The Moving picture world (February 1922)

494 MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 4, 1922 Paramount Names Twelve for Simultaneous Booking During Anniversary Month For the celebration of its Tenth Anniversary Month, starting March S, Paramount has specially set aside twelve of its biggest productions as yet unreleased. The reservation of these subjects for day and date booking throughout the country at the outset of the month, says the Paramount statement, insures the best opportunity of the year to first- run exhibitors for registering the biggest month's receipts in their his- tory. They are: William S. Hart's "Travelin' On," a typical western drama, Hart being the author. It was adapted and di- rected by Lambert Hillyer and pho- tographed by Joe August. Ethel Gray Terry is leading woman. George Fitzmaurice's "Forever," adapted by Ouida Bergere from George Du Maurier's novel "Peter Ibbetson," and the play of the same name. It has shown for weeks at the Criterion Theatre, New York. Elsie Ferguson and Wallace Reid are co-starred. The balance of the cast includes Elliott Dexter, George Fawcett, Montagu Love and Dolores Cassinelli. Wallace Reid in "The World's Champion," adapted from the stage comedy, "The Champion," by Thomas Louden and A. E. Thomas. J. E. Nash wrote the scenario and Philip E. Rosen directed. Lois Wil- son plays opposite Reid. Gloria Swanson in "Her Hus- band's Trademark," from an origi- nal story by Clara Beranger, with scenario by Lorna Moon. Sam Wood directed. Richard Wayne is leading man and Stuart Holmes, Clarence Burton, Charles Ogle, James Neill and Edythe Chapman are in the cast. Wanda Hawley in a Realart pic- ture, "Bobbed Hair," written espe- cially for her by Hector Turnbull, scenarized by Harvey Thew and di- rected by Thomas N. Heffron. The cast includes William Carleton, William Boyd and Ethel Wales. Cecil B. DeMille's big special pro- duction, "Fool's Paradise," suggested by Leonard Merrick's story, "The Laurels and the Lady." The story was written by Beulah Marie Dix and Sada Cowan. The all-star cast includes Dorothy Dalton, Mildred Harris, Conrad Nagel, Theodore Kosloff, John Davidson, Julia Faye, Clarence Burton, Guy Oliver and Jacqueline Logan. Constance Binney in "The Sleep- walker," a comedy of somnambulism by Aubrey Stauffer, directed by Ed- ward Le Saint from the scenario by Wells Hastings. Marion Davies in the Cosmopoli- tan's "The Young Diana," from the novel by Marie Corelli. The scenar- ist was Luther Reed and Albert Cap- ellani and Robert G. Vignola com- bined in the direction. Forrest Stan- ley, Pedro de Cordoba and Harrison Ford are in the cast. The four massive U.F.A. produc- tions of the series titled "The Mis- tress, of the World," directed by Joseph May and featuring Mia May. These productions are promised to set a standard hitherto unapproached in spectacular interest. human, natural comedy which she imparts to all her stories whether on the stage, screen or within the covers of books. Helene Chadwick and Richard Dix are featured in "The Glorious Fool" and continue in it the excellent team work which made "Dangerous Curve Ahead" so delightfully different from any other motion picture. Miss Chadwick as the young pro- bationary nurse who is persuaded into marying Billy Grant on his deathbed and then finds herself with a strange husband when he recovers, does some very fine and amusing acting in the picture. Others in the cast are Kate Lester, Vera Lewis, Lillian Langdon, Otto Hoffman, Theodore von Eltz, John Lince, Frederic Vroom and George Cooper. Selznick Names Eugene O'Brien andElaineHammerstein Features Fannie Hurst's unique ideas on marriage, as promulgated not so very long ago, have been used by Lewis Allen Browne, Selznick scen- arist, as the basis for "Why An- nounce Your Marriage?" starring Elaine Hammerstein. This idea consisted of being mar- ried and retaining liberty of action, of a woman living apart from her husband, and coming and going as freely as if the couple remained single. When the scenario was finished. Myron Selznick assigned Alan Cros- land to direct the production and Mr. Crosland added some ideas of his own to the scenario. Playing opposite Miss Hammerstein is Niles Welch and an effective supporting cast has been provided, including Arthur Housman. Frank Currier and Florence K. Billings. In the screen version it is an- nounced that the Hurst idea has been considerably elaborated with adven- tures and side issues which add to the interest and suspense. Another Selznick production which is now completed is "The Prophet's •Paradise," release date being set for February 10. Eugene O'Brien is the star with Sigrid Holmquist, known as the "Swedish Mary Pickford," playing opposite. Lewis Allen Brovne prepared the scenario from a migazine story by C. S. Montagne, the action centering in Constanti- nople. The picture gets its title from a fictitious slave market invented by