The Moving picture world (July 1920)

July 17, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 353 Famous Players, Germans amd Italians in London, Plan Community of Interests London, June 23. MARY PICKFORD and Douglas Fairbanks, who arrived here on June 21, have had a reception never equalled in the history of kings and queens. The whole country has gone mad about them and the streets around the Ritz, where they are staying, are almost impassable day and night with crowds waiting to catch a glimpse. Through the enterprise of the Kinematograph Weekly they issued a message to the British exhibitors which was reproduced in that paper two days after their arrival in facsimile. Doug wrote on a card: "To the exhibitors of Great Britain: We owe our wonderful reception to you more than to any one else. We thank you and will make better and still better pictures for you and the world. We look forward to the time — and it will be soon— when this great country will co-operate with America in making pictures as they should be made — internationally," and they both signed it. A cut was made and the message appeared the next day, much to Fairbanks' surprise. He asks me through the Moving Picture World to say that no one in the States should believe any more that we are an undemonstrative people. In comparison, he expects a quiet time in France and Spain I Sees World Combine. Herr Bratz, of the U. F. A., Germany's biggest film group, with whom I had an exclusive interview during his visit lately, says that his company has obtained the monopoly of Famous Players output in Germany, Austria, Poland, Turkey, Bulgaria and later for Holland and Switzerland. A "community of interests" amounting to a financial pool, is being arranged between U. F. A., Famous Players and U. C. I., the Italian trust. Chevalier Barroltole of the latter company was here at the same time as Bratz to conduct the negotiations. Thus the real reason for Adolph Zukor's last visit to this side, when he did not open the Famous Players studio as arranged, is revealed. W. Walter Crotch, vice-chairman of the Alliance Film Company, just returned from the States, announces that he has made an arrangement with First National to release the Alliance product in America and that Harley Knoles is coming over to take charge of production. American Producers Working. David Kirkland, who came over with Mrs. and Natalie Talmadge, is making a picture for the British & Colonial Kinematograph Company which put out "12.10" and "Midnight Gambols." Hugh Ford is getting on rapidly with "The Great Day" and has gone to Paris on location. Arthur Bourchier, Marjorie Hume, Bertram Burleigh, Mrs. Hayden Coffin and Meggie Albanesi are playing the chief parts. A Publicity Stunt. It is not only the States that publicity stunts are done. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks have been persuaded to edit "Pictures," the leading "fan" weekly, during their stay on this side, and an enormous boom has been created in that journal in consequence. Doug and Mary were photographed and "shot" fulfilling various editorial functions, and Doug was taken for the news reels breaking into the paper's offices by scaling the wall and getting in at the window. The whole enterprise created a big sensation both in the newspaper world and among the public. FRATIL. Vignola Visits Home Town and Is Honored by Citizens ONE of the most remarkable tributes ever paid a motion picture director or star was accorded Saturday, July 3, to Robert G. Vignola, director of "The World and His Wife," his first special production for Cosmopolitan, and "The Passionate Pilgrim," his second, now in work, by the citizens of Albany, N. Y. Vignola had gone to Albany to spend the holidays with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Vignola. Albanians take a great deal of pride in the director and when word was passed around that he was coming home in his new automobile, a committee of influential citizens decided to give him a rousing welcome. Accordingly, plans were made to meet him at the southern entrance to the city, escort him to the state educational building, present him with a set of resolutions and get him to listen to a series of eulogistic speeches. Vignola, however, got wind of the affair and spoiled the committee's plans by going up to the Vignola farm without going through the city. He wanted to avoid a public demonstration. Learning it had been outwitted, the committee, numbering about a hundred representative men and women of Albany, went out to the Vignola Wanted: Some to Detect! That's what Fay Tincher wants in her latest Christie comedy, "A Seaside Siren," being released by Educational. farm, called the director out on the front porch and there proceeded with the program as originally laid out with the exception that the scene had been changed from the state educational building to the farm. Vignola returned to New York on Tuesday, July 6, because of business pressure, and the necessity of completing "The Passionate Pilgrim." Levey Signs Don Carlos Ellis Don Carlos Ellis, film chief of the United States Department of Agriculture during the war, has accepted the post of director of educational production for the Harry Levey Service Corporation. The concern is devoted exclusively to the making of educational and industrial motion pictures. Mr. Ellis also served during the war as executive secretary of the Joint Committee on Government Motion Picture Activities, and previous to this was for eight years in charge of the educational work of the United States Forest Service. Rowland Lee Now Director Rowland Lee, for many years a favorite principal before the camera, has been assigned to the directorial ranks of the Thomas H. Ince studios and will direct forthcoming Hobart Bosworth Specials for J. Parker Read, Jr. TRUMPET ISLAND" ATOM TERRISS PRODUCTION ADAPTED and EDITED by %; LILLIAN WGEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER From the Story Jby n-neur Morris