The Moving picture world (October 1922)

568 , M O VIN G PI CT U R E W 0 RLD October 14, 1922 Sawyer & Lubin Form New Producing Organization ON his return to New York this week, following an ab- sence of several months, Herbert Lubin announced the formation of a new $2,000,000.00 picture organization to be known as Associated Pictures Corpora- tion. The business of the new company will be to produce and market motion pictures in fea- ture length. The first production under the auspices of the new organization has just been completed, a pic- turization of the famous novel, Quincy Adams Sawyer. This feature was made in the Metro studios in California, under the supervision of Arthur H. Sawyer, directed by Clarence Badger, for- merly of Goldwyn, and employs a long list of stellar names, in- cluding Blanche Sweet, Elmo Lin- coln, of Tarzan fame; Barbara La Marr, one of the outstanding figures of the current Broadway screen success, "Prisoner of Zenda" Lon Chaney, John Bowers, Louise Fazenda, June Elvidge, Hank Mann, Joseph Dowling, Victor Potel and a host of other players known to prac- tically every movie fan in every section of the world. Quincy Adams Sawyer, which will be released by Metro Pic- tures Corporation as one of the outstanding specials of the year, will be followed by a series of productions adapted from the pens of famous authors and em- ploying large casts, comprising the most famous names obtain- able from the ranks of present day film stars. In the formation of Associated Pictures Corporation, Herbert Lubin has associated with the new enterprise some of the leading figures in the world of finance and banking. The president of the company is Marcus Jacob- owsky, a man of vast financial and banking experience. Herbert Lubin needs no introduction to the world of films. During the past ten years his connection as holder of the Metro franchise for the entire Dominion of Canada, his work as organizer of S-L Pictures, which has produced a series of remarkable feature suc- cesses for Metro Pictures Cor- poration, and his forming of Petrova Pictures Corporation, which made a series of features, starring Madame Petrova for First National, has established him as one of the leading figures in the world of production and distribution. Arthur Sawyer, supervisor of production for Associated Pic- tures Corporation, has been inti- mately connected with studio work for a period of several years and the series of S-L spe- cial pictures for Metro is being made under his direct supervi- sion, as well as the first big spe- cial of the new company, Quincy Adams Sawyer. Herbert Lubin issued the fol- lowing statement this week con- cerning the new company; "Associated Pictures Corpora- tion has acquired all of the assets of S-L Finance Corpora- tion, including valuable contracts and franchise rights. The con- tracts provide for the production of S-L pictures in the Metro studios with distribution through the various Metro exchanges throughout the world. The eco- nomic and financial management of Associated will be in the hands of Marcus Jacobowsky. "The production of pictures will be under the personal supervi- sion of Arthur H. Sawyer, who will receive the benefit of the facilities of the Metro studios and its vast array of specialists in every line of screen endeavor. The policy of the company will be to employ only the best talent in the way of writers, directors, players and cameramen. "We have already acquired the works of such writers as Charles Neville Buck, Eugene Walter, Calvin Johnston, Freeman Tilden, Percival Wilde, Thomas Beer, Guy Bolton, Willard Mack and others equally well-known. Fol- lowing the production of Quincy Adams Sawyer, our first special made for Metro, we will produce a story from the pen of Willard Mack, now called 'Your Friend and Mine' and which he has made famous on the speaking stage. "Following this an announce- ment will be made concerning a story which is known to prac- tically every picture goer in the world, namely, 'The Shooting of Dan McGrew.' This poem will be given a wonderful production and should make film history." San Francisco Critics Praise Ray's Newest Both public and critics were quick to enthuse over and praise Charles Ray and his newest pho- toplay, "A Tailor Made Man," a United Artists release, when it was shown at the Strand Theatre, San Francisco. "A screen comedy-drama of the higher type," said the critic for the Bulletin. "Here is a photo- play as refreshing as mountain air, replete with wit and wisdom, which affords Charles Ray one of the best vehicles of his career. Its humor springs naturally from a combination of logical events and its thrills avoid the melodra- matic and are all within the bounds of probability." "Charles Ray achieves distinc- tion in 'A Tailor Made Man,'" said the critic of the Examiner. "There is a whimsical tenderness, a touch of quaint poetry, a cer- tain friendliness that marks his interpretation of the principal character." " 'A Tailor Made Man' has all the elements of the perfect pic- ture," said Curran D. Swint in the Call. "There is story, romance, comedy, compelling drama and thrills. It easily can be credited as Charles Ray's greatest picture to date. Throughout the entire showing the audience was in a state of sustained good humor." "'A Tailor Made Man' is a tri- umph for the young star, Charles Ray," said the reviewer for the Chronicle, "and gives promise of even greater things. It is a de- lightful comedy and seems all too short, and because of its interest one regrets the end of the story." Herbert Lubin, organizer of Associated Pictures Corpora- tion, and Arthur H. Sawyer, supervisor of production. Business Survey (Continued from Page 553) ing lower. Retail sales of staple commodities have decreased since "peak"; picked up since low stage of slump. New Hampshire. Alfred R. Newall, the Daily Patriot, Con- cord. Average income per capita remains about normal. Cost of living lower, if it has fluctuated at all. Manchester. Fran'< Knox, Union and Leader. Local condi- tions temporarily upset by textile strike. New Jersey. Marc P. Dowdell, The Times, Trenton: Industries, which have been slow to feel pickup now showing its effects. Cost of living has reduced from peak but is still ISO per cent, higher than 1913. Slight trend up- ward at present. New Mexico. M. B. Hening, edijor. The Herald, Albuquerque: Outlook for business in fall and winter better than same time last year, provided labor troubles are settled. New York. George J. Hurst, editor, Daily Financial America: Country is choked with gold. This is the backing of both our cur- rency and credit mediums. As we only need about 40 billions of both of these and at present have sufficient gold to extend them to over 100 billions, our needs are more than amply covered. The danger of inflation is, however, our greatest menace. Human na- ture is still subject to the temp- tation of extravagance. From oresent indications we will have bumper crops at fair prices. This means comfort for 12,000.000 of our agriculturists and raw ma- terials for 50 per cent, of our factories. The buying power thus engendered will reflect itself in almost evey other line of ou" ac- tivity. The cost of living will, in iny opinion, go up again. In fact, it is now higher than on January 1, 1922. This is attributable to our plethora of money and lack of real leadership, both politically and industrially. With plenty in our till we are prone to give way too easily to demands we must know are harmful. Unemploy- ment is decreasing. Those out of work today are mostly strikers who choose to be idle. This does not hold in the marine shipping hnes. The outlook generally is optimistic and soundly so. North Carolina. C. R. Sumner, The Charlotte Herald, Charlotte, fiusiness situation will continue to improve, because the farmer and the cotton mills are getting in bet- ter condition every day. Charlotte. J. S. Parham, editor, The Observer: Cost of living slightly lower. Retail sales of staple commodities have increased. Business men and bankers optim- istic and believe conditions and business will improve slowly but steadily. Cincinnati. W. F. Wiley, The Enquirer, Cincinnati: There has been practically no change -n in- come per capita during last six months. Figures show wages have remained at practically the same figure except in certain isolated cases where a cut of 10 per cent, has. been made, such as banks, etc.