The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

738 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 23, 1922 Agones Ayres in "Racing Hearts" Remember those wonderful automobile pictures — "Too Much Speed," "The Roaring Road," "Excuse My Dust," "What's Your Hurry?" "Across the Continent," etc. — that Wally Reid made from the stories of Byron Morgan? Will you ever forget them? Well, here you have Agnes Ayres risking her precious life in just that kind of a picture by the same author. Like the others, it's a comedydrama with thrill following thrill upon the automobile racetrack and boulevard. Some famous drivers take part in the race, which Agnes wins in a most sensational finsh. Yes, Theodore Roberts, with his familiar cigar, is here again as the father, with Richard Dix playing the leading: man's part and Robert Cain doing a lot of dirty work. Paul Powell directed this one — one of those triple-guaranteed speed pictures that can't go wrong. Big Cast Picked for "Little Old New York" Dorothy Dalton in "Law of the Lawless" This is a story by Konrad Bercovici, the Bohemian author whose writings are creating a furore in this country. "The Law of the Lawless" was first published in Pictorial Review and attracted wide attention. The setting of the story is unusual and picturesque, depicting the glamor and romance of gypsy life. The character played by Miss Dalton is that of a gypsy woman, as fearless as she is beautiful, who recognizes no law save that of her own desire. In short, it is an absorbing tale of primitive people and elemental emotions. In the chief roles supporting Miss Dalton are Theodore Kosloff and Charles de Roche, the famous French screen star who recently came to America to appear in Paramount pictures. E. Lloyd Sheldon wrote the scenario and Victor Fleming directed. Alice Brady in "The Leopardess" Henry Kolker, producer of "Disraeli," in which George Arliss was the star, directed this picture, which is an adaptation of Katherine Newlin Burt's novel. J. Clarkson Miller wrote the screen version. This is a story of the South Seas, in which is related how a strange power which is being exercised by a wealthy and unscrupulous adventurer over a white girl brought up among the natives is broken by a worthy young friend of her tormentor. Edward Langford is Miss Brady's leading man, while the chief heavy role is played by ■Wontacu I-ove Other well-known people in the cast are Charles Kent, George Beranger and Marguerite Forrest. The picture was made for the most part in Florida, with some beautiful shots in which the palatial yacht of J. Ogden Armour, loaned by the owner, figures prominently. Work was started this week at the Cosmopolitan .studios, 127th street and Second avenue. New York, on Marion Davies' next picture, a super-special of the celebrated play "Little Old New York," by Rida Johnson Young. "Little Old New York" will be made on the same elaborate scale that characterized Miss Davies' present picture, "When Knighthood Was in Flower." As in the latter production, one of the most remarkable casts ever assembled will support the star. Miss Davies will, of course, appear in the role of Patricia O'Day, the little Irish girl, who landed in Xew York only to find that, in order to obtain the family fortune, she would have to be a boy. Included in the supporting cast are the following famous actors: J. M. Kerrigan, Mahlen Hamilton, Courtney Foote, Harrison Ford. Norval Keedwell, George Rarraud, Sam Hardy, Montague Love, Riley Hatch, Charles Kennedy, Spencer Charters. Harry Watson, Charles Judels, Pauline Whitson, Mary Kennedy, Thomas Findlay and Marie R. Burke. New York as it appeared a century ago will for the first time be faithfully depicted in this film masterpiece. To that end experts have been busy for the past three months gathering historical data of the early metropolitan days. One of the most important of the scenes will be the first trip of the Claremont. The builders are now at work constructing a replica of Robert Fulton's first steamship. Among the most gigantic sets of the picture will be a scene at the Battery and another of the Bowery, which was at that time the principal thoroughfare of the city. This latter set will occupy the entire floor space of the Famous Players' studio at Long Island City, and will cover two city blocks. "Little Old New York" will be directed by Sidney Olcott, with Phila Carle as first assistant director. The cameramen will be Harold Wenstrom and Joe Morgan. Frances Marion Now with Goldwyn Frances Marion is the latest celebrity to be added to the Goldwyn fold. Marshall Neilan, now