The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Jan-Feb 1923)

THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. January. 1, 1923. 1923, A “BANNER YEAR” FOR BRITISH | FILMS. (By J. STUART BLACKTON,) AM absolutely I convinced that 1923 will be a Big Picture year. I am also reasonably certain that 1923 will be an important year for British productions. With the exercise of juagment and intelligence on both the business and artistic side of filmmaking there is every reason to expect a big revival of film prosperity during the next ‘year. The public for pictures is larger than it ever has been; all that is needed is good pictures and a recovery from that depression which has affected every branch of industry since the war. Success of British Films in U.S. Developments during the last year have proved that there is a world market for British pictures, and the strides made on the production side in this country during the last twelve months give much hope for the future. The feeling entertained by some in the British industry that an English-made picture would not be welcomed in America has been dissipated by the success of a number of British films in the United States during the last year. My colour film, ‘‘ The Glorious Adventure,’’ distributed in the States by the Allied Artists, has been received most warmly, and is now being shown all over the States and Canada. This film has been received with equal appreciation in the Continental countries, and within a short. time will have been released in Australia, India, South Africa, and many other countries. A like reception, I hope and believe, awaits my other production, ‘‘ A Gipsy Cavalier.’’ Stuart BLackron. My Greatest Work. My production plans for the New Year are more extensive than my program for 1922. I have completed “‘ The Virgin Queen,’’ which is to be released by the Rose Film Company early in February. This is the largest production I have ever made in my 26 years of film-making, and I feel that it represents my best work. Many producers may make such statements about every film they make, but I say this in a well-considered and conscientious spirit and not merely.for advertising purposes. ‘‘ The Virgin Queen ’’ is unique in many ways—in backgrounds, costumes, lighting, acting, story, etc. It is the most elaborately-costumed production ever made for stage or screen, and I am rather proud of the fact that Mrs. Blackton designed all the costumes. Facts About: “ The Virgin Queen.”’ This film tells the story of the young Princess and, later, Queen Eifizabeth, with a wealth of romantic and dramatic detail that offered the producer a wide scope for creating beautiful and impressive effects. Historically, it is as interesting as it is dramatically and pictorially. Certainly, there is much in the film that fills the eye of the spectator with beauty. Lady Diana Manners plays the title rdle, and I am more than pleased with her work. She has studied hard in preparing herself for this difficult réle, and she worked conscientiously. The result is a very intelligent interpretation of one of the most interesting characters history or the drama has produced. Carlyle Blackwell, who made his first picture for me in 1907 (it was ‘‘ Uncle Tom’s Cabin ’’) returned to me to play Lord Robert Dudley in this picture, and he has given a very creditable performance, with which I am pleased. The cast is one that any producer might: be proud of: Hubert Carter, Norma Whalley, William Luff, A. B. Imeson, Lionel! d’Aragon, Vivian Dickie, and, lust but not least, my two daughters, Misses Marian and ‘Violet Virginia, who have more than pleased me with their work. Three Big Pictures in the New Year. Harly in the New Year I shall start work on another production, and I shall make at least three large films during 1928. One will be another British historical drama, and the remaining two modern dramas done on a large scale. I cannot yet state definite details concerning these. In conclusion, permit me to state again my feeling of confidence in the revival of film prosperity in the New Year, and my belief that 1923 will be a banner year for British productions. PICTURES. And 1923 will be a year of BIG