Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1922)

Photoplay Magazine — Advertising Section ioi The Men of Zanzibar — Fox ""PHIS Richard Harding Davis story has been *■ transformed almost painlessly to the screen, but with very little of the author's charm. Much chasing through hallways and underground passages, and a triple near-impersonation— made up of William Russell and two other men who are astonishingly like him. This will either make or break the picture — according to the personal taste. A family film that is quite exciting, despite its faults. Retribution A SPECTACULAR drama of mediaeval Italy at the time when Lucrezia Borgia was treating all her enemies with her deadly home brew. The picture is attractive to the eye, and well acted, but it is weakened by injudicious cutting and frequently makes no sense whatsoever. Gymnasium Jim — Sennett /^\NF. of the wildest and funniest two reel ^-^ comedies that have appeared in many moons, or in many suns, when you come right down to it. It represents the usual combination of slap-stick gags and melodramatic thrills, but laid on with more than usual vigor. Billy Bevan, Mildred June and several other well known Sennettors are among those present. Step On It — Universal "LJOOT GIBSON and Barbara Bedford in a -* ■*■ whirlwind western with good characterization, good titles and good sets. About cattle thieves and revolver fights and tight situations. Hardly an original plot, but exciting enough to hold the interest. Pictures like this are a breath of fresh air in this day of sex best sellers. Even the most unsophisticated mothers can see this, even though Universal did make it! Kissed — Universal \X ARIE PREVOST at her best— which is 1V1 very g00Cl, She forgets to act and is really Connie Keener, a girl who craves romance and is engaged to marry a busy man who has little time for the moonlight and rose petals of life. Because of a thermometer bursting kiss in the dark, she break's her engagement and goes on a still hunt for Prince Charming. For the family — almost. Strange Idols — Fox TvTOT only the idols are strange. Almost i-N everything comes under the same head — except the plot, which is only ancient. A wife who loves jazz and a husband who doesn't are stirred up with a dash of heart throb, some near emotions, and a bit of parting. They are garnished, in the last reel, with some innocent child stuff. And are left to cool. No one will want a second helping. They Like 'Em Rough — Metro "W"IOLA DANA in a series of charming " tantrums that end in the arms of a personable husband — who is a real cavern man. A story that is thin of fabric, but neatly woven, and some impressive settings in the big timber country of Northern California. Plenty of fun for the whole family, whether the members of it agree with the title or not! The Days of Buffalo Bill — Universal /^\NE can usually be sure of a Universal ^-^ serial. And this one is especially lively, picturing as it does a romantic and rather obscure phase of American history. Railroads in the building, Indians, and the brave band of scouts who held the frontier — all are real and thrilling. Art Accord and Dorothy Wood are the hero and heroine; Duke Lee plavs the difficult role of Buffalo Bill. Missing Heirs You may be one of them. Will you help in this nationwide search by sending for the free Van Loan Questionnaire offered below ? MISS WINIFRED KIMBALL. «.f Apalachicola, Fla., received a $10,000 check as first prize winner in the Chicago Daily News scenario contest. She is a student of the Palmer Plan, and writes: "'I feel that much of my success is due to its practical instruction. " THE Palmer Photoplay Corporation is in the position of a lawyer who has been commissioned to find the missing heirs to a great estate. The motion picture industry must have new scenarios. It must have them if it is to continue to hold its vast audiences. It must have them if its great studios and investments are not to become worthless. It is willing to pay fortunes for these stories; it is ready to crown the successful scenario writers with fame and maintain them in luxury. Who are these people who can tell a story? Where are they? To find an answer to these vital questions the industry has commissioned the Palmer Photoplay Corporation to conduct one of the most exciting searches ever undertaken. We use the words "exciting search" advisedly. Can you imagine anything more exciting than to find the talent that won the $10,000 prize in a nation-wide scenario contest? To discover in a Montana housewife the power to tell a story and to hand her the producer's check as the reward of a talent which she did not know she possessed? Can you picture the surprise and delight of a Utah reporter, a private secretary in Pennsylvania, a Chicago Red Cross worker, when lifted suddenly to an earning power beyond their wildest dreams? Or of the inmate of a penitentiary whose scenarios are eagerly sought? These are actual incidents in this combing of the country for men and women with story-telling power. And still the search goes on. Hundreds of thousands of copies of the Van Loan Questionnaire must be distributed this year; will you send for your copy? You may be one of the thousands (out of the hundreds of thousands) for whom the rewards of this new era wait. The Van Loan Questionnaire — a big new invention Not every man and woman can write stories for the screen. In the past many who had no real talent or chance for success have wasted time in fruitless trying. Such waste of time and money is no longer necessary. By an interesting new development it is now possible for you to know almost at once whether you have any gift of creative imagination and whether it will pay you to develop that gift. The invention is a Questionnaire such as was used by the United States Army in establishing the qualifications of officers and men in the war. This Questionnaire has been created with special reference to the needs of the motion picture industry by H. H. Van Loan, the celebrated Photoplaywright and Professor Malcolm MacLean, formerly of Northwestern University. We invite you. without obligation, to send for your copy of this Questionnaire. We ask you to co-operate with the new forces in the motion picture industry by making this free test of your creative talent in your own home. We shall be frank with you The Palmer Photoplay Corporation is the largest seller of motion picture scenarios in the United States. It is in business to secure scenarios for which producers will pay large sums. The Educational Department of the Corporation is organized to train men and women of talent to a point where they can produce such scenarios. Therefore the Educational Department must and does deal very frankly with those who fill in the Questionnaire. If your talent is not sufficient to justify you in going on, you will be promptly notified. If, on the other hand, you should be one of the thousands now unknown who are to be important factors in this second era of the motion picture industry, the facilities of the Educational Department will be placed at your disposal if you choose to takeadvantage of them. At least test yourself — the test is free Surely this simple test is worth trying. Failure to attain high rank in it involves you in no loss. You have merely invested a stamp and a pleasant hour of mental discipline. On the other hand, success with the Questionnaire may open the way to fame and immense reward. Do not pass by lightly the chance to share in this second era of the motion picture industry. Send today for the Van Loan Questionnaire. PALMER PHOTOPLAY Corporation Dcpt. of Education, 124 W. 4th St., Los Angeles, Cal. PLEASE send me, without cost or obligation on my part, your Questionnaire. I will answer the questions in it and return it to you for analysis. If I pass the test, I am to receive further information about your Course and Service. Name Address . Indicate Mr., Mrs., or Miss P. 8 Copyright, 1922, Palmer Photoplay Corporation When you write to advertisers plea.-e mention PHOTOPLAY MAGAZINE.