Turkish crooks as a means of rob- bing tourists. O'Brien appears as a Yankee traveler disguised as a Turk- ish prince and rescues an American heiress. The supporting players include Arthur Housman, Bigclow Cooper, Arthur Donaldson, Joseph Burke and Nora Booth. "Glorious Fool" Is An Amusing Romantic Comedy Picture patrons who remember "It's a Great Life." made by Gold- vvyn from Mnry Roberts Rinehart's story. "The Empire Builders," will find equal pleasure in her new Gold- wyn's "The Glorious Fool," sched- uled for release in the next group of pictures which the corporation is now getting ready for showing. Throughout the romantic story of the wealthy young man who ended up, after a spree, in a hospital with but a few hours of life promised him by the physicians, married his nurse to cheat designing relatives of his fortune, and then got well, Mrs. Rinehart has interwoven the MacDonald's Next For Katherine MacDonald's next production for Associated First National, B. P. Schulberg, president of Preferred Pictures, has engaged the following well- known screen players : Nigel Bar- rie, Charles Gerard, Charles Clary, Mona Kingsle/ and Ethel Kay. The story is an original, tempo- rarily titled "Friday to Monday," by Charles Logue. Chet Withejr will direct. "The Infidel," another product of the Logue typewriter, recently completed but not released, gives every preliminary indication, ac- cording to everybody that has had a chance to preview it, of being one of the outstanding film tri- umphs of the current year. Exhibitor Passes Along a Tip; Small Towns Like t( The Sheik" James V. Chest, proprietor of the Capitol Theatre, Canajoharie, N. Y., has "cleaned up" with George Mel- ford's Paramount production, "The Sheik." In this town of less than 2,500 Mr. Chest played three days at advanced prices, and was so elated over the results that he wrote the following unsolicited letter to M. W. Kempner, manager of Paramount's Albany exchange: "The writer very seldom indorses any picture. However, I feel that I am in duty bound to say something regarding 'The Sheik,' which I re- cently played. To start with, I wish to say that the small exhibitor who is afraid to play this picture because it is costume, is making a big mis- take in not booking as soon as he can. "As a rule, small-town folks are not strong for the costume picture. However. 'The Sheik' is different because it is human, the characters are fine and there is the greatest photography I have ever seen. When I played this feature at my Capitol Theatre, even the hard-boiled west- ern fans came a second time to see it. I ran 'The Sheik' three days, whereas my ordinary run on big pictures is two days, and on the third day my theatre wasn't half big enough to accommodate the people. "The small-town man had better book this as soon as he can, for it sure spells money at the box office Besides, no great amount of adver- tising is necessary. I did not even have a herald. A few posters, the trailer and the local newspaper did the job." Has Much Action "A Game Chicken," which Bebe Daniels has just completed as a Realart picture for famous Play- ers-LasVy Corporation, is herald- ed by the producers as providing the greatest variety of action of any production in which this vivacious star has appeared. "Lotus Eater" Opens Theatre "The Lotus Eater," the John Barrymore production personally directed by Marshall Neilan, which was held over for a second week at the Capitol Theatre in New York, after it had established new attendance records on the opening day, was chosen as the initial feature of the new Capitol Theatre in Detroit, a John H. Kunsky house, which opened Jan- uary 12. Three Premieres for Stahl Film "The Song of Life," a John M. Stahl production, released by First National, is to have three simultaneous premiere showings the week of January 23. It has been booked for that period by the managements of the Grand Opera House and Liberty Theatre in Pittsburgh, and the Victor Theatre of McKeesport, Pa. Lane Begins on New Fox Comedy Lupino Lane, the famous Eng- lish comedian and pantomimist who was recently signed to a contract by William Fox, has be- gun his first two-reel special com- edy at the West Coast Studios under the direction of Jack Bly- stone. The title of the picture is " The Broker." Chaplin Films at Victory Theatre Evansville, Ind., had a real "First National" week when the Grand Theatre, a vaudeville house, featured Charles Chaplin in "The Idle Class" and the Victory The- atre, the home of First National, doubled the Chaplin film with Con- stance Talmadge in "Woman's Place." Fox Completes "Monte Cristo" William Fox has mysteriously made "Monte Cristo," with Emmett J. Flynn directing. Mr. Flynn brought the print on with him from the West Coast on his recent visit, and those who have seen it are enthusiastic. It will be released as a special. John Gilbert is the star and F.stelle Taylor has the leading feminine role.