Variety (December 1921)

Dcccsftbcf. ys* 1W1 PICTURES 97 jury rowers judge AND CODNOLNAN IN SCANDAL Ultimore Investigation Into Alleged Bribery Con- tinues—Scheme to Put Up Theatre Started with |100—Receiver Indicates Assets Baltimore, Dec. 21. The Grand Jury Investigating the Boalvrard theatre case,' in which It • i« hlteged IM00 *** Illegally used to jlrart the theatre ordinance** pas- mMe m the city council, returned presentments Dec. 20 against the following: Harry W. N»<*«. Judge of the Ap- peal Tax Court, defeated Republi- S„ candidate for Governor^ former State's attorney and member of the law Arm of Dickerson & Nice. Edwin T. Dickerson. secretary of the University of Maryland Law gchool. former candidate for the Supreme Bench of Baltimore, and partner of Nice. Wilson J. Carroll, member of the First Branch City Council, repre- senting the Twelfth ward. Alfred G. Buck, president of the American Theatre Company. Bernard H. Dundon, treasurer of the American Theatre Company. Carroll is charged with accepting bribes on three different datesr- Oct 5, 1920; Jan. 31. 1921. and May 28. 1921. The others are charged Uh conspiracy to acquire with in- ent to defraud certain moneyj of he American Theatre Company on arch 1 of this year. Buck and undon are also charged with larceny of $1,500. E. J. Wiley, who •tarted the whole , investigation, acquires immunity under the Mary- land law by testifying before the Grand Jury. * Another councilman, Dr. Edwin Downes, has been accused by Eu- gene 0*Dunne, counsel for Wiley, of demanding payment- -wi a personal ote from Wiley, under threat of illing the ordinance. Downes today admitted that he 'made such demands, but abso- tely denied that be had sought to timidate Wiley by threatening to It the ordinance. He admitted, wever, that he had talked roughly to Wiley and thereby precipitated flght between the two men. After he had left the grand jury room, following his testimony, Wiley was arrested on a warrant secured by Mrs Anna M. Cook, one of the Boulevard stockholders, charging I him with false representations in I the sale of stock. She alleges Wiley | made offers of percentages lmpos- I stole of realization, in view of the ftfact that the theatre project s iheavily In debt while the stock was being sold. This indebtedness, she alleges, eiceeded $75,000 borrowed from a financing company, organized for the sole purpose of backing the deal, and demanding large bonuses, besides its interest. With the insti- tution of bankruptcy proceedings several weeks ago, against the the- atre, the financing company was dissolved. Wiley was arraigned before Mag- istrate Standford in the Central Po- lice Station, but in view of the fact fiat he was a voluntary witness •fore the grand Jury, and in effect J State's witness. State's Attorney fcach recommended that Wiley be '•leased on his own recognizance •ending further developments In the ease. Last night at hi : home'Wik-y de- clared that he realized ho had been ruined us a result of the turn of ■flairs involving the theatre, but that when the smoke has cleared away he will have shown the pub- lic what means are necessary to get legitimate legislation through the '•*» Council. ^ To Sell Theatre The United States Court has de- dp d finally upon the sale of the oulevard. Myer Rosenhusch has named trustee and is alreaily ovldet' with the court order. The Perty will bo advertised, and the Joeeeds of the sale will provide the recelvor's fee, ihcn the Stee's fee, an 1 finally a ;>ercen1- °f the indebtedness to creditors t has been calculated ih.it r M ho fortunate if they r.•<■< Ctftts Th yesterday appeared before the hear- ing resumed by Referee Ellis Myers In the bankruptcy proceedings. He announced that he bad no further witnesses to car. but asked the ref- eree to continue the hearings until such date as the referee might set. The. proceeding? were postponed un- til Jan. 27. How'It Began While no investigation has been started officially by the motion pic- ture interests In Baltimore, it has been revealed to many of the ex- hibitors that Buck and Wiley b*> Their original netting, It Is sal J, occurred in the grill room of the Hotel Emerson. The men were casually introduced by a mutual acquaintance. "What business are you in?" Wiley is said to have asked Buck. "Movies," he said, "and yours?" "I'm a promoter," replied Wiley. "How much money hfive you?" "Just about $100," Buck answered, and Wiley said that he possessed exactly $15. ' "With my experience and your knowledge of the movie game, and a little brains," Wiley proposed, "there is no reason why we shouldn't make a fortune." When Puck asked hir.i how this could be done he related how the other new theatres of Z'altimore had been financed, stock sales promoted, and how the new places were meeting with phenomenal success. That same night the new theatre was proposed, and the Arm was formed. Within a few weeks the financing enterprise had been or- ganized and stock was being placed on the market. The combined business acumen