The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 13, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 165 First National Units Now at Work on Many Spectacular Productions An exceptional array of box-office attractions are now in various stages of production for First National release. With the aim of "Bigger and Better Pictures" in view, the producers whose pictures are distributed by Associated First National are concentrating on "master pictures" — productions which will duplicate the box-office successes of "Penrod," "Smilin' Through," "The Kid," "Peck's Bad Boy," "Hail the Woman" and "The Silent Call." Norma and Constance Talmadge, famous star sisters, arrived in Los Angeles last Friday accompanied by Producer Joseph Schenck, who has obtained the film rights to William H. Harris' "East is West," and Exigar Selwyn's "The Mirage." Both of these have been very successful stage plays. Norman Talmadge will make "The Mirage" at the United studios and Constance Talmadge will make the interiors of "East is West" on the same lot, later taking her company to China for the exteriors. Norma Talniadge's latest First National release, "Smilin' Through," is proving to be one of the greatest pictures of this artist's career and more of an attraction on the screen than it was on the legitimate stage. Her release to follow "Smilin' Through," which will soon be seen at the Kinema Theatre, will be "The Eternal Flame," a lavish production adapted from the pen of Honore Balzac. Dorothy Phillips, heroine of many great productions, is soon to be seen in what is hailed as her greatest film, "Hurricane's Gal," produced by Allen Holubar, and three months in the making. Katherine MacDonald has just completed "The Woman Conquers," a lavish picture of the northland, and scenically her most beautiful attraction. Her next starring vehicle will be "White Shoulders." The picture will be made by Preferred Pictures at the Louis B. Mayer studio. John M. Stahl has completed the big Louis B. Mayer picture, "One Qear Call," a film requiring five months to make, and Maurice Tourneur has finished the making of "Lorna Doone," a spectacular production. Mabel Normand is Hearing the end of Mack Sennett's "Lady Godiva" Opens The Associated Exhibitors spectacle, "Lady Godiva," thrilling ride and all, begins with an engagement at the Central Theatre, New York, Sunday, May 7. Picture lovers in the big city have awaited the coming of this feature with impatience, and the importance of the event is believed to justify fully the booking at the Broadway house. "Suzanna," a romantic costume picture of the era of Spanish dominance of early California. Charles Chaplin, the world's greatest comedian, is building up the plot of his next First National attraction, and Buster Keaton has just completed two funny tworeelers, "The Blacksmith" and "The Frozen North." Richard Walton Tully, noted author and playwright, has finished filming his legitimate play, "The Masquerader," starring Guy Bates Post, and is preparing to offer the same star in the picturization of the lavish Tully play, "Omar the Tentmaker." Marshall Neilan has completed two big productions, "Fools First" and "Her Man," the former of which is scheduled for early release. The complete cast for "Someone to Love," the most recent Thomas H. Ince feature to enter production, ii announced by Clark W. Thomas, Ince manager, as a near-perfection "balance" in characterization. The cast is Madge Bellamy, Cullen Landis, Noah Beery, Vola Val, Harry Rattenburry, Carrie Clark Ward, Bert Sprotte, Lincoln Stedman and Larry Steers. The director is John Griffith Wray. J. L. Frothingham will take his initial plunge into film direction next month. The producer will personally direct "The Vengeance of the Deep," an A. B. Barringer story with South Seas and New York City locales. Marguerite de la Motte will be featured. Forthingham recently completed "The Man Who Smiled," a First National attraction, scheduled for early fall release. "Gymnasium Jim," one of the snappiest two-reel comedies ever produced by Mack Sennett, has ju.-.t been titled 2nd shipped East. ]n this newest comedy, Billy Bevan, featured comedian in this series, supported by Mildred June, puts over some of the cleverest work of his srrten career. George Owen Baxter. Arthur Rosson directed. Patsy Ruth Miller is the feminine lead. The William Russell release will be "The Men of Zanzibar," from the famous story by Richard Harding Davis. The picture was directed by Rowland V. Lee. "Strange Idols," a Dustin Farnum picture, is from a story by Jules Furthnian and was directed by Bernard Durning. John Gilbert will be seen in "The Yellow Stain," written by Jules Furthman and directed by Jack Dillon. Claire Anderson is the leading woman. The Sunshine Comedies for May are "El Toro" and "The Wise Duck." The Mutt and Jeff Cartoon releases are "Hop, Skip and Jump," "Modem Fishing" and "Hither ajid Thithei." **Smilin ' Through " Begins Three