producing in association with that Company, has placed her under contract to write the subtitles for "The Strangers' Banquet," his picturization of Donn Byrne's novel. It is also reported that the young producer has other important work in mind for her. Miss Marion has written and adapted some of the screen's most successful productions, including "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," "Pollyanna," "The Love Light" and "Humoresque." She has been associated with Mr. Neilan on several of his notable pictures. Mr. Neilan has decided on "Red Lights" as a release title for Edward Rose's mystery melodrama, "The Rear Car," which he recently acquired. He has not yet announced what his next production will be, although he has already engaged Ray Grfiffith to play in it. Adam's Rib" Said to Be Unique Film Those who argue that there is nothing new in the photoplay are due for a surprise. Paramount says, when they see Cecil B. DeMille's production, "Adam's Rib," which is another original story by Mr. DeMille's talented scenario writer, Jeanie Macpherson. This romance is played out, for the most part, against a strange setting of skeletons of animals that lived somewhere around fourteen million years ago. These reconstructed prehistoric monsters are exact copies of those treasured in the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution. In connection with these curiosities Mr. DcMille has gone back farther than ever before in the making of scenes which represent how people lived, or might have lived, in the days before history dawned. Schedules Release of Three Pictures Alfred Weiss, president of .\r\.class Pictures Corporation, has atmounced the release of three films by this organization during the coming year. These pictures will include "After Six Days," "Between Worlds" and the "Woman Who Believed." Mr. Weiss has arranged national distribution for the latter two named films, and ".After Six Days" will be state righted on a large scale to the independent field. "After Six Days" is the ninereel version of the Old Testament from Adam and Eve to the Songs of Solomon. "Between Worlds" is a picture dealing with spiritualism. "The Woman Who Believed" is a six-part melodramatic feature, presenting an all star cast headed by Walter Miller and Dorothv Bernard. Max Graf Will Make Films at San Mateo Max Graf, whose first production, "The Forgotten Law," is a current Metro success, has taken up headquarters at the Metro studios and is preparing for the production of his next three picture's. They will be made at the San Mateo studios in San Mateo, California. "The Fog." a story by William Dudley Pelley. will be Mr. Graf's next production and he expects to 'begin filming within the next four weeks. H. H. Van Loan is preparing the screen adaptation of this story. Follow ing this is to come "Beans." an original story by Mr. Graf and Mr. Van Loan. The third production will he "The Gimble in Souls." a story on which Mr. Graf and Mr. Van Loan (-illali.Tttrd. To Aid in Filmingr "Ben Hur" A. L. Eriangcr. the theatrical producer, arrived at Goldwyn's studios in Culver City, Calif., last week. He was accompanied by F. Richard Anderson, who, with Mr. Erlanger, superintended the creation of the Erlanger circuit of theatres. His presence in Los Angeles at this time is to aid Goldwyn in the filming of "Ben Hur," the theatrical destinies of which he has guided for a quarter of a century. "Ben-Hur" has been one of the most popular plays in the world, as well as one of the most popular novels and the sponsors of the motion picture version intend to leave no stone unturned to make it the greatest photoplay ever produced, they state. "It was part of the agreement that I should render any assistance in my power in the filming of 'Ben Hur,' " said Mr. Erlanger. "Mr. Godsol wants me to keep in close touch with him and June Mathis in turning the play into a picture. "It is going to be a real screen drama and will be produced in a most elaborate way." IS Exploits "Broken Chains" in Chicago Eddie Boons, manager of Goldwyn's exploitation department, is off on a trip to Detroit and Chicago to superintend special exploitation campaigns for Goldwyn pictures. Goldwyn's going to put over the biggest exploitation campaign ever known for the showing of "Broken Chains" in Chicago in connection with the Chicago Daily A'e'cvs. and Mr. Boons will have charge of it. "Broken Chains" was the prizewinning scenario in the Daily News' $30,000 motion picture scenario contest. He will work in co-operation uith Walter D. Nealand. Goldwyner, attached to the Cliicago Goldwyn exchange.