The Moving picture world (March 1923-April 1923)

March 31, 1923 "The Flame of Life" a Big Hit "The Flame of Life," Priscilla Dean's latest Universal-Jewel production, astonished West Coast theatre men at its recent opening in the Granada Theatre, San Francisco, when it ran away with the week's business, playing to unusual receipts despite serious opposition. Following the opening, J. A. Partington, manager of the Granada, wired his congratulations to Carl Laemmle, praising the excellence of the picture as a boxoffice attraction. He informed the Universal chief that both critics and public were enthusiastic over the acting and the direction. The Granada's chief opposition during the run of "The Flame of Life," and especially during the opening days, Saturday and Sunday, was the fine spring weather and the public parks, where thousands flocked for the first time of the season. Partington, in his report to Laemmle, asserted that not one adverse comment was heard on the picture, a unique commendation, considering the unusual clientele of that house. MOVING PICTURE WORLD ''Safety Last" for April 1 In announcing April as the release date for Harold Lloy^d's first seven-reel comedy, 'Safety Last," Pathe declares that no other picture of any type has brought distributors and exhibitors together in the spirit of cordial co-operation for mutual advantage and service to picture patrons which has produced the admirably equitable "Safety Last" contract. The essence of "Safety Last" contracts, Pathe explains, lies in rental provisions which enable indefinite extension of runs. Frank discussion of the individual exhibitor's problems settles the question of terms — guarantee, sharing, etc. — in a way to enable him, it is stated, to serve his community with profit to himself by continuing his run for a reasonable period after the "capacity houses" stage of his engagement has run its course. The volume of "Safety Last" business booked throughout the United States up to two weeks before release date is reported to show a "solid front of indefinite runs," with exhibitors' interests better protected and their communities better served than has been recorded in the history of any other outstanding picture production. The Broadway, New York, premiere of "Safety Last" will be at the Strand Theatre, where the picture is booked for an extended run beginning April L Three Cosmopolitan Films for Broadway 567 Sign Brockwell for Big Production Gladys Brockwell, one of the most popular screen stars, has been added to the impressive cast supporting Lon Chaney in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," the super-Jewel being made from Victor Hugo's novel at Universal City. She will play the mother of Esmeralda, the gypsy dancer who is impersonated in the picture by Patsy Ruth Miller. The role is dramatic and has great emotional possibilities. It is felt that Miss Brockwell can be expected to realize them to the fullest extent. Wallace Worsley, the director, aided by Perley Poore Sheehan and E. T. Lowe, Jr., the adapters, as well as by Chaney, are taking extraordinary measures to assure that every character of the fifteenth century classic will be reproduced faithfully in the screen version of Hugo's book. Universal Buys New Gibson Story Universal has just completed the purchase of "Don Quickshot of the Rio Grande," a popular story by Stephen Chalmers, it is announced by Leon d'Usseau, head of the company's Eastern scenario department. The sale was arranged through Brandt & Kirkpatrick. "Don Quickshot of the Rio Grande" was published in Short Stories and is a clever satire filled with action and comedy. It will be used as a vehicle for Hoot Gibson, Universal's leading Western star, whose modern comedyWesterns have set a new mark in picture popularity. It is expected that the new story will be adapted for the screen without delay and that it will be produced early in the summer for late summer release. Gibson's current release is "Single Handed," written and directed by Edward Sedgwick. Begins on New Play Shirley Mason, whose latest released picture was "Pawn Ticket 210," has begun work on a new production at the William Fox West Coast Studios, "Balance Due," under the direction of Henry Otto. Supporting Miss Mason is Albert Roscoe, leading man; Richard Tucker, heavy; Joseph Girard, Edward Martindale and Fred Kelcey. For the first time in the history of motion pictures three productions of one company will be offered simultaneously on Broadway, when, on Easter Sunday, April 1, a trio of photoplays made by the Cosmopolitan Corporation have their initial presentations. The three Cosmopolitan productions which will make their