The Moving picture world (December 1920)

December 18, 1920 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 907 Thomas Meighan and Dorothy Gish Are in Paramount Films on December 5 Schedule THE charm of Leonard Merrick's "Conrad in Quest of His Youth" is said to have been admirably transferred to the screen by William DeMille in his Paramount production of the same name starring Thomas Meighan, which, with Dorothy Gish in "Flying Pat," is on the Paramount release schedule for December 5. Olga Printzlau adapted the Merrick story for the screen. Mr. Meighan portrays the role of Conrad Warrener, who, having reached middle age, feels that he is old and seeks, by re-living the scenes of his youth, to make himself young again. He finds ultimately that the secret of youth is love, and the picture ends with the culmination of a delightful romance. Others seen in the cast are Kathlyn Williams, Maym Kelso, Sylvia Ashton, Charles A COUNTRYWIDE tie-up, one of the biggest, if not the record-breaker of motion picture history, has been consummated for Robertson-Cole's production of Otis Skinner in "Kismet." Over six thousand stores throughout the United States join in this boost for exhibitors' profits. The tie-up has been made through the Emerson Phonograph Company and its distributors and agencies, who will advertise the Robertson-Cole picture in conjunction with the Emerson Phonograph record, "Kismet." This is a song and Arabian fox-trot written by two well-known vaudevillians, Herschel Henlere and Guido Diero. The song was written several months ago and published by Will Rossiter. It was already on the market when James C. Bradford set the music for the Otis Skinner picture, and Mr. Bradford seized on it for one of the themes of the production. THE National Board of Review of Motion Pictures has begun the publication each month of a bulletin containing an unbiased criticism of photoplays which merit the title of "exceptional." The Board Reviews about 99% of all photoplays published from a moral standpoint and in the announcement of the new service, the object is explained in these words : "The National Board of Review has for some time been convinced that it could properly undertake a critique of the best of the photodrama along with its work of reviewing pictures on a moral basis. The time now seems ripe for attempting to establish an order of more serious critical appraisal of motion pictures than it has been within the policy of the trade or the press to bestow." Two productions distributed by Associated First National Pictures, Inc., have obtained a place among the first four selected by the Board as exceptional photoplays. "Passion," starring the European emotional actress Pola Negri, and the Whitman Bennett production of "The Devil's Garden," starring Lionel Barrymore are the two pictures of this one distributing company that are named worthy for places in the list. Gives Reasons The reasons given for the selection of "The Devil's Gaarden" given in the Novem Ogle, Edward Sutherland, Bertram Johns, Ruth Rennick and Mabel Van Buren. "Flying Pat" is a "peppy" story of a young bride who becomes an aviatrix because her husbands insists that she make a career for herself. It is declared to be in Miss Gish's liveliest style. Miss Gish's leading man, James Rennie, who has the role of the husband, who is also interested in aviation, was formerly an officer in the aviation corps of the United States Army. In addition to Mr. Rennie, the supporting cast includes Morgan Wallace, Harold Vizard, William Black, Porter Strong, Tom Blake and Kate Bruce. The story and scenario were written by Virginia Withey, and the picture was directed by F. Richard Jones, and is said to hold the interest throughout. The Rossiter publication had already been accepted by all the phonograph firms, and either as a vocal or instrumental number had been recorded on the Path-e, Victor, Edison, Columbia, Emerson and Gennett records, as well as on the Star Music rolls. When the various companies learned of the acceptance of "Kismet" as one of the themes for the astonishingly successful motion picture, they realized the new opportunity to boost their sales, and during the premier showing of "Kismet" at the Strand Theatre, New York, they started their campaign, which has now reached nationwide proportions and is expected to bring Dig business. When an exhibitor books "Kismet" all he has to do is to notify the Emerson agency in his particular town, and he can be assured of every co-operation for window displays, etc., from these phonograph stores, it is said. oer bulletin of "Exceptional Photoplays," says : "This is a photodrama that is faithful to the spirit and treatment of the novel it picturizes. In these days when so much fiction, popular and otherwise, is distorted and relabelled far the screen, for no other apparent reason than that picture makers are obsessed with the idea that photoplay action necessitates the switching around of situations of emotional currents of characters, and of author's purposes alike, it is encouraging to be confronted with a picture that does not do anyone of these things, but seems to say: This story was chosen for its merits as it stands." Classifying "Passion" as an extraordinary production, the bulletin says in part: "It is very gratifying to find that this first foreign picture of importance to be shown in this country since the war sets a standard of which our best producers may well be envious. The appointments of the interiors are made with a care that will bring delight to the student of the Louis XV period of decoration, while the formal garden exteriors that represent Versailles recall the works of Watteau. "But all of Director Lubitsch's skill would not suffice to make this an exceptional picture if he had not been able to depend upon his actors." Bouvzng Goes to Stockholm America is to become the literary center of the world, as far as the motion picture and legitimate stage fields are concerned, .in the opinion of Nils Bouveng, director of the Aktiebolaget Svensk Film Industri, who has just left New York for Stockholm after a survey of the field here. While in New York Mr. Bouveng purchased from the Alton Play Bureau the first of a series of American stories which are to be produced in Sweden for American distribution. Navarre Appointed Head cf Fox Seattle Exchange By appointment from Winifield R. Sheehan, general manager of Fox Film Corporation, Guy F. Navarre lately became manager of the Seattle branch of that organization. With five years of exchange experience in the Northwest, Mr. Navarre comes to the Fox corporation admirably equipped to fulfill the responsibilities of his position. Mr. Navarre joined the forces that travel through Washington and Oregon selling film when the Artcraft Corporation was formed, covering territory out of the Seattle office. When Artcraft was consolidated with Paramount Mr. Navarre entered the combined offices as assistant manager for Famous Palyers-Lasky. So faithfully did he perform his duties that he was promoted to the position of manager for the Seattle office of Famous Players, and there continued until November 20 of this year, when he joined Fox Film Corporation as manager of the Seattle office. Mr. Navarre, in his five years of Seattle film activities, has traveled into practically every town in the territory and is personally acquainted with almost every picture showman in the district. Fox Chooses Georg? Hill to Direct Louise Lovely George William Hill has been engaged by William Fox to direct his new star, Louise Lovely. Mr. Hill's first work will be distributed shortly after the New Year, when exhibitors and their public will see the results of an early training under David W. Griffith and finishing touches later as assistant to George Loane Tucker — experience Mr. Hill gained during several years' work in Hollywood studios. His first job in motion pictures was at the old Biograph studio in Hollywood. There he scrubbed the floors in the sets D. W. Griffith used, but his official rating was assistant carpenter. He soon transferred to Kalem as a cameraman. For five years he turned a crank for Hobart Bosworth, Mr. Griffith and others. As second lieutenant in the Signal Corps he was assigned to the Italian front, where he superintended the taking of war pictures. He also visited Vienna, Paris, London and the Balkans for the army. Then he rejoined Mr. Griffith as cameraman, remained a year and became general assistant to George Loane Tucker. Kane on Way East Arthur S. Kane will return to New York from his trip to California on Friday, December 10, according to a telegram received by John C. Ragland, general manager of Kane Pictures Corporation early this week. It is expected that Mr. Kane, who has had conferences with Charles Ray and other picture stars, as well as business associates, may have some interesting announcements to make. He has been away six weeks. Robertson-Cole Makes Nation-wide Tie Up to Boost Its Production, "Kismet National Board of Review Labels Two First National Films as Exceptional