The Moving picture world (September 1920-October 1920)

70 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 4, 1920 Albert Capellani Sues International Alleging $15,000 Due Him in Salary AN action in the supreme court disclosed through the filing of a summons and complaint in the county clerk's office, New York, has been brought by Albert Capellani of 808 West End avenue to recover $15,000 from the International Film Service Company, Inc. In his complaint he alleges a contract was made between himself and the defendants on April 9, last, by which he was to give to the defendant his exclusive services for one year as a director, and the International people guaranteed it would cause to be made not less than four productions, each of the approximate length of 6,000 to 9,000 feet, during the term of the contract, for which Mr. Capellani was to be paid $25,000 for each production. A copy of the contract attached shows that the story was to be selected by International, Mr. Capellani to make the scenario if requested, the selection of the cast to be the duty of defendants, but only after consultation with Mr. Capellani, and each production was to announce to the public that the production was directed by Mr. Capellani Says He Was Paid Only $5^. Mr. Capellani alleges that on June 19, last, he delivered to defendants the print of the first production, and there became due to him under the contract eight weekly payments of $2,500 on various dates up to and including August 14, last, and that no part of this except the sum of $5,000 has been paid him, wherefore he asks the court to award him judgment for the balance. This contract has an additional one attached to it by which the defendants stipulated that Mr. Capellani was to get $100,000 whether he made four productions during the year or not, except that if his services were interfered with through illness for a certain period, the defendants reserved to themselves the right to obtain a substitute director, Mr. Capellani to receive advance payments only on his recovery and return to his duties. Just what reason the defendants assigned for their alleged failure to carry out their portion of the contract Mr. Capellani does not disclose in his complaint, and International has not yet filed its answer to the suit, as the summons was served only on August 20. When Should a House Begin Week, If Closed on Sunday? IN cities where motion picture theatres are not allowed to operate on Sundays, is it to the advantage of the theatre owner to run a feature picture from Saturday to Saturday, rather than to open on . Monday. This question will be answered so far as Albany is concerned, by Fred Elliott, manager of the Clinton Square Theatre, who plans to try out the scheme in connection with the first run of Marshall Neilan's "Go Get It." Mr. Elliott has a theatre •with a seating capacity of 750, a downtown house and one which has always been liberally advertised. He believes that by opening the feature picture on Saturday, he will have the advantage of the usual Saturday crowds talking over the merits of the picture with their friends on Sunday, and that this discussion supplemented by a liberal display in the Sunday papers can not help but serve to better advertise the picture than if it was preceded only by the usual amount of Sunday newspaper space. Harry Levey Is Seeking a Modern Hercules for Industrial Productions JT has been said that there is not in existence a woman who doesn't think she looks beautiful in a bathing suit — or a man who doesn't think he has a fine physique and perfect muscular control. At any rate, the latter are about to have a chance to prove their contention, and those male of the species who are fond of throwing out their chests and flexing their muscles for the benefit of an admiring world, will have just and sufficient reason for so doing. The Harry Levey Service Corporation is looking for "the strongest and most perfectly built man in the world" to take part in a series of ten one-reel industrial motion pictures. He is to typify power, and must not only be very strong, but must give the appearance of great strength that comes from muscles perfectly exercised and developed. The greatest care is being taken in the selection of this man, who must be a modern Hercules. A special gymnasium is being fitted up in the company's studios at 230-232 West Thirty-eighth street. New York, where thorough tests of all applicants will be made by every means ever invented for testing strength. A wellknown authority on physical training has been engaged to superintend these tests. According to Mr. Levey, the successful applicant must be so strong that he can even support a wife — which is no small order these days. C. p. I. Film Company Makes Steady Progress WITH the shooting of "The Kingdom of Human Hearts," Wilbert LeRoy Gosper's masterpiece, completed and preparations for the filming of "Can You Imagine It I" by the same author well under way, San' Francisco's ambition for a motion picture company and a new industry has been realized in the C. P. I. Film Company. The new firm is well backed by capital and within three months will have two dramatic companies "par-excellence," and a comedy company with an all-star cast at work, drafting the best actors from Los Angeles , and New York to this new center of film industry. A mammoth studio is to be erected near Golden Gate Park. DE.\D MEN TELL NQ TALES Strand Officials in Albany Officers and directors of the Mitchell Mark Realty Company, controlling the Strand Theatre, were in Albany recently as the guests of H. M. Kramath, who is erecting the $550,000 Strand Theatre in North Pearl Street, and which will be open to the public about December 1. The party included Moe Mark of Lynn, Mass., Max Spiegel of New York, Walter Hayes and Eugene Falk of Buffalo, Joseph Levison and a Mr. Scharfl of Boston. The party spent several hours in carefully inspecting the new Strand house and later on in the day were the guests of Mr. Kramath at his summer home "Lone Pine Camp" on Crooked Lake. Joseph Franklin Poland at work writia;; scenarios for Thomas H. Ince. Joseph Franklin Poland Talks to Amateur Scenario Writers BEFORE a large and enthusiastic crowd of amateur scenario writers, entrants in the Thomas H. Ince-Sid Grauman scenario contest which is being held in conjunction with a Los .\ngeles newspaper, Joseph Franklin Poland, prominent member of the Ince scenario staff, lectured on the art of scenario and continuity writing at Grauman's Rialto Theatre, Los Angeles, recently. Mr. Poland's address, which was one of the features of the unique InceGrauman contest, constituted one of the first opportunities ever . afforded the public to come into contact with an experienced professional screen writer. The large number of amateur scribes in attendance proved beyond doubt the wide-spread interest that is evidenced in the contest. After a general summary of the requirements of screen literature, and a resume of the best methods to be followed by those writing their first scenarios, Mr. Poland answered several hundred questions concerning the composition of photoplay stories and the general policies adopted by present day producers. Pathe to Release Hampton's Big Special, "Half a Chance" PURSUANT to its promises to exhibitors, to release during the coming Fall only the highest class of box office attractions, Pathe announces the taking over for distribution of Jesse D. Hampton's big special "Half a Chance." This production was made by Robert Thornby. The play is an adaptation of Frederick S. Isham's novel by the same name. Mahlon Hamilton and Lillian Rich are the players featured. Mr. Hamilton for several years has rated with the best leading men in motion pictures. Lillian Rich, while virtually a new comer to the screen, has had a most successful career. Her work with H. B. Warner in "One Hour Before Dawn" and "Felix O'Day" more than justified the faith placed in her by Mr. Hampton when he engaged her for the important part she plays in "Half a Chance." This story of Isham's strikes out with a sturdy punch from the very first incident, and closes with a snap that insures it becoming one of the outstanding features of the forthcoming season.