The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

February 23, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 641 Newspapermen See Valentino Start "Monsieur Beaucaire" Breaks Boston Records Davies' Film Magnetizes Hub City Theatregoers "Little Old New York," the Cosmopolitan Corporation's picture starring Marion Davies, broke all records in the second week of its indefinite engagement at the Park Theatre here, Cosmopolitan reports. This marks the second week in succession that Miss Davies and "Little Old New York" have broken records at the Park. In its first week the combination also created a new record for that theatre. The romantic story of "Little Old New York," the pictorial beauty of the film, its great dramatic power and the wonderful artistry of Miss Davies in the role of "Pat" O'Day has taken Boston photoplay fans by storm in the same manner as picture devotees of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London and other leading cities have capitulated. Acquires "Fires of Fate" A deal was consummated recently whereby Truart Film Corporation has ^acquired the production "Fires of Fate," produced by Tom Terriss for A. C. and R. C. Bromhead. This production was pictured almost entirely in Africa, the scenes being laid in Cairo and in the Libyan desert. Wanda Hawley is the star of the production and in the support are Nigel Barrie and Pedro de Cordoba. "Fires of Fate" will be franchised by Truart on the independent market. The picture is now being edited and titled and will be ready for release within thirty days. Finishes "Icebound" William de Mille has taken the final scenes for his new Paramount production, "Icebound," in which Lois Wilson and Richard Dix are featured. Clara Beranger is now engaged at the Long Island studio in editing and titling the film. WITH Rose Pelswick of the New York Evening Journal and Regina Cannon of Movie Weekly turning the cranks of the cameras, Sidney Olcott's production of "Monsieur Beaucaire," with Rudolph Valentino in the stellar role, was formally launched at Paramount's Long Island studio Monday noon in the presence of forty representatives of the New York newspapers, trade press and fan magazin*. The opening scene represented a section of the boudoir of the Queen of France, wife of King Louis XV, in the royal palace at Versailles, and following the final rehearsal the amateur camerawomen, who had been chosen by lot from among the guests, ascended the camera platform and photographed the first twenty-five feet of the picture. Although confined in a comparatively small set, the scene was one of the most brilliant ever photographed at the studio, with the principals and extras arrayed in gorgeous and multi-colored costumes of the period, all of which were designed by George Barbier and made in Paris. Among those taking part were Mr. Valentino as Beaucaire, Bebe Daniels as the Princess de Bourbon-Conti, Lois Wilson as the Queen, Paulette Du Val as Mme. Pompadour and John Davidson as the young Richelieu. The cast of "Monsieur Beaucaire" is one of the largest ever appearing in a Paramount picture, and includes among its principals, in addition to those mentioned, Lowell Sherman as King Louis XV, Helene Chadwick, Oswald Yorke, Lewis Waller, Yvonne Hughes, Florence O'Denishawn, Paul Oscard and Flora Finch. Harry Fishbeck is chief cameraman, Caryl Fleming is Mr. Olcott's first assistant director and Lawrence W. Hitt and Wilfred Buckland are the art directors. The period of the Booth Tarkington story, which has been scenarized by Forrest Halsey, is approximately 1745, the time of Louis XV of France and George II of England. Every effort is being made to have the production historically correct, even to the minutest detail, so far as it is humanly possible to make it so, at the same time maintaining all of the fantasy and whimsicality of Tarkington's original story. Following the photographing of the scenes luncheon was served the guests and members of the cast on the studio stage. Among the guests present were : J. S. Dickerson, Laurence Reid and Ray Gallagher, Motion Picture News ; John Archer, Epes Winthrop Sargent, Tom Waller, Moving Picture World; George Blaisdell, Exhibitors Trade Review; Maurice Kann and Donald Mersereau, Film Daily; Fred Shader, Variety; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Pope, Photoplay; Helen Klump, Picture Play; Adele Fletcher, Susanne Brady, of Brewster Publications ; David A. Balch, Regina Cannon, Movie Weekly; Ethel Roseman, Moving Picture Stories; F. W. M. Hall, New York Times: Harriette Underbill, Tribune; Andrew W. Freeman, Herald; Robert G. Welsh, Telegram; Dorothy Day, Morning Telegraph; M. B. Dickstein, Brooklyn Eagle; Irene Thirer, Daily News; Rose Pelswick, Evening Journal; Donald Mulhearn, Newark Star-Eagle; Vyvyan Donner and Gladys Hall. F. B. O. Officials Enthuse After First Preview of Witwer "Telephone Girl" Series Keenest enthusiasm was expressed by F. B. O. executives on the occasion of the first official preview of the H. C. Witwer "Telephone Girl" series, now in production at the F. B O. lot. Four episodes of the series of twelve have been completed by Mai St. Clair, director, and his company, headed by Alberta Vaughn. Release is scheduled for March. J. I. Schnitzer, vice president; B. P. Fineman, general manager of the producing plant, and Art Schmidt, supervisor of sales on the West Coast, reviewed the quartette of episodes and registered approval in emphatic fashion. The first episodes of "The Telephone Girl" series were received by the F. B. O. home office this past week. The executives in the home office are as enthusiastic about the new Witwer series as those in the production department on the West Coast. T. N. T. P. Whiteman's Orchestra, Mch. 29 Rose Pelswick of the New York Evening Journal and Regina Cannon of Movie Weekly Getting Ready to Photograph First Scene of Rudolph Valentino's Paramount Picture, "Monsieur Beaucaire," Under the Direction of Sidney Olcott.