Variety (November 1922)

i^" Friday, November 17, 1082 PICTURES 'rr,!', ■ r saR«ttHsa >*.' ENGLISH FILM NOTES ' London^ Nov. B. The campalirn acrainBt "spots" as ■" « means of attracting audiences has gpread to the metropolitan area. H. Sumner Jones, who started the i campaign against this form of un- I fair competitit... has received a 1^^ letter from thj Chief Commissioner # of Police In the metropolis to the *' effect that If this form of competi- t'- tlon Is discovered to be in use at i klnemas under the metropolitan ^ police jurisdiction the -necessary ^ Bteps will be taken to prosecute the ';■ offenders. 't I Another Kinema Trades Exhibi- ^' tlon is being planned by Cinema [' Exhibitions, Ltd., -to be held at Olympia from July 17 to Aug. 4 next year. '■'■'' Davidson-Granger, has completed ••Weavers of Fortune" under the di- rection of Arthur Rooke. The ex- i^ terlors have been shot In the Chil- tern Hills, and the cast Includes :' Henry Vibart. Dacia, Myrtle Vibart and Derek Glynne. Famous-Lasky is the latest firm here to cdopt the system of Im- mediate release. They will put out ' four of their new films without trade showing. These are "The Good Provider." "Saturday Night," "Bought and Paid I'>)r" and 'The Toung Diana.' . The first annual dinner of the Association of British Film Direct- ors was the ocpaslon for much plain speaking and a lot of self-praise. ; Nearly everybody present wanted to : make a speech, and many did. The speakers "panned" the manufactur- ers, the renters and the press. The latter estate came In for a thorough castlgatlon from a little bunch of »? producers who cursed the harsh criticism their "works of art" were ,. subjected to. It appeared they f thought all British films should be i lauded because they were British. 'U Arthur Conan Doyle's story, *The Sign of Four," In which negotia- tions are in progress for the ap- pearance of an American actress of repute. George KIdgwell will make another series of 16 "Sherlock Holmes" two-reelcrs with Eille Nor- wood as Holmes. Another big fu- ture production will be Temple Thurston's play, "The Wandering Jew," which Matheson Lang pro- duced as a legitimate attraction at the New. He will also appear in the film version. FILM ITEMS O«on B. D« Mille has been elected Tloe-president of the nowly organ- ised Federal Trust and Savings Bank of Hollywood. "Pay Day" was released here Nov. 6. The prices demanded for It cre- ated something of a sensation at the time, but the bookings are said to be exceptionally heavy. The big pull in the feature is Charlie Chap- lin's name, yet in some of the cin- ema's advertisements this has been left out entirely. Without the name as publicity "Pay Day" comes into the same category as Hamlet with- out the Prince of Denmark. Defying the ban placed upon its showing, the notorious Kitchener film was shown to the public for the first time Nov. «. The house chosen is the Leicester Square Kinema, a little place in the shadow of the Alhambra. It is intended to show the picture five times daily. The management of the kinema is pre- pared to face the consequences, and if necessary will fight the case in every court in England, adding it thinks the public is entitled to know the facts the film reveals. As a matter of fact, the details of the picture, which is mere clap-trap melodrama, have been offlclally de- nied by the sources from which they are siipposed to come. Thirteen companies are now at work producing Paramount Plcturta In Hollywood and In the Long Isl- and studio, but they are only a few of the big j)lctures to be released by Paramount after February 1. For business reasons the names of thcso pictures are being withheld. Hugo Ballin, who Is to make a screen version of Thackeray's "Van- ity Fair," for Goldwyn distribution, with hia wife, Mabel Ballin. as Becky Sharpe, has announced sev- eral other players in the cast. Har- rison Ford has been «>ngaged for the role of George Osborne. Eleanor Boardman will be the Amelia Sed- ley; Wlllard Louis the Joseph Sedley; Earle Fox the Captain. Pox Film Corporation announces fourteen productions, headed by a special, for