Variety (March 1921)

Lday, March 11, 1981 PICTURES 87 ' P. ENGLISH PRODUCTIONS HELD UP, EVANS COMES HERE Del ay in Releasing Features Made Abroad Believed Due to Failure of Britishers to Fit Into American Style of Picture. TO CHECK SCREEN ERRORS. National Board and Prod Confer. to > • •■» » ■ •• *■•>• »,' ,■ «• in Major W. Britton Evans, a direc- tor in the FamouB-Lrfisky corpora- tion of England, arrived In New York on the 'Tmperator" Monday and 1b booked to return on the same boat Saturday. , .While Major Evans' visit is in the 'nature of a "vacation," it is under- stood he comes to endeavor to ■traighten out the production end of the British branch of Famous Players -Lasky. Although Famous Players has sent over such production experts as Al. Kaufman, Eve Unsell, Hugh Ford, Milton Hoffman. Robert Mc- Alarneyand half a dozen others from time to time, the English stu- dio has thus far turned out but three productions, none of which has been released, for some un- known reason, although completed some months ago. The British producing corporation Is capitalised for millions of dol- lars and apparently has been given every reasonable assistance frum here, with no tangible results up to the present time. This brings one to the conclusion that English picture-making, from the American angle, is not "in the cards"—a conclusion borne out by the fact that England is the only foreign country falling to make a - single picture with an American ap- peal. According to observers, the best ever made—from the American angle—was an adaptation of "The Elder Miss Blossom," which was re- leased here some years ago under another title. France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, Denmark—in fact ail European countries except- ing England—have sent us Impor- tant features from time to time that created sensations in America. A motion picture man, comment- ing on It this week, gave it as his reason for such a condition, that England Is lacking in the proper "temperament"—so much so that even an American direct* finds it impossible to secure results in an English studio. When the director gives instructions to a scenic artist on the other bide he finds the in- dividual lacking in imagination and unable to contribute anything in- dividual of his own. Picture experts declare it almost impossible for English "cinema" workers, from the actors down to the studio watchman, to get into the spirit of the modern photoplay. They are net adaptable, and even some of the greatest stage actors, like the Kte Sir George Alexander, cannot do as good work over there as they do here. Over here English actors arc in great demand for leads and char- acter roles, because they not only have poise, refinement and talent, but they seem to be better ground- ed in histrionism than the average American screen actor. The suc- cess of the Standings, as one family of English actors, of Conway Tearle, of Percy Marmount and innumer- able others is testimony to this. The only answer is that over there they are too thoroughly saturated with the British atmosphere to snap out of it. The Vitagraph company is prob- ably the one which has felt th,e dif- ference more than any other in the United States. With a studio of Its own in London, the call on some of the best talent of the English stage and screen rights to some of the best literature oveS there, this company tried several times to get subjects available for the American screen, but failed. The National Board of Review has appointed a committee to confer with the producers' committee of the National Association in an ef- fort to "prevent at its source the production in all motion pictures of detailed presentation of question- able matter." This statement comes in a for- mal announcement from .the Na- tional Board which sets forth that it has conducted a nation-wide in- quiry among municipal officers, license commissioners and others as to the effect of certain types of films. The result of this referendum, the Board says, supports the posi- tion it took and has maintained since 1916, on the questions: Introduction of in melodrama and serials of unnecessary d 'tailing of the pursuit of irimc and sex en- tanglements; The use of main titles which fre- quently represent an otherwise innocudVs story as containing sub- ject matter ef sex suggestive na- ture; The illustration of ingenuity in practical methods of breaking the SENNETT STUDIO CLOSED. Plant Will Be Idle for Four to Six Weekc. law; The insidious elaboration of in- timate sex relationships so as to bring into disrepute the otherwise legitimate presentation of sex in photodrama. Los Angeles, March 9. The Mack Sennett studios closed down for from four to six weeks. The contract with Paramount for two roelers has been completed and when work is resumed at the studios a f«'\v two reelers will be made for A. P. distribution. The majority of pictures, however, will be of five Nit' itivglh. • "The Price of Happiness," by Florence Auer. has been secured as the next vehicle for Anita Stewart. Edwin Carewe will direct. CLOTHES IN PICTURES If one happens to be strolling through the cactus and rocky hills of Colorado, be sure to take a peek at some of the rocks, because that's what Frank Mayo did in "Colorado." He discovered gold and some thrills, such as nearly being shot by a jealous husband. When the mine floods he eaves the villain from drowning, which made him a herp with Kitty, a pretty dark-haired miss (Gloria Hope), * Her dressing was gingham. The only gown of notice was a check affair, with the wide collar, cuffs, and sash of white organdie. Shirley MaBon's "Ming Toy" has her as a Chinese princess, who is to marry against her will Yen Low, called the Emperlor of Chinatown, but is saved when the place is raided, led by a young newsgatherer, who dis- covers she is the district attorney's long lost daughter. Miss Mason is charming with her straight bobbed hair and beautiful embroidered kimonao, but one prefers to see her in a more mischievous role. At the conclusion Miss Mason wears a modern evening gown which was quite effective, consisting entirely of sequins which appeared to be on the light side. The only other decoration was a girdle tied loosely around the waist. fe A Mae Murray picture usually means a cabaret dancer, so In "The Gilded Lily" one isn't disappointed. It also means scanty costumes and much fleshy showing. % In one dance a gold dress, made with a very short skirt and waist, form- ing a point attached to a high collar, was worn by Miss Murray. The limbs were bare, head encased with a bandana and a sailor hat carried. A fur-trimmed cloak was worn over a gown of Irridescent beads; an- other cloak was of baby lamb; a street dress of embroidered cloth was worn with Russian boots. The hat had a wide, upturned brim. A gor- geous negligee seemed to be of cloth of gold, with row upon row of beaded fringe. A daring Murray dance costume consisted of merely spangled breast band and trunks. Several dark dresses were shown having white collars and paneled backs. One gay costume was made harem-like in Its treuser legs with a straight covering of heavily encrusted tulle. A cloth Areas of light material had an odd enpe, cut narrow across the shoulders, hanging in points at each side. Miss Murray's hands look so dark against her face she evidently neglects making them up. "Lowell Sherman is too good an actor to be cast in mediocre picture*. Several cabaret scenes contained women superbly gowned in evening clothes of the expensive glittering materials. HOTEL, HOLLYWOOD THE RENDEZVOUS Of T B E A T B I C A L 8 BEST f HOLLYWOOD LOS ANC.ELK8. CALIFORNIA. 4 Big Double Attraction of First National FRANCHISE PICTURE Beginning Sunday, March 13, at the ^^ MARK u ^ STRAN D Broadway and 47th Street Katharine MarDonald Fletares Corporation Present* • • • The American Beauty A Story of Mystery Love-Adventure By C N. and A. M. Williamson Adapted by Finis Fox Directed by Edwin Carewe ALSO Mack Sennett's Outing for Alimaniacs Love, Honor and Behave A Mack Sennett Production with Charlie Murray, Phyllis Haver, Marie Provost and a score of others that make it whiz S wm Rippling Reels JJ FIRST NATIONAL ATTRACTIONS That's another reason why \ nhereVJ be a &yejyiyhe!£