The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

332 MOVING PICTURE WORLD November 25, 1922 Paramount's French Star Arrives in New York Charles de Roche, Paramount's new star, arrived in New York Sunday on the France, enthusiastic over the opportunity to appear in American-made pictures and fired with the ambition to make good as he has in Europe where he is regarded as the foremost screen actor appearing in romantic roles. He is making his headquarters at the Commodore while in New York and on Sunday will leave for California with Victor Fleming, who will direct him in his first picture. This will be "The Law of the Lawless," by Konrad Bercovici, in which he will play opposite Dorothy Dalton. Increases Cast As sequence follows sequence in "Adam's Rib," by Jeanie Macpherson, Cecil B. DeMille's newest production for Paramount Pictures, new faces are appearing in the cast. Latest to be added are Theodore Kosloff and Wedgewood Nowell. The featured players are Milton Sills, Elliott Dexter, Theodore KoslofiF, Anna Q. Nilsson and Pauline Garon. Others are Julia Faye, Clarence Geldart, George Field, Robert Brower and Forrest Robinson. "Follies" Beauties Are Filmed A group of Broadway's most famous beauties are appearing in Cosmopolitan's picturization of "The Enemies of Women," Vincent Blasco Ibanez's latest story, which Alan Crosland is directing. By an arrangement entered into with F. Ziegfeld, Jr., a number of beauties from his famous "Follies" are in the group, including Edna Wheaton, Helen Lee Worthing, Vivian Vernon, Polly Nally. Addie Rolf, Marie Shelton and Nellie Savage. Lionel Barrymore and Alma Reubens are featured in the picture, while others in the cast are Pedro de Cordoba. William "Buster" Collier, Jr., W. H. Thompson, Gareth Hughes and Gladys Hulette. Says Picture Will Be Realistic "Within the Law," Norma Talmadge's next starring attraction to be released by First National, will have all the trimmings of realism. First National says. Many of the scenes will be filmed in the natural settings of Auburn prison, the Tombs and the New York subway. Frank Lloyd will direct. Unusual Activity Miss Bert Parker, one of the successful film exporters operating from New York, reports unusual activity in the Latin-American field during the past two months. Miss Parker states that she is in the market for as many good society dramas as she can get. Goldwyn Film from ''Sapho** Goldwyn is releasing another motion picture made from one of the world's greatest novels. And this time with a world famous star in the leading role. The star is Pola Negri. The picture is "Sapho," made from Alphonse Daudet's most famous novel of the same name. By arrangement with Export and Import Film Company, Goldwyn has acquired this production for release at an early date. "Sapho" was written by Daudet for his son, Leon, who also became a novelist, for the latter to read when he should become twenty years of age. Pola Negri first sprang into prominence in this country when "Passion" was released. Since then she has appeared in "Gypsy Blood," and a picture version of "Sumurun," called "One Arabian Night." Critics Give High Praise to "Tess 7 9 Despite the fact that Mary Pickford doesn't need any vote of confidence from the public, the public gave her a most unanimous one at the world's premiere of her re-creation of "Tess of the Storm Country" at the Strand theatre, New York. The crowd that packed the Strand to capacity all during the afternoon was augmented almost into a mob in the early evening by the thousands that sought admission in view of the announced personal appearance Miss Pickford made at the first evening showing. Lines formed both up and down Broadway to the ticket office. That Miss Pickford decided wisely when she permitted her love for the character Tess to induce her to make a new and upto-date "Tess of the Storm Country" for United Artists Corporation release was quickly proven by the throngs that daily flock to see the new picture, as well as by the published verdict in the way of reviews by the critics for the New York newspapers. "The new 'Tess of the Storm Country' is the greatest picture Mary Pickford ever made," said the critic for the Evening Mail. "It is more than that. It is one of the great pictures of motion picture history." "To say that we think 'Tess' was and is the best thing Mary Pickford has ever done is but to plagiarize, for it has been said many times before," said Don Allen in the Evening World. "Pictures have progressed and Miss Pickford's new 'Tess' has kept abreast of the rush of the times." "The new version of 'Tess of the Storm Country' is the finest achievement of Mary Pickford's career," said the reviewer for the Evening Telegram. "Mary Pickford's re-creation of 'Tess of the Storm Country' is not only a vast