Variety (April 1924)

Wednesday, April 23. 1924 PICTURES VARIETY 21 » his ccnvictlcns. Despite his eor- f fUKgestive eitui.tlon. and there f. no bit cf business in the feature i. which the most prudleh could fine offense. He has taken dirt Ind Bhown it as dirt, not as a choc- *,"te-coatfd confection smothered in cheap Ecent, paint and powder. Bijou runs away from a circus in escape tho attentions of its pro- T^ietor. Kho finds shelter in a wretched cafe, and i« protected by ihe owner. In the place is a half- Ktarvcd violinist, and tho two fall in love. Another customer is a drunken haridan, always searching for her lost daughter, and Itnown to all the slum dwellers as "Moth- er" Bijou is kind to the old woman and wins her affection. After a while the proprietor shows hie hand, and poor Bijou has again to run away. S?he is joined by the ex- pelled violini.'it, and the two seek a wretched phclteT. Here they are found by the old hag, who realizes Bijou is ill and bears her away to her own filthy cellar. There birth- marks prove she is the lost daugh- ter, but the old wom.an remains cl- ient. The boy gets a job humping coal, and so manages to keep life Jn his sweetlieart. Anon, the ras- cally cafe proprietor finds out the party's hiding place, decoys the old wom.iii and the boy away, and makes up his mind to assault the «iek frirl. .She ifl s.ived.by the old woman, wlio in protecting her falls and hurts lier head. Dying, she tells tlie gill everything, and there the tragedy ends .abruptly. Carmine Gallone has done his work well. His production is a clicap one. but with a. little light and thade he might h.ave tinned out a great picture. His studied mor- bidness prevents this achievement. Throughout, the jicting is far .and away ahove the .average, and dua to this the picture is wortli seeing. Bonva <^!alkine is excellent as the t'irl. No other n.Tmcs are given, but tr. ••> players aro remarkably good. As a popular .attraction, "Through the Shadows" is well nigh hopeless: .-le an example of how near ttiiius ni.iy be approached and juiit iivcidcd, it is remarkable. Oore. INSIDE STUFF ON PICTURES MRS. ST. JOHN'S DRIVING SAVES HUBBY A SALARY ."Screen produceis in Hollywood as a pastime have been investing in real estate and found the returns quite lucrative. Recently there went from New York a man who opened a casting agency in Hollywood in addi- tion to one he operiitcs in the Metropolis. Business at the agency was not all he expected in a conversation one day wifli a producer he inquired as to how money could be made more quickly than he was making it. The producer replied .a good idea might be to buy property in escrow and before the option time expired to get rid of it. The proposition .sounded good to the casting agent. He told the pro- ducer if he knew of anything he would gladly shai-e with him. A relative of the producer came to him one day and told of .a pic'^e of property which could be gotten for a quick turnover. He sent the man to see the casting agent. The latter, after the Interview, called the pro- ducer on the phcne and told him to go ahead. It entailed an outlay of $10,000 with the producer at the last moment loaning the casting agent T5,000 to be put up for his share. This later was paid. Within a short time the relative of the producer found a purchaser for the property and a neat profit was made. The relative, however, later complained to the producer that he had not received his commission from the casting agent. A few weeks later another proposition came up whereby an outlay of $2,500 was required for a piece of proi>erty. Both the producer and the casting agent put up $1,000 each and another man was let in for $500. A 90-day option was taken on the property, and in the papers that were drawn the astute casting agent inserted a clause which said that regardless of who took over the property at the time the option expired, he would have a. $1,000 interest in it. After the option money had been posted th" casting agent had an attack of "cold feet." He found that the terms of the contract which called for the iKisting of $16,550 when the option expired was a bit too stringent for him. • Ho called the owner of the property, who Is a screen actress and wife of Court Proceedings Dropped When Wife Consents to Op- erate Car Herself $1,000,000 IN PRODUCTIONS Fritchie Secures That Amount of Film Rights for Central Europe Herr Fr!tcl)i^ wlio has been in this country for several weeks rep- resenting his Trans-Oce.Tn Film Co., b.'is secured the rights for Central Kurope for mere than $1,000,000 worth of film productions. For tlie rights to eight produc- tions, in which one of America's foremost women stars in the at- traction, he paid $180,000. Herr Fritchie returns to Germany this week. Los Angeles, April 