The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

100 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 12, 1924 Paramount Picture Will Be Done Completely in Colors THE first full length Paramount picture to be done completely in color has been announced by Jesse L. Lasky, first vice-president in charge of production of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. It is Zane Grey's story, "Wanderer of the Wasteland," and it will be produced in its original locale, the deserts of Arizona, by Irvin Willat. Jack Holt as the featured player will head a strong cast which Mr. Willat is now assembling at the Lasky studio in Hollywood, and production will start next month, shortly after the reopening of the studio. " 'The Wanderer of the Wasteland'," said Mr. Lasky, "is Zane Grey's favorite story and is the most popular of all the books which he has given to the American public. Because the scenes are laid in the desert, Mr. Grey stipulated in his contract that the picture should be done in colors, as that was the only way to get the full value of the story's remarkable setting. "In this picture we shall use the Technicolor process — the same process which has proved such a sensational success in the Biblical part of Cecil B. DeMille's 'The Ten Commandments.' To achieve the results we expect, we are going to considerable expense and trouble, so that the coloring of the picture will be as nearly perfect as possible. A special camera staff organized by the Technicolor Company will be sent from Boston. This staff will take with it into the desert all of the intricate paraphernalia necessary to the photographing of color pictures, and as practically all of the picture will be photographed in the desert, the company will spend several weeks in camp. "Not only because of the color photography but also because of the dramatic story which Zane Grey has written, we expect 'The Wanderer of the Wasteland' to be one of the outstanding pictures of the year." Play Prominent Roles Bushman and Carmel Myers in Goldwyn's Production of "Ben Hur" Francis X. Bushman will play the role of Mcssala in Goldwyn's picturization of "Ben Hur," and Carmel Myers will act the part of Iras. These additional players were announced at the Goldwyn studios in Culver City., Cal., this week, following the original statement that George Walsh had been cast as Ben Hur, Gertrude Olmsted as Esther and Kathleen Key as Tirzah. The selection of Bushman is of especial interest, due to the fact that he has never before acted other than the leading male role in any motion picture in which he has appeared, nor has he ever before acted the villain. Carmel Myers, recently seen in Goldwyn's "Slave of Desire" and in Rupert Hughes' "Reno," was selected to play the part of Iras after a search had been conducted over two continents. Kunsky in New York John Kunsky of Detroit has arrived in New York as a member of the rotating committee of Associated First National Pictures, Inc. This is Mr. Kunsky's first visit to New York in this capacity. He will remain two weeks. Lila Lee and Her Husband, James Kirkwood, During His Convalescence After a Serious Accident, Make Plans for the Production of Their First Picture Together to be Directed by Bruce Mitchell and Released by Hodkin Lloyd Picks Sills Frank Lloyd Selects Milton Sills to Star in "The Sea Hawk" Milton Sills has been selected by Frank Lloyd to play the leading role in Rafael Sabatini's "The Sea Hawk," which is to be produced as one of the biggest and most elaborate First National release of 1924. Lloyd started work on "The Sea Hawk" immediately upon the completion of his "Black Oxen." Lloyd expects to take several months in the actual filming of the story. "The Sea Hawk" is Sabatini's second full length novel to be published in this country. This production will be Lloyd's second independent effort for First National. His first was "Black Oxen." 'Rosita" Breaks Records Mary Pickford Film Drawing Big Los Angeles' Crowds Mary Pickford's newest photoplay, "Rosita," has broken all records in the history of Grauman's Million Dollar Theatre, Los Angeles, at which house this United Artists Corporation release has been displayed for six weeks, and is still drawing capacity business. Never before has any motion picture had so long a run at this theatre. It is stated that "Rosita" could run for an indefinite period at the Million Dollar were it not for the fact that Sid Grauman must make room in the next two or three weeks for other attractions already contracted for. Willard Louis, Harry Meyers, Claude Gillingwater and Boyce Combe Have a New Way of Putting Their Orphans to Sleep in "Daddies," a Warner Brothers Classic of the Screen Visugraphic Head Dies Tarkington Baker, a cousin of Booth Tarkington, author, and president of the Yisugraphic Picture Corporation, succumbed to heart disease on January 2 at his home in New York City. He was a newspaperman up to 1917 when he became general manager of the Indianapolis office of the Universal Film Corporation. In 1920 in a similar capacity he went to India for that corporation.