The Moving picture world (January 1922)

68 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 7, 1922 Fox Lists Big Productions for Release During January From Fox Film Corporation comes announcement that "Man's Weakness," the first production starring William Farnum since his return from a long rest in Europe, will head the list of January re- leases for that organization. Adapted from the novel by Alex- ander Dumas, the story deals with a romantic chapter in the life of Edmund Kean, the famous English actor of the early nineteenth cen- tury. It was screened with sincere devotion to detail of the life of that period. Herbert Brenon is the director. In the New York studios of Will- iam Fox, where the picture was made, there was erected an interior of the world-famous Drury Lane Theatre of London. The stage, proscenium, loges, royalty's boxes, and the auditorium are exact in every respect. Twelve weeks were spent in research to make possible the various scenes in "Man's Weakness." The picture carries an excep- tionally large cast of notable screen and stage actors, among them being Holmes Herbert as the Prince of Wales; Paul McAllister, the for- mer matinee idol, as Count Koe- feld; Etienne Gerardot as Sa'.b- man; Peggy Shaw as Anna Dam- by; Myrta Bonillas as the Countess, and America Chedister, Ruth Good- win, Paula Shay, Edward Boring, and Bernard Seigel. Tom Mix's January release will be "Sky High," in which the star is supported by Eva Novak in a story of the Southwest. Mix is seen as a young immigration inspec- tor serving on the Mexican border. As the picture progresses he be- comes the dashing hero of a series of thrilling scenes taken in the Grand Canyon of Arizona. The photodrama was directed by Lynn F. Reynolds. "Any Wife" is the title of the Pearl White production in the January list. It is a picturization of the dire consequences of a wife's unwarranted discontent. Herbert Holmes is seen in the part of the villain. Herbert Brenon directed. Shirley Mason's release, "Little Miss Smiles," gives the demure Fox actress the part of a little-big sis- ter of the New York Ghetto who struggles through an appealing chapter of her life with a blind mother, a shiftless father, a pug- ilistically-ambitious brother and a number of younger members of the family. The story was written by Myra Kelly and the picture directed by Jack Ford. From the widely read novel, "Gleam O'Dawn," by Arthur Good- rich, the noted author, was adapt- ed the story for the first starring vehicle of John Gilbert, recently raised to stellar distinction by Will- iam Fox. It is a stirring tale of love, hate and adventure in the Canadian Northwoods, and Gilbert's first performance as a star is said to be remarkably fine. The his- trionic heights attained by this young actor in "Shame," the big Fox special, released in October, earned for him the right to star- dom. After assuming the leading role in another super-special pro- duction made at the Fox West Coast Studios, for release early in 1922, Gilbert was made a star, and "Gleam O'Dawn," directed by Jack Dillon, is his first picture in that capacity. "Winning With Wits," starring Barbara Bedford, is the second Fox picture in which she appears as a star. Her first, "Cinderella of the Hills," received the hearty endorse- ment of the critics throughout the country, and under tlie direction of Howard M. Mitchell her latest of- fering is declared to surpass in many details her first. "Winning With Wits" has for its theme the cleverness of a courageous daugh- ter in exonerating her father from an unjust charge and freeing him from prison. There are three Sunshine Com- edies on the January production list. They are "Try and Get It," "False Alarm," and "Hold the Line." An exceptional group of Mutt and Jeff Animated Cartoons completes the release schedule. In- cluded are "A Ghostly Wallop," "Beside Her Cider," "Long Live the King," "The Last Laugh," and "The Holy Cheese." Fox News will present, as usual, a series of interesting events and human interest scenes, many of them from foreign countries. great success. The new picture is released by Paramount. If there is one class of persons more than another to whom "just Around the Corner" will appeal it is to girls all over the world. The picture tells of a young and beauti- ful