The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

December 2, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 425 Will Dramatize Commandments GivCS High Praise As a result of the nation-wide contest for an idea for his next motion picture production, Cecil B. DeMille, director general of the Famous PlayersLas ky Corporation, has announced through the offices of the cortipany that he will dramatize the Ten Commandments and make of them the biggest picture of his career as a producer. This decision was reached through a contest, conducted by the Los Angeles Times, in which Mr. DeMille offered one thousand dollars for a single idea, expressed in not more than three hundred words, which would serve as a basis for a picture. At the close of the contest it was announced that he had decided to award eight first prizes of one thousand dollars each, but the nature of the suggestions were kept a secret until Monday. The scenario for the picture is already being prepared by Jeanie Macpherson, who has adapted all of Mr. DeMille's stories for the screen, and production will commence April first. First National Has 7 Pictures in Work to Arliss Picture Seven producing companies, whose activities cover a scope of territory that ranges from California to Paris, France, are at present working or about to commence work on productions that are scheduled to be released by Associated First National Pictures, Inc. Under the direction of Henry King, Richard Barthelmess has just completed "Fury" for early release. In the Latin quarter of Paris, Richard Walton Tully is directing atmospheric shots for "Trilby," which will follow "Omar, the Tentmaker," as his contribution to the First National schedule. Edwin Carewe has begun cutting and assembling his first release for First National, still untitled, which was made around New York City embracing scenes taking in familiar landmarks. Allen Holubar has just returned to California from Vancouver, B. C, and Montreal, where he selected locations for "The White Frontier," which he will shortly start filming. Katherine MacDonald and her company have just returned to Hollywood from location at Arrowhead Lake, where many scenes were "shot" for the star's next picture, "The Scarlet Lily." Maurice Tourneur is hunting the San Francisco waterfronts for antique vessels to use in connection with his forthcoming production, "The Isle of Dead Ships." Frank Lloyd has started for the East, where he will "shoot" prison scenes at Auburn and Sing Sing for a film in which Norma Talmadge will star. In addition to the features named above, additional units starring Jackie Coogan, and the regular Thomas H. Ince contributions are now being made for the First National schedule. Characterizing George Arliss as "one of the foremost actors and impersonators of the day," and declaring that the latest Arliss photoplay, a Distinctive Pictures feature released by United Artists' Corporation, "is something way above the average" and "a picture that will appeal to everybody," the editor of the Savannah Press wrote a lengthy editorial on Mr. Arliss and his picture on the occasion of the engagement at the Arcadia Theatre, Savannah. "The very elements which make the motion picture a potent power for entertainment, education, moral influence and general usefulness carry to those who control it an exactly measurable responsibility," says the editorial, the writer of which formerly occupied a high position in the United States diplomatic service. "Some of the pictures are open to criticism. Primarily a source of entertainment and amusement, some of them degenerate, and some of the more prominent screen stars have been Identified In tragedies and Live on Train to Film "Go-Getter Long Island commuters who got home to cold dinners and wrathful wives several nights this week blamed it on "The GoGetter," Cosmopolitan's picturization of a Peter B. Kyne story, now being directed by E. H. Griffith. For three days and three nights the members of the company engaged in the making of the picture lived aboard a special train of three cars, chartered from the Long Island branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the while "exteriors" for the picture were taken. In this special train were three motor generating sets which gave an illumination at night that attracted natives of Long Island at every stop from Mineola to Hicksville. During the "shooting" of the scenes the entire company worked three "days" from sunset to sunrise, this particular part of the picture cal ing for nothing but night scenes. The most spectaciilar scene filmed was one in which an aeroplane races with an express train. In this scene Cosmopolitan employed the services of Pilot MacMillan, of Curtiss Field. During the filming of the aeroplane-express train scene, T. Roy Barnes, who plays the lead in the picture, narrowly escaped death twice. In the scene, Barnes, after alighting from the plane, flags the oncoming train. Although the train was approaching at the rate of forty miles an hour, Barnes held to his post in the center of the tracks until the driving locomotive was within fifteen feet of him. In fact, the daring of Barnes so frightened the engineer and Director Grifllith, who was in the cab, that both men yelled warning cries to the actor. Two "shots" were taken and each time Barnes waited until the last second before leaving the tracks. scandals which have reflected no credit upon the moving pictur* industry. "So many people attend moving pictures and the influence of this form of entertainment is so great that this must be our excuse tor speaking of the delightful representation of George Arliss at the Arcadia Theatre. Arliss Is one of the foremost actors and impersonators of the day. Everythlngr that he is identified with on the screen or stage is clean and wholesome. So the beautiful representation of 'The Man Who Played God' this week left an Impression. "We realize that the motion picture producers are not asked to preach sermons, but this film ot Arliss' Is something way above the average show of the kind. If it IS necessary to give different types of pictures for the various types of tastes and interests here Is one that will appeal to everybody, and its effect Is distinctly uplifting. It is an earnest of better servlc* by motion picture producers. If the producers progress on this lins their effort will lead to an accompishment that will mean the largest possible usefulness." Ray Working on February Release Charles Ray in the guise of a lover of perfervid and stormy emotion — it doesn't seem quite natural. But that is what is promised in his latest photoplay production and his second picture for United Artists' Corporation release, "The Girl I Loved," now in the editing and titling process for release next February. Heretofore the romances in Mr. Ray's pictures have composed a rather jocular background with stress placed on the humorous details of the story. In "The Girl I Loved," the star, it is said, will put to blush ai1 claimants for the title of supreme swain of the screen. "The Girl I Loved" has a historical interest because its prin cipals are real people and its story its real biograpliy. The film draws from practical obscurity the personal romance of James Whitcomb Riley in youth (which character Ray portrays) and the young miss of whom he wrote in the poem of the same title as the picture. While the picture version is largely of serious and impassioned drama, the lighter side of life in the Indiana of 1860, the period in which the events took place, and the picturesque character of the life of that time are shown in a way that gives the picture variety and presents Charles Ray in one of those portrayals of mischievous boyhood which have earned for him a world-wide popularity. H/ WHAT A KNaKOUT/ 5 — 1. U. O. U primed lo «i<> IIIK LIMIT with "FIOIIIIN<; BLOOD." national advertlHing and e.vpluitatiun campaigm in Collier's MaguKine will (tart the ball.vhoo— a bail.vhoo that will DRAG MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO YOUR BOX OFIICE! Combine this with the fact that Witwer'g storle* bt« running: In Collier's RIGHT NOW and you will have a better Idea of the box offlcr potentialities ot tbeHe great comedy attrnctionst Froduced and distributed by F. B. O.