The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

January 26, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 289 The White Sister" Triumphs at Showing in Philadelphia THE WHITE SISTER," which Metro is soon to release nationally, opened its special engagement in Philadelphia recently at the Chestnut Street Opera House. • The critical comment was a unanimous expression of praise and admiration for the picture. This is what the critics of the Quaker City said: "In 'The White Sister' Lillian Gish gives one of the finest performances of her career. It is a vital story which tugs at the heart, carries with it many sobs and appeals to a kindred sense of sympathy. The choice of Henry King as director is fully justified." Thus the critic of the Evening Ledger. " 'The White Sister' could be divided into a dozen pieces, till all vestige of the plot was lost and yet remain a beautiful series of pictures," said the critic of the Bulletin. And the critic of the Public Ledger confessed that "those of us who refused to recognize the greatness of Lillian Gish before must now acclaim her as a true artist. Even without her superb performance 'The White Sister' would be an achievement. The settings are magnificent and the photography a joy. 'The White Sister' is one of the few super-spectacles that seems to us to have been worth making." The critic of the Inquirer said: "'The White Sister' is a truly notable production and one well deserving the glowing accounts which thrilled its arrival. Lillian Gish has achieved the best work of her career and an exquisiteness of artistry." "After seeing 'The White Sister,' " began the critic of the North American, "one begins to realize that Lillian Gish is almost the only one who can completely overcome the handicap of the flat black and white of the screen, and put the breath of life into a celluloid character. Miss Gish needs no master director to make her stand out. She possesses all of the lustrous quality of a gorgeous jewel in its proper setting. Her portrait is one of consistency and a beautiful sincerity with highly artistic repression." And thus the critic of the Record : "Lillian Gisli triumphed again in her characterization of 'The White Sister.' " Thrilling Buffalo Stampede in First National Western WITH the first filming of a huge buffalo stampede already completed, Thomas H. Ince has announced immediate plans to proceed with production of "The Last Frontier," a "western" of the American pioneer period which will be a First National release. Thousands of feet of action "shot" in Wainwright National Park, in the province of Alberta, Canada, where 8,000 to 10,000 buffalo were rounded up and stampeded for the Ince company, have passed the closest scrutiny in the studio projection rooms. The producer's decision to turn again to the field of "westerns," in which he first gained recognition many years ago at Inceville, hinged on his acquisition of the screen rights to Courtney Riley Cooper's latest book, "The Last Frontier." A large technical staff, including nine first camera men, three still camera men, camouflage artists, actor riders and two directors, was dispatched to Western Canada for the big roundoup. Hundreds of Cree Indians and their squaws were secured from the Hobemma reservation, through the courtesy of the government. Expert cowpunchers and riflemen were summoned from Alberta ranges and carefully rehearsed before a single scene was shot. Realizing that there might never be another opportunity to screen such a realistic revival of the days when buffalo roamed unrestricted over the American plains, the company continued shooting until 50,000 feet of film were "in the can." SCENE FROM VITAGRAPH'S MAN" "MY Roth with Preferred Henry Ginsberg, general sales manager for Preferred Pictures Corporation, announces the appointment of Max Roth to an important executive position in the sales department of Preferred. Mr. Roth will have charge of the sales division that is handling "Maytime" and "The Virginian." THE YEAR'S ACE Hunt Stromberg's "THE FIRE PATROL" AN INDEPENDENT | GREAT STORY PRODUCTION MONEY-GETTER 1 SUPER MARVEL WITH AN ALL-STAR CAST INCLUDING MADGE BELLAMY ANNA Q. NILSSON HELEN JEROME EDDY JOHNNY HARRON FRANCES ROSS JACK RICHARDSON SPOTTISWOODE AITKEN CHARLEY MURRAY RULL MONTANA GALE HENRY RILLY FRANEY CHARLES CONKLIN HANK MANN ACT IMMEDIATELY INQUIRE NOW Chadwick Pictures Corp 729 SEVENTH AVE. New York City, N. Y. Watch For Our Big Si