The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

186 MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 8, 1923 "Richard, the Lion Hearted" Ready for Release by Allied Producers From a story familiar to millions of book lovers the world over, "Richard, the Lion-Hearted," a magnificent pictorial romance based on Sir Walter Scott's celebrated novel, "The Talisman," has been filmed by Associated Authors with a wealth of lavish settings and historical interest, and is now announced for immediate release by Allied Producers and Distributors Corporation. "Richard, the Lion-Hearted" inaugurates something new in the motion picture industry. While it forms in itself a complete and finished narrative, at the same time this big feature supplies a gap in the story of "Robin Hood" as produced by Douglas Fairbanks. Combined with the Douglas Fairbanks feature this picture presents a pictorially comprehensive record of that historical period between the time King Richard left England on the Third Crusade until his return, and the story of the "lion-hearted" monarch's adventures in Palestine has been pictured with the fine sweep of an epic and the warm appeai of romance and exceptionally strong heart interest. As the initial offering of Associated Authors, "Richard, the Lion-Kearted" represents the best efforts of three nationally known photoplay authors and directors, — Frank Woods, Thompson Buchanan and Elmer Harris. It was produced under the personal supervision of Frank Woods, with the other two experienced motion picture men in close advisory cooperation. "Richard, the Lion-Hearted" was produced on a scale that makes it truly a "spectacle." Massive sets were constructed as the background for the stirring tale that has been a world favorite for many decades. Gorgeous costumes, weapons, and scores of properties typical of the period of the Third Crusade were obtained with great effort and after weeks of painstaking research. Hundreds of riders, archers and swordsmen were rigidly trained so that they might portray accurately the thrilling conflicts and battle scenes between the ' Crusader King's armies and the hordes of wily Saracens from whom King Richard sought to wrest the Holy Land and the Holy Sepulchre. Special care was exercised in the selection of a cast and Associated Authors, in choosingf the star were of one opinion — that the role of King Richard should be played by none other than Wallace Beery, whose convincing characterization in "Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood" won him such a tremendous fan following. Kathleen Clifford was cast for the role of Queen Berengaria, and Marguerite de la Motte, who has won an enviable niche for herself in costume parts, was engaged to play Lady Edith Plantagenet. John Bowers, whose popularity extends wherever movies are known, is seen as Sir Kenneth, Knight of the Leopard, whose courageous struggle against overwhelming odds from beginning to end form one of the most interesting and thrilling angles of the story. Charles Gerrard. as the Sultan Saladin, ruler of the Saracens, Tully Marshal, Clarence Geldert, George Seigman and Wilbur Higby complete the remarkable cast. Without regard to expense two continents were searched for the beautifully imposing properties that embellish the many impressive scenes. Turkish rugs are almost priceless, Palestine potteries, specially constructed furniture of ebony and mother-of-pearl, chests reproduced from originals in the British Museum, jewelled mirrors and combs, and antiques of almost every description were obtained. For some of the stupendous fight scenes a reproduction of the historical city of Joppa wa-i erected. Merchandise and Barry Series to Be Advertised Together Title Changed Goldwyn Pictures Corporation announces that it has changed the title of Victor Seastrom's first picture, the screen version of Sir Hall Caine's latest novel, from "The Master of Man" to "The Judge and the Woman." The change was decided upon because of the fact that several pictures have recently been released which bore titles similar to "The Master of Man" — so similar that confusion was sure to result in the minds of exhibitors and picture patrons alike. John Barrymore to Appear in Another Reports from the West Coast indicate that Warner Brothers are making preparations for the filming of the screen adaptation of the Clyde Fitch play, "Beau Brummel." in which John Barrymore will be starred. From a list of some two hundred names, Mary Astor was the lucky young woman chosen to play the opposite role. Irene Rich has also been cast. The filming has been scheduled to commence in September. Dorpthy Farnum has completed the scenario and Jack and Harry Warner are making preparations for the settings. John Barrymore is now in Europe, but is expected to leave shortly tor America. A new angle of co-operative mercantile advertising recently developed by the Warner Brothers through the special efforts of Lon Young, will be an exploitation medium for all exhibitors who have contracted for "The Printer's Devil," "George Washington, Jr.," and others of the series of Warner Classics of the Screen. Each manufacturer who has entered the tie-up is furnished with play dates in the different towns where his dealers are located. On the Wesley Barry series of Warner productions, the exhibitor has more than 100,000 window displays waiting for him to help ex ploit his picture. These tie-ups call for appropriate photographs, life-sized cut-outs of the star and interesting lay-outs of Wesley Barry using or applying one of the selected kinds of merchandise arranged for. The Harlowe & Luther Drug Co., on the corner of Broadway and 46th Street, New York, is at the present time using such a display, tied-up with the Ingersoll Rcdipoint Pencil Co. This tie-up with the Ingersoll Redipoint Pencil Company calls for window displays with 22,000 dealers handling the Ingersoll merchandise, and in all displays Wesley Barry is shown, either in "Covered Wagon" Goes Big at First Showing Outside U. S. Ora-ge, Australia, a country town with a population of 7,000, has won the race for the honor of being the first city outside the United States to present "The Covered Wagon" to the general motion picture public. Cables received from Managing Director John W. Hicks, Jr., of the Famous-Lasky Film Service, Ltd., by the foreign department of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, report the Australian premiere of the great American picture as one of the greatest triumphs ever scored by the screen. Hundreds were turned away from the first performance, which attracted attention throughout all Australia. The picture will open at Melbourne on September 8 for an indefinite run and premieres for Sydney and other Australian cities will be announced shortly. a life-sized figure or else in a special lay-out display. The Ingersoll Company has also appropriated the sum of $100,000 to carry on this tie-up in advertisements in important publications. Many other tie-ups have been arranged. Among them are the Van Houton Cocoa Co., Ben Weiner Clothing Co., Walter Janvier Drug Co., U. S. Rubber Company, tying up with Keds ; Pittsburgh Water Heater Co., F. A. D. A. Radio Sets, Hohner Harmonicas, and the Westinghouse Electric Company. To further the importance, each manufacturer has arranged to do his share in the tie-ups by using many columns of advertising space in newspapers and in his own advertising mediums. Cosmopolitan Signs Nat Pendleton Nat Pendleton, well-known professional wrestler, has returned to the silent drama. The Cosmopolitan Film Company has signed Pendleton in connection with "Yolanda," starring Marion Davies. Since winning the world's wrestling championship at the Olympic Games in 1920, Pendleton has been wrestling professionally. Heat and Rain "Meat" for Baltimore Houses Despite excessively hot weather reports from Baltimore would indicate that "Enemies of Women" and "The Spoilers," two Goldwyn Cosmopolitan specials, played to big houses this week in Maryland's capital. The New Theatre and the Century Theatre, with comfortable seating capacities, came through all kinds of intolerable weather with the report that they were unable to accommodate many patrons. Fire Super Shown at Rialto "The Midnight Alarm" produced by David Smith, and one of the twenty-six specials scheduled for release by Vitagraph during the season of 1923-24. played for one week at the Rialto Theatre, New York City. The cast is headed by Percy Marmont, Alice Calhoun, Cullen Landis, Joseph Kilgour, J. Gunnis Davis, and Maxinne Elliott Hicks. Conklin to Be in "Anna Christie" Chester Conklin, comedian, haj been signed by Thomas H. Ince for an unusually interesting bit in Ince's screen adaption of "Anna Christie." The role, while it offers comedy relief from some of the tensest emotional scenes of the drama, nevertheless required some fine dramatic touches. "Anna Christie" will be released by First National this fall. "1