The Moving picture world (January 1920-February 1920)

922 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 7, 1920 iiiiiinnmiminiir The Same Is True Here From Kinematograph Weekly, Jan. 8. WHAT we want are good but not goody, clean but not emasculated, strong but not violent, high-class but not highbrow films. The standards of the producers must be equivalent to all that is best in healthy literature. To Start Work Soon on Half Dozen Productions at the Lasky Studios IllllllllllllllllllllllllitlllH Charles L. Fletcher to Edit "Topical Editor" ANNOUNCEMENT is made of the formation of the Topical Humor Film Company to produce The Topical Editor," a half reel made up of the humor of the day compiled from many sources, to which is added original comments. Charles Leonard Fletcher is at the head of the new company and will edit the newest thing in this field. That the new laugh-maker will be far different from any previous efforts in this line is made clear at the outset by Mr. Fletcher, who will show a few feet of motion pictures to further enhance the feature on the screen. Associated with Mr. Fletcher in the new company is Lawrence Alvin Urbach, who for several years was a member of the advertising staff of Exhibitor's Trade Review, and prior to that was on the staff of Motion Picture News. Definite announcement of a plan for release of the "Topical Editor" will be made shortly. When Mr. Fletcher was a young man he was a reporter on the Boston Globe for seven years. He then went on the stage, playing with the popular actors and actresses of the day in Shakespearean repertoire. After six years he went into vaudeville, in v.'.-.ich field he remained twenty-one years as a headliner, billed as a monologue comedian. He played the Keith time, and made two world tours. In 1916 Mr. Fletcher presented as an original idea in vaudeville an act called ' Silent Comments on Timely Topics." In 1917-1918 Mr. Fletcher plunged into war work with the Y. M. C. A. Late in 1918 he revived his screen topics, and from May, 1919, to January, 1920, he edited the Literary Digest's "Topics of the Day" for Timely Films, Inc. Mr. Fletcher resigned from Timely Films, Inc., on January 17, last, and at once formed his new company. Goldwyn Signs Popular Comedian, "Scratch My Back," a comedy by Rupert Hughes, which Goldwyn is producing at its Culver City studios, has had an addition to its cast. T. Roy Barnes, vaudeville and musical comedy star, will be numbered in the company, which already, includes Cullen Landis, who distinguished himself in "The Girl from the Outside," a gripping Rex Beach drama of the frozen North. T. Roy Barnes is one of the best known variety entertainers in the country. His act, in which he played the part of a book-agent of the most insistent kind, one who wouldn't take "no" for an answer, is among the most popular of vaudeville turns. WITH six new productions, including the Paramount-Artcraft Special, "Held by the Enemy" and Cecil B. De Mille's new special which will follow "Why Change Your Wife?" in immediate contemplation, activity at the Lasky studio promises no abatement for some time to come. Following the completion of "Mrs. Temple's Telegram," on which he is now working, Bryant Washburn will begin "The Sins of St. Anthony," a Saturday Evening Post story, for which Elmer Harris is writing the scenario. James Cruze will direct. Wallace Reid has completed his new Paramount-Artcraft Picture, "The Dancin' Fool" under Sam Wood's direction, and will shortly begin work with the same director in the farce comedy, "Sick-Abed," scenario for which is by Clara G. Kennedy. Bebe Danlies will again appear as leading woman for the star, and the roles afforded both Mr. Reid and Miss Danlies will undoubtedly prove highly pleasing. "Sick-ABed" was one of the most popular of the metropolitan plays ef a season or two ayo. Crisp to Start on New Play. The much heralded production of the Paramount-Artcraft Special, "Held by the Enemy," under the direction of Donald Crisp, will be started soon at the Lasky Studio. Among those who will appear in the leading parts are Jack Holt, Wanda Hawley, Lewis Stone, Agnes Ayres, Robert Cain and Walter Hiers. The production is to be elaborate in the extreme, with scenic backgrounds of great effectiveness and with the greatest attention to detail and historical accuracy. Beulah Marie Dix wrote the scenario. Melford Goes to the Sierras. George Melford has taken his producing company, headed by Roscoe Arbuckle, the star, to a distant location in the Sierras for exterior scenes of "The Round-Up." The company expects to be gone for at least three weeks and during that time will secure important cattle ranch scenes and the fight situations in which Apache Indians and cow punchers, as well as U. S. Cavalry are concerned. Tom Forman is author of the scenario and also plays an important role. De Mille Working on "Prince Chap." William De Mille is in the midst of his artistic production "The Prince Chap," with Thomas Meighan and a strong cast interpreting the roles. This play, by Edward Peple, promises to be a delightful entertainment. The scenario was written by Olga Printzlau, who being an artist, found herself at home \n the aepiction of scenes dealing with the artists' quarter of Soho, London. Among others in the cast are Lila Lee, Kathlyn Williams, Theodore Kosloff, Ann Forest, Casson Ferguson, May Giracci, and Peaches Jackson. Thomas Heffron has finished "Thou Are the Man !" with Robert Warwick as the star, and will shortly begin work with the same star on another picture for Paramount-Artcraft. entitled, "The City of Masks." scenario for which is by Walter Woods. Lois Wilson, it is understood, will be leading woman for Warwick in this new production. Charles Maigne is progressing with "The Fighting Chance," a ParamountArtcraft Special from Robert W. Chambers' story, with scenario by Will M. Ritchey. Walter Edwards is still at work on Ethel Clayton's Paramount-Artcraft picture, "A Lady in Love," scenario for which is by Alice Eyton. Upon its completion he will make another picture with Ethel Clayton as the star, entitled, "The Ladder," Edith Kennedy being the auihor of the scenario. Special Campaign Book on "Other Men's Shoes" WITH the release date of the initial Edgar Lewis production, "Other Men's Shoes," which is set for February 1, approaching, Pathe announces many aids for the benefit of the exhibitor in exploiting the production. Besides the usual advertising material Pathe issues a special press sheet for the production, an enlarged campaign book, a special one-sheet and a window card. A book store tie-up is also under way with Andrew Soutar's novel, "Other Men's Shoes," from which the picturization was made. The author is widely known both here and abroad through his literary work and his epics of the Great War which were written by Mr. Soutar when he was on the Russian front. Pathe announces the following advertising aids for the production : one sheet; special one sheet; two styles threesheet; six-sheet; twenty-four sheet; set of colored lobby displays; two styles 22x28 colored scene ; one, two and three col. ad cuts and mats; one-col. and twocol, star cuts and mats; scene cut; title slub; set of black and whites; campaign book; press sheet; announcement slide; window card. ^Miiiriiiini,i,iit„i„i,nK„uinnnmiinnaMMmHaMi^MBHMi^^H^^^^^^^^^H Enter Drop -Ins, Exit Fans From the Kansas City Post. WITH the passing of the saloon all over the country men are taking to the movies more than ever before and (vomen shoppers long ago discovered that the movie manager ;aters to the "drop-in" spirit. Summed up: In the semi-darkaess of the movie house is balm (or the soul weary as well as for (he leg weary, a safe retreat where one may think and for the hour forget there is such thing as (rouble. Even astute millionaires, jngrossed in sordid "go-after-thejollar-and-grab-it" chase, have been known to slide into a movie house for an hour or so of peaceful reflection. Wholly without regard to the merit of the picture, and come out dyed in the wool fans. Yes, the world moves. So does the picture game.