22. After Lillian St. John had list- ened to her husl)and, Al St. John, f. -• picture comedian, plead for a reduction of her weekly alimony of $137.50 and her chauffeur's salary of $150 monthly, also allowed by the court, Mrfl. Kt. John stated she would dismiss the ehauffeur and drive the car hcrsilf. This being satisfactory, the court proceedings were dismissed. a film director, on the phone and told her that he thought the contr.tct was a bit too hard for him to carry out and requested that she allow him to make alterations. The proposition did not sound good to the owner, resulting in the agent calling her .a few days later to inform her lie had a position in pictures for h<^r and asked her to call upon him. The reply was that she was not interested in any position until tlie realty deal had been consummated. L.ast S.aturday the option expired and the new owners were to take title to the property. The producers went to the bank and waited for the agent. The latter did not ehow up and the producer called liim on the plione. He answered he would not go through with the deal and at the same time Informed the producer who said he would take the prop- erty over, that lie still held the $1,000 equity whether he took the prop- erty or not. The producer replied that such would not be the case. Then the agent chimed back and said, "Read tlie contract and you will see th.Tt I do." The producer read tlie contract and then informed the woman and the brink that he would not go through witii the deal as he was not inclined to let the agent in 'without openers." The producer and the other man sacrilii.ed their interes.. which took the $1,000 of the agent's also. GREER CASE POSTPONED Los Angeles, April 22. ■With the expectation that Mabel Normand will have returned to Cali- fornia by May 26, District Attorney Keys, with consent of counsel for the defense, asked Judge Crail In tho Superior Court for a postpone- mcrt of the Urcer .-a.se until that date. Warrants were issued last week for the arrest of Greer, Miss Nor- mand'.a chauffeur, on a liquor charge, following a raid upon his room by the police, who claim to have found five quarts of the bever- age, but not Greer. P. E. ROSEN ACCUSED BY WIFE AFTER DIVORCE Says Director Threatened to Place Her in Asylum—Wants $400 Weekly for Support Los Angelcc, April 22, Alleging her husbiind threatened to place her in an asylum, Mrs. Lena Rosen has started an action for divorce in Superior Court here. Mrs. Rosen says her husband, Philip B. Rosen, ts a picture di- rector, receiving $1,000 weekly, and listed $50,000 In community prop- erty she states tliey owned. There are three children. Mrs. Rosen also charges her hus- band with cruel treatment, besides "runninfc around with other women." "THIEF" IN McVICKER'S Negotiations have been closed by Aaron Jones for the placing of the Douglas Fairbanks picture, "Tho Thief of Bagdad," In the Woods', Chicago, following tho run there of "The Ten Commandments." Famous Players have the house until Aug. 3, with an option of four additional weeks, after which the Fairbanks production may come in. MASTODON JUDGMENTS <;ciald C. Duffy has taken judg- ment for $1,2-19.10 against the Mas- todon Films, Inc., Charles C. Burr and C. C. Burr, Inc., for services Tendered in writing two scenarios for the film company. Judgment went by default. O'Brien, Malcvin^ky & Driscoll rep- resented the plaintiff. Another judgmont for $900, also by default, was entered by Dorothy De Jagers, screen writer, against the Mastodon only. Miss De Jagers sold a fctory, "Average Woman," to Mas- todon, f.nd .Tllegcs an agrconieiit to fOit .".nd title tlie six-reel produc- iJOn for a consideration of $150 a reel. The film was released, how- ever, without her .<:ervicos having Icei, .-i\ailed of. 'PETER PAN" DIRECTOR Herbert Prcnon will iiroduce "J'eter Pan ' for r.iramounf, accord- ing to an announcement niado by Jesse L. Lasky. Mr. Hrenoii is now nearing tlie completion of his cur- rent ^iroduction, "Tho Montelmnk," at the Paramount Long Island studio, following which ho will go to the Wcft roast to direct the next Thomas M'ighnn picture, "The Alaskan.'' The California law which designate* as community property of married couples all holdings in the State secured after marriage has worked out exceedingly ^'cU for a picture director formerly well known as & stager of Broadway productions. The director, not ove:- proeperous, married a woman of means. They purchased a home and other property mostly with her funds. Some time later she became tired of California and decided to depart for the east, after "panning" the picture colony and the coasts in general. The direc- tor started ac'lon for a divorce on the grounds of desertion. "When the community property angle presented Itself the