The Moving picture world (March 1923-April 1923)

666 MOVING PICTURE WORLD April 7, 1923 "Snowdrift" Listed for April "Snowdrift," the latest William Fox production, starring Charles Jones, is scheduled for release late next month. This story, which deals with the gold fields of the Yukon, gives the popular Fox star an unusual opportunity for somi lively, interesting action. The picture was directed by Scott Dunlap from the story by James B. Hendryx, who is well known for his tales of the land beyond the Mackenzie River, including "The Promise," "The Gold Girl," and "Connie Morgan in Alaska." The story concerns a renegade mining engineer from the States who falls in love with a waif, known only as "Snowdrift," and believed to be a half-breed. His love for the beautiful daughter of the North changes the life of the engineer, who successfully battles with Indian bands, the crew of a whaler and the northern blizzards for the love of the girl. Subsequently it is shown that the girl is the daughter of white parents who lost their lives in the far North, and she was then left in the care of an Indian squaw. The supporting cast includes Irene Rich, Dorothy Manners, G. Raymond Nye, Colin Chase, Evelyn Selbie, Lolo Encinos and Lee Shumway. Loses False Teeth Laughing at Film The Bangor, Me., Commercial ii authority for the following story concerning the Harold Lloyd-Astociated Exhibitor* attraction, "Grandma's Boy," and the effect which a showing at the Bangor Opera House had on one woman in the audience: "When the employes were cleaning the Opera House Tuesday forenoon, they found a plate of false teeth, and a little later a Bangor woman called at the box office and received her property, stating that she laughed so heartily at Harold Lloyd's (un-making in 'Grandma's Boy' that she ejected her teeth and did not miss them until she reached home. This sounds a bit like press agent stuff, but Manager Greely vouches for its truth and tells the Commercial that he can produce evidence." Big Baltimore Houses Book Clifton Picture 'Bucking the Barrier' April 1 Release Dustin Farnum's next production, "Bucking the Barrier," will be released April 1st, Fox Film Corporation announces. This story, a new version of love reaching from across the seas to the far North of America, replete with suspense, action, and romance, shows Dustin Farnum in the kind of role that has made him such a popular interpreter of romance and adventure. In addition to the star, the cast includes Arline Pretty, as the lead, and Leon Barry, heavy. Colin Campbell directed. This story was especially written for Mr. Farnum by George Goodchild and adapted by Jack Strumwasser. Prepare Exhibitor Aids for Big Picture Vitagraph is preparing unusual exploitation and exhibitor's helps for "Masters of Men" which is now receiving final editing at the Vitagraph studio in Brooklyn. "Masters of Men" is considered the best of all Morgan Robertson's novels of life at sea. It relates the adventures of a young American both in the United States Navy and on board a sailing ship. Special exploitation stunts are being arranged and a special drive being made in the daily newspapers. Those who have seen the picture say that the cast is one of the best ticket sellers ever oflFered to the exhibitor. It is headed by Earle Williams, Alice Calhoun, Cullen Landis, and Wanda Hawley. The sea stuff is magnificently managed and includes action centering around the Battle of Santiago when Cervera's fleet was destroyed. The United States Navy Department at Washington gave to Vitagraph every cooperation in presenting the life of a bluejacket on board a man-of-war faithfully. In contrast to this is shown life in the forecastle of a sailing ship commanded by an old-fashioned, brutal type of captain. Following upon the heels of the successful run of Elmer Clifton's "Down to the Sea in Ship," released by the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation, at the Century Theatre, Baltimore, Md., at whicli time this romance of old whaling days played to 33,500 admissions in six days, announcement is made to the effect that many of Baltimore's best community theatres have signed subsequent runs for this production. The theatres booking this production are considered to be the most representative regional theatres in Baltimore and the very fact that so many have signed, following the run at the Century, proves, in the estimation of the Hodkinson Officials, the value of "Down to the Sea in Ships" as a money-making neighborhood attraction. Among the most prominent theatres in Baltimore that have booked this screen special are the McHenry Theatre, Bridge, Idle Hour, Victory, Red Wing, Grand, Blue Bell, Horn, Rialto. Crystal, Belnord, Broadway and York, all located in the city of