresses his opinion that it is the biggest C. B. C. production yet made. Earl Foxe, Wilfred Lucas, Marion Harlan, Freeman Wood, Kate Lester, William Scott, Jessie Arnold and \ era Lewis are in the cast which supports Anna Q. Nilsson. Davies Film Grosses $123,110 at Capitol “The Virginian” Scores * Triumph on West Coast B. P. Schulberg’s Preferred picture, “The Virginian,” has just closed two more successful first run engagements, at the Granada in San Francisco and at the Colorado in Denver. The West Coast premiere at the Granada brought tremendous business to that house, according to telegraphic word received from the manager. In Denver, “The Virginian” set a new box-office record for the Colorado Theatre. Moreover, the local press proclaimed it as one of the thoroughly worth while pictures of the season. The Denver Post said : “It has plenty of blood and thunder to keep the most blase theatregoer breathing hard, yet the story is told without unnecessary posturing and gives the effect of being a true picture of the old hair-raising days. Has abundant humor and a love story which gives relief whenever the excitement threatens to come in too big doses.” The Denver Times commented : “The plot is along the lines of the typical western picture but the directing and acting are both on a high level. Excitement prevails but there is an entertaining love story in which Kenneth Harlan and Florence Vidor are the principals.” The engagement of Marion Davies in “Little Old New York” was brought to a close last Saturday night at the Capitol Theatre, New York, after two weeks of the most sensational success that has been recorded in the history of that theatre. During its first two weeks at popular prices, it has attracted 202,682 persons, who paid $123,110 to see it. When it is considered that “Little Old New York” earlier in the season had a run of twelve capacity weeks at the Cosmopolitan Theatre, the tremendous appeal that the picture has for New Yorkers is a fact of which the Cosmopolitan Corporation may well be proud. “Little Old New York” is now in its thirteenth week at the Empire Theatre, London. It is in its seventh crowded week at the Roosevelt Theatre, Chicago. Reports from the Imperial Theatre, San Francisco, where it opened last Saturday, state that house records were broken there Saturday and Sunday. In its first week at the Rialto Theatre, Washington, it established records in receipts and attendance. Indefinite engagements started this week in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Detroit, St. Louis and Seattle. Big Exploitation Force Behind “Big Brother” Chicago Critics Laud Big Universal Picture Chicago film critics, recently reviewing the Chicago opening of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” in the Harris Theatre, waxed as enthusiastic over the big Universal spectacle drama as their New York brethren. They unite in characterizing the picture as a “screen masterpiece” and Chaney’s work as the “greatest screen characterization ever done.” The following excerpts from Chicago reviews indicate the high praise meted out to the big Victor Hugo adaptation. The Chicago Evening American said : “Chaney has given a truly marvelous characterization, which, if not imperishable, is astonishingly durable. Director Wallace Worsley has done a rare piece of work. ‘The Hunchback’ is a photo-drama masterpiece.” The Chicago Daily Journal, wrote as follows : “The claims for greatness lie in the hands of Lon Chaney, whose mind must surely have borne a spectre for his work as the hunchback. With Rabelaisian power, he makes a study of the grotesque, which is the greatest the screen has given.” The Journal of Commerce said: “Here is a picture that is worthy of minute attention, for it has been screened so carefully, it measures up so fully to one’s expectations, that it comes near occupying a place apart.” The Chicago Evening Post, also hailed the picture as remarkable, in the following terms : “One more has been added to the truly great gigantic spectacular productions with the completing of ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame.’ Victor Hugo’s pulsating story has been vividly transplanted to the screen in a lavish manner which will call forth your whole hearted admiration even while you shudder.” When Allan Dwan’s Paramount production, “Big Brother,” which was adapted from Rex Beach’s story and features Tom Moore, Edith Roberts and Raymond Hatton, reaches the screens of the country the latter part of December, it will have behind it as a mighty exploitation force the combined power of all the organizations, both national and local, allied with the Big Brother Movement. This work involves the co-operation of local organizations of the Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and Civi tan Clubs ; Elks, Knights of Columbus, Y. M. C. A., B’nai Brith, etc., to the number of more than four thousand, and the promotion of Big Brother Nights in every community where the picture is shown. This is made possible by the active and enthusiastic co-operation of the Big Brother Movement, Inc., through its secretary, Rowland C. Sheldon, who is now at work lining up the 143 local Big Brother committees in the United States and Canada which are directly allied with the central organization. Universal Xmas Special Includes Six Good Ones Universal is putting out six pictures during December, two of which are Universal Jewel productions. In the order of their release they are : “The Darling of New York,” a Universal Jewel action drama in which Baby Peggy is starred; “The Near Lady,” a comedy starring Gladys Walton ; “White Tiger,” Priscilla Dean’s latest Jewel production; “The Red Warning,” a Jack Hoxie picture; “His Mystery Girl,” starring Herbert Rawlinson, and “Pure Grit,” featuring Roy Stewart. “The Darling of New York” is Baby Peggy’s first feature length picture. It is said to be one of her best bets and shows her in a role entirely new to that to which she has been accustomed.