The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

294 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 26, 1924 Sixteenth Century Frigates Again Sail Pacific Waters ON December 27, 1923, just 310 years since the day when Balboa, from the deck of his sixteenth century frigate, first looked at the Pacific Ocean, four sailing vessels of the same design, with their poop decks, grotesque figureheads, gaudily colored sails and pudgy cannon protruding through the wooden hull, set sail again on the Pacific from San Pedro, Cal. They constituted, possibly, the most unusual movie naval fleet that has ever gone to sea. When Frank Lloyd decided to produce Rafael Sabatini's "The Sea Hawk" as his seco'nd independent production for First National release he undertook one of the most difficult tasks which ever confronted a producer. The building of an entire fleet of sixteenth century sailing vessels appears to be the most unusual "set" of a wonder age of gigantic picture sets. A studio set is for appearance only ; it need not have enduring strength of stability; but the "Sea Hawk" fleet had to be prepared to battle the Pacific for a month. Other sea stories have been produced, but the producer satisfied his needs by purchasing or renting schooners or steam vessels, moving aboard and immediately going to sea. But there was no fleet in the world which resembled the awkward frigates, galleons and Moorish galleas which the "Sea Hawk" demanded. It therefore was necessary for Lloyd to construct the entire fleet, which consists of four major vessels of sixteenth century design, perfect in every detail, seaworthy that they might withstand the most severe storm, and so constructed as to live through the shock of several sea battles, carrying from 150 to 350 men each and fifty cannon. The construction of these vessels within a period of four months has been an achievement of singular distinction. At San Pedro the Lloyd company took possession of the Blin Shipbuilding Corporation, and, with the cooperation of the Bethlehem shipbuilding drydocks, made what seemed like a "pipe dream" come true. The four ships range in length from 192 feet to 135 feet. The poop deck of "The Silver Heron" is 52 feet above the keel, or 40 feet above the water line. Each ship is equipped with sails and, invisibly, for emergency only, with gasoline engines and propellers. Three of the ships will be rowed by oarsmen, from four to six to an oar, the oars varying in length from 24 to 32 feet. All of the fighting scenes for "The Sea I lawk" will be filmed on these ships on the high seas. There will be no studio ship sets. It is expected that the ships will be at sea for three weeks more, making a total of six weeks consumed in the actual filming of the sea scenes. To accommodate the sailors, galley slaves, lighting men, principals and technical workers required for the picturization of the sea battles Mr. Lloyd has established a camp near an Algerian village built on the Isthmus, on the west coast of Santa Catalina Island. Mentioned Again Canadians Cite "Scaramouche" and "Three Ages" as "Best Pictures" Prominent film reviewers on newspapers in Toronto and Montreal have been engaged in picking the high spots among picture attractions which have played the Canadian cities during the past year. Among the list of "best pictures" are two Metro productions, Rex Ingram's 'Scaramouche" and Buster Keaton's first Metro feature length comedy, "Three Ages." "Scaramouche" was the first choice — as the best of all pictures — of both Fred Jacobs, dramatic reviewer of the Mail and Empire, Toronto, and S. Morgan-Powell of the Montreal Daily Star, both of whom are recognized as authorities on things theatrical. As for "Three Ages" Mr. Jacobs said that this was "the best of movie farces." In the lists of "best pictures" that have been published by reviewers in this country for the past year, "Scaramouche" has been accorded the same high place. It is unanimously chosen as one of the truly great pictures. New "Secret of Life" Louis H. Tolhurst, producing "Secrets of Life" for Principal Pictures Corp., which Educational is distributing, has finished his fourth microscopic subject, "The Butterfly." He claims he has secured for the time motion pictures actually showing the wonderful transformation of a caterpillar into the chrysalis stage of a butterfly throwing light on many interesting facts of this phenomenon. MAJOR H. C. S. THOMSON, Managing Director of F. B. O., Recognized as a Resourceful, Ambitious Executive Gary's Selling Stunts Hodkinson Man in Indiana Puts Over "Drivin' Fool" R. C. Gary, Hodkinson exploitation man, put over an extensive exploitation campaign for "The Drivin' Fool" when it was recently shown at the Orpheum Theatre at Fort W ayne, Indiana. He persuaded Mayor Hosey to start a campaign against fast driving to which all the newspapers devoted much space. The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette carried a full page headline and a half column editorial on the subject. Mr. Gary secured a special permit from the Mayor and Chief of Police to tie warning signs on the city's electric arc posts. Two thousand cards admonishing the public against being a "Drivin' Fool" were posted five days before the opening of the picture. This was the first time that a permit was granted against the city ordinance forbidding the use of the posts for commercial purposes. Another "flash" of the campaign was a tie-up with a taxicab company. Three hundred cabs carried stickers on their windshields stating "This car is driven by a safe and sane driver and not by "The Drivin' Fool." Three hundred wheel tags were tied to the wheels of parked automobiles. This ant made many motorists believe that they were "pinched" for parking. PARALLEL THE EXPLOITS OF THE BARBARY CORSAIRS Frank Lloyd's First National Picture, "The Sea Hawk," Portrays the Old Adventurous Days. Lloyd is on the Enid Bennett, Featured Players, are the Two Characters Shown Here. The Vessels are Reproductions Right. Milton Sills of Old-Time Galleoni and