girl, "standing with reluctant feet where the brook and river meet." Like most girls of her age she longs for romance and she im- agines she is finding it in the com- pany of a presumptuous, smug, young cad who hasn't the faintest trace of fine feeling. Margaret Seddon has the role of tlie mother. Lewis Sargent is her son, Jimmie Birdsong, and Sigrid Holqiiist plays the daughter, Essie. Others in the cast are Fred C. Thomson, Edward Phillips, Peggy Parr, Mme. Rose Rosonova and William Nally. Film Completed Director Frank Urson has com- pleted Realart's Helen R. Martin story, starring Mary Miles Minter, and between intervals of cutting will prepare lor her next photoplay, a Harvey Thew adaptation of a story by Mary Morrison. Finish Anita Stewart's "The Woman He Married" The filming of Anita Stewart's "The Woman He Married," has been completed at the Louis B. Mayer studio under the direction of Fred Niblo and is expected to be ready for shipment to First National, New York, within the next few weeks. "The Woman He Married" was adapted by Bess Meredyth from the stage play by Herbert Bashford, formerly a San Francisco news- paperman. The story has subtle comedy, human interest touches, romance and strong dramatic situa- tions. The sensational climax is followed by an ending that is a little different from the smile-embrace- kiss finale. Supporting Anita Stewart, Darrl Foss heads the list, with Shannon Day, Donald MacDonald, Wi'.liam Conklin, Charlotte Pierce, Charles Belcher and Frank Tokunaga, in im- portant roles. Dal Clawson was in charge of the photography and Doran H. Fox served as assistant to Mr. Niblo. "A Doll's House" Makes Progress So marked has been the progress in making Ibsen's "A Doll's House" the forthcoming Nazimova produc- tion, and her first to be released through United Artists, that it is now being predicted that the pic- ture will be completed and ready for presentation some time during the month of February next. Among the foremost players in the cast engaged by Nazimova are Alan Hale, Wedgwood Nowell, Nigel deBrulier, Florence Fisher, Elinor Oliver and Cere Lee. Little Phillippe DeLacy and Barbara -Maier will appear as the children. In giving to the screen her por- trayal of Nora Helmer, Nazimova will revive one of her greatest roles, and one in which she has achieved great distinction on the spoken drama during her first appearance as an English speaking actress. "A Doll's House" is being direct- ed by Charles Bryant, assisted by M Kelley. Charles 'Van Engcr is the chief cameraman. Irene Castle Gives Party to Kiddies Nearly a hundred pickaninnies from the San Juan Hill section, west side, New York City, were made happy last week when Mrs. Irene Castle, star in Edwin L. Hollywood productions released by Hodkinson, played Mrs. Santa Claus for the members of the Lincoln House branch kindergarten of the Henry Street Settlement Associa- tion. This is the fifth year in succes- sion that Mrs. Castle has journeyed over to the San Juan Hi.l section with a load of dolls for the girls and fire engines for the boys. The party was held in the rooms of the Lincoln House branch, and the supervisor and matrons had ar- ranged a special reception for their distinguished guest. There was a lighted Christmas tree and the rooms were decorated with holly wreaths and Christmas bells. The program consisted of singing and dancing by the children and a special chorus by the mothers. Then came the big moment. Reading the names from the kindergarten record, Mrs. Cas- tle called each little girl and little boy to the front of the room and handed out the presents. When the party was over Mrs. Castle hurried back to the studio to complete an important interior for "The Rise of Roscoe Paine," an early 1922 Hodkinson release. Rialto Books Hurst Story "Just Around the Corner," a Fannie Hurst story filmed by Cos- mopolitan Productions, will have its first New York presentation at the Rialto Theatre beginning Sunday, January 1. This production was di- rected by Frances Marion who also wrote the scenario. It was Miss Hurst who wrote the orginal story of "Humoresque," the Gold Medal winner of 1920, and Miss Marion who wrote the scenario of that Irene Castle, star in Edwin L. Hollywood Productions, released by Hodkinson, gives Christmas party to colored children