The Moving picture world (March 1923-April 1923)

March 24, 1923 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 463 Much Publicity for Distinctive Films Twelve Omaha stores contributed a total of 204 inches of newspaper advertising space in a "Findthe-Man" contest arranged recently by Nathan Friend, of the Distinctive Pictures Corporation, as an exploitation feature for "The Man Who Played God" at the Brandeis Theatre in that city. The Omaha Evening World-Herald co-operated in the news end of the tie-up. Many Flying Stunts Are in "Going Up" For Entire Family "Are You a Failure?" Tom Forman's production for Preferred Pictures, appears on the latest list issued by the National Board of Review as a picture suitable not only for the family group but especially for young people. The filming of "Going Up," the screen adaptation of the Cohan & Harris stage hit, which will be Douglas MacLean's first starring vehicle for Associated Exhibitors, is almost finished, according to advices received from Hollywood. Because of the extraordinary amount of flying which is one of the essential features of the comedy, Lloyd Ingraham, the director, divided the production work into two stages. All work with Mr. MacLean's supporting cast, which included Marjorie Daw, Hallam Cooley, Edna Murphy, Francis MacDonald, Hughie Mack and other well known players, ended almost two weeks ago, and Mr. Ingraham and a large staff of cameramen and aviators have since been devoting their time to procuring the airplane scenes. "Isle of Lost Ships" for March 19 Associated First National has .set definitely March 19 as the release date of Maurice Tourneur's latest picture, "The Isle of Lost .Ships," adapted from the book by Crittenden Marriott. It is said, First National states, to have been made on the same high artistic plane that has drawn personal praise for the director's picturization of "Lorna Doone." Cruze in New York James Cruze, director of "The Covered Wagon," arrived in New York, Wednesday, and will be present at the theatre premiere of his Paramount production at the Criterion Friday, March 16. While in New York Mr. Cruze will film a large number of scenes at the Long Island studio for his special all-star production, "Hollywood," which he started several weeks ago at the Lasky studio. First National Has New Publicity Stunt Patients See Films The patients in St. Luke's Hospital, Chicago, enjoyed a motion picture show recently given for the benefit of Captain Nicholas McDonald, a newspaper staff photographer, who was injured in a flashlight explosion. Harry Birch, of the Fox Film Corporation, put on the show, "The Town That Forgot God," a nine-reel feature, and "The Pirate," a tworeel comedy, comprising the program. Gilbert Film Completed "The Madness of Youth," John Gilbert's new picture from a story by George F. Worts, has been finished at the Fox West Coast studios. The atmosphere of the story and the characters played by the stars are entirely different from anything previously used by Mr. Gilbert. Jerome Storm directed the picture. Dainty little Billie Dove has the leading feminine role. British First National has devised another method of giving national publicity to Jackie Coogan in Oliver Twist, which has already been released throughout the British Isles. Cooperating with the British First National organization, the London Daily Sketch has offered a prize of 25 pounds sterling for the boy who looks most like Jackie Coogan. The winner will also get a free trip to London and will make a personal appearance wherever the picture is being shown. Several exhibitors have become interested in the idea and have added to the prize money, so that at last reports the sum had grown to over 160 pounds sterling. In addition Peter Astor, of the Astor productions, declares that the boy selected can have a part in his new picture, "Peter's Reform." This will give the lucky lad three or four weeks to act and play around London. The photographs being received by the Daily Sketch show the widespread interest in the contest. Gordon Is Selected for "Bluebeard" After making screen tests of nearly two score leading men and interviewing three times that number, all of which took over two months, Sam Wood has chosen Huntly Gordon for the role of "Bluebeard" in "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife," Gloria Swanson's current starring vehicle for Paramount. Neilan Makes New Use of Radio Marshall Neilan is using a new radio device to carry his voice to all parts of the big ballroom scene in his own screen story, "The Eternal Three," which he is now directing for Goldwyn. The instrument greatly magnifies the director's voice. Nell Shipman Films to Be Made in Idaho Nell Shipman, author, star and producer of American Releasing's "The Grub-Stake," made at Priest Lake, Idaho, will produce all future pictures there. Bert Van Tuyle, her manager and director, is making arrangements to obtain several hundred acres on the lake, where a permanent motion picture village will be built. Miss Shipman's wild animal zoo, consisting of nearly 200 animals, and her kennels of forty dogs, have been quartered at the lake since completion of "The Grub-Stake," and a permanent home is planned for them there. "We have made outdoor pictures in all parts of the country where we could find beautiful scenery," says Miss Shipman, "but Northern Idaho, especially Priest Lake, has the most wonderful and inspiring scenery for our purpose to be found anywhere." Reviewers Praise Lichtman Film Very favorable comment, it is said, has been accorded "Thorns and Orange Blossoms" in England, where the Al Lichtman releases are handled by Walterdaw. The Cinema reviews the production as "modern and excellently produced." The Kinematograph Weekly calls it "an agreeable hour's entertainment. Well photographed and acted." The Film Renter characterizes it as "a bestseller that can be unreservedly recommended." Schenck Is Planning an Elaborate Film "Bluff" for Bebe "Bluff," a story of New York life by Rita Weiman and Josephine Quirk, will be Bebe Daniels' next picture for Paramount following "The Exciters," in which she is now engaged. The picture will be produced at the company's eastern studio under the direction or Wesley Ruggles, who recently arrived from the coast. Albert Shelby Le Vino is busy making the screen adaptation of the story. Joseph M. Schenck is planning to make the next Norma Talmadge picture, "Ashes of Vengeance," the most elaborate Miss Talmadge has ever appeared in, it is reported. For more than a week he had Walter Isreal, head of his costume and research department, in New York buying material for 1,200 costumes to be worn in some of the big scenes of the play and gathering together nearly a carload of swords, armor and high hip boots, reminiscent of the days of Charles IX. and Catherine de Medici, in which period the story of H. B. Somerville is laid. Isreal lias returned to Los Angeles and has employed thirty-five men and women to work on the costumes. As it will take nearly three weeks to get these costumes ready, Miss Talmadge will not begin working until March 25. Stephen Goosson will have charge of the sets. Frank Lloyd will again direct Miss Talmadge. This is the third Norma Talmadge picture for Mr. Lloyd. He directed "The Eternal Flame" and "Within the Law." Lloyd also directed Jackie Coogan in "Oliver Twist." "Shadows" Praised "Shadows," the Preferred picture presented by B. P. Schulberg, with Lon Chaney in the leading role, received a high tribute as an exceptional picture when Moving Picture Stories, a weekly fan publication of large circulation, called it "a great picture, artistically produced, splendidly produced, splendidly acted." Signs Hale for Role in "Trilby" Richard Walton Tully has signed Creighton Hale to play the role of "Little Billy" in his production of "Trilby," which will be released by Associated First National and which will be directed by James Young. The picture vvill be made at the United Studios in Hollywood. Hale has enjoyed a successful career on both the stage and screen. He has returned to the stage in Los Angeles for one week where he will be seen in "Just Suppose."