Baltimore. It is estimated that this series of contracts means that Baltimore will, in one part or another, see "Down to the Sea in Ships" for many months to come. The 35,000 admissions in the first six days which this produciton played to, broke all attendance and bo.x office records for the Century in Baltimore, according to the theatre's report. This proves the exceptional box office drawing power of this production, inasmuch as Century has played some of the greatest and most popular photoplays of the season. Two Hodkinson Films Released March 25 To Write Continuity For Stahl's Next Paul Bern has joined the John M. Stahl unit at the Louis B. Mayer studio to prepare the continuity for Stahl's next First National attraction, and supply an original story for future production by the director. This announcement follows closely upon the news of Mr. Bern's resignation from Universal City, where he held the post of supervising editor under Irving G. Thalberg's administration. Previous to this connection he was for several years editor-in-chief at the Goldwyn studio. Bern gave up executive editorial work in favor of the wider •scope of the free lance field, but primarily he wanted a vacation. This latter ambition was shortlived, for he was persuaded by Stahl to start on the adaptation of a story on the very day that his resignation at Universal took effect. Starts Picture Patricia Palmer and "Ranger Bill" Miller have been selected to head an all-star cast for the Max Miller Productions in a super special feature to be made in and around San Francisco from the original story by J. Stewart Woodhouse. the author is also responsible for Dick Hatton's latest starring vehicle "Playing Double" and the originator of Wallace Reid's best feature "Double Speed." Two productions are scheduled for release on the Hodkinson program for March 25. They are "The Man From Glengarry" and "The Lion's Mouse." This makes four feature releases for the month of March. "The Man From Glengarry" is a filmization of the picturesque and virile novel by Ralph Connor. It was produced by Ernest Shipment and the Dominion Films, Inc., and made upon the exact location as called for by the book. It is a strong story dealing with the exciting life of the lumberjacks on the upper Ottawa River. It contains thrills in abundance, showing some real excitement surrounding a fight scene in a log jam, a sensational rescue of a girl from the rapids and is said to be full of action throughout. The production was directed by Henry McRae with Warner Richmond, Anders Randolph, Marion Swayne, Pauline Garon, and E. L. Hernandez in the cast. "The Lion's Mouse" is a mystery melodrama produced by the Hollandia Film Corporation, presented by the Producers Security Corporation and distributed by Hodkinson. This production was directed by Oscar Apfel and features Wyndham Standing and Marguerite Marsh in the cast. "The Lion's Mouse" is the story of a young girl who shows her ability as an amateur detective by rounding up a band of blackmailers and incidentally solves the mystery surrounding some stolen pearls. It is considered to be one of the best productions directed by Oscar Apfel. In the opinion of the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation it is felt that "The Lion's Mouse" will supply exhibitors with something unusual in film entertainment. Making "Snowblind" Paul Panzer, who once flickered as the deep-dyed villain with Pearl White in "The Perils of Pauline," and who recently returned to the screen after a long absence in "Enemies of Women," has been engaged for a part in "Snowblind," a picturization of an Arthur Stringer story which E. H. Griffith is now making for the Cosmopolitan Corporation. Lionel Barrymore and Seena Owen are featured in the production. Storm to Direct "Chilren of Jazz" Jerome Storm, who directed most of Charles Ray's immensely successful pictures for Thomas H. Ince, has been engaged to direct "Children of Jazz" for Paramount. The production will be made at the Lasky studio and among those who will have leading roles are Theodore Kosloff, Estelle Taylor, Eileen Percy, Ricardo Cortez and Robert Cain. The Paramount Production department also announces that Leatrice Joy and Owen Moore will appear in a special production directed by Charles Maigne, adapted by Sada M. Cowen from Maximilian Foster's story, "The Silent Partner." Goldwyn Promises Unusual Picture Promise of an unusual motion picture, both in weirdness and novelty of setting, and in eerie dramatic quality, is contained in the announcement from Goldwyn of the purchase of the screen rights to Joseph llergesheimer's novel, "Wild Oranges." It is one of the earliest of the books by the author of '■Cytheresi." "The Bright Shawl." "Tol'able David," and other popular stories.