The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

February 16, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 549 New Stars and Ambitious Plans for Coming Universal Features Fox Wins Out of Court Finkelstein & Rubin Settle Suit Over Contracts A termination favorable to Fox Film Corporation has brought to an end a longstanding controversy between that firm and Messrs. Finkelstein & Rubin, well known Middle West exhibitors. This result is pleasing to Fox officials as "of importance as again emphasizing the validity of an exhibitor's contract for pictures and the sacredness of the contract entered into by an exhibitor for product and service from a producing or distributing company, and as establishing his responsibility for payment under the terms of such a contract." Finkelstein & Rubin entered into a contract with Fox on the behalf of certain of their Minneapolis theatres, in which the exhibitors agreed to play and to pay for certain pictures released by Fox during the season of 1921-1922. In a suit recently brought in the courts of St. Paul, Fox asserted that the theatre owners had accepted and played some of the pictures mentioned in the contract, but had not paid for them; and that they had likewise refused to accept or play or pay for a number of other pictures covered by the contract for 1921-1922 season's service. The object of the suit at law was to enforce payment for those pictures which Finkelstein & Rubin had already played and also to obtain payment for those pictures which had been offered to them and which they had failed to accept to play or to pay for. Both sides proceeded to trial. In the midst of negotiations, the lawyers representing Finkelstein & Rubin approached the attorneys representing Fox and proposed that a settlement be made out of court. Negotiations were opened and when, Fox says, Messrs. Finkelstein & Rubin agreed to pay a sum sufficiently in keeping with the amount demanded in the suit, the Fox lawyers accepted the proposed settlement out of court and the suit was withdrawn. White Sin" Completed Written by Palmer Student and Made by Palmer Photoplay Corporation "The White Sin," the second picture to be produced by the Palmer Photoplay Corporation, has been completed and is scheduled for release February 24 by the Film Booking Offices. "The White Sin" has been written directly for the screen by a Palmer instructed scenario writer, Harold Shumate, of St. Linus. William Seiter directed the production, which includes in the cast Madge Bellamy, John Bowers, Francelia Billington, Hal Cooley, James Corrigan, Billy Bevan, Norris Johnson, Ethel Wales, Otis Harlan, Myrtle Vane, Arthur Millette and James Gordon. MacLean Buys Comedy Douglas MacLean, whose second starring production for Associated Exhibitors, "The Yankee Consul," is soon to be seen on Broadway, this week purchased through Sanger & Jordan the screen rights to "Never Say Die," William H. Post's comedy farce in which William Collier kept Broadway laughing for an entire year. THE movement for the fostering of interest in university faculties concerning the needs of the motion picture art, started by Carl Laemmle, president of Universal, with a nationwide scenario scholarship contest in which two hundred and fifty educational institutions were represented, will have its concrete realization on the screen with the immediate production at Universal City of "The Throwback," the prize winner. "The Throwback," written by William Ellwell Oliver, student of the University of California, will go into production as quickly as the continuity is finished by Harvey Gates. It is the story which won first place in the contest of over several thousand manuscripts submitted by university men and women of all ages and classes. It carries a luxury-bred hero, scion of a pioneer family, through the mazes of adventure in the Orient, experiences which give the story its title by throwing him back into the mould of his forefathers. Tom Forman has been engaged to guide the filming. Forman dropped the profession of acting and took up the mantle of directorship with Thomas Meighan as his subject, two or three years ago, and his latest achievement of note is "The Virginian." Pat O'Malley will portray "The Throwback." This decision sets at rest one of the principal anxieties of the casting office at Universal City, which has been looking for the most suitable player for weeks. Simultaneously with the announcement of GOLDWYN'S first Victor Seastrom picture, "Name the Man 1", from Sir Hall Caine's novel, "The Master of Man," is winning critical praise, packing the theatres and filling the coffers of exhibitors wherever it has been screened. From all parts of the country come flattering reports concerning it — from Seattle and Portland; from Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit; from San Francisco and Los Angeles; from Atlanta, St. Louis, Dallas, Oklahoma City; and from Washington, Baltimore and New York. Tom Moore telegraphed Goldwyn that the first day of the showing at his Rialto Theatre in Washington, D. C., packed the house at every performance and gave him the biggest matinee of the season. "The Rialto," says the wire, "has never played a picture to receive such unanimous high praise from the press and the public alike." In Washington, critics said: Daily News : "Seastrom brings to Hollywood amazing vitality, with a whip that stings, with a fertility of directorial imagination that is vivid and refreshing. He brings thrills, and tears and laughter. You will get a kick out of this picture. A good movie and it will make a pot of money." The Star said : "Victor Seastrom has the prize scenario production Mr. Laemmle gave out several details of forthcoming production plans matured since his arrival from New York. He has been in contant succession of conferences with Julius Bernheini, general manager at Universal City; William Koenig, chief production aide, and stars and directors considered for future engagements. Clarence L. Brown will have in his next subject Kathleen Norris' popular novel, "Butterfly." Miss Valli will star in this production. It will be her third stellar Universal release, following "The Signal Tower." Norman Kerry will play the masculine leading role. Clifford S. Smith has been engaged to direct a new western feature, "Ridgeway of Montana," a William McLeod Raine novel, starring Jack Hoxie. The Hoxie unit recently completed "The Drifter," a novelty western feature. Edward Laemmle, after a few days' work on interiors in the studio, will return at once to Tia Juana with Billy Sullivan and the supporting players in the new short reel series, Gerald Beaumont's race track classics, "The Information Kid." Tia Juana with its quaint atmosphere is the chief locale for filming. The consistently active Hoot GibsonEdward Sedgwick unit will start immediately on "Forty-Horse Hawkins," comedy drama of a cowboy driving a New York taxicab through mysterious adventures. Sedgwick and Raymond L. Schrock wrote the story ; the same team have written other Gibson pictures that have been successes. scored a real triumph. One of the finest productions brought to the screen this season." The Herald : "One of the best offerings of the season. Some of the greatest emotional and dramatic acting which has ever reached the American screen." The Post : "The very essence of movie success. It will probably gross several million dollars at least." C^nintf "MY MAN'" Country-Wide Box Office Hit Is Seastrom 's "Name the Man "