The New York herald., 1921-12-25
Lights and
ShadowS on NeWS
{ of Motion Pictures
sDon't Tell Everything an I'm
acknowledged Offspring Of
affairs of AnatOl.'
By FRANK vREELAND.

and didn't tell everything about the
picture. AS a matter Of fact, this
photoplay, in which Wallace Reid, Miss
Gloria Swanson and Elliott Dexter
starred, was an unacknowledged off,
spring of THE Affairs of Anatol,"
sort OF little Orphant Annie OF the
films. Quite a yarn has been going
around concerning the manner in
which this leftover from "Anator' was
saved from the ash can and tricked
out so that movie patrons didn't sus-
pect they were being offered a REM
nant sale.
Originally, Cecil B. De Mile planned
to use "The Affairs OF Anatol" merely
as shadowy thread binding together
n production to be called Five
Kisses" with five noted authors re-
ceiving a large number of smackers
for composing each smack. Among
these was TO be Avery Hopwood, who
was to make his blushing debut as
writer by appointment to His Majesty
the screen. But Hopwood stayed in
Hollywood-despite the natural affin-
ity between the two names-only long
enough to acquire material for '1The
Demi-virgin" and to become sufficient
ly acquainted with the Burke's Peerage
of the film colony to decorate his farce
with such names as Wallie and Gloria
So the famous authors project fol
this movie went overheard, and the play
was intrusted to several veteran see
mario writer's, hardened to making q
continuity out of anything. They
probably made a better job Of It than
the professional writing talent dragged
In off the street would have done. Then,
after De Mile had completed the pic
ture, he underwent great agony Of soul
trying to reduce 1t to the proportions
where film fans could absorb it at one
gulp, instead of having to sit through
q sort Of film Wagnerian performance.
He managed to reduce the production
TO one hour and fifty minutes of run
ming time. with his jaws properly
clenched. There he said he was through
he couldn't take out his soul and
jump on 1t by any more cutting. But
his chief associates told him he'd have
to apply the shrinking process again;
ne couldn't expect to present such an
endurance test to patrons in these days
OF a short film. but a gay one. More
over, they argued, exhibitors would not
accept such lengthy feature, as they
would have to eliminate from their
I, regular programs those all-important
incidental films showing dreadnought
passing under the Brooklyn Bridge.
pelican swallowing fish. view Of Babe
Ruth ard the like. Since the process
seemed to hurt De Mile. they would
let some one else trepan the film.
eff you do" cried De Mile. reused
like the embattled farmers Of Lexing-
ton, 'I can never point with pride to
'Anatolev ="
But they called in an expert vivisec-
ZIONIST, who cut out the root OF the
trouble-he lifted out the fifth episode
bodily, bringing the picture down to
express speed OF one hour. Somehow
De Mile became reconciled TO the re-
suit without being tied. But mean
WHILE, the question arose: What shall
we do with this surplus crop of art?
An inspiration hit the company that
n separate picture could be made out OF
It with the introduction of few more
automobiles and a new gown for Miss
Swanson. &C. So the added scenes were
spliced on by Sam Wood as director-he
had worked with De Mile on TIE orig
inal-and Lorna Moon as the writer Of
a few more sophisticated fiippancies and
the rearranged result was given the nrst
title to hand in the current stock which
happened to be Don't Tell Everything.
And as the motion picture eNploiteers
said themselves. you couldn't tell II
apart from regular picture.
Recently a desperate affair was re-
ported in progress between leading
man and an actress In Los Angeles. al
though the latter already had husband
but then, husbands are virtually un-
constitutional In Hollywood. That sort
OF description might fit almost any COM
pany out there. But young woman
scenario writer, who knew which two to
identify. Immediately began work on a
scenario to fit them both. Sae figured
that they would naturally appear In
their next picture together. because IN
the film colony so often the course oil
true love runs before the same camera:
That's the advantage. she explained
20 her friends, "of being on the inside
and knowing who's in love with whom.
These romances help your market very
much.'
When Famous Players-Las,iy reopen
their Long Island studio on April l-the
date, has no significance in the movie
worId-Mme. Marie Jeritza, the noted
yiennese singer who has been surcharg-
ing the air with opera SO remarkably of
late. will be invited there to take a
screen test. 10 see II her magnetic coun-
tenapce can come across on the silver
sheet IL all goes well she may follow
the celluloid trails OF Geraldine FarraT
and Mary Garden and take nun cruise.
"ycndetta," the latest continental
film In which Miss Pola Negri Is now
casting her spell. Is notable. IL for
nothing else. because the hero, though
only a simple naval lieutenant. wears at
various times the uniform OF practically
every other rank In the British service.
The climax comes when he Is married
in on admirars uniform. Apparently
thet Germans felt that any man who
underwent such a ceremony deserved
protfotion to the highest rank
Now Rudolph Valentino Is the latest
Htar over whom movie companies
thrcaten TO go to war. regardless OF the
Washington conference. At It's recent
convention First National assured its
exhibitors that IL had him under con-
tract, but now Famous Players declare
they have him tied hand. foot and face.
Secretary Hughes has not yet been sent
for 70 settle It.
Foolish Wives" Il Ia now said. will
heat the atmosphere at the Central The
ater in two weeks, but personally one
IS inclined to be cautious about this un-
til Universal begins sending around the
tickets. And even them The latest
report is that II will not be released In
three eight reel instalments. but will be
lcx al I'm, ottff