The Moving picture world (December 1920)

894 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 18, 1920 Selznick's Hobart Henley Film "The Sin That Was His, " Begins Its Premiere at New York Strand THE Sin That Was His," the Hobart Henley production made by Selznick, starring William Faversham, celebrated actor, and written by Frank L. Packard, author of "The Miracle Man," had its initial New York presentation at the Strand Theatre on December 5. Lewis J. Selznick has declared that the Henley production is "the greatest picture I have ever made." Substantiating this statement and upholding his firm convictions, the consensus of the critics wherever the picture has been shown is an unanimity of approval that is seldom paralleled in the motion picture industry. Among the theatres where the attraction proved its worth are the Columbia Theatre, Washington, D. C, one of the biggest houses in the Marcus Loew circuit, the Star Theatre, Rochester, and the Stillman Theatre, Cleveland. REALIZING that under the name of Mildred Harris she had reached stardom before her marriage to Charles Chaplin, Mrs. Chaplin has decided to give up the professional name of Mildred Harris Chaplin, which has been used in connection with her recent productions, and resume her maiden name of Mildred Harris for pictures only," advises Louis B. Mayer, "and, complying accordingly, all her future pictures will be released under the name of Mildred Harris. It has always been Mrs. Chaplin's wish to use her own name, which she had already made famous. "Mrs. Chaplin feels," continues Mr. Mayer, "that it has never been fair either to herself or to Mr. Chaplin to make use Mr. Faversham, following his nationwide success in the Selznick picture, is seen in the role of a professional gambler of a small Alaskan town. "Three Ace" is a remorseless, sure-shooting gambler — a man without country, religion or compassion for any one. Playing opposite Mr. Faversham is Lucy Cotton, the talented young actress who scored an overnight success in the famous stage play, "Turn to the Right." Other members of the cast include Pedro de Cordoba, Bobbie Agnew, one of the screen's most popular juvenile players; Lule Warrenton, known as one of the foremost portrayers of character roles on the screen, and Miriam Battista and Bobby Connelly, the child actors of "Humoresque." Edmund Goulding, well known scenarist, picturized the Packard story. of the name of Mrs. Chaplin in connection with her motion picture activities. She feels further that the success which she has attained and the success to which she looks forward in the future, is and should be due to her own personal efforts and ability, and not to her association with any other member of the motion picture profession and not by using the name of her husband. "Her next two pictures, 'The Woman in His House' and 'Habit' being considered the largest productions in which she has ever appeared, and in order to attain her success on her own ability, it is her desire that these two productions be released as specials, and as such they will be through the First National." A PRETTY PARTNER Louise Lovely in "Partners of Fate," made by Fox name, and since finishing that photoplay he has directed Madge Kennedy's latest picture for Goldwyn, "The Highest Bidder," from Maximilian Foster's novel, "The Trap," and is now wielding the megaphone for Gertrude Atherton's first story written directly for the screen, tentatively known as "Noblesse Oblige." President Wilson Sees Two Selznick Specials President Wilson's fondness for motion pictures prompted him to devote some of his time on Thanksgiving Day to the viewing of the Selznick specials, "Out of the Snows," a Ralph Ince production. "The Palace of Darkened Windows," a tale of harem life in the Orient directed by Henry Kolker, was shown to the President on Saturday, November 27, at his request. Mae Marsh in Big Play (Continued from page 868) characteristic and will get attention. Split the sets and get them into store windows. Make up wall paper window cards and get them in everywhere. You don't have to be afraid of the offering. It will please your patrons if only you get them in. Don't promise too much and raise expectation be-» yond reason. Sell the star and they will be all the better pleased with the production when they find it better than they anticipated. This does not mean that it is unwise to stress the star and the production. You can and you should, and you can promise much without telling it all, but do not slop over and promise so much that you cannot possibly deliver. Leave Room for Surprise Make them realize that they are coming to see a good production, but do not teH just how good it is. Leave room for surprise and your first night audiences will go out and send the rest of the town in, for if the play is improbable, it has a value because it gives the star such ample opportunities. And above all tell them that Mae Marsh has come back a truer, finer artist than ever before. Always a player of individuality, her art has ripened and developed. That is the big message you must get over if you would exploit this to the greatest advantage. The Strand, Brooklyn, Has Arranged to Present "Hiawatha, " a Kineto Review Starting Sunday, Edward Hyman, of the Strand in Brooklyn, promises a presentation of another Kineto Review subject that will set a new standard in beauty accompaniments. The subject will be "Hiawatha." The titles throughout are taken from Longfellow's poem. For sheer pictorial beauty there have been few pictures like it, and the titles, coming as they do from one of literature's greatest classics, maintain the artistic standard throughout, it is said. "Hiawatha," is being billed as a "Scenic with Soloists." Three songs will be used. Mr. Hyman has advertised it extensively and the beautiful presentation added to the unusual worth-whileness of the picture promises him many patrons who have not heretofore been attracted to the motion picture, it is stated. J. C. Graham Speaks to Members of the A. M. P. A. Fresh from his return from Great Britain, where, as the managing director of the Famous Players, Ltd., he has been supervising the activities of the production, distribution and sales of that company's product throughout the United Kingdom, John C. Graham, the guest of honor at the regular Thursday luncheon of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers, spoke interestingly of the relationship between the Amer ican publicist and his contemporary in Great Britain. Contrasting the chief difference between the work of publicity men in this country and in the United Kingdom, Mr. Graham explained to a large gathering of A. M. P. A. members and to a number of editors of the trade press that America offered a wider field for the press agent's manifold activities. On the other hand he pointed out that the total number of theatres in Great Britain is in the neighborhood of 3,000 as compared with the estimated 18,000 theatres in this country. This feature, he emphasized, gives the American publicity man ample scope to accomplish things which are restricted to the British publicist. That there is a big field for the American publicist in Great Britain was another fact brought out during the course of Mr. Graham's discourse. In this respect he urged publicists who contemplated the trip to the United Kingdom to study British conditions and when "planted" on English soil to think in terms of the British pound. Wallace Worsley Renews Contract with Goldwyn Wallace Worsley has renewed his contract with Goldwyn Pictures Corporation to direct the production of feature pictures. He directed Goldwyn's "The Penalty" from Gouverneur Morris' novel of the same Mildred Harris Drops Chaplin Name for All Time, Says Louis B. Mayer