Broadway bow on Easter Sunday are "Enemies of Women," which will be presented as a super-special for an indefinite run at the Central Theatre; "The Go-Getter," which will have its premiere at the Rialto, and "The Nth Commandment," which will be presented at the Rivoli Theatre. "Enemies of Women" is picturized from a romance by Vicente Blasco Ibanez. In artistry, lavishness of production and perfection of detail it is said to rival Cosmopolitan's "When Knighthood was in Flower," starring Marion Davies. The same author wrote "The Four Horsemen" and "Blood and Sand." The company which made the picture spent six weeks on location in Monte Carlo, Nice and Paris, where the most striking episodes of the story are located. In its cast are scores of beauties from the Ziegfeld "Follies" and other leading Broadway shows, and many society beauties, including Gloria Morgan, who re cently married Reginald Claypool \'^anderbilt, and her sister, Mrs. James Vail Converse. For the impersonaiton of the characters created by Ibanez, the Cosmopolitan Corporation has assembled a cast headed by Lionel Barrymore and Alma Rubens. Alan Crosland directed. "The Nth Commandment" is a picturization of a popular Fannie Hurst story and was created by the same combination which made "Humoresque." In addition to Miss Hurst as author, this combination includes Frank Borzage, director, and Frances Marion, scenario writer. Colleen Moore and James Morrison are featured in the cast. "The Go-Getter" is a film version of Peter B. Kyne's story of the same name, adapted to the screen by John Lynch and directed by E. H. Griffith. Woven around the story of a wounded ex-service man and his efforts to win success in the business world, it is replete with humorous episodes and dramatic moments, it is stated. Night photography is brought to a high peak in this photoplay, one of the most thrilling scenes depicting a wild night flight of an aeronplane in pursuit of a speeding express train. T. Roy Barnes, who appears opposite Marion Davies in "Adam and Eva," and Seena Owen have the featured roles. Nearing Completion of Zenith Film Word has been received from the Coast that the super-special "The Right of the Strongest" is just being completed. This is the initial production of the Zenith Pictures Corporation, a new independent producing company. E. K. Lincoln is the star and is surrounded by a cast of wellknown players, consisting of Helen Ferguson, June Elvidge, Niles Welsh, Winter Hall, Tom Santschi, George Seigniann, Tully Marshall and Robert Milash. Built Irish Scenes on St. Patrick's Day They celebrated St. Patrick's Day in great style at the Jackson studio in New York where they were making Irish street scenes for Marion Davies' next Cosmopolitan picture, "Little Old New York." "Little Old New York" is the story of a plucky little Irish girl, Patricia O'Day, who dons the disguise of a boy and comes to New York to seek her fortune. Griffith Finishing "The White Rose" Fox Film Going Big "Brass Commandments," the William Farnum picture in which Wanda Hawley and Claire Adams are the William Fox star's leading support, is being received with hearty approval wherever shown. The thrilling sand storm on the desert, through which the determined hero fights his way to the rescue of two girls, has been recognized as one of the best effects of the screen. Wray to Begin Soon John Griffith Wray, director for Thomas H. Ince, who has just returned from a month's visit in New York City, will begin work shortly on a new Ince production at the studios at Culver City. Motion picture enthusiasts who recall the delightful countryside scenes in "The Birth of a Nation," "Way Down East," and other D. W. Griffith screen masterpieces, will be interested to learn that this producer is now completing another effort wherein the major portion of his dramatic denouement moves against a background of distinctively attractive pastoral vistas. Mr. Griffith is now finishing at Miami, Fla., his latest feature for United Artists Corporation, "The White Rose." It is a skjry of Southern romance and all the exterior scenes have been photographed amid the splendor of the unsullied spaces of the sunny Southland, and encompasses the wonderful architecture of the fine old stately mansions of that section in days gone. Appears Personally During the engagement of the William Fox special, "The Town That Forgot God," at the Lincoln Theatre, Troy, N. Y., last week, a special attraction in connection with the picture, was the personal appearance of "Bunny" Grauer, the boy actor whose remarkable performance of the little hero of the story has been so highly praised wherever the picture is shown.