The Moving picture world (July 1923-August 1923)

244 MOVING PICTURE WORLD July 21. 1923 "On the Banks of the Wabash" to Be Blackton Film for Vitagraph The first of the J. Stuart Blackton Productions to be released by Vitagraph is "On the Banks of the Wabash," a story inspired by the famous American song written by Paul Dresser. Commodore Blackton obtained the exclusive world rights to the song through arrangements with Edgar Selden. Elaine Sterne was engaged to write the scenario. A typical all-star Blackton cast will be seen in the picture. Distinguished stage and screen stars, all of whom are established box-office attractions, are being engaged for "On the Banks of the Wabash." The drama deals with Indiana and Indiana folk who live along the banks of the famous river. It is a story brimming with heart interest, with comedy, with fine characterizations and one which affords to Commodore Blackton the high lights of screen direction for which he is noted. The story centers around a fine old character, quaint in humor, strong in manhood, who rises to an emergency and provides the thrill of the picture. As the title indicates the locale of the story is on the banks of the Wabash; it is laid in a small town which progress has passed by. The love interest centers around a boy and a girl of the village. The picture is filled with these delightful human touches for which Blackton Productions have been famous. Indiana's pride in Paul Dresser, the author of "On the Banks of the Wabash" has crystallized into a memorial of affection for this writer of one of the greatest of all home ballads. In a recent proclamation Governor Warren T. McCray told of the plans to honor Paul Dresser. The remains of the writer are to be removed to a lovely spot on the banks of the Wabash at Terre Haute, a spot where Dresser played as a boy. Sons and daughters of Indiana throughout the world are contributing to the fund which will be used to erect the memorial. "There is no song which so touches the heart of the man or woman who has wandered from the old home, as 'On the Banks of the Wabash,' " Commodore Blackton said at the Vitagraph studios. "I have chosen it because it has the universal, world-wide appeal; there is no other thing in man's life which he retains so steadfastly and which is so enduring as his love of home. "Indiana is a state of homes. Sturdy people settled that great state, people who lived wholesome lives, who lived close to the soil. The pioneers who hewed their way through the virgin forests of the Wabash valley, and who cleared timberland that they might grow food products, have left a posterity that probably is nearer to real America than any other community in our great United States. Indiana folk are typical of all America; it is America. " 'On the Banks of the Wabash' is the sort of picture I like to make. Always I have liked to feel that I have given to the screen a bit of real life, that my pictures record life honestly. The people in this special are real people, human, kindly, subject to the same foibles as all other people, sometimes selfish, sometimes cruel without undertanding that they are cruel. "I expect to begin shooting at an early date. 'On the Banks of the Wabash' will be the first of the Blackton Productions since my return to America and to Vitagraph. Like other Vitagraph -pedals it will have exceptional exploitation values. Exhibitors will be aided and assisted in many novel ways to put over the picture." To Play Opposite Norma Talmadge Norma Talmadge will have as her leading man in "Dust of Desire," a forthcoming First National picture presented by Joseph M. Schenck, Joseph Schildkraut, one of the sensations of the dramatic world who will play his most important screen role to date. Paramount Starts on "Light That Failed" "To the Last Man" Is Completed "To the Last Man," the Zane Grey production for Paramount which has been claiming Director Victor Fleming's attention for nearly two months, has been completed and is now in the process of being edited and titled. Work was commenced at the Lasky studio July 2 on George Melford's Paramount production of Rudyard Kipling's "The Light that Failed," with Jacqueline Logan, Percy Marmont, Sigrid Holmquist, David Torrence, Luke Cosgrave and Mabel Van Buren in the leading roles. Jacqueline Logan, whose name heads the strong cast chosen, is rapidly becoming one of the best known heroines of the screen. "The Light That Failed" will be one of the most ambitious pictures yet produced by George Melford. It will show the terrible hardships of the Souden campaign which avenged the death of General Gordon at Khartoum. The dissolute life of Port Said and the brilliant capital of the British Empire, London, will be shown in marked contrast. Among the big scenes will be a surprise attack by desert tribesmen on the British camp. Several thousand minor players will participate. The love interest between two of the strangest sweethearts in literature will have as a background a passage in Nineteenth Century history which is rilled with color and drama. Vitagraph Planning Big Campaign Vitagraph is planning a complete exploitation campaign tor "The Midnight Alarm," the special David Smith production which is completed and is now being made ready for shipment to the branches. George Hill to Direct Jack Pickford Jack Pickford, who will begin his next picture, as yet untitled, within ten days, announces that he has signed George Hill to direct it. It will be an Allied Producers release. 3 Weeks on Broadway for "Merry Go Round" "Merry Go Round," the Super Jewel now in its second week at the Rivoli Theatre. New York City, has proven to be such a big box office attraction that it has been booked for a third week on Broadway. It will be shown during the coming week in the Rialto Theatre. Universal officials assert that the showing the picture has made during its first two weeks indicates that it could have an indefinite Broadway run if an available theatre could be had for it. The picture received unusually favorable press notices from the reviewers of the New York dailies. Mary Philbin is the new star. brought out by Carl Laemmle. "Merry Go Round" almost broke all records at the Rivoli. it is learned. Hot weather prevented its doing sp, it is stated. On the basis of its record in the Rivoli, Universal now claims that it will break all Universal box office records throughout the country, topping such popular successes as "The Storm," "The Flirt" and similar record breaking screen hits. Books First Eleven The first group of eleven productions to be released by Goldwyn Cosmopolitan Distributing Corporation will be shown at the Dixie Theatre, Galveston, Tex., one of the most important first run theatres in Texas. The arrangements were made by L. B. Remy, district manager in that territory. In "Temple of Venus" Mary Philbin, who has made hits in several important film productions and won new laurels by her acting in the feature picture at the Rivoli Theatre, New York, last week, has been engaged by William Fox to play the role of "Mona" in "The Temple of Venus." Neilan Soon to Start Work on Goldwyn Film Two New Selections Two new players in the cast of Metro's "The Eagle's Feather" are Rosemary Theby and Crawford Kent, who will assume the roles which were to have been enacted by Barbara La Marr and Adolph Menjou. "The Eagle's Feather" is being directed by Edward Slomab. Marshall Neilan, who has been in New York for a few weeks, is preparing to return within a short time to the Goldwyn studios in Culver City, Cal., to begin work on a new production. Neilan came East after finishing photography on "The Rendezvous" for a brief vacation and on personal business. He is now ready to begin work on his fourth picture for Goldwyn, a new screen version of Thomas Hardy's novel, "Tess of the D'LTrbervilles,'' in which his wife, Blanche Sweet, will play the leading role. While in New York, Xeilan completed most of his editorial work on "The Rendezvous" and consulted with the Goldwyn home office on the release of his previous Goldwyn production, "The Eternal Three," made from his own scenario. "Oliver Twist" Sold "Oliver Twist," First National's production of the famous Dickens story with Jackie Coogan in the stellar role, has been sold for the territory of Spain, Spanish Morocco, Canary Islands, Portugal, Islands of Azores and Maderia and Portuguese West Africa to Leon Gaumont of Barcelona.