release during Novem- ber. "My Friend the Devil," which Paul H. Sloano adapted from the French novel, "Dr. Rameau," by Georges Ohnet, and which was di- rected by Harry Mlllarde, who staged "Over the Hills," Is foremost on the month's list. It Is scheduled for general distribution on Novem- ber 19. INSIDE STUFF ON PICTURES rksaa zasa X- . .1 v J The situation in First National appears to have settled down for the time being, with J. D. Williams' departure for the coast. Several of the executives reputed so closely allied with Williams that thoJr resigna- tlon would be coincident with his withdrawal are still on the First National staff, but the rumor is persistent that Williams will negotiate for new connections on the coast, aimed to assembling a new releaslnir organization and the prophecy Is made that when this plan is In working order more than one of the First National men will be associated with him in a new venture. The story is that Williams Is amply financed to undertake an ambitious program. When he withdrew from the First National he received two years' salary and payment for his interest in the property, reported at 20 per cent. One report is that he used $100,000 a few weeks ago to buy an annuity that would Insure hie future against the risks of the film business. The agreement with the four stars and the United Artists permits the stars to play any of their pictures of over five reels length in le^it theatres under their own management, with the distribution going to the U. A. for picture house showings. This agreement takes In Griffith, Fairbanks and I'ickford. For Chaplin there is a separate agreement, since he has been Identified with short reelers. The Chaplin agreement says he may run as a special In legit ^houses anything made by him of over four reels. The United Artists' is a mutual concern with the intention of keeping distribution cost to a minimum. John J. Iris, who has been man- ager of the New York Exchange of Educational, has resigned and left the organization Nov. 15. He has been with the corporation for more than three years handling all of the New York State territory. An unusual feature In Broadway filmdom has leaked out that an ezhlbl* tor voluntarily Increased his rental price on a picture. The story concerns the Williamson "Wonder of the Sea," originally shown at the Rlaito. When the interest in the production was so great It was played for a second -week at tho Rivoll, with Hugo Relsenfeld, of bis own accord* increasing the rental price. A third week was then played at the Rialto, also at the Increased price. COAST PICTURE NEWS Members of a Goldwyn company have arrived here to make exterior scenes for the filmizatlon of Thomas Hardy's "Tcss of the DUrbervilles." The cast is not yet announced, but It Is thought the title role will be played by Blanche Sweet. The leading members of the Anglo-Hollandia Co. which will make the film version of Henry Arthur Jones' "The Hypocrites" have left for Haarlem. Artists en- gaged for the production are Wynd- ham Standing. Harold French, Syd- ney Paxton and Mary Odette. The much discussed von Stroheim picture, "Foolish Wives," was with- drawn from the New Oxford Nov. 4, and will be released for the ordinary klnemas Nov. 27. It will be fol- lowed by the Graham Wilcox pro- duction, "Flames of Passion." Nov. 10. This British "super.' which w\ll go in for a three weeks' run, is from an original story by Herbert and Mrs. M. V. Wilcox, has been pro- duced by Graham Cutts, the pro- ducer of "The Wonderful Story," and the cast Includes Mae Marsh, Hilda Bayley, Eva Moore, Herbert Langley. Aubrey Smith, Allan Aynesworth, George K. Arthur, Henry Vibart, A. G. Poulton. The flfm Is partly made on the Prlxma color system. The Talmadge stunt organized by the "Dally Sketch" and First Na- tional has taken another turn. Nov. », when "The Lady of the Rose" will reach 800 performances at Daly's, the 100 picked beauties from which tho future film star will be chosen to accompany the sisters back to America and problematical fame will be present as the guests of the sisters. Norma and Con- stance will themselves