and courage of the two resulted in the realization of the theatre, but their ideas were WANT TO PAY LESS FOR MORE FROM PICKFORD & FAIRBANKS Exhibitors Make Their Views Known to Both Stars—* Four a Year from Each with Chaplin's Four They Feel Business Will Be Assured Their Houses I too broad for the locality, and the grand scale on which It was opened Dinea capital oi less man iivu. only hastened the crash. A directors' meeting of the United Artists was held Monday. That Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pick- ford were in New York at the time brought up the discussion regard- ing future productions. A number ot exhibitors talked to Fairbanks prior to the meeting and presented him with their views re- garding his productions and those of Miss Plckford. The exhibitors are strong for a switch in the produc- tion policy of the two stars. Instead of making one special pro- duction a year with a cost of $800,000, as in the case of "The Three Musketeers," or a $600,000 production, as with "Little Lord GERMAN PICTURE NEWS By C. Hooatr Trask First fruits of the Efa-Famoua- unknown should be hanging poised Players. And ♦ in this "Indlsche I above us;, solve this mystery before Grabmal" Joe May, director, has burled some 23 millions of marks! Is the film worth it? Decidedly, no! To begin with the scenario from the popular novel by Theo von Har- bou lacks, so far at least, the very qualities on which it alms to build: mystery and suspense. The first six-reel part (premiere Ufa Palast am Zoo, Oct. 22) calls the last reel and you leave only anti climax for your stuff. | Then too the direction of Joe May cannot exactly be termed an asset; indeed the present film Is an ex- ample of the fact that the mere spending of money does not produce a superfeature. Although many of the sets are very fine (particularly the prologue in the Temple of Durgha Is a credit to Martin Jacoby*- be said to have developed into an emotional actress of any sorts, but she runs about Glshishly and when she stands still she has only to ope her luscious orbs—and the thing is done. Th« film Is playing simultaneously at the Marmorhaus and the Richard Oswald Ltehtsplele- to very high prices (50 marks top) and drawing 'sellouts nightly at both houses. Fauntleroy," the exhibitors are ask* ing the stars to make four produc- tions a year with a division of the cost of the special on the quartet of pictures. This would make each of the four Fairbanks cost $200,000 and the like number of Mary Plckford pictures $150,000 apiece. Charles Chaplin with four produc- tions a year on a like basis Is also Included in the exhibitor plea. It would figure 12 pictures a year from the United Artists of the stars that the public want to see and on the basis of one production a month would be a sure fire box office at^ traction for the theatres. This one production a month the exhibitors say is certain to put their business over by giving them a virtual guar- antee of one good week out of the month. The. exhibitors are figuring that with the cut in i the cost of produc- tion on the star features they will profit by reduced rentals and that the names of Plckford, Chaplin and Fairbanks will still be as potent at the box office. .»-«»#■ ..Th. x*i.«i nn n t th*'VA-».« » I ^y and otto Hunter, the designers) u^J^lZL? \X .KSkii Si groupings, or. by lack of sense for liglous trance, has therefore the !he> contrasting value of simplicity. oversatiates. For example, at one right to command him to carry out his, the awakener's, wishes So he sends the Toghl to England to Her- bert Roland, a famous architect, to offer him a commission to design and superintend the building of a monumental tomb. Roland at first hesitates (for Ayan has stipulated that nobody, not even the archl* tect's fiancee, Irene, shall know of his whereabouts or his object), but finally, as the Idea Is very enticing to him, he accepts and sets out for India on Ayan's yacht. Irene clev- erly tracks out her fiance's destina- tion and follows him on the next steamboat. On Roland's arrival ■ , 4 t Prince Ayan takes him to the al- | n ,.» ;£- i~ point he gives some three minutes of marching soldiers, elaborately costumed, and with elephants, camels, etc., but as this has no con- nection whatsoever with the re- quirements of the scenario it merely bores and disgusts by its tasteless pretentiousness. May lacks almost wholly that forward pushing dra- matic urge which characterizes the master director. Of the csst the best work is the , Yoghi of Bern hard Goetzke, with the Prince Ayan of Conrad Veldt and the Roland of Olaf Foenss fol- respectable distance. MARK rTuice Ayan uKe« n m vu in« »i- But the lren ^ of M , a May (featured) most inaccessible Va ley of Silence;. muBt ^ se t down as one of the where the tomb I- to *» erected. fllfn . a cnlef han(tlcap8; MrB . May hero Roland learns that the gra\e wa8 p^ rhap9 gome ten yeara j^ a Is not to be for a dead woman, as 1 ^ he had believed, but for Ayan's wife, Savltri, who is alive but has