wife failed to put In an appearance to enter a claim with the result that all of the property was turned over by the court to the director. Things were pretty tough for him during the months the action was pending, but now he Is sitting securely and Incidentally has been signed to start work on one of the Hollywood lots. rf= PRESENTATIONS (Extra attractions in picture theatres, when not pictures, will be carried and described in this depart- ment tor the general information of the trade.) COAST FILM NEWS M.1X Cr-.t has finlshf-d "A Wiso Son," wliiih was adapted from tho novel by CharlcH Sherman. In the east aro Alec H. Francis, Kstelle Taylor, Bryant Washburn, Kwginlo Kcsserer, Ethel Walef. Phillips fe'malky and Frankie D.irro. I'liil Hoien diituted. Charles Ray has begun work on his fir.st jiictvire umicr the Tliomas H. lnc<» management. The title is "Hmuii,' Witli Kaliili Inco daecting. Colleen Moore is going around on crutches. She was chopping wcf<ls with a iiick.ixc and mi-s.-od, iiliinging ■~Tho spike through her left f<)<<t. Fho will be rcntin'.d dj her lioino I'^'r tcver.'il wt'ks. Tom J. Oer.-ighty is woikiiig rti his first indf-iiondent prtluction, "The F.nd of the World," in wliirh Jack Pickford is to be starred .if (Continued en page 39) SOPHIE BRANT Songs • 5 Min.; Full Stage (Special) Chicago, Chicago Chicago, April 22. Sophie Erant, featured In last week's supporting program at the Chic.ngo until she fell 111 and had to retire, made a spectacle effect. C icago music fans of the picture houses had never heard popular music iL.ndled in no high class a way. Miss Brant's reputation pre- pared everybody for one of those stiff and formal affairs, but the handling was entirely different. The stago setting that served as the operetta singer's background was tho extreme of simplicity. It suggested rather than showed in detail i music rotm, most of it in soft shadow, nnd with tho high lights two elcctiio lights, one on caih side. ;\Iiss Ihant appeared in the cen- ter, her figure brought out sharply by the tricky use of a spot, so that all the emphasis of the picture was on tho singer and the rest of the ensemble faded Into suggestion. Her pretty costume enhanced the effect greatly. The singer opened with "Roses of : icardy," with orchestral accom- paniment, .ind this eong, cf a par- ticularly sympathetic and sentimen- tal nature, gave her a first-rato start with the cubtomers (iis])o.<ed to k.-^s pretentious mu.sic of the ballad sort. fSho followed with |)i.uio acconi|iariinient, singing "My ir art at Tiiy Sweet "Voice." The nuiiibf IB were neatly picked. They <nrry the appeal of lovers of sim- jile numbers and Uie brilliancy cf rendering sati.'sfled those who looked for heavier material. All In all. Miss Erant proved Oie best musi- cal number the Balaba. & Katz houses h.ave picked. It was un- 'irtunate the singer fell 111 about mid-week and has not returned to the Bal.iban & Katz program, al- though it is promised she will. "IN LATIN QUARTER"; (10) 12 IVIIna.; Full (Special) Chicago, Chicago Chicago, Ajiril 22. This presentation was prob.ihly conceived In an effort to present Rita Owin again after her big suc- cess In the recent eyncopation week show. The fretting shows an artist's studio with a painting as large as a three sheet In the center of the stage revealing two dancing girls. A rather large picture at one side and others of sm.iller si/.e .are piled around promiseunusly and hung for display. The Chicago the.itrc quar- tet, consisting of Walter Pontius, Benjamin Land.tman, H. Aschbau- cher and Carl Bltteil, become better every time lieard. Both harmony and comedy efforts ftand out. Rit.a O'Aiii jiiiii) s tlircjiigli the largo picture at tho side, t'aring llie papT, and goes into her ec- cntric dance which is among the best offering fif it« kind. Three ghis enter from fho framp for a lo« dance. Tlie numbtr, in it-i entirety, is worthy of pr.al?e. After this Mi.'^s Owin returns for a biirlc.-que of the elassical dance; of the day, not sulTlcient to fol'ow hor previous elXort. TRIUMPH! "A Showman's Idea of a Picture" —NEW YORK TIMES — and step up to the RIVOLI and See a Showman's Idea of a CROWD! They all say the same: "A splendid box- office film." (Daily News). "One of the best features De Mille has ever turned out." (Times Square Daily). "Uncom- monly high-class picture, good for any theatre and any class of audience." (Tele- graph). "Give De Mille credit for giving Ihe public what it wants." (American). Cecil B. DeMille's "TRIUMPH" An ultra-modern romance. Leatrice Joy, Rod La Rocque and great all-star cast. Screen play by JEANIE MACPHERSON, from May Edginton'. ttory. Presented by Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lathy. a^ CparamountQlctucB •VaMOUS PLAYKH-S lA.SKVrX*<P0RAT10N