The Moving picture world (March 1923-April 1923)

Mrrch 17, 1923 M O V I N G P I C T U R E ^ O R L D 357 Going to Florida P^the to Release Soon Feature Showing Life in Pacific Islands Beb« Daniels has sufficiently recovered from her recent operation for appendicitis to be able to play in "The Exciters," and Agnes Ayres, who came from the coast to play the part when it was feared Miss Daniels would not be well in time, will go into "Arms and the Girl," a story by Harry Durant. The exteriors for both pictures will be madte in Florida. Richard Ordynski will direct "The Exciters." Antonio Moreno will play opposite Miss Daniels. Wesley Ruggles will direct "Arms and the Girl." The forthcoming release of something wholly new and distinctive in the way of feature pictures is Pathe's latest new product announcement. Authorized by General Manager Elmer Pearson, this is the fifth of a series of weekly announcements holding lively interest for all exhibitors, especially those, Pathe says, who shared in the profits and public estimation assured by bookings of "Nanook of the North." Like that classic of the frozen regions, the new feature now first announced deals intimately with human life at once mysterious and the subject of universal curiosity, yet differs in the circumstance that its characters are wholly savage and live their precarious existence in con Will Make Dramas in Unexplored Locale ditions remaining the most primitive on earth. The picture is in five reels and is called "Black Shadows." Its most important locations are in the Soloman Islands — that region in the South Pacific inhabited by the dread "Head Hunters"; several rival tribes of warlike, tattooed and grotesquely selfmutilated cannibals, heretofore inadequately pictured, and their savage ceremonies vaguely described in rare volumes and in sensational Sunday newspaper features. "Black Shadows" is produce'! by World Tours, Inc., whose schooner, "The Wisdom II," voyaged with its filming staff and outfit from Los Angeles to the southwestern antipodes, touching at all the important island groups en route and thus making "a journey backward along the worn trail of time," with intimate camera revelations in the "Head Hunters' " country its successful main object. On the return of the expedition a few months ago the many thousand feet of negative were edited and titled at the Hal Roach Studios, and the finished picture promptly accepted by Pathe as measuring up to the standard of its policy to release only features of distinctive character and quality. The human drama depicted in "Black Shadows" is said to bo dramatic and thrilling in the extreme, the film itself demonstrating the actual presence of the director and camera stafif in the thick of battles between tribes of these cannibal savages and guests at their strange, often gruesome, ceremonies. Organized to make South Sea Island dramas for the screen in a locale hitherto unexplored by white men, the Wide World Photoplays, Inc., has opened offices at 220 West Forty-second street. The officers of the company are Tom Swinton, president; Alvin V. Knechtel, vice-president; Arthur Wilson, secretary-treasurer; and the board of directors is composed of Tom Swinton, Alvin V. Knechtel, Arthur Wilson, Pat Dolan and John Frost. While Mr. Swinton has declined to divulge the exact location for his first production, it is known that the venture will mark a complete innovation in picture-making. The first company, headed by Mr. Swinton and Mr. Knechtel, cameraman, will sail from San Francisco for Hawaii early in May. In Honolulu the party will be augmented by a physician, said to be the only white man who has ever set foot on the island where the picture is to be taken. The party will cover the distance from Hawaii to this island — a matter of several hundred miles — in a sailing vessel that has already been chartered. The most important point that the producers wish to emphasize is that their product will not be a scenic. It will be genuine drama, for which a script and continuity have already been prepared, the former having been approved by the board of directors. With a strong story the party will locate in its South Sea Island "studio." Any sets that are necessary for exteriors or interiors will be built by native carpenters. It is expected that the party will be away about six months, during which time ample opportunity will be had to incorporate in a dramatic picture scenes never before shown on the screen. The company has already been assured of the co-operation of the U. S. Aviation Service at Hawaii in procuring unusual shots and facilities for strong action sequences. ''Salome" Draws Big Crowds to Theatre Under the headlines "Nazimova's 'Salome' Startles Aldine, Philly, by Big Gross," "Variety," in its issue of March 1, tells of this Allied Producers and Distributors Corporation picture having been held over for a second week in its engagement .it the Aldine Theatre, Philadelphia, and adds "Expected to do $5,000; did $12,000." "The surprise feature last week in films here was the good business turned in by Nazimova's 'Salome' at the Aldine," says "Variety's" dispatch from Philadelphia. "It was booked for a week, and generally figured to gross around $5,000 in this medium capacity house. Instead, after a weak opening, 'Salome' commenced to drag them in. The dailies were enthusiastic, and one critic devoted most of his Sunday column to it. None of the reviews were of the cut-and-dried nature, and all commented on the fact that 'Salome' was a little bit different from any other feature ever made," continued "Variety." More Praise for "The « H Jazzmania" Given Hearty Reception Boston has given a royal welcome to Mae Murray in her new photoplay, "Jazzmania." After the showing of "Jazzmania" at Loew's State Theatre George C. MacKinnon wrote in the Boston Advertiser: "'Jazzmania,' now rejoicing State Theatre patrons, is the most shining example oj the peculiar Mae Murray type of cinema exhibit loosed upon a fortunate world within our recollection. Mae's irresistible dance-tapestry weaving ^cems just a hit more gratifying than ever." .; • . : The Boston Globe calls the screen play "amusing as well as thrilling." The Boston Post praises Miss Murray's ability as a dancer, and draws attention to the good supporting cast. The Boston Transcript points out the lavish manner in which the production is done. "She stints not in wardrobe," it says of Miss Murray. "Jazzmania," presented and directed by Robert Z. Leonard, is released by Metro. It was produced by Tiffany Productions. ero "The Hero," B. P. Schulberg's recent release through the Al Lichtman Corporation, which was chosen by the National Board of Review as an exceptional picture, has received an additional honor by Photoplay Magazine, which has ranked it as first in its "Six Best Pictures of the Month." This recommendation is carried through Photoplay's circulation of 450,000 to some two million readers of the publication. In addition this Gasnier production takes two places in Photoplay's "Six Best Performances of the Month," John Sainpolis in "The Hero" ranking first and Barbara La Marr in "The Hero" ranking third. She gave up everything to go 7mth the Abysmal Brute — Whv^ Irvine Appointed Clark Irvine has been selected to do the publicity for Frank Borzage productions that Arthur Jacobs will present through Associated First National. Irvine is well known on the coast. He will make his headquarters at the | United Studios. JACK LONDON'S fAHOUS OOAMATIC SIORV REGINALD DENNX A HOBART HENLEY PRODUCTION UNIVERSAL-JEWEL