The Moving picture world (November 1921)

802 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 17, 1921 Goldwyn Prepares ' 'Grand Larceny for Early Release A photoplay that Goldwyn is preparing for release early in the year, and one that it confidently anticipates will rank high in the year's productions, is "Grand Larceny," from a story by Albert Payson Terhune. It is a vital and dramatic story of marriage and disillusionment in which the husband, John Anixter, gives up his wife to the man he thinks she loves and in whose arms he had found her. She was innocent of wrongdoing, but Anixter would not listen to that. His friend had committed "grand larceny" in stealing her love and he tells his friend that he will never have an easy moment because "a woman that can be stolen from one man can be stolen from another." Wallace Worsley directed the picture which has one of Goldwyn's famous great casts. Elliott Dexter and beautiful Claire Windsor head the cast. Roy Atwell, Tom Gallery, Richard Tucker and John Cossar are also in it. Bess Meredith and Charles Kenyon prepared the continuity. an advance presentation of this wonderful production. "While 1 rejoice in the thought that this wonderful photoplay is a great personal accomplishment for you at the same time I cannot help but say that the production represents even more than this to our industry in general, for it is indeed an achievement for the motion picture world. "It is a photoplay that every woman in the land should see and entertainment that every man and youth will enjoy." DeHavens in a Comic Picture The announcement that Mr. and Mrs. Carter DeHaven will appear on the Associated Exhibitors program in the screen version of their stage success, "Marry the Poor Girl," is creating considerable interest among exhibitors, it is said. J. E. Storey, sales manager of the Associated, says that "Marry the Poor Girl," which he has announced for release on December 11, will be greeted by important first-run bookings in every exchange center. Neilan Praises "Hail the Woman" The policy of co-operative criticism, adopted on the West Coast by producers whose pictures are distributed by Associated First National Pictures, Inc., brought from Marshall Neilan the declaration that "Hail the Woman," Thomas H. Ince's forthcoming special production "is indeed an achievement for the motion picture world." Mr. Neilan was among the group of Los Angeles picture notables who attended the recent presentation of "Hail the Woman" at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Although "Hail the Woman" is Mr. Ince's initial production for First National, he accepted the plan of co-operative criticism which has been recently put into practice by First National producers and invited "a group of associated producers to see his new release. Mr. Neilan's letter was one of many received by Mr. Ince. It reads : "No doubt so many persons have told you that this picture represents your greatest achievement that in expressing the fact that this is my belief I am merely repeating the •consensus of opinion of those who have been fortunate enough to see Showmen Boost "Possession" Advices received from branch managers by Charles R. Rogers, general manager of distribution for R-C Pictures, indicate that "Possession," Louis Mercanton's Frenchmade production founded upon Anthony Hope's novel, "Phroso," will have a wide appeal to all exhibitors who are seeking unusual productions with which to keep the interest of their patrons at high tide. New Number of Exhibitors News Now Issued Cosmopolitan Productions has just issued the November number of its Exhibitors' News to theatre owners and managers. The latest issue contains stories of information to exhibitors on "Enchantment," "GetRich-Quick Wallingford," exploitation of recent releases and the awarding of Photoplay Magazine's Gold Medal to "Humoresque" as the best picture of 1920. The eight-page magazine is profusely illustrated and is made up with an idea of informing the exhibitor of coming Cosmopolitan Productions and furnishing to him facts of value in the exploiting of the pictures. It is distributed free of charge. Arranging to Show ' 'OurMu tua I Friend Christmas Week First-run houses are making special arrangements to show Charles D.ckens' "Our Mutual Friend" during Christmas Week, according to a statement from Wid Gunning, Inc., distributors of this picture. "Dickens and Christmas are indelibly associated in the public mind and exhibitors know this," says the statement. "For that reason big houses are anxious to get play dates on this film for the holiday week. Their managers are planning to play up the author and this reproduction of his well known masterpiece in their holiday advertising. Appeal to Schools "The exhibitors, too, are looking forward to the fact that crowds of college students, to whom Dickens has a special appeal, will be home for the holidays. School children of younger age will have a vacation that week, and they and their parents will be looking for the theatre which will play a film so especially pleasing to them. The matinee business for theatres which play 'Our Mutual Friend' on Christmas Week will be unprecedented." very enthusiastic audience. In my capacity as chairman for the past year I can assure you that we have given no entertainment that was so complimented by everyone, and we heartily endorse the film to the American public." Joins Staff of Wid Gunning, Inc. Field Carmichael has joined the sales staff of Wid Gunning, Inc., and as special home office representative will for the present make his headquarters in the Denver Exchange. Mr. Carmichael is widely known in the industry. He has been connected with the Sells-Floto Circus, with Pathe and Fox Film Corporations. He has devoted a large part of his time in the past to work o*the coast, where he has an intimakacquaintance with exhibitors. Audience Likes R-C Picture, "Possession" Members of Paris Post No. 1, the American Legion, were entertained recently by Louis Mercanton, at a showing of Mr. Mercanton's picture, "Phroso," based on the novel of the same name by Sir Anthony Hope. The production, which has been purchased by R-C Pictures, will be shown soon all over America under the title "Possession." Roy E. Hale, chairman of the Paris Post, entertainment committee, commenting on the showing, said : "The film was shown to a Universal Drops Main Title Line-Up Universal has discarded its old main title line-up. For some time Mr. Laemmle has been considering a change and has naturally given ear to all the criticisms of newspaper men and theatre patrons, who constantly lament the long roll of names that precede the film story. He feels that it is time someone took the lead in making it possible for patrons of the pictures to read the names of those who contributed to the success of a production if they want to, and go out of the theatre without this extraneous knowledge if they are not interested. New Style Opening In the future Mr. Laemmle promises a new kind of opening in the big pictures. This will vary so that the openings will never become stereotyped as they have been for years. Each picture will present its own problem and will be treated by an expert just as the making of a musical score or the designing of a prologue. J. P. McGowan in New Production One of the biggest productions among the Playgoers' Pictures features, says Associated Exhibitors, is "The Ruse of the Rattler," a Herald production starring J. P. McGowan, which will be released December 4. Playgoers declares that it is comparable in story and in treatment with William H. Hart's Western features, and that it is one of the best outdoor offerings of the dav. Three First Runs. Goldwyn pictur2S are this week showing in first runs in three theatres in Pittsburgh. The Katharine Newlin Burt western melodrama, "The Man From Lost River," directed by Frank Lloyd, is having two simultaneous first run showings at the Blackstone, the regular Goldwyn first run house in that city, and at the Regent Theatre of which Rowland Clark is manager. Goldwyn's Italian spectacle, "Theodora," is in its third week at the Pitt Theatre, where it is showing at the $2 top scale of prices. Edward L. Hyman's prologue for United Artists' "Little Lord Fauntleroy" at the Brooklyn Strand