The Moving picture world (February 1920)

842 MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 12, 1921 'Flower of the North, 99 Curwood Story, to Be Filmed by Vitagraph One of Vitagraph's biggest productions of the year, another of the series of special productions begun a year ago which lias met with signal success, will be "Flower of the North," by James Oliver Curwood. Like many other stories by this author, it is a tale of the North— a romance of struggle, the life of men and women in the far North, on the shores of Hudson Bay. Work on the new production will be begun almost immediately under the supervision of David Smith, who directed "The Courage of Marge O'Doone," a year ago. There will be a specially engaged cast, headed by Philip Whittemore and Jeane D'Ancambal. Some of the scenes will be made at Vitagraph's West Coast studios at Hollywood, California, but the greater part will be filmed in the Hudson Bay country of Canada. The action of the play are no winter scenes with end Ellis T. Oberholtzer from a vot less expanses of snow, with dog ing position on the Pennsylvania sleds and snowshoes, as in other board of censors is a "closed in Curwood stories. ' cident," according to Governor Though the story has its locale Sproui. The governor had read in various sections of the great extracts from a published letter undeveloped North, the action referring to the opposition of the centers in Fort o' God, near Lake motion picture producers to the Waskiaowaka. An old house, reappointment of Dr. Oberholtzer, Bans Crime Films Newark, N. J., has followed the lead of Chicago in banning motion pictures showing crime or criminals at work. Director of Public Safety Brennan says criminals told him they were influenced by this kind of films. built two hundred years before by a chevalier of France who came to the wilderness, is the setting for many fascinating scenes. To the world outside it is known as D'Arcambal House, but Philip Wittemore, who is admitted to the inner sanctuary of the house by its master, Henry D'Arcambal, learns to know it by its old name, Fort o' God. It is here that Jeanne, whose adventures with Philip provide the love' interest in the story, lives. And it is here, too, where Pierre Couches, the French Canadian half breed, proves his devotion to Jeanne, in Harrisburg, last week. Plans Church Shows The Rev. Charles Petty of the Universalist Church, Binghamton, \\ Y., says he may run films seven days a week in his church and install a gymnasium where the young men may box. Clara Kimball Young, Equity Star, Gets Unique Exploitation In Syracuse Clara Kimball mittee that he had just left Miss Young has become more than a Young on the westbound train, movie idol, according to Equity, and she had instructed him to which says she is looked upon as alight in Syracuse and assist the a "Big Sister" to the poor of the Hoover drive there. takes place in the summer — there even unto death. United Artists Film Featuring Doug Fairbanks, Breaks Records If ever there was a picture that is being praised, complimented, boosted to the skies, and everything else on the calendar of eulogies, it is "The Mark of Zorro." the latest production this picture has done that there are but few exhibitors who have not extended their runs on it, it is stated. In one instance in California, at the Mission Theatre, Los Angeles, the picture, booked city. This feeling toward Miss Young explains one of the reasons why the presentation of her fourth Equity production, "Midchannel," at the big Savoy Theatre recently, was marked by frequent outbursts of applause. The newspapers of Syracuse recently carried accounts of Miss Young's generosity in helping the Hoover campaign of Syracuse for the relief of the starving children of Europe. The method of assistance was an excursion given to seven typical poverty-stricken children of Syracuse, with Clara Kimball Voting as their absent hostess. The Hoover Committee welcomed the publicity their cause would secure by the connection of a star like Miss Young. Following the news of Miss Young's aid in behalf of the Hoover fund came the welcome announcement of her appearance Miss Young's sudden leap into as the heroine of "Midchannel" popularity in Syracuse was at the Savoy Theatre. The picbrought about by the Equity ex ture is still running out its first ploitation director, Milton Cran week, and the box-office record dall. He stopped at Syracuse and has set a new mark in the history Douglas Fairbanks made, accord for a week, ran an uninterrupted informed u^Val Hoover Com of Jack Griswold's theatre ing to Hiram Abrams, president of United Artists. Invaluable word-of-mouth advertising has made it the greatest drawing card Fairbanks has ever turned out and has caused no end of box office records, the country over, to be smashed, according to reports. So tremendous has been the business run to capacity business for total of eight weeks. In a recent communication, R. G. Peltier, manager of the Bijou Theatre, of Mount Clemons, Mich., said: "I have played every Fairbanks picture and I speak for my patrons as well as myself when I say that I consider 'The Mark of Zorro' by far the greatest picture in which Douglas ever appeared." Here's what M. H. Goodman, manager of the Feeley Theatre of Hazleton had to say about the picture: "Allow us to thank you for the privilege of playing 'The Mark of Zorro.' Not only was the engagement a tremendous success from a. box office point of view but never before have we played a film production that elicited more favorable comment from our patrons." The manager of the Valentine Theatre of Canton. Ohio, wired Mr. Abrams that, 'Mark of Zorro' is FairbanVs best picture in our opinion. Patrons pleased. Business good." A wire from A. T. Simmons, of the Allen Theatre of Akron, Ohio, said: "I want to congratulate you on the greatest picture Doug ever made, 'Mark of Zorro.'" Another from L. Chakers, of Prominent Houses in New York Show First Super Kinograms Super Kinograms. under its first release through Educational Exchanges, was shown in every principal motion picture theatre in New York City, according to announcement by the distributors. Practically an equal showing was made in every principal city in the country, while it is said that almost every important circuit of theatres was represented among the distributors. So great was the demand for the initial issue of super Kinograms. which took over the product of Gaumont News and will absorb another news weekly on March 1 that exactly double the number of prints that wer.originally estimated were sent out from the New York laboratories Friday evening. Every theatre as far west as Omaha had copies for Sunday showings. Stress has been placed on service by Educational's field forces in selling these pictures calling attention to the fact that the ing cameramen in some fifty principal centers, and that the super Kinograms will give the exhibitor the same sort of service that he gets now by subscribing for three news weeklies and selecting the cream of the material. Kinograms is to be released twice weekly, on Sundays and Thursdays. the Majestic Theatre of Spring organization is a specialist in "GW 'AN— IT'S MY TUR\ TO SWING HER!" Charlie Ray in a scene from the Ray-First National picture, "The Old Sivimmin' Hole," made by Arthur S. Kane. one and two-reel pictures and that such pictures reach them well on time and in the proper condition. As a secondary argument it is being made plain thai Kinograms has not simply absorbed other news weeklies, but The motion picture censorship that it has taken over their controversy over the removal of product, with their staffs, includ field. Ohio, said: '"Mark of Zorro' opened to big matinee business Sunday. Patrons well pleased." 'A Closed Incident' Suit Over "Whip" Alleging breach of contract and failure to return to him the $3,000 he paid to bind the contract, Waldo Gaulke has brought suit in the New York Supreme Court to rocover this sum from the Whip Feature Motion Picture Company, Inc. He makes no claim for damages for the alleged breach of contract. Gaulke says he entered into a contract with the defendants, by which he was granted for five years the exclusive right in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraquay of the motion picture, "The Whip," and that he paid $5,000 to the defendants to bind the bargain. Shortly thereafter, Gaulke alleges, the defendant without cause broke the contract and has failed to respond to his demands for the return of his money.