The Moving picture world (November 1921)

December 10, 1921 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 661 Selznick Finds Australia Productive Say° "D^rafl"Did 77 _ x , 7 _^ ktw Excellent Business Field; Has Made Big Progress There ALL evidences point to 1922 being a banner Selznick year in Australia and the entire Antipodes, according to a statement from the offices of the company. While the progress made in that territory during the past three years has been more than gratifying to Selznick, the prediction, based on contracts already signed, is that the volume of business to be transacted during the present season will far exceed that of any other in the history of the company. John C. Jones, general manager of Selznick's Australian branches, reports that the middle of the season will find Selznick pictures playing in 75 per cent, of the theatres in the territory. No less than four first-run houses have been secured in Sydney, the trade center of the Commonwealth — a record so far for the film business in that country. First-runs in every city in the Commonwealth and New Zealand have been accomplished and branch offices have been established in Mel bourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth apd Wellington. Feeling that the Antipodes is a fast growing territory worthy of attention, Selznick is giving special consideration to its motion picture patronage. E. C. Steuler, head of Selznick's sales research department, recently returned from Australia, where he made an intensive study of local conditions with a view to better cooperation and service. He is now devoting his time to utilizing the knowledge and ideas gained and furthering the tie-up between the two countries. When Selznick made its appearance in the Antipodes as an important distributing factor, the motion picture situation was what was termed by the exhibitors in that part of the world as "very unsatisfactory," and theatre owners were demanding a radical change in the methods of distribution. Selznick believes that it is principally due to its efforts and foresight that this change has been brought about and that the open market is now an established fact in the Antipodes. American exploitation methods have also been introduced in Australia by Selznick, which maintains a special exploitation department to aid exhibitors in putting over production. The effect of these methods were shown recently to the satisfaction of the Mosman Kinema, Sydney, a big, downtown theatre where ordinarily runs a picture three days — when "The Greatest Love," with special exploitation, produced business which compelled the management to hold it over for the entire week. H. P. Stewart, manager of the Dreka Theatre Company, De Land, Fla., reports that the George Arliss production, "Disraeli," was shown to excellent business at the Dreka Theatre, that city, and that his patrons were more than pleased. In a letter to the home office of the United Artists' Corporation, releasing this feature, Mr. Stewart writes : "I am glad to state that we did an excellent business with 'Disraeli' and delighted our patrons with this high-class entertainment. The president of Stetson University, of this city, was one of many notables who saw this picture, and told me he enjoyed the production more than any he had ever seen. Thanks." Record Business by "Carnille" in Washington and Baltimore Tom Mix in Thrilling Action Minus Familiar Cowboy Outfit "Trailin'," a drama of both the East and the West, presenting Tom Mix, the versatile Fox star, is listed among the early December releases by Fox Film Corporation. Here is seen a Tom Mix, who has discarded the familiar accouterments of the Western cowboy. Minus chaps, spurs and bandana, Mix is seen, nevertheless, in daredevil horse-back riding over the prairies, in dangerous jumps across -chasms and streams, and in hardfought battles. This is in the West. "Trailin' " also shows him in the East, as the polished son of a ■wealthy New Yorker — first in the riding togs of the fox hunt and later in conventional evening clothes. But the virility of the man is there just the same. The picture was directed by Lynn F. Reynolds and the story was written by Max Brand. It deals with the pampered son of an Eastern millionaire, whose father is mysteriously murdered on the grounds surrounding his palatial residents. To avenge the death, the young man, working on a slender clue, goes West. There he finds himself enmeshed in what seems to be a plot against his life, but which develops later to be an attempt to bring him to the man who is trying to help him. This man finally reveals the secret lying behind what are described as "twisted lives," thus bringing the story to a happy conclusion. Mix is supported by Eva Novak, as the girl figuring in the love theme. Nazimova's production of "Carnille," released last week by Metro in Baltimore and Washington, proved the greatest business getter of the Russian star's screen career. The matinees were particularly strong, proving the grip that the Dumas masterpiece has upon women's patronage. The newspapers were enthusiastic. The Washington Times said: "In 'Carnille,' the great Russian star emerges once more as the supreme emotional actress. She has found a production that gives full opportunity for the display of the tremendous emotional power and sweep that this great actress can always bring to a major dramatic role. She has probably never brought her splendid art to a higher level." The Evening Star : "It is difficult to conceive of a play affording a wider sweep for emotional powers than 'Carnille' and the talented Russian actress has made of it another means of establishing her consummate art as an actress. Her popularity with Washington audiences was attested by the eager throngs that gathered at every exhibition of the picture. The result is at once a triumph for photography and Nazimova's unquestioned art." "In all the splendid array of past stage and screen successes, it is probable that Nazimova has never attained a higher level of sweeping emotional and dramatic force than the level she attains in 'Carnille,' says another paper. Educational Reel at the Strand The outstanding news event of recent weeks from a news reel standpoint was the impressive ceremonies incident to the burial of the "Unknown Soldier" at Arlington Cemetery, Washington, says Educational. Each of the five news reels had almost its entire New York and Washington staff of photographers at the ceremonies. Kinograms, Educational's news reel, was represented by eight men, under the direction of Arthur Sorenson. So complete and so full of pictorial value was the story obtained, by Educational, that it was the only one of this important event run by the Strand Theatre, in New York, Educational savs. SCENES FROM "POSSESSION," RELEASED BY R-C PICTURES, INC.