occupy a box. By EDWARD KRIEQ Los Angeles, Cal., Nov. 11. William Desmond is in Oxnard, filming desert scenes. Reaves Eason has taken his com- pany to Big Bear Valley to film a serial. Bert Lytell has been signed by Myron Selznick for "Rupert of Hentzau." Immediately after her return from Balboa Beach Shannon Day began work in "The Abysmal Brute" (Uni- versal). Colleen Moore and James Morri- son have been signed by Cosmo- politan for Frank Borzage's next production. • Frank Mayo is now under a Gold- wyn contract. Mayo will play one of the leads in Hughes' "Souls for Sale." ■ McVicker's, Chicago, the latest Jones. Llniok it Schaeffer picture house in that city, is reported paying Famous Players 17 Vi per cent. oC the gross for Its "Loop" first run privilege of F. P. productions. A. J. Blshnell of MonUna has | ^'^ Grauman, west coast picture exhibitor, has tiyued song writer, purchased the Rex, Spokane. ^" collaboration with Victor Schertxlngor, who also directs films whsA L. A. Wolfsohn, formerly pro- prietor of the Stroud, Btroudsburg, Pa., has taken over the Tuscan. Brooklyn, N. Y. BROAD DAYLIGHT Carl LAemmIe production, released throuKh Universal and featuring Lois Wilson by permission of Famous Players. IrvInK Cummin^ directed. At a Lioew bouse, New York. Nov. 14. Nora Pay .....L.ola Wilson Joel Morgan.... Jack Mulball Peter Fay Ralph Lewis Detective Marks Wilton TayJor The ••Scarab" Robert Walker Davy Sunday Kenneth Qlbson Shadow Smith Ben Hewlett not wooing the musical muse, "Just An Old Love Bong" has evolved. There Is a likelihood a new com- pany will be formed to carry on the making of tho picture, "Ood's Prod- igal," which International Artists dls ntlnued. Rowland V. Lee, director, has added Gertrude Aetor, Margaret Landls and Jay Hunt to the cast of ♦*Allce Adams," starring Florence Vidor. Wil]Iam Moran has deserted the kliegs for the foots. He is now a member of the Majestic Stock. Maurice Elvey's next Stoll pro- duction will be a filmizatlon of Sir 100% SF THE Exhibitors of Michigan Read our magazine published every Tuesday. If you want to rca clientele there is no medium. ^ reach this better Charlie Chaplin started this week the production of Kdna Purvlance's first Independent picture. Chaplin Is directing. Here Is the cast chosen by Hugo Ballin for the film version of "Van- ity Fair"; Willlard Louis, Eleanor Boardman, Earle Fox, Robert Mack. William Humphrey and Tempo Plgott. . , Without Charlie Chaplin what would some of the poor movie girls do for publicity? First It was Mae Collins who was reported engaRcd to the comedian, next came Lila Lee, then Claire Windsor and recently Peggy Hopkins JOyce, though Peggy is not a film queen. Now Eleanor Boardman, according to announce- ments in the papers. Is threatened with marriage by Chaplin. Chaplin isn't here to affirm or deny the re- port and naturally Miss Boardman says "nothing to It" while her press agent smlcs and plants new pic- tures of hie star. No one around tho ChapUn quarters had heard of Miss Boardman until the papers published the report. Ray Rennahan, who has turned the crank for a number of comedy aiars. Is now cameraman-in-chler for I'opular Pictures, Inc. Ralph and \>ra Lewis returned from Honolulu Nov. 5. Rates very low^ J MICHIGAN FILM REVIEW JACOB SMITH, Publisher 415 Free Press Bldg. DETROIT, MICH. Marshall Nellan has recently pur- rha.sod two big Btorics—Thomas Hardy's classic novel, "Te.ss of the D'Urbervilles." and Edward E. Hose's successful play, "The Hf ir Car.' has announced that called "The Boot- Fred Niblo ■the picture lef^ppr'fl l)auKht<;r." whldi is being rr!o;isod with his nam featured, is not a new production but was made four years ago at the Inoe studio under Thomas H. Inco's personal supervision. For his first vacation In several A straightaway crook story with the star and Jack Mulhall to hold It up sufficiently fbr exploitation in the average second-run houses. The theme Is not over fanciful nor Is It especially convincing, but the work of Miss Wilson and what element of suspense it possesses is adequate to appease the "may as well sit through" atUtude. It tells of