improvement on her first picturization of this story, but it surpasses infinitely most movies that are now in their first blush," said the New York Sun's review. "It seems by far the best picture ever turned out by a film actress." "Mary Pickford is just as win some in 'Tess of the Storm Country' as she was eight years ago," says the New York American critic. "Mary Pickford will lose no popularity in her re-creation of 'Tess of the Storm Country' for it is an excellent film and one which cannot fail to please and entertain any audience," said the critic for the Daily News. "Miss Pickford probably has never acted a part more beautifully than she acts this one," said the New York World review. "With the aid of modern methods a much more colorful and holding picture has been made." "Mary Pickford's 'Tess of the Storm Country' at the Strand is not the old 'Tess' revamped or revived, but an entirely new production with all the modern methods of photography and lighting," said the review for the Morning Telegraph. "Mary Pickford never has had, and probably never will have again, so excellent a vehicle for the exploitation of her natural and dramatic talents as 'Tess of the Storm Country,' " said the Globe reviewer. "Miss Pickford has a new success to her credit," said the critic for the Evening Journal. "One loves Tess for her sweet simplicity and unspoiled faith as for her spirit and spunk when viciousness peers through the window and villainy stalks through the door." " 'Tess of the Storm Country' is unquestionably a success," said the review for the Herald, "and is sure to be a highly profitable production. It is performed with much grace, charm and intelligence. Miss Pickford, herself, is splendid. That goes without saying. The direction is skillful and the photography is beautiful." "Mary Pickford makes Tess real in^ her new 'Tess of the Storm Country' for Miss Pickford acts," said the critic for the Times. "She scampers and skips about in her old familiar ways, but she also acts. She has intensely human moments. Her pantomime is subtle and finished." "The unusual Mary Pickford makes this an unusual picture," says the critic for the Tribune. "She is perfectly beautiful." Duplicate Hospital for Picture What is probably the most striking hospital interior set ever built for a motion picture is the one constructed in the Cosmopolitan Studios for the picturization of "The Go-Gctter," a Peter B. Kyne story, work on which was started this week. In this particular scene, disabled soldiers play a prominent part. In order to make it perfect in every detail. Director E. H. Griffith arranged with Dr. William V. Healey, staff surgeon of the Reconstruction Hospital at Central Park West and 100th street, to collaborate on its construction. As a result the set is a faithful reproduction of the interior of the Reconstruction Hospital from which it was designed. In order that these scenes of "The Go Getter" would have the proper atmosphere, Griffith also arranged with Dr. Healey, who saw service in France as a major in the Medical Corps, to have four disabled soldiers, all patients in Reconstruction, appear in the hospital scenes. "The Go Getter," one of Kyne's most popular stories, is being made from a scenario by John Lynch. T. Roy Barnes and Seena Owen are featured in the picture, and others in the cast include Frederick Santley, Tom Lewis, William J. Sorelle, \\'illi.-jm .Norris, John Carr and Jane Jennings. Big LatinAmerican Deal Closed A. big deal for Latin-America has been closed recently between the Vitagraph Company of America and the Jupiter Film Corporation, of 1482 Broadway. The Jupiter Film Corporation has contracted for the exclusive distribution rights of its entire production for 1923-1924-1925 for in a large section of LatinAmerica. Alfred Weiss Lauds "Between Worlds" .Alfred Weiss, newly elected president of Artclass Pictures Corporation, is actively engaged with distribution plans for "Between Worlds," the special feature sponsored by this organization. Following a private viewing of tins film recently, Mr. Weiss said: "I have never before witnessed a pictr.re which possesses the remarkable ritlributes of 'Between W^orlds.' " Norma Talmadge in Selznick Revival Another of the Selznick revivals has been shipped to Select branches throughout the country for release November 12. This time it is Norma Talmadge in "The Secret of the Storm Country." During the last year the Select company has released a number of the popular pictures starring both Norma and Constance which were made early in the careers of these stars. Thy have proved particularly big box-office attractions. Selznick states. "The Secret of the Storm Country" is from the novel by Grace Miller White. The star appears in the role of "Tess." The direction is by Charles Miller.