The Moving picture world (February 1920-March 1920)

1090 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 14, 1920 A. George Smith Leaves African Films To Be Goldwyn Representative Abroad A GEORGE SMITH, said to be perhaps the most widely-traveled • man in the motion picture industry, has been appointed by Goldwyn Pictures Corporation as ite general representative for Europe. Charles Lapworth, formerly on the London Daily Mail, and more recently associated with Charles Chaplin, will co-operate with Mr. Smith in the handling of Goldwyn advertising and publicity in the European field. In engaging Mr. Smith to represent the Goldwyn interests in Europe, this organization has secured a man finely equipped through years of experience in foreign markets to meet the changing conditions in the distribution of American films abroad. Mr. Smith's active interest in pictures started in 1910 when, located at Cape Town, he became one of the first distributors of photoplays to exhibitors in Africa. At that time there were not more than twenty five exhibitors to be served, whereas today there are approximately three hundred. Twice Around the World. In 1911 he formed Smith Film Agency, Ltd., which was in 1913 incorporated in the African Films Trust, Ltd., six companies being merged in the new organization. Mr. Smith took an active part in the formation and was general manager for the company until October, 1918. He was also a director of the African Film Productions, Ltd., African Theatres Trust, Ltd., India Films, Ltd., Middle East Films, Ltd., International Variety and Theatrical Agency, London, and the International Variety and Theatrical Agency, New York. During the past three years his travels in connection with motion picture enterprises have taken him twice around the world. Mr. Smith's first visit to America was in 1917, after he had made an exhaustive study of motion picture conditions in the Orient. At the time of his visit, 95 per cent, of the film business in Africa went to British firms in London. One of the objects of Mr. Smith's trip to this country was to see if the business could not be better handled here. The result of his investigations was the formation of the New York branch of the I. V. T. A., and since then conditions have changed so radically that 95 per cent, of -Africa's business which went to London is today received direct by -American producers. Returning to -Africa in 1918, Mr. Smith found conditions so altered that he was forced to visit New York again to arrange for the purchase of films. He came by way of the East, opening exchanges along his route of travel, and remained in New York as a representative of the I. V. T. -A., until his recent resignation to take charge of Goldwyn's interests in Europe. Buck Jones Makes Screen Debut in "The Last Straw" IX "The Last Straw," William Fox presents for the first time a horseman cowboy actor of great promise — Buck Jones. "The Last Straw" gives Jones everjopportunity to display his wonderful horsemanship, being a veritable skyrocket of vigorous action, built around a love story in an untamed western setting. It is from the pen of Harold Titus, and abounds in stirring episodes of treachery, sacrifice and fights against odds. Denison Clift directed. The staging called for a diversity of exterior scenes ranging from flat prairie stretches to the wildest mountain gorges, and brought to the screen hordes of cattle. The question so often propounded by screen fans, "What has become of Vivian Rich?" is answered brilliantly by her appearance in this production where she is a foil for the cowpuncher star. .At several points in the picture she is called upon to undertake scenes that involve genuine hazard — such as when she rides an untamed -horse. The rest of the cast include Jane Tallent, Colin Kennv, Charles Le Moye, Bob Chandler, William Gillis, H. W. Padgett, Hank Bell, Zeib Morris and Lon PoflF. Ready to Step Out. Tom Mix, all spruced up in Ids latest Fox thriller, "The Cyclone." "Trimmed in Red" Is Madge Kennedy's Latest GOLDWYX'S first production in the East with Madge Kennedy as the star is "Trimmed with Red." It is a story of New York society life, and Hugo Ballin is directing. Among the women in the cast are Helen Greene, Mrs. David Landau. Nellie Beaumont, Ada Shartle and Dorothy Millette. Madge Kennedy's new leading man is Joseph Striker, who has been in motion pictures for the last two years and played in the stage production of "Turn to the Right." E. J. Radclifle plays Mirlin, a wealthy societj man. Mr. RadcliflFe won considerable distinction as an actor when he played the part of Theodore Roosevelt in the screen biography of the great -American. Sidney Vaunier is a young Englishman of French descent, to whom has been assigned the role of Prof. Syle, a radical leaderOthers in the cast are Roy -Applegate as -Alfonzo, Edward Barnard as Epstein, George DuBois as Tony, and J. L Leonard as Odoroskavitch. The story is based on the serial written b) Wallace Erwin for the Saturday Evening Post. The first scenes are laid in the home of Rosamond Valiant, who believes that animals contain the souls of dead geniuses, but she is won by Finnessy to an interest in Bolshevism One of the scenes concerns a week-end party of society women and parlor Bolshevists held at a beautiful Long Island home. The maids and other servants wal:< out on the guests, who, in turn, become unmanageable. It is only the quick wit and courage of Emily that brings the affair to a happy conclusion. Sol L. Lesser Outlines Plans for Production SOL. L. LESSER, president of the now operating on a national scale. All Star Features Distributors, Inc. who recently invaded the producing and exhibiting fields, arrived at San Francisco recently to confer with Fred Dahnken, president of the Turner & Dahnken Circuit, on matters pertaining to the First National Exhibitors Circuit. The Turner & Dahnken Circuit holds the First National franchise for northern California and Mr. Lesser now has a similar interest in the southern part of the state, having taken over the Tally holdings there, the Kinema Theatre in Los -Angeles and an interest in the chain of theatres operated by Gore Bros-, which houses automatically become First National theatres by the transaction. In speaking of his producing activities Mr. Lesser stated that the -Annette Kellerman picture is a comedy entitled "She Would and She Did." He is arranging to offer this in First National houses on the Pacific Coast, with the star appearing in person, but plans *o present something out of the ordinary in the form of an act built especially for the occasion. The same plan will be followed with the George Beban picture. "One Man in a Million," except that San Francisco will be the only coast city in which the star will appear. From this city both star and film will be taken direct to New York. Both the producer and the star claim San Francisco as their home and for this reason this city has been selected for the premiere presentation. GoTemment Official* View Picture. Government cfficia's. including Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane, composed an audience which on Wednesday, January 28. viewed in Washington "The Land of Opportunity," the first Americanization picture to be completed following the announcement that the entire picture industry had been mobilized to combat unrest and radicalism. "The Land of Opportunity" was made at the suggestion of Secretary Lane by Lewis J. Selznick, head of Selznick Pictures, and stars Ralph Ince, who also directed the film. Secretary of the Interior Lane said following the showing, in a statement that was used by the daily newspapers: "It certainly is far better than anything I had conceived possible."