a girl going up against the world alone while a double- crossed father Is doing "time." The remaining members of the departed parent's organization see a chance to grab coin through framing the wayward son of an aspirant to the governorship by having him marry Nora Fay, thence springing the "daughter of a convict as a member of tho family" for the hush money. It figures to be easy, so far as the girl Is concerned, 'cause the possible governor Is the man supposed to have crossed her dad. The prescribed schedule coes through faultlessly, Including the meeting and marriage, with the ex- ception they marry Nora to the wrong boy—explained by the misfit hu.iband having been a college chum of the objective man In the case who was "staked" by him when broke to the extent of a wallet with his name Inscribed. All of which leads to a fight between the "Scarab," leader of the gang, who Is sweet on Nora, and Joel Morgan (the husband), concluding In the wife taking care of her bridegroom for a few days following a tap 6n tho head from a gun. It's o, k., with both starting to like each other, till the "Scarab" makes an Impromptu call with Morgan drawing his own conclusion from same and be4ng ordered to walk out by Nora. Follows a Jump of three years to the return of the father, he being Induced to try another "Job" by the villain, with the girl trailing and saving her father in the house dur- ing the robbery. However, culmi- nating in a scuffle between old man Fay and the "Scarab," which brings forth the owner of the house, Mor- gan himself, and a dozen cops. The father clears the g>l before pa.ssing out and Nora Is reunited with Joel and the "Scarab" gets his, so it looks as though the title, with addi- tional information gleaned from the captions, means the faith that Joel had in his absent short-notice wife during that three-year Interlude. rummings has done nicely in holding (he interest with but a fair story, while it may be said of MIka Wilson that sho'w^rka equally as well wlien endowed with a mediocre scenario as when possessing better material. Wi.hout her the picture miRht easily have been Impossible except for tho lowest price ."icreen theatres. Rkig. > What First National BIG TIME AHRACTIONS Are Doing MISS TALMADGE'S BEST The Washington Post Says: "Never has Constance Talmadge done anything to approach her portrayal of Ming Toy in 'East is West.' It's a new Con- stance in eight reels of lively drama in which she proves her* self an actress of heart and feeling, capable of touching the sentiments and sounding the emotional depths." EXCITING AND HUMAN The Chicago Evening Post jays: "A new plot—the theme of 'Skin Deep* is up to the minute. Good melodrama, exciting and well presented and spectacu- lar. And there is real human interest." MYSTERY, THRILL, SURPRISE '' The St. Louis Globe-Democrat says: "Thomas H. Ince has given us a smashing melodrama of mystery, thrill and surprise in 'Skin Deep.' It grips the audi- ence firmly and sweeps with compelling force through some of the most thrilling incidents ever grouped in a single photo- play." . ■■ ' . : ^' ^' THE BEST PICTURE ; . The Waco, Texas, Herald says: '.^ ' "Not since 'Tolablc David' has the Strand shown such a picture as 'The Bond Boy,' presenting Richard Barthelmess. There is real pathos and real comedy; there are real people and real situations. As art, the film is a triumph; as drama* it is consummate. A sample of the best." ITS A TRIUMPH *,. The Cleveland Plain Dealer says: " 'The Eternal Flame' is a triumph for Norma Talmadge. Her iKiauty is as apparent as always, but her dramatic acting seems deeper and more sincere. The picture is gorgeously appointed." GREATEST DUAL ROLE The Chicago Hcrald-P.xamtner says: " 'The Masquerader* presents the greatest dual role ever filmed. Chilcote is perfection. Loder is perfection. Both arc Guy Bates Post." THOROUGHLY SUPERB The New York Evening Journal says: "Richard Walton Tully has set a new standard of produ^ tion in "1 he Masquerader.* This exciting story is enacted by Guy Rates Post with real power and subtlety—thoroughly superb." FIRST NATIONAL PICTURES :-* ,''■•