The Moving picture world (November 1923-December 1923)

244 MOVING PICTURE WORLQ November 10, 1923 Morris and Lesser Enthusiastic After Visit to Warner Studios Upon their return to New York, following their visit to the Warner Brothers' West Coast Studio, Sam Morris, of the Warner organization and Myer Lesser, advertising director, manifested the greatest amount of enthusiasm for the future in all matters where Warner product is concerned. During the visit of the Warner officials, conferences were held with H. M. Warner concerning important matters for future consumption, such as distribution, future product, advertising schemes and general discussions concerning the productions that are now facing the cameras, or are about to go into production. "I do not believe I have ever been filled with such great enthusiasm as I am now after this visit to the studio," declared Sam Morris upon his return. "Never before have conditions been so clearly brought home to me and never before has the realization come that we are building such a splendid foundation for the future. "In the first place, the beautiful Warner Studio impressed me as a colossal monument — a monument dedicated to the accomplishments of the present and future of an organization that has sprung to the foremost ranks in an unusually short time. Then to step inside and see the marked efficiency, the different facilities that have been established to aid production, the set upon which the master hand of Ernst Lubitsch is guiding a big production and the set that John Barrymore can be found on from 8 o'clock in the morning until 12 o'clock at night, putting every ounce of his energy in making 'Beau Brummel,' a picture that will live forever — naturally, it all creates the greatest amount of enthusiasm. "Perhaps my most impressive moments were spent on the 'Beau Brummel' set with John Barrymore, and on 'The Marriage Circle' set with Ernst Lubitsch. Barrymore is throwing everything aside to make 'Beau Brummel,' under the direction of Harry Beaumont, his greatest picture. The same can be said of Lubitsch, who works like a human dynamo with his players. Monte Blue, Florence Vidor, Marie Prevost, Harry Myers, Creigh'ton Hale and Adolphe Menjou are all contributing remarkable characterizations. "Exhibitors can also look forward to a fine picture in the Sidney Franklin production, 'Tiger Rose,' starring Lenore Ulric. And the Harry Rapf production, 'Lucretia Lombard,' starring Monte Blue and Irene Rich, promises much. I witnessed previews of both of these Warner Classics in Hollywood and can say that they are two of the very finest productions I have ever seen. 'Daddies,' the screen version of David Belasco's famous play of the same name, also will be an outstanding screen contribution. Under the direction of William Seiter, Mae Marsh and Harry Myers are working like clockwork together and the different flashes I saw of them at the studio made me extremely enthusiastic, and eager to see the finished product." Ingram Has Arrived In Egypt Rex • Ingram, whose "Scaramouche" is making Broadway talk these days through its sensational popularity at the Forty-fourth Street Theatre, New York, arrived safely in Cairo, Egypt, according to a cablegram received at the Metro offices last week. Mr. Ingram's journey to Cairo was by way of England, from which point he turned into Ireland, where he visited his father, and then through Paris, where he spent several days gathering equipment. With Mr. Ingram are Alice Terry, his wife, who plays the leading feminine role in "Scaramouche"; Marian Burton, noted scenario writer, and Curt Rehfeld, Mr. Ingram's production manager. Several noted European experts are to join Mr. Ingram in Cairo, where the entire party will make special researches for Mr. Ingram's next several productions for Metro. He and his party will return here around the first of the new year. 64 Fashion Row'" in Several new players, not announced hitherto, were added to the cast of Mae Murray's latest Metro starring picture, "Fashion Row," while it was in the course of production. The entire cast appearing in support of Miss Murray now consists of Elmo Lincoln, Earle Fox, Freeman Wood, Mathilde Brundage, Sidney Franklin, Madame Rosonova and Craig Biddle. "Fashion Row," which Miss Murray completed last week, is now in the cutting rooms where it is being edited for an early eastern premiere. This new production follows close upon