The Moving picture world (July 1920)

July 17, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 349 May Allison Begins Arthur Stringers Story With Greenwich Village Setting VOICES of director and cameramen awoke strange echoes in the corridors of one of the most exclusive homes in the Berkshire Square section of Los Angeles the other morning as the filming of May Allison's new Metro special production, "Are All Men Alike?", was begun within its walls. Miss Allison, as the untamed "Teddy" of the Arthur Stringer story, romped out of the house in jumpers and surprised neighbors by her expert handling of the internal mechanism of an obstinate automobile. Having set these parts to rights, she sprang into it and amazed the spectators as she all but ran down an elderly man who chanced to be standing near the rose-bordered drive. The "elderly man" was John Elliott, the veteran film actor who plays the part of the uncle of the-harum scarum heroine of the piece. In spite of his unbounded confidence in Miss Allison's ability to drive a car under any and all circumstances he showed evidences of nervousness as he picked himself up from among the roses while her machine careened around the corner and disappeared at a speed unknown even among Los Angeles' speed mad autoists. To Drive Cooper's Car. In later scenes of the picture the girlish Metro star will drive Earl Cooper's speedy racer, the car with which he broke several world's records in days past. Miss Allison says that she will prove that there still is a burst of speed in the car when she gets her hands on the steering wheel. The plot of the story, published in McClure's Magazine under the title of "The Waffle Iron," calls for a long succession of reckless adventures on the part of the star. The story, which opens with a burst of reckless driving of fast automobiles by the girl, moves swiftly on to Greenwich Village, where, under the influence of the long-haired men and the short-haired women of New York's Bohemian set, "Teddy" becomes convinced that she must take up some of the "serious things of life." The spirit of the "Village" has been carried far from Manhattan and revived on one of the big covered stages of Metro's Hollywood studios, where numerous familiar features of the district have been faithfully reproduced. The cast that has been selected to sup port Miss Allison includes Wallace MacDonald, who will play the leading male role. Soutar Studies American Methods at Selznick's AMERICAN film methods are well worth studying and copying, judging by the fact that men and women in all parts of the world who are interested in motion pictures are studying the American screen and methods of production very diligently. It was announced this week that Andrew Soutar, the English novelist and producer, has come to this country for that purpose, and has chosen the Selznick studios at Fort Lee to gain the desired knowledge. He has been at the plant for several days. Coincidental with this announcement it is stated that Myron Selznick, head of the production end of the Selznick organization, recently bought from Mr. Soutar the screen rights to his novel, "The Honor of His House," which is expected to be put into motion picture form within the near future. The writer has supplied much material for the screen, through his novels, among it being "Green Orchards," "Magpie House," "The Island of Test," "Broken Ladders" and "Snow in the Desert." Quick Work by Selznick News What is believed to be a record in speed in transporting from San Francisco to New York motion picture films for presentation in the latter city is brought to the attention of the industry this week by Selznick Enterprises. An announcement reveals that scenes of the Democratic national convention, which opened in San Francisco on Monday, June 28, were rushed to New York for presentation as part of the Selznick News Weekly beginning Wednesday, June 30. Bech, Van Siclen Reports Sales Alvin Wortham for the foreign sales department of Bech, Van Siclen & Co., Inc., has sold "The Adventuress," featuring Julian Eltinge for England, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand. "The Stecker Caddock Wrestling Match," for South Africa, India, Dutch East Indies, Straits Settlements, Federated Malay Peninsular, Siam and China. S-h-sh — Just L-o-v-e. No caption necessary in these sort of pictures. A scene from "Youth's Desire," released by Forward Film Distributors, Inc. iiiinii ' i i minim Announces "Youth's Desire" as First Forward Production ANOTHER addition to the ever-growing list of winners is now being offered by Joseph Sameth of the Forward Film Distributors, Inc., entitled "Youth's Desire," featuring Joseph Bennett, who is ably supported by Doris Baker. The photoplay portrays clearly the necessity of perseverance. "Youth's Desire" is a story laid in the small town of Plainfield, a suburb of Los Angeles, wherein Joseph Bennett, playing the role of Bud Wise, is devoting all his spare moments in reading material which he hopes to eventually put to good use in becoming an aviator, much to the disapproval of his father. Ethel Clayton in New York Ethel Clayton, the Paramount star has arrived in New York from Hollywood, completing the first stage of a long vacation journey. Her stay in the city will not be long, however, for she will leave soon for Europe, where she will spend several weeks in traveling. Following her tour she will return to London where she will make two, possibly three, productions at the London studios of Famous Players-Lasky.