Weeks* Run in Boston Impressed by the success with which "Smilin' Through," Norma Talmadge's current First National attraction, has been meeting, and the fact that many original runs have had to be extended, the management of the Park Theatre, in Boston, booked it for a three weeks' run. The engagement started on May 1. In the vernacular, "Smilin' Through" is "cleaning up" everywhere, and is proving a sensational success from the attendance and box oflSce standpoints. At the Strand Theatre in New York it was held over for a second week, and at the Colonial Theatre in Columbus. O., it was also run for a fortnight, the first picture to accomplish that feat at the Colonial in many months. "Exceptional business ; second week's business as good as the first ; capacity audiences almost every evening," was the verdict of the management. The intense eagerness with which exhibitors are booking this picture was evidenced by the action of Charles W. Picquet, owner of the Carolina Theatre at Pinehurst, N. C. Mr. Picquet wanted "Smilin' Through" so badly for immediate showing that he did not wait for a salesman to call, and decided that a letter or telegram was too slow. So he chartered an aeroplane, and flew ninety miles to Charlotte, with the intention of carrying the film back with him. From the flying field he drove to the First National exchange in an automobile, but was disappointed. Every print of the picture was in use, and Picquet had to return empty handed. The universal praise being bestowed on the picture by critics is shown in the following excerpts from reviews : Omaha World-Herald — "Smilin' Through" is a credit to the film world. Such a picture as this, clean, artistic, without a moment of unpleasant suggestiveness, will do more to help the motion picture industry out of the mire of past scandals than all the propaganda in the world. Milwaukee Sentinel — "Smilin' Through" is an artistic film with Norma Talmadge at her best. Cincinnati Post — Norma Talmadge has here undoubtedly her best picture. Never before has she given the screen such a performance. Syracuse Journal — Norma Talmadge, darling of filmdom, is more winsome and charming than ever in her portrayal of Kathleen and Moonyeen in the Jane Cowl success, "Smilin' Through." The dual role fits Miss Talmadge splendidly. One is apt to wonder which of the two he likes better. Syracuse Herald — With Norma Talmadge at the helm, anything is safe and sure. Her picturization of "Smilin' Through," which began a week's engagement at the Strand Theatre Saturday, more than makes up for the lack of the voice by the beauty of the scenes. Fox Has Strong, Program for Five feature productions, two Sunshine Comedies, and three Mutt and JefT Animated Cartoons constitute the list of May releases announced by Fox Film Corporation. Heading the list is "Shackles of Diversified Release in May Goldr' the screen adaptation of Henri Bernstein's famous drama, "Samson." William Farnum is the star and Herbert Brenon directed. Tom Mix will be seen in "The I'"ighting Streak" from g story by Ince Players Travel with the Circus For the first time in motion picture annals, it is believed, a company of film players is to travel with a circi's and the itinerary chosen is through the San Francisco Bay section. The screen players, Cullen Landis, Madge Bellamy and Noah Berry, are from the Thomas H. Ince studios. They will join Howe's Great London Circus at San Jose and will work under the "big top" throughout the San Francisco Bay district," The Ince scieen players, with cameramen, character, "props" and directors, are under the direction of John Griffith V/ray, who directed the recent Ince special, "Hail the Woman." Wni/ is filming a forthcoming feature, "Someone to Love," a story that has for its background a traveling circus in Southern Canada. The entire picture is being filmed in Northern California, the woodland exteriors in the vicinity of Santa Cruz, whih the circus scenes and crowds v/ill be secured throughout the San Fnmcisco Bay district. Early Sho wing of "The Beauty Shop" "The Beauty Shop," Cosmopolitan Productions all-star comedy picture, will be given its pre-release showing, beginning May 14, by Hugo Reisenfeld, in either the Rialto or Rivoii Theatres. The cast includes Raymond Hitchcock, the Fairbanks Twins, Louise Fazenda, Billy B. Van, James J. Corbett, Montagu Love, Laurance Wheat, Diana Allen, and others. Edward Dillon directed. The titles are said to be exceedingly humorous, many of them having been written by Bugs Baer. The story is from the recordbreaking theatrical success by Channing Pollock and Rennold Wolf. Big Bookings Cosmopolitan Productions report "The Good Provider" bookings to be very heavy. Exhibitors all over the country are making special advertising and exploitation appropriation for this picture. Every indication is that it will be a worthy successor to "Humoresque," if not an even greater money maker than that Gold Me*al wirntr of 1921.