The Moving picture world (July 1925-August 1925)

664 MOVING PICTURE WORLD August 8, 1925 MARTHA FRANCIS This charming player will be seen as "Harriet Kinnard" in "The Scarlet West," a First National release. New Screen Personality Splendid Acting by Charming Martha Francis Stands Out in "The Scarlet West" Reviewers who have caught an advance glance at "The Scarlet West," the Frank J. Carroll production to be released by First National, are talking about a new screen acquisition in the person of Martha Francis. Miss Francis, who plays the important part of Harriett Kinnard in the big Western special, stepped into the role at a moment's notice from her part in real life of society leader and prominent daughter of the South, with a previous experience limited to amateur theatricals. Unusual interest in the screen debut of Martha Francis will also undoubtedly be felt in the South, as she is the daughter of the late Dr. Dixie Douglas, of Nashville, Term., famed during his lifetime as one of the greatest surgeons below the Mason and Dixon line. Miss Francis is a graduate of Ward Belmont, Dixieland's elite college for women, located at Nashville, Tena Reviewers declare that she brings to the screen the charm" of the South's fair daughters, intelligence and native histrionic ability. Southern Enterprises Take 1925-26 Century Comedies CONTRACTS have just been closed with the Southern Enterprises, the Southern theatre organization of Famous Players-Lasky, for the showing of the entire new 1925-1926 output of Century Comedies in all Southern Enterprises houses, it is announced by H. M. Herbel, sales manager of the Century Film Corporation. The contract was closed, on the part of the Universal Pictures Corporation, which distributes Century Comedies, by Ned E. Depinet, Universal sales director, and Dan E. Machalove, assistant sales director. The contract covers 52 two-reel comedies, including a series of twelve Wanda Wiley Comedies, twelve Edna Marian Comedies, the series of twelve Buster Brown Comedies which Century is introducing this fall as a film novelty, based on the famous Buster Brown newspaper comics; six comedies starring Al Alt, six starring Eddie Gordon and four starring Charles King. This is the most comprehensive booking ever made between Universal and the Southern Enterprises for Century Comedies, and will place the two-reelers in towns and houses never before included in their representation. It is regarded by Herbel as the first big gun in Century's announced Fall Drive to put that company's two-reelers in second place to none in the comedy field. In this connection, attention is called by Herbel to last winter's announcement by Julius and Abe Stern, the officials of the Century organization : "We have increased our studio facilities and we are now out to make comedies which will surprise the industry next fall." The extent to which Wanda Wiley has developed in public favor as a comedy is indicated in the fact that the Southern Enterprises officials put a premium on her comedies in booking them for the vast S-E chain. This took the form of extra prices for her comedies and the understanding that they will be featured when shown. This same attitude was taken as regards the Buster Brown Comedies, which are being put out by the Century company as a special series of un usual box-office value, and for which, it is reported, higher prices are being obtained. The Buster Brown series is now in the making. Several already have been made and previewed, with results immensely satisfactory to the Stern Brothers. The Wanda Wiley comedies included in the Southern Enterprises arrangement are well on towards completion, six having already been completed. They are "Cupid's Victory," "A Winning Pair," "A Speedy Marriage," "Going Good," "Her Lucky Leap" and "Yearning for Love." Those which have been previewed are classed as exceptional Wanda Wiley comedies. The cities and towns covered by the Century Comedy-Southern Enterprises arrangement include the following: Asheville, Augusta, Chattanooga, Columbus, Gadsden, Greenville, Greenwood, Jackson, Jacksonville, Johnson City, Knoxville, Maryville, Macon, Miami, Montgomery, St. Petersburg, Savannah, Spartanburg, Sumter, Tampa, Sanford, Gainesville, Cocoa, Ft. Lauderdale, Lake Worth, New Smyrna, Ft. Smith, Little Rock, West Palm Beach, Raleigh, Dallas, Houston and others. To Start "We Moderns' Colleen Moore in Hollywood; Jack Mulhall Opposite the Star With the arrival of Colleen Moore in Hollywood, preparations for "We Moderns," the next First National production in which the little comedienne will appear, have been speeded materially. Photographic work is expected to be started this week. John Francis Dillon, according to a recent announcement, will handle the business end of the megaphone on Colleen's first film offering to be made since she signed her new First National contract. Jack Mulhall will play opposite the star. A tentative cast for "We Moderns" has been selected and is only awaiting the signature of John McCormick, Western representative for the First National company Scenes in "Souls for Sables," a Tiffany production with Claire Windsor, Eugene O'Brien, Anders Randolf, Claire Adams, Eileen Percy and George Fawcett, to be released by Truart-Renown.