The Moving picture world (July 1923-August 1923)

July 21, 1923 M O V I N G P I C T U R E W O R L D 243 Netta Westcott to Be in "Maytime" Netta Westcott, famous English stage beauty, arrived in New York on the Adriatic, on July 2, and was met on the pier and escorted ,to the office of Preferred Pictures, where she signed a contract with J. G. Bachmann. July 5 she left for the Preferred Studios at Los Angeles, where she will make her film debut in "Maytime," a Gasnier production. Harding Lauds "Covered Wagon" in Address at Oregon Village Signs Fox Contract Jack Blystone, who is known as a remarkably successful director of comedies and who displayed great skill as a dramatic director when called upon to take charge of the latest Tom Mix picture, ■"Soft Boiled," has signed a new contract with William Fox and will devote his attention in the future to the more serious line of work. Oregon celebrated the second greatest day in her history on Tuesday, July 3, when, exactly eighty years after the arrival of the first covered wagon train in the Willamette Valley, President Harding, standing at the foot of Blue Mountain, near Meacham, a tiny village of fifty-one inhabitants, recounted the thrilling story of Marcus Whitman and the saving of the great Northwestern territory, and formally presented to the assembled members of the Old Oregon Trail Association a print of James Cruze's Paramount production, "The Covered Wagon," for preservation in the association's archives. The occasion for the celebration was the dedication of the Old Oregon Trail and the unveiling of a monument dedicated to the first wagon train. In the course of his formal address, which was published throughout the United States, the President touched upon the Cruze production, which he witnessed at a private showing in the White House, as follows : "Not very long ago I saw the covered wagon in the moving picture. I sat entranced. There was more than the picturesque, more than sorrow and discouragement, more than appealing characters and enthralling heroism. There was more than the revelation of the irresolute, who failed in fitness to survive ; more than tragedy and comedy in their inseparable blend. There was more than the scouts, who surpassed our fancies; more than nature's relentless barriers revealed. Everywhere aflame was the soul of unalterable purpose and the commanding sturdiness of elemental greatness. Still more, there was determination to do themselves, not asked the government to do, but for government only to sanction or permit." At the conclusion of the President's address a covered wagon, drawn by four oxen and carrying the print of the film in charge of C. M. Hill, Paramount exchange manager at Portland, drove up ;o the stand, the National Guard clearing the way. Joe Axford, head of the wagon train which had borne hundreds of descendants of the early pioneers to the scene, carried the film to the President, who formally presented it to the Old Oregon Trail Association. Lesser Tells of Sales Policy of Principal Many Compliments for "Little Old New York" Irving M. Lesser, vice-president and general manager of distribution of Principal Pictures Corporation, has just returned from Cleveland where he addressed a sales meeting of all the branch managers and the entire selling forces of Standard Film Service. The meeting was called by Harry Charnas, president and general manager of Standard, principally to give his men who are on the firing line the opportunity of personally hearing Mr. Lesser expound his selling policies in order that they might glean, first hand, the fruits of many years' experience in catering to the general welfare and prosperity of the •exhibitor. Mr. Charnas presided at the meeting, and among the branch managers present were Mr. Fisher of the Pittsburgh exchange, Mr. Lefkowitz of Cincinnati, Mr. Lehensberger of Cleveland and Mr. Fischman of Detroit. The conference lasted from ten in the morning until nine o'clock at night, and in this time the whole sales policy of Principal Pictures was expounded and elaborated upon by Mr. Lesser. The most salient point which he brought out was the fact that Principal insists that its product be sold to the exhibitor on the same basis that the various territorial buyers acquire their rights, namely, that all productions must be screened and approved by the prospective purchaser before any contracts are accepted. In this group, named the Super Five, are 'The Spider and the Rose," "Temporary Marriage," "East Side, West Side," "Bright Lights of Broadway" and "Gold Madness." In the course of his address Mr. Lesser also briefly outlined the extensive advertising and exploitation campaign he has mapped out and already launched; Mr. Lesser is also arranging screenings in other key cities throughout the entire United States. That "Little Old New York," starring Marion Davies, is one of the most interesting photoplays ever filmed surpassing even in beauty and interesting episodes the record-breaking "When Knighthood Was in Flower," was the unanimous opinion of those who saw the world's premiere of the new Cosmopolitan feature on board the S. S. Leviathan recently. Following are some opinions voiced by those who witnessed the premiere: Captain Herbert Hartley, the Leviathan: "'Little Old New York' is a most interesting and delightful photoplay." Albert Lasker: "Truly a tremendous achievement. Marion Davies deserves all praise for a brilliant performance." Vincent Astor: "No photoplay has ever thrilled or delighted me like 'Little Old New York.'" Congressman Nicholas Longworth: "Here is a motion picture I am certain every lover of real entertainment will find wholly worth while as Mrs. Longworth and I did." Marcus Heiman, president of the Orpheum Theatre Circuit: "'Little Old New York' is a triumph." Howard Chandler Christy: "'Little Old New York' surpasses anything ever screened for its sheer artistry." Secretary of Labor James Davis: "'Little Old New York,' a gorgeous entertainment." Anna Fitziu, opera star: "Screen version of popular play superb, and Marion Davies ideal in stellar role." Fortune Gallo, of the San Carlo Opera Company: "Beauty, brains and talent perfectly blended to create masterpiece. Marion Davies could not be improved upon." Albert Keller, general manager of Ritz Carlton Hotels: "After witnessing Marion Davies in 'Little Old New York' it's easy to understand why America ranks miles ahead in motion pictures." Louis Wiley, business manager of the N. Y. Times: "It is a great picture." Durning Names Fine Cast for Fox Picture As fine a selection of players as ever went to form the cast in a Fox Film Corporation production, it was stated, was made by Director Bernard J. Durning for ■"The Eleventh Hour," the Lincoln J. Carter melodrama which has been adroitly converted into film form and will constitute one of the specials on the Fox program for the coming year. Charles Jones, the robust star of many western and romantic photoplays, and Shirley Mason, the winsome luminary of the Fox fold, are the featured players in this new excitement creating special. Another important member of the Durning selection is June Elvidge. Character actors of excellent reputation have also been chosen to complete the list of characters in the thriller. They number such names as Alan Dale, Edward Martindale and Frederick Kelsey. Blackton Supervising Continuity of Special Many Theatres Book Preferred Film Recent bookings on "Daughters of the Rich," a Gasnier production for Preferred include many theatres in widely separated parts of the country. J. Stuart Blackton, vice-president of Vitagraph, who is to direct Blackton Productions which will be released through Vitagraph, is engaged in supervising the continuity of his coming special. Elaine Sterne has been assigned to do the scenario. Characterization will play an important part but there is an appealing love interest which centers around a boy and girl of the village, and the drama moves swiftly and rapidly to a climax, which, it is said, will be one of the sensations of the year. Commodore Blackton expects to make a complete announcement shortly. It can be said that he will have a star cast of the most popular and prominent stage and screen actors. Completes New Play John M. Stahl this week completed the "shooting" of "The Wanters" as his next all-star special for Louis B. Mayer presentation through First National. Five exciting days in filming a thrilling railroad sequence at a Ventura County location concluded the camera work on the picture which has consumed a little over three months in the making.