The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

February 16, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 55 i C. B. C. Back of Exchanges in New Independent Territories Releases for February 17 "The Wolf Man" and "A Sculptor's Paradise" are Listed by Fox "The Wolf Man," a William Fox star series attraction featuring John Gilbert and "A Sculptor's Paradise," an Educational Entertainment, are the only pictures scheduled for release the week of February 17 by Fox Film Corporation. Edmund Mortimer directed Gilbert in "The Wolf Man," which is an original story by Frederick and Fanny Hatton. In this production the young Fox star plays the role of a dissolute English nobleman who is accused of killing the brother of his fiancee. Norma Shearer is Gilbert's new leading lady. The other principals in the cast included Alma Frances, George Barroud, Eugene Pallette, Max Montisole, Charles Wellesley, Edgar Norton, Thomas R. Mills, Richard Blayden, D. R. 0. Hatswell, Mary Warren and Ebba Mona. Distinctive's Next Release Will Soon Start Production on Gilbert Parker's "The Weavers" "The Weavers," Sir Gilbert Parker's famous romance, will be the next feature picture on the production schedule of Distinctive Pictures Corporation. This announcement was made by Henry M. Hobart, vice-president and production manager for Distinctive, and work will be started soon. Distinctive has owned the film rights to this celebrated Parker novel for nearly a year. Mr. Hobart said that a further announcement on the director and the cast will be made shortly. "The Weavers" will call for a cast of about eight principal players, half a dozen minor parts and quite a number of specialty bits. It is a story the principal action of which takes place in Egypt. Distinctive has just finished making "Blood and Gold," an original story by John Lynch, veteran screen writer. "Second Youth" and "The Adopted Father," previously finished, are on the schedule for release in the next two months. Renewing Acquaintances Vitagraph's "Borrowed Husbands" Brings 4 Old Friends Together The abolishment of the so-called star system and the engaging of all star casts instead is bringing together in studios many players who worked together several seasons ago, says Vitagraph. In "Borrowed Husbands," which David Smith is directing at the Hollywood studios for Vitagraph, Florence Vidor, who has the leading role, returns to the company under whose direction she first appeared in pictures. Miss Vidor first played before the camera on the old Vitagraph lot at Santa \l i mica. There are three leading men in "Borrowed Husbands" playing opposite to Miss Vidor. Earle Williams, who began his screen career with Vitagraph, returns to this company for this production in one of these important roles. Rockliffe Fellowes and Robert Gordon have the other principal male roles. {"FOLLOWING a trip throughout the 1 country to study the exchange situation, comes announcement that Joe Brandt, president of C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation, has perfected plans for, and is the force behind, the opening of Independent distributing exchanges in all the territories formerly considered "closed" to Independent distribution. This is one of the most important forward steps that has been made recently in the development of the Independents — a development which, according to Mr. Brandt's most recent observation of the field, has been so marked that the territories in question are now ripe for productive Independent distribution through local exchanges. The initial exchange was opened in Omaha about a month ago, under the name of Columbia Pictures Corporation. "Columbia" is the brand name of the special productions which C. B. C. is distributing. With Sid Baker, long associated with First National in an executive capacity, at its head, the exchange has been highly successful in distributing C. B. C. product in the Iowa and Nebraska territory. This week the opening of another such exchange in St. Louis is announced by Mr. Brandt, handling the C. B. C. product in the Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois territory. IF WINTER COMES," the William Fox screen version of A. S. M. Hutchinson's story, has been included on every critic's list of the ten best pictures produced this season and is now establishing new attendance records in first-run house's throughout the country. One of the most successful engagements recently finished was at the Temple Theatre in Toledo, Ohio. When "If Winter Comes" was brought back last week fur a return engagement at this theatre the Toledo NewsBee printed the following story in its news columns : "Pictures that are strong enough from a box office standpoint to merit a return engagement have been very few and far between during the past three years. 'If Winter Comes' is an exception. This picture recently broke all house records at the Temple Theatre. And now it has been Has Small Cast Maurice Tourneur's newest M. C. Levee production for First National, "Torment," offers a unique story, at least as far as this director is concerned, in that the entire cast consists of but seven players. This marks the smallest cast ever directed by Tourncur, who in the past has seldom produced films with less than twenty leading roles. The players in "Torment'' are Owen Moore, Bessie Love, Joseph Kilgour. Maude George, Jean llersholt, Morgan Wallace and George Cooper. The new company has as its head Barney Rosenthal, a pioneer in the film business and well known to exhibitors in the territory. For the past eleven years Mr. Rosenthal has been resident manager of the local Universal Exchange. Associated with him in the new enterprise is Nat Steinberg, also formerly with Universal. Rosenthal and Steinberg were in New York this week arranging with Cohn and Brandt for the handling of C. B. C. product in their territory, and conferring on the launching of special campaigns for them. Regarding his new affiliation in the handling of Independent product Mr. Rosenthal said he believed the time had come when the Independent picture had established itself in the confidence of exhibitors, and that, with the new "open program" booking by exhibitors, there was a tremen dous possibility in the territory for Inde pendent pictures. C. B. C.'s "Innocence," featuring Anna Q. Nilsson; "Forgive and Forget," featuring Estelle Tayor, Pauline Garon and Wyndham Standing;; and "The Barefoot Boy," with an all star cast, would be released at once in his territory. Arrangements have been under way, and are practically completed now by Mr. Brandt, for the opening of other Independent exchanges. booked for a return engagement for the week starting on Saturday at that same theatre. "Quite a few pictures are held over for a second week but many of this type of picture have proven 'flivver' on the second week and the only reason that they are booked is due to the fact that the producer's and distributor's contract demands an extended engagement, although the exhibitor knows that the picture is not strong enough for the second week. "But when a picture is brought back for a second week of the exhibitor's own accord the public may be assured that it is a winner." If Winter Comes" Makes New Record for Toledo