The Moving picture world (February 1920-March 1920)

March 13, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1829 Lascelle Makes Comedy Not Using Faces of Actors and Without the Use of Subtitles Pick Players for "Dangerous Paradise." Following the announcement that "Dangerous Paradise," the Frances Marion story in which Lewis J. Selznick will present Olive Thomas, has been started in the Selznick Eastern studios, some of the players who will appear in the cast were named this week. Among those engaged for the first shots in the picture are Dorothy Kent, Theodore Westman, Jr., Warren Cook, Charles Craig, Aleene Bergman, Katherine Johnston, Marcis Harris, Norma and Athole Shearer (the Shearer Twins), Russell Hewitt, Maury Stewart, Jr., William P. Carleton and Arthur Houseman. Vitagraph Buys More Acres, Enlarging Hollywood Plant THROUGH the purchase of ten acres of land adjoining its present plant at Hollywood, Cal., Vitagraph becomes the owner of one of the largest motion picture studios grounds in the country. The land acquired, part of the Skinner estate in East Hollywood, has been in the probate coi^t for several months and the sale to Vitagraph .was consummated only after dealings extending since last July. The bid made by W. S. Smith, manager of the West Coast studio, acting for Albert E. Smith, president of Vitagraph, was accepted and with the approval of the probate judge the executors of the Skinner estate have transferred the property. Vitagraph, through its new purchase, now has twenty acres of land laid out in a square, north and east from the intersection of Talmadge street and Prospect avenue. The original site, now in use, contains ten acres. Mr. Smith is having the technical staff design several brick and stone buildings for the additional land. Work on these will be commenced immediately. Mr. Smith is leaving for California to personally superintend the improvement. Many Popular Players in "Why Change Your Wife?" ASIDE from the masterly manner in which he tells his story, two things that Famous Players-Lasky Corporation cites, stand out with notable clearness in the production of Cecil B. De Mille — sumptuousness of settings and the high acting standard of his casts. In "Why Change Your Wife?" his latest Paramount Artcraft special, the cast is of the same high plane of ability which has marked the players selected for all of Mr. De Mille's creations. In the role of Robert Gordon, the young husband who becomes estranged from his wife, is Thomas Meighan. Gloria Swanson plays the role of Beth Gordon, the wife, who because she is not a playmate of her husband, loses him only to regain him later by adopting a mode of life her husband wanted her to live. Another favorite who has been seen in a number of notable productions js Bebe Daniels, who plays the role of "the other woman." Theodore Kosloff, the famous dancer, is shown as a classical dancer, and other wellknown players whom Mr. De Mille selected to interpret his action are Clarence Geldart, Sylvia Ashton, Maym Kelso, Lucien Littlefield, Edna Mae Cooper and Jane Wolff. SOMETHING entirely new in the way of comedy is being brought to the screen by Ward Lascelle, formerly connected with the directorial staflf of Mary Pickford. Lascelle, who is now director general for The Special Pictures Corporation, has just finished a feature which promises to be one of the most novel pictures ever attempted. He has made a comedy without using the faces of actors or actresses, and also without the use of subtitles. This feature is claimed by the best authorities in Los Angeles to be one unique. In spite of the fact that neither faces or subtitles appear, direction and continuity and community are said to be perfect. "For a long time," said Mr. Lascelle, "I PATHE'S promise of big things in the way of features for this spring has been partly fulfilled with the addition to the schedule of two exceptional productoins, one of which will bring back to the American screen the famous French comedian, Max Linder, in the first big feature he has ever made. Pathe has taken over the distribution of "The Little Cafe," a five-reel comedy starring Linder, and will release it on April 25. Pathe also will issue Leonce Ferret's "Lifting Shadows," in which Emmy Wehlen is starred. This production has been set for release on April 4, following Blanche Sweet in "The Deadlier Sex." "The Little Cafe" is an adaptation of the successful stage play of the same name pro WINCHELL SMITH, playwright and stage producer, is now a member of the Metro scenario forces in Hollywod, Cal. He will serve not only as a writer of original stories, but will assist in the picturization of several of his own plays. Acquisition by Metro of the services of Winchell Smith follows closely the announcement that Bayard Veiller, another dramatist with an international reputation, had signed a contract to write four original sories a year for Metro, the first to be a vehicle for Bert Lytell. have believed it possible to work out a photoplay, keeping the action complete, without the use of subtitles or players' faces, but this is the first opportunity I have ever had to undertake such an experiment. The result, I assure you, has been most gratifying, and, in my opinion, a new possibility has been opened for the screen." Lascelle declares that "Uneasy Feet" is only one of many novel film features which will be presented through Special Pictures. Exhibitors may look for something new in the Comedyart release and also in the Art Color Scenics, in which the Handschagel color process will be used, the exclusive right for this method of coloring motion picture film having been secured by the Special Pictures Corporation. duced by Klaw and Erlanger. Wanda Lyon, lately of the Winter Garden of New York, portrays the part played on the stage by Hazel Dawn. Emmy Wehlen was signed by Mr. Perret for the leading role because of her particular adaptness for the role of Vania Ostrowski. Miss Wehlen for years has been one of the prime favorites of the screen and stage. Among her most successful screen works may be numbered "Miss Robinson Crusoe," "Nobody," "The Outsider," "The Shell Game," "House of Gold" and "His Bonded Wife." Mr. Perret has surrounded Miss Wehlen with a support including Wyndham Standing, Stuart Holmes. Julia Swayne Gordon and F. French. Supervision of a screen adaptation of "The New Henrietta," the revised version of Bronson Howard's celebrated stage play of high finance and Wall Street gambling, on which Winchell Smith and Victor Mapes collaborated, will be Mr. Smith's first effort for Metro. The Screen Fascinates Him. The playwright declares motion pictures always have held a peculiar fascination for him, that he believes their prospects were never better, and that they offer a splendid field for the dramatist. Winchell Smith Joins Metro Authors; "New Henrietta^' To Be His First Film Vitagraph's Big Newspaper Story Seen at Private View by Reporters; Picture Praised WOULD it be ethical or professional for a newspaper to print a story of disgrace about one of its own men? Would it be a dereliction in its duty, on the other hand, if a newspaper should suppress or submerge such news? These questions came to the surface recently and have caused a wide discussion among newspaper workers as the result of private showings of Vitagraph's feature, "Deadline at Eleven," in which Corinne Griffith is starred. A number of newspaper mfen were invited to one of the first screenings The picture is based upon a story of newspaper life, and much of its action is set in the office of a great New York daily. Miss Griffith plays the role of a wealthy yong society woman who enters the field of journalism under the impulse to earn her living and do something worth while. The dramatic events that ensue lead to a love affair between her and one of the star reporters. The story then proceeds toward a situation in which the newspaper is confronted by the necessity of either printing the report of an arrest and murder charge about one of its own men or of deliberately suppressing and suffering to be scooped. The manner in which the characters meet this situation provides one of the big punches of the picture. The newspaper critics expressed the unanimous opinion that the story had presented a logical solution of the problem. Pathe to Distribute "The Little Cafe,'' with Max Linder, and "Lifting Shadows