The New York herald., 1921-05-01

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junction with Charles b, Dillingham;
and Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr, attached
himself to the move rights to Gen.
Low Wallaces masterpiece was that
this trio would implant the famous
romance on the screen themselves, with
Griffith megaphoning to the actors TO
show little pep and not look at the
camera. The inside dopsters had 1T
all figured out for the benefit of hu-
manity that Douglas Fairbanks was
TO drive the chariot in the best style
of the Roman taxi chauffeurs and leap
about at the slightest provocation
But this rumor got off the wrong
foot. The Griffith offices have turned
1t into nothing but wind. 1t was
pointed out that 1t would cost Grit
fith $4,000 600 to put a finger on the
picture rights, and that after the items
of exploitation and production had
been added up, including a trip to
Ronn and another bill presented to
Congress by n foreign hotel for dam
age to It's furnishings by another
American mission, Griffith would be a
sadder and a wiser man by 81. 1000.
Giving even Doug Fairbanks a chance
to somersault on to the backs of the
chariot stations didn't seem worth 1t
at this price.
Moreover, Griffith is prevented from
directing for any one else by an IRON
bound contract with the ID. w. Griffith
Corporation, and though this is his
own company, naturally he has scruples
about breaking his word to himself
So this report about "Ben-Hur" is
harohxr fnto
only to break out with redoubled en-
ergy at some future date.
Griffith is not going to start work
on Stamping Faust upon the films
Tor the present till he makes sure that
censorship board won't tear II to
ribbons and make it look like q mere
trip through Steeplechase Park But
he will shortly begin shooting at his
Mamaroneck studio on a new picture,
the details of which are kept locked up
in the office safe. 1t win not be another
story by Thomas Burke, for Griffith
has finished with his Burke phase.
He disclosed a few days ago that fol-
lowing the revival at the Capitol this
week OF his first great achievement,
THE Birth OF a Nation" he would
throw Intolerance" on the mercy of
the world again. He intends to present
this quadruple spectacle largely for his
bwn satisfaction and Is thinking of
advertising something like this: This
picture was a successful failure. If you
liked 1t you are welcome to come again.
If you didn't there is nothing to COM
pei you to come"
Griffith explained that in making this
picture he had tried to evolve some
thing new by driving four stories tam
dem, for he thought II was about time
that a novelty should be developed.
since the stage had produced nothing
new In 5000 years. But he found that
the public found it difficult enough to
hold on to one thread Of thought, let
alone an epidemic Of four ideas at
once.
In this connection the producer made
known that the picture had been so
enormously successful abroad that he
hadn't made any profits on 1t. In Italy
IL became more popular than curstng
the Government. At one time thirty
two prints OF II were exported TO that
country alone. when ordinarily twenty
one prints of one picture Is about all
the whole of Europe can stand.
1t even made the Japanese bat an
eye-maybe both. The japanese exhib-
itor who bought the Nippon rights paid
$4,000 for them, and in four days had
cleaned up half that sum. even though
he made his compatriots stand and de-
liver SIS for a seat, which generally
would start a riot there. His profits
were so huge that he was able to build
q string OF movie houses and Synthetic
more civilization on unresisting Japan.
In the same way Griffith let tht picture
escape out OF his hand on the Continent
so cheaply that he made fortunes for
others but hardly enough to keep HIM
self In postage stamps.
Some day Griffith may film one of II.
@. Weiss stories, IL not THE outline
OF History" He considers When the
Sleeper Wakes" and THE War Of the
Worlds" fine copy for cinema sensa-
tions, particularly the latter tale, with
the Martians putting II all over the
earthly inhabitants until the microbes
knock them cold. On his last trip
abroad Griffith talked over the matter
or sitting his stories through the screen
with the noted British author. but
couldn't do any more than part friends
with him.
1t has become known that the curious
figure OF s41, 900 stipulated by Griffith in
return for letting Richard Barthelmess
cast off from him and go with another
producer Is traceable to Joseph Herges-
heimer Barthelmess wanted TO appear
IN four stories by this novelist, and so
s4f 900 was paid for them to keep him
happy However. II he goes Griffith
prefers that he should take the stories
away with his makeup box, and hence
the figure set for signing waivers on
him.
John Barrymore has practically COM
pressed the last BIT OF emotion into THE
Lotus Eaters" the picture In which he
has been acting under the direction OF
Marshall Neilan. with Miss Anna O.
Nilsson exposed TO the weather opposite
him In this 0rv, which will probably
receive a new tle for release, the star
plays comedy. romance and jumps 1f
dock I'm fact" says Barrymore, its
q regular movie"
Fascinated though he acknowledges
himself TO be by the films. this distin-
guished actor finds that appearing be-
fore the camera under the powerful
lights Is trying on the eyes no matter
how wholesome for the pocketbook. The
other day he emerged from the Biograph
studios, where the final touches were put
on the photoplay. with his eyes stream
ing as though he had just been watching
his own deathbed scene in Peter Ibbet-
SON"
The eyes are not tho only features
which suffer I'm screen actors that the
public may feel this is a grand old world
despite tho taxes The Famous Players
Lasly Corporation has had TO hire a
doctor TO heal the skin burns Of players