The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

April 28, 1923. _ PICTURE. 7 | Record. Price Paid. UROPEAN MOTION.,PICTURE CO., LTD., have. just been advised that the Universal Pictures Corporation achieved .the. phenomenal .success of running for an 11 weeks’ . season at the Lyric Theatre, Broadway, New York. ‘‘ Hunting . BigGame’: will be run for, a short...season at .the London Pavilion, Piccadilly Curcus, commencing Monday, April 30... An. ambitious publicity campaign has been arranged by .Kuropean Motion: Picture Co. . It-is claimed that this African film is no dry chronicle, but a thrilling and amusing narrative of the most unusual adventures «ver undertaken by white men. The action includes thrills more exciting than any film serial, and a climax as potent as any problem drama. Motor-cars:and Wild Beasts. Be : The picture shows the adventures of Snow, his son Sydney, and their native hunters aud carriers in a 50,000 mile hunting expedition through the jungles and savages of Africa. It includes thrilling whale harpooning scenes and the first complete soquence of pictures showing how diamonds are mined. Novel’ scenes of weird animals at desert water-holes follow, and exciting chases of wild beasts -by the hunters in a “* flivver."’ . With their little motor-cars the hunters were able to-tire out.and run down the swiftest of African creatures when their own beasts of burden Were, pyit out. of ‘action by sleeping..sickness. a a oe The big thrills come in .the -hunting. of the man-killers in the jungle—lions, rhinos. and elephants. In the lion hunt one of the hunting party: was killed. ‘The supreme thrill comes when the cameraman is charged by a maddened elephant. The picture ulso shows various savage tribes in their native costumes, warpaint and dance ceremonials. One amusing adventure was a race: for life,-between.a motor-car and an infuriated Wart-hog, but, fortunately;-the Ford won.. A Record Price. iain: we _All photographic developing was -carried on at night, as the -day temperature, ranging up to 125 degrees in the shade, or such shade as thera should be, was enough to melt the film the minute it touched the water. was made, and‘more than 4,000 still pictures. The African: film was bought by Universal’. because Carl Iacmmle is convinced it is the most extraordinary film ever made. Universal is understood to have paid a flat sum for it far in excess of any purchase price before chronicled in the industry and well in excess of the cost price of the biggest superfeature productions. GORDON CRAIG LEAVES REGENT Hi ‘announcement that Mr. FE. Gordon Craig has resigned the managing directorship of the Regent Film Co., Ltd., will be heard with regret by all who have the best interests of the film industry’ at heart, and the hope will be expressed that it is not his intention to sever his connection with the trade entirely. Oo Among the many successful films Mr. Craig has sponsored the leading place must be given to ‘‘ Secrets of Nature’ and ‘* Wonder Women of the World,’’ two series of short subjects which have claimed the attention of the whole industry. _ We are not aware of Mr. Craig's future plans, but his address — for private communication will be Room 77, 57-58, Chancery Lane, W.C.2. Over 125,000 feet of: negative THE FILM RENTER & MOVING ‘PICTURE NEWS. 67 BEAUTIFUL LIGHTING FOR. “THE MADONNA IN wu. CHAINS.”: 2. variety. In this ‘use of appropriately natural and artificial methods ‘of _ lighting ** The Madonna in Chains” may well ‘mark yet-another ne definite forward step in the development of that art of the screen which seems to be the goal of the best minds in the film world at the present time. Kilner’s announce that they will. be showing ‘‘ The’ Madonna in Chains "’ to the 'ttade ‘early next month. ° — oe ah ee O% Mr. Pearkes Withers; director of publicity for Stoll ‘Picture Productions, who last week underwent an operation for appendicitis in Caterham Cottage Hospital, is progressing as favourably as can be expected. He suffered.a relapse at the end of the week, but the latest. reports from the hospital are decidedly hopeful., we oe . Scene from’ Wardour Films’ ne w picture, in-which factal surgery plays a big part. . :