The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 13, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 161 News from the Producers ^ C S^SEWELL Atlanta Wins First Prize in ''Brunet Month'' Sales Contest Experts Engaged on Making Film That Paramount is determined that "The Old Homestead," which is shortly to be filmed under the di optimistic by the completed "Brunet Contest be called forth in honor of Mr. rection of James Cruze, shall be a Month" returns. It is a result Brunet's fourth anniversary and the picture worthy of the tremendous laredTo brfreshly' fortified by the showing conclusively that the busi stimulus of prizes to be won, ness was there and only needed to ' '"i"""-"^ K,-i.i^hoo o,,^ be gone after with confidence. Pathe's consistently iew of business tendencies is de c net results, just tabulated, of "Brunet Month" fourth anniversary The test really covered a period sales contest which closed March of ten weeks, including a six weeks The winnin*; branches and their managers are : First — Atlanta, W. W. Anderson ; second, Indianapolis, N. W. Moray ; third, Omaha, C. W Harris. 26. In announcing the winning qualifying contest for the purpose Taylor; fourth, Dallas, branches with their percentages of classifying the branches into Coughlin; fifth, St. Louis, five districts of contesting teams. Quotas were fairly established for the different districts and branches — and here enters with emphasis the biff fact in connection with the above quota, General Sales Manager E. A. Eschmann analyzes and compares accepted American business statistics for the month of March, 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922, theme of the story and commensurate with the prestige which the famous play has held for more than a quarter of a century, is evidenced by the notable corps of D. J. literary experts now engaged in preFrank paring it for the screen, says a statement from that company. and illustrates his conclusion that whole affair. business for March, 1922, in the case of Pathe showed a satisfactory increase while, general business showed a drop of 10.7 per cent. This is a result of general in The tabulated figures show an actual net increase of 19.81 per cent, over quotas established on the results of immediately preceding periods, and took into consideration ''Silas Marner'' Is Current Release of the Associated Exhibitors; Highly Praised "Silas Marner," from George Eliot's exquisite story of the weaver of Raveloe, is the current Associated Exhibitors release, April 30, having been the date officially set. Educators, students of literature, artists, welfare, workers and terest and importance established also the extra energy that would "Can Be Recommended to All, " Says Sherwood of ''Life, " After Seeing Harold Lloyd's Latest Robert E. Sherwood, motion pic mended to everyone, big or little ture critic of "Life," was treated to youthful or aged, and any of our already have given high praise to a pre-view of the newest Harold readers who are inclined to dispute Lloyd Associated Exhibitors fea the commendation may receive of ture, "Grandma's Boy," the other ficial permission to stay away from day, and was so pleased that he the movies for the rest of their lives." f(.)r the production is that foot by foot the film stands the test of comparison with the original story, which is one of the most widelyread novels in the English language. It was possible to picturize the tale exactly as it was written because George Elidt placed little de others who had a pre-view at the pendence upon elaborate word picHotel Plaza, New York, as guests tures, but relied rather on the of Miss Anne Morgan's American Committee for Devastated France, action of her characters for the unfolding of the plot. The settings of the picture also the photoplay, and equally en are declared to be marvels of arthusiastic commendation has come tistic accuracy. Rural and village wired a review back to his publication. Mr. Sherwood's comments on "Grandma's Boy" were printed in "Life" of April 27. After declaring that "the public is becoming more discriminative," and expressing the belief that "the salvation of the movies lies in pictures based from persons who have seen it elsewhere. One of the strongest claims made Exceptional Record Established by Harold Lloyd on West Coast The claim is made that no other in Los Angeles has booked the en on simple stories, produced with a picture star has ever established t're two series of Associated Ex ' "* the record that is now being made hibitors-Lloyds, and beginning with . Tj , . T 1 1 A or Never" on June 28, will by Harold Lloyd s comedies on the begin running them at two week West Coast. The Los Angeles intervals. West Coast Theatres, minimum amount of ostentation and a maximum amount of intelligence," he says : "Which brings us to a considera England of the early nineteenth century, with its inns and taprooms and quaint, picturesque thatched-roof cottages, is reproduced. Interior scenes of lovely old English manor houses were furnished with rare relics borrowed from private collections. Kent in Title Role The title role is played by Craufurd Kent. The part of Eppie, the foundling, is taken by Flelen Rowland, with Jean Girardin taking the role when the girl is grown. Bradley Barker, Marguerite Courtot, tion of Harold Lloyd's latest pic representatives of Pithe and Asso Inc., is now negotiating for repeat Anders Randolf "and Henrietta ture, 'Grandma's Boy.' Lloyd has elated Exhibitors report this week bookings on both series. made many splendid comedies of varying lengths— from one reel up ; but he has never done anything better than this. It is, at the same time, his most ambitious work and that out of a possible lOO per cent, of available accounts in this territory, 95 per cent, is now playing Lloyd's pictures. ' The entire complement of Asso Crossman are others in the cast. Success of "Fascination** Even Greater than "Peacock Alley** Mae Murray, presented by Rob of its predecessor, "Peacock Alley," ert Z. Leonard in her most recent Metro states, when this earlier Mae photoplay, "Fascination," won twin H"''''^^ VKtmt was chosen by B. S. — .J .o.^ s "■ • — — -r- r, -- » • I r . 1 iv^^ ^ Moss for the attraction with which that he is actually a miserable cow any print. The comedy has already triumphs Laster week, Metro says, to open his beautiful new Cameo ard. He is kicked about by every played in ISO theatres in the Los when this picture was shown at the Theatre, in Forty-second street, one and is too meek to protest. Angeles territory, and within an Capitol Theatre, the world's largest New York. his finest. He has told a story ciated Exhibitors prints _ on "A that is both funny and dramatic and Sailor-Made Man," which was that contains an unobtrusive but augmented to accommodate the very definite idea. tremendous demand, has been book "It is the story of a boy who is ed solid until late in June, not a so utterly lacking in self-confidence single open date being available on His grandmother, realizing his piti other month unquestionably will ful condition, decides to reform have played 200 him by underhand methods — and Many theatres that have played picture palace, in New York, and at the famous Stanley Theatre in Phil "There's always a big house to see Mae Murray pictures," commented William E. Atkinson, vice her success is demonsfrated in as this four-reel clean-up are seeking delphia. There was a large attend president and general manager of lively a series of episodes as these rebooking dates, but cannot be ac old, glazed eyes have ever wit comrnodated until the theatres nessed. booking it in the outlying sections " Grandma's Boy' is one of those have played it. Unable to^ get an ance in both instances, and the press Metro, upon the business' "Fascina was highly commendatory, it is tion" was doing at the Capitol and stated. Stanley, "no matter whether the The success of "Fascination" ex house itself has five hundred seats rare pictures that can be recom immediate return booking, Pantages ceeded even the auspicious premiere or five thousand."