the heels of "The French Vitagraph Prints Arrive T— To f» r\ O /~vP 1 -rf-/-v-**0 Vitagraph laboratories are print rXd-llLlb Ol H/U1C(JI0 ing The Man from Brodneys, _picturization of George Doll," which now is one of the big current Metro successes. Another production, the third Mae Murray picture of the Metro 1923-1924 program, is "Mademoiselle Midnight," which probably will go into production within the next several weeks now that Miss Murray has completed "Fashion Row." "Fashion Row" is scheduled for December release. It was written for Miss Murray by Sada Cowan and Howard Higgin. It is a Robert Z. Leonard presentation through Metro and is sponsored by Tiffany Productions, of which Mr. Leonard is director-general and M. H. Hoffman general manager. the picturization of George Barr McCutcheon's famous romance, produced by David Smith and shipments are being made to the branches. With Mr. Kerrigan in the cast are Alice Calhoun, Wanda Hawley, Miss DuPont, Pat O'Malley and Kathleen Key. Smith Completes Cast David Smith, who is directing "A Tale of Red Roses," the picturization of George Randolph Chester's novel of American city life, has completed the cast. It had already been announced that Dustin Farnum and Patsy Ruth Miller had been engaged for the leading roles. Others in the cast are Niles Welch, William Norris, Edith Yorke, Sidney De Grey, Violet Palmer, George Webb, Margaret Landis, Miles McCarthy, Milton Ross and Charles Meakan. uWhy Worry" Fills Each Inch of Standing Room Schulberg Busy Again in West B. P. Schulberg, producer of Preferred Pictures, left New York last Sunday for Los Angeles after several weeks in New York discussing distribution and producing plans for Preferred Pictures Corp. As soon as Mr. Schulberg reaches his studios in Los Angeles, he will start work on "Poisoned Paradise," the Robert W. Service novel to be produced by Gasnier. This production, the story of which is laid in Monte Carlo, will be one of the most pretentious of the Preferred Fifteen. The screen adaptation has been written by Waldemar Young. Casting is now under way. One of the principal roles will be given to Clara Bow, who has recently completed work in "Maytime" and "Black Oxen." As soon as "Poisoned Paradise" is under way, work will begin on "The Triflers" and "White Man." "The Triflers," adapted from *he novel by Frederick Orin Bartlett, will be a richly mounted production with its locale in Paris and the Riviera. "White Man" is a thrilling adventure story laid in the jungles of Africa. Reports reaching the Pathe Home Office from various sections of the country continue to relate how "Why Worry," Harold Lloyd's latest release for Pathe, is gathering them in at leading motion picture theatres. Following the opening of "Why Worry" at the Adams Theatre in Detroit, John Kunsky wired the Pathe Home Office as follows : "Delighted to say that 'Why Worry* attendance on the opening day of engagement greatly exceeded the I am hoping for record business." Another showman who hails "Why Worry" as a "veritable sensation," is Sam Harding, of Kansas City. After the opening of Lloyd's feature comedy at the Liberty Theatre in that city, Sam Harding wired the following dispatch: "'Why W orry' at the Liberty Theatre has proved a veritable sensation. Opened to the biggest receipts ever taken in at this theatre in any one day. Look for all records to be broken this opening attendance for 'Safety Last.' week." Vitagraph to Film Sabatini's Latest Off At the Flash People stood for over an hour waiting to secure standing room in the Cameo Theatre last Sunday night when "The Drivin' Fool," a Hodkinson picture, began its New York premiere. Not only the public but the critics agreed that it is one of the speediest pictures of the season. World rights to "Captain Blood," the latest novel by Rafael Sabatini, now being presented on the screen and on the legitimate stage on Broadway have been purchased for production by Vitagraph. The purchase of "Captain Blood" was among the European missions planned by Albert E. Smith, president of Vitagraph, who arrived in London last week. The transfer of the rights to the story was completed through the New York agents of Sabatini, Messrs. Brandt & Kirkpatrick. The announcement of the purchase was made on a cabled permission of Mr. Smith. The price paid for "Captain Blood," it is reported, exceeds that of any novel or play purchased for the screen in the last year.