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

8 THE FILM RENTER ‘& MOVING PICTURE NEWS. HERBERT WILCOX February 3, 1923. TO PRODUCE “CHU CHIN CHOW.” Brilliant young Director to start Ambitious Production ‘in Few Weeks Time. FEW weeks ago we were able to inform-our readers that the Graham Wilcox Company had secured the exclusive rights of the world-famous play, ‘‘ Chu Chin Chow,” and to-day’ we are able to announce that Mr. Herbert 8S. Wilcox, the brilliant young managiag director of‘ this concern, has decided to personally direct this production, upon which work will commence in the course of the next few weeks. Herbert Wilcox is one of the coming men in this industry. During the short time that has elapsed since he founded the Graham Wilcox Company it is safe to say that he has revolutionised British Film productio:. Singularly modest pnd retiring, Mr. Wilcox impresses. one with his personality directly you begin to talk to him. ' He has the two greatest assets that a producer can possibly possess, viz.,-. imagination and courage. yy OT The history of the Graham Wiloesst Gems pany is extremely fascinating...) Pie first .. photoplay that this company-“enibarked upon, ‘*' The Wonderful Story,” startled the whole of the industry with its simplicity of production and action: -. Mr. Wilcox then wrote, in conjunction with his wife, an original story, ‘‘ Flames of Passion,’’ which was in sharp contrast to their first film. As is well known, ‘Flames of Passion’’ is now creating box office records wherever it is shown, and has been a triumphant British film success. For this picture Herbert Wilcox decided to have an international star. He recognised that if he was to get British films into the American market, then he must have a picture which would have great exploitation possibilities. He immediately secured the services of Miss Mae Marsh, one of Griffitb’s greatest stars, and ‘her performance in ‘‘ Flames of Passion ’’ admirably justified the result. Mr, Wilcox then obtained, in the face of heavy competition, the film rights of ‘' Paddy-the-Next-Best-Thing,’’ and with Eliot Stannard wrote the scenario of the film version so successfully launched at the New Scala Theatre last Friday. Here, again, could be seen the wisdom of bringing Mae Marsh to England, for a more fascinating and wonderful study of Paddy could not be imagined. sc Herbert Wilcox, during his meteoric career, has. been a creator. He it was who brought Herbert Langley from opera to play in film productions with entirely successful results. This screen actor at his initial film appearance leapt into fame. The advent of Graham Cutts into the front rank of British film producers is also due to Herbert Wilcox, who saw the possibility of production in Graham Cutts’ showmanship as an exhibitor. Then came the acquisition of ‘* Loyalties,’’ which has been just as big a success in America as it has here. John Galsworthy’s play is still playing to capacity in London, and the film version should be equally successful. HerBert Wr.cox. Not content with securing these great pictures, upon which thousands of pounds had been expended, this talented young director looked for fresh fields to conquer, and in face of the keenest competition has secured the world’s rights, together with the musical film rights, to-the greatest success ‘of: all-time, z., ‘‘ Chu Chin Chow.’’ This was an-even greater coup than _ securing the rights for ‘t Paddy-the-Next Best-Thing,’’ as it was considered com: mercially impossible to compete’ with America’ for this subject, which with its screen licence, should’ be the wonder film of the year. ‘‘ Chu Chin Chow” is the subject that Herbert Wilcox has decided to personally direct, and the position held to-day by Graham Wilcox Productions should be consolidated beyond any possibility of retrogression. The photography will be in the hands of Rene Guissart, whose work in ‘‘ The Bohemian Girl’ and ‘‘ Paddy ’’ stamps him among the best camera-men in the world. The production will commence in 4 few weeks time, and arrangements are now proceeding for the casting of the principal artistes. The scenario will, of necessity, be considerably stronger than the film, though the atmosphere, romance and music, remain in the screen version. The news that Herbert: Wilcox: has decided to personally direct this picture is a@ sure guarantee that it will be a pronounced winner. It is an open secret that his has been the directing brain from the commencement of the Graham Wilcox concern, and in the days preceding when he was the director of Astra Films. Graham Cutts, the talented producer of each of the previous productions, will be the first to admit that the brilliant brain of Herbert Wilcox has been a wonderful asset to him in producing these films. The position that the Graham Wilcox Company occupy in British producing circles to-day is a direct result of the judgment and policy of this brilliant young man, and we await the production of ‘ Chu Chin Chow "’ with the the greatest treatment. POSTER FOR “ DICK TURPIN’S RIDE TO YORK.” FIKM called the ‘‘ Picture Theatre Advertising Service ’’ A are circularising exhibitors’ offering posters for ‘* Dick Turpin’s Ride to York.” The Stoll Film Co. advise exhibitors on no account to use these posters for the film, ‘‘ Dick Turpin’s Ride to York,’’ or to put the name’‘' Stoll’ on same, or any lettering appertaining to the film. For the picture, ‘* Dick Turpin’s Ride to York,’’ they are strongly reccmmended to use the posters which have been specially made from actual scenes taken from the film, put out by the company in the usual way. ; ;