The Moving picture world (January 1925-February 1925)

January 24, 1925 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 381 Colleen Moore Wins Critics In 1st National's "So Big" WITH her impersonation of Selina Peake, the heroine of Edna Ferber's best-seller novel, "So Big," which First National has made into a picture under the skilful direction of Charles Brabin, Colleen Moore has won new artistic standing as a screen player. The picture had its New York premiere at the Strand Theatre last Sunday, and picture and star came in for high praise. Morduant Hall in the New York Times wrote : "Colleen Moore, the young actress who has attained no mean success by her portrayal of flapper roles, delivers an astonishingly fine performance as Selina Peake Dejong. In the initial sequence Miss Moore is sympathetic, but she rises to eloquent histrionic heights in her characterization of the browbeaten wife of Pervus Dejong. Charles Brabin directed 'So Big.' His work is resourceful and imaginative. Wallace Beery plays the role of Klaas Pool. If any screen actor appeared to live a part, he does." Harriette Underhill in the New York Tribune: "Miss Moore, we think, gives a remarkable performance. The styles of twentyfive years ago are strictly adhered to. Stars abound in the picture." Mildred Spain in the Daily News : "If Colleen Moore doesn't get a huge slice of the movie melon for her Selina Peake, then there isn't any justice — that's all." Joseph R. Fleisler in the Morning Telegraph: "Miss Moore's fans will be surprised and delighted at their idol's remarkable characterization. She reveals a depth and understanding of character that stamps her performance as certainly the finest of her career, and places her high among the screen's best actresses." Dorothy Herzog in the New York Mirror : "Colleen Moore gives an interesting performance in the stages of youth, middleage and old age. An excellent supporting cast flashed through sections of the feature." Rose Pelswick in the New York Journal : "Colleen Moore is excellent. She shows remarkable dramatic ability. Colleen deserves a great deal of credit for the way in which she handled her part." George Gerhard in the New York Evening World: "Colleen Moore does a wonderful job in 'So Big.' " The Moviegoer in the New York Sun : "'So Big' at the Strand is raised to the stars by the beauty and the truth of the performance of Colleen Moore. There is no motion picture performance within the memory of the writer which is quite as excellent as the one that Miss Moore is giving." Four Lloyd Pictures for First National Frank Lloyd, independent producer and director, has just signed a contract to release four big productions through First National Pictures, Inc., during 1925. Announcement of the consummation of the new contract was made by Richard A. Rowland, general manager in charge of production for First National, who recently returned from Europe. The new Lloyd pictures will feature casts of several internationally famous players rather than merely one or two stars, it is announced, and each release will be of a decidedly different nature. Mr. Lloyd states that he has read and analyzed more than one hundred stories, books and plays before making his selection for new picture plays. Exhibitors Pleased with Four Star Series Plan of Century THERE has been a decided response on the part of exhibitors in the United States and Canada to the recently announced policy of making four series of tworeel comedies with the four popular Century stars, Wanda Wiley, Edna Marian, Al Alt and Eddie Gordon, it is reported by Abe Stern, vice-president of the Century Film Corporation. The new star series plan, made public by Stern several weeks ago, had a decided effect on sales, as confirmed by H. M. Herbel, sales manager of the Century corporation. Many of the exhibitors plainly stated that the outlook for a steady supply of comedies during the coming months, featuring the four stars, had much to do with their decision to sign up for the Century product. One of the most outstanding examples of this swing to Century Comedies was on the part of the Saenger Amusement Company, the big theatre chain of the New Orleans territory, which has just made arrangements to show Century Comedies in ten of the theatres of that chain during 1925. The first picture to be shown under this arrangement will be "Looking Down," the Wanda Wiley two-reeler released January 7. Among other theatres which have made arrangements during the last week or so for a 1925 presentation of Century Comedies, Herbel, names Proctor's Theatre in Albany. This theatre will show every Century Comedy released during the coming year. A similar arrangement also has been made with the Stratford Theatre, one of Chicago's high class houses. 1 IT GETS THE WORD of mouth advertising HAl ROACH'S "THE WHITE SHEEP" Pafhepicture