be- trayed her husband's honor with MacAllen. an English army officer. That evening appears Irene, who has fathomed out her lovers des- tination; Ayan allows her to stay on condition that she promises not to let Roland-know that she is there; the prince will not have him dis- turbed by Occidental influences. That night Savitri sends a mes- senger to Irene to tell her that a whito mans life is in danger; MacAllen Is meant, of course, but Irene believes it to be Roland and goes wandering out through the vast palace in a vain attempt to reach him. Roland, however, chances to see her and follows, but cannot catch up with her. She runs through an underground cellar where the yoghis arc mortifying their flesh, and Roland, following, is cursed with leprosy by one, into whom he inadvertently stumbles. Then Irene enters by mistake a lion's den, from which she is saved by the intervention of the Yoghi Kamiganl. Next day on account of her escapade Ayan confines her to a limited section of the palace, and Roland is made to believe that Irene is not really near but that he had dreamed' the whole of the preceding night's adventure. Ayan has set a trap for MacAllen. who is off hunting, but the English- j unobtrusive; man escapes. Savltrl's messenger now comes to Roland and asks help, which he promises. Ramlgani ap- pears and Roland; 'is about to tell passable soubrette of the Blllle Burke type, but today It Is no longer possible to conceal the fact of a ripe "kittenish" middle-age. The lilm is not drawing up to expectation*. LADY HAMILTON This 111m, which Richard Oswald, its producer, claims to hava sold to America for $176,000, is probably worth most of that. Mr. Oswald deserves credit for having divined to a large extent the United States taste, especially in the choice of his heroine, Lliane Haidt. The scenario by Oswald from the novel by Heinr. Vollrath Schu- macher is, taken by and large, a well handled job. The main theme moves on with comparatively little sidetracking. It concerns Emma Lyon, a poor country girl, who, after being outraged by a brutal sea cap- tain, becomes Romney's model and then the mistress of CJreville, whose uncle, Lord Hamilton, the British commander at Gibraltar, she later marries. There 9he meets Nelson, then at the height of his fame, and he heeomes her lover. Lord Hamil- ton dies, having known this all along, and leaves npthlng to his wife. Nelson dies at Trafalgar and Lady Hamilton is trampled to death hy the crowds rejoicing at the victory. Oswald's direction i. on the whole his only vital weak- ness ln-ing in the handling of erovds, his ehief strength in his casting. The interiors designed by l'aul Leni achieve much beauty and TRAN Broadway at 47th Street Beginning Sunday, Dec 25 Got any— —dishes to wash? —spuds to peel? —rheumatics to rub? —rent to dodge? —shimmies to shake? PUT JACKIE ON THE JOB Sol Letter pretest* JACKIE COOGAN My Boy these \ e ."■ ) I on ihe doll of iheir er.-dits. . is "'"Veals that the .^ocl.holders. h o have handed toge her with <=uf of , '" ,,Rrs to n.-intain eo-i»i-»l the property pending ih.« -olc. I ^* n <l to lo.vo practically cveiy rent u J2J ,l ' Ml «n the project. lV.-m< r I ^* Morris / S »pe- him that he will complete the tomb jean even compare with the exteriors on condition that MaeAMen's life he ; taken on the historic locations in spared, when the Yoghi revciN to j Italy iis^lf. The photography is him that the curse of leprosy has £en«:.illy eh-ar and someJimes eome tree. "Yon will never live to : pr.'ti: ev.ortililv delicate, lniild the tomb, (> Master!' j The . •;,s: is practically all-^lar Now tnis scenario has en the t'.e.e ...,d mo^t of the high salaried per- of it two grave weaknesses: Fir:- '.. : 1. -»r.< : 's :.v n. idr to tell. Anton the introduction ot the Savitri -[ i'o;v« r. Tie odor. .,oos, Hugo Docb- MacAllen subplot in which the audi- 1;.j and l-.hdrt-M Kuhic all dr ser\ e .•nee feels and can !•■.• made to fi- -1 | pi.iise !<c w.-ll coo ■•eived work in no interest, j. e.. th-- ti^un » nn«* , tn;n . • ml.- I<< mh »ld S<doien/el rer,i:.:n -h:-douy or they would dijnu.^ • \«.' !l .nt in a comedy role. the leading roles. Si rondly. tin v. ay I V> '• > u- . Kiaus as Lord Hamilton in which the audience is M in o:i'..mi Coi.k.u Y« id: as Nelson divided the mystery after the s-cond reel: !fii-' . hi< ' .iclimr honors. Hut the I'rin'-.- Ay.vi'.s project > imm> rs d >w.i ! > • ■:« < M> -n o-' Liana Ilaidt for Lady to a tiiwihy revenge a\;uin.si t v>o . Hamilton \\n-< u stroke of aenius; totally uninteresting j»ersans. In M.e is a stu.on )• of the <.)ji\»- Thomas mich a film it is absolutely esr.eallal brand and will jo-t hit the American re '"ivcr. t ;i: : ;t sci:i«'thins terrifying from th* ;. .'e. As y-.-t. it is true, she «::■■''» ' 3 Reek of Smiles Sometimes a Sob s You remember Jackie from 'The Kid" and "Peck's Bad Boy." This is Jackie's best and the kind of pic- ture that makes the exhibitor glad he's got an Asso- ciated First National FRANCHISE A First National Attraction