The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

162 MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 8, 1923 Firmly Entrenched, Their Future Is Rosy (Continued from page 160) present time, and that is the high cost of accessories, which does not allow him to compete with the national distributor in this respect. The producer or his agent should be satisfied with the royalty he is receiving for distribution rights only, without looking for the small petty rake-off he may make on a set of photos or a slide. Aside from this little grievance, everything is lovely, and if the independent producer will continue along the lines on which he has been working for the past year, the independent exchangeman who is looking for really worth-while pictures need not worry as to what the future holds for him. By Arthur A. Lee Lee-Bradford Corporation THERE is an old saying, "If you want anything done right, do it yourself." This is undoubtedly the reason why the independent ex changes have progressed so rapidly in such a short space cf time. There is no doubt that the national exchanges have many advantages which the independents do not enjoy. For instance, they are in a position to buy for the entire United States ; they have their pictures distributed at every point; they can advertise nationally and can purchase their accessories in larger quantities. The one point most important, however, is the managing of their exchange. The independents are so far ahead of them in that particular that it overcomes the other handicaps, and will eventually eliminate the national distributors entirely. For the independent exchange, in the majority of cases, is run by the man who owns the business, who has his own capital invested and whose only thought is to make a success of his exchange. Whereas, the national distributor has to depend on a salaried man and this man is all the time wondering how he is going to hold his position, for it has been quite a common occurrence in the film industry for managers to be changed without a moment's notice and lor apparently no reason. There is one thing to which the independent man needs to give careful consideration, and that is the opening of a branch business. We are all more or less ambitious and would like to branch out, but during the writer's thirteen years' experience, eight years of which were spent as General Sales Manager for the Gaumont Co., which meant almost continuous travelling throughout the United States and calling upon independent exchanges, he obserbed that in the majority of instances, where the independent man opened a branch office, the branch business cost more to run than he could make in his own office. This was more or less due to the fact that he had to depend upon a salaried man to run the branch office. There is no doubt in the writer's mind but that the independent exchanges will dominate the film industry within the very near future. Truart Outlines Production Activities for Next Year Truart Film Corporation will be represented in the independent producing field with eighteen eminent photoplays during the season 1923-24. At least five producing units during the entire year, of which three will be star units, namely Elaine Hammerstein, Larry Semon and Richard Talmadge, a fourth the Carlos Productions units, making all-star attractions similar to "The Unknown Purple" and the fifty unit to be announced as soon as the negotiations now in progress are completed. The first Elaine Hammerstein production "Broadway Gold,'' directed by Edward Dillon from W. Carey Wonderly's story in Young's magazine, will be released generally on September 1. This will be followed by an adaptation of Harold M acGrath's well-known novel "The Drums of Jeopardy," now being directed bv Edward Dillon. This second production will be released in November, 1923. It will be followed by a novel being adapted under the tentative title "Good Women and Bad," for release in February 1924. The fourth and fifth Elaine Hammerstein productions to be selected from three well-known novels now under consideration will be released in May, 1924, respectively. The first Larry Semon feature comedy will be released in December, 1923. It will be an adaptation of the famous stage success "The Girl in the Limousine." To follow this in March, 1924, will be "The Wizard of Oz," the story famous in every quarter of the globe which has appeared in book form and as an outstanding play for many years. This will be elaborately produced by the Semon unit. Jn September and November 1924 will be released "Let's Go !" an unusual comedy novel and "Yankee Doodle Dandy" an uproarious farce of exceptional nature. Larry Semon is under long term contract with Truart and other well known stage successes are under consideration for subsequent release and it is possible that the last two of his first season's work will be replaced by other plays of national prominence. The first Richard Talmadge production, produced by Carlos Productions, under the working title "Fast Freight" will be released about October 1st to be followed in January, March and May 1924 by further productions of this scries. These will all be adaptions of published stories designed to fit the needs of this unique star. Following "The Unknown Purple" which was directed .for Carlos Productions by Roland West from his own famous New York stage success, the Carlos Unit will offer two additional allstar attractions during the 1923-24 season for which three best-sellers and two successful stage plays are now under consideration. In addition one other unit with which M. H. Hoffman, vice president and general manager of Truart Fil incorporation is now negotiating will make three super pictures for Truart release during the 1923-24 season. Hepworth Announces Eight Pictures For the past year. Hepworth has been working quietly and steadily, saying little or nothing about its production plans, so its announcement of its eight productions to be released this season is one of interest. Eight special productions will be the Hepworth offering to exhibitors for 1923-1924. The first is, "The Pipes of Pan," from an original story by George Dewhurst. In the cast of this picture are Alma Taylor, G. H. Mulcaster, Eileen Dennes. John MacAndrews. Buena Bent, Hugh Clifton, Lawrence Hanray and Leslie Attwood, and it has been personally produced by Cecil M. Hepworth. Following this, is the long anticipated production, "Lily of the Alley," directed by Henry Edwards. Edwards also plays the leading role and is supported by Chrissie White. "Mist in the Valley" is the third of these productions, and has been produced by Hepworth with an exceptionally strong cast, which includes Alma Taylor, G. H. Mulcaster. John MacAndrews, Esme Hubbard, Charles Vane, Maud Cressall. Gwynne Herbert, Fred Rains. Lionel d'Aragon, Bertram Terry. James Carew and Douglas Munro. The fourth production, "Strangling Threads," is from the powerful play, "Cobwebs," which was written by Leon M. Lion and Naunton Davies. Alma Taylor will play the part of Irma Brian and James Carew, Campbell Gullen, Mary Dibley will be seen in the remaining important roles. "Tit for Tat." a comedy-drama written especially for Henry Edwards and Chrissie White, is the fifth production. "Comin" Thro' the Rye." Helen Mather's sweet love story, will be Hepworth's sixth release. This production is now in its seventh month of work and Alma Taylor will be seen in a type of role that will add considerably to her prestige. It is predicted that "Comin' Thro' the Rye" will prove to be one of the best box office pictures of the year as well as one of the best screen offerings of the season. "Boden's Boy" will be the seventh production and will feature Henry Edwards and Chrissie White. This is a picturization of Tom Gallon's famous story. Hepworth will announce shortly the cast which has been selected to play in "A Daughter in Revolt," which will be the eighth and last production for this season. Aronson Closes Big Deal for Truart While on his tour through the East and Middle West, Alexander S. Aronson, general sales manager for Truart Film Corporation, stopped at Pittsburg and negotiated the Truart franchise with Harry Lande, of the Lande Film Company. The territory covered by the franchise is Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia and includes the following productions already completed as well as those forthcoming under the Truart banners, "Women Men Marry," "The Empty Cradle," with the Elaine Hammerstein productions, commencing with "Broadway Gold" and "The Drums of Jeopardy,'' by Harold MacGrath. Mr. Aronson also closed for the territory of Ohio and Kentucky with Mr. Lande and the Lande Film Distributing Company, which has offices in Cleveland and Cincinnati. The same productions are covered by this latter franchise as under that with the Lande Film Company of Pittsburg. Sell N. Y. Rights on "Barefoot Boy" Immediately following announcement that the C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation had been selected to distribute on the State Rights market "The Barefoot Boy" and other product of the Mission Film Corporation, Greater N'ew York and Northern Xew Jersey rights to the big all-star feature were disposed of. Contacts have been completed with Sam Zierler. whereby the Commonwealth Film Corporation, of which he is president, will handle the feature in the territory referred to. New Sunshine "Dance or Die" is the title of the recently completed Sunshine comedy which Fox Film Corporation has scheduled for release in November1. The two-reel laugh-getter is a travesty on the dance craze and its marathon issues.