The New York herald., 1921-01-16
Screen Gossip
RumOr VIII Not Down That
Ford Will Turn Millions
Into Pictures.
By FRANK vREELAND.

caOfS tne oiu Jezepeis refuses
TX TO be hushed UP concerning
the reputed expansion of the
motion picture activities of Henry
Ford. the man who made tin famous.
The report will not down that Ford
intends to pour hts millions and his
energy into developing his side order
OF films. particularly with a view tow
ard influencing the great American
people in deciding whether they ought
TO have blue laws or Henry Ford for
President-the latter not being an al
tentative, Of course.
Those close TO Ford deny, naturally.
that he intends to boost the blue laws.
pointing out that Sunday is the most
popular day for his make of car TO be
running wild on the highways. It Is
also asserted by his associates that
Ford has no desire to be starred In
pictures as Presidential candidate.
1t is said, however. that the automobile
manufacturer has been persuaded by
his advisers that with SO much capital
required to start a newspaper, motion
pictures offer q cheaper and equally
striking means OF catching the pub
lie ear through the eye. 1t Is known.
however, that there is q likelihood OF
picture being distributed in con-
nection with the Ford Weekly show
ing thousands of signatures Of citizens
from every State in the Union who
consider they would feel happy with
blue Sunday.
Another pet project which Is said to
be engrossing Ford's attention Is pic
tured propaganda urging the caused good
roads, 70 that. as one man In the Aim
industry put 1t. more persons could start
out over longer distances In an expensive
car and finish the run in fliyver The
Ford pictures. dealing with Industrial
subjects principally. were for while
exhibited In connection with the Goldwyn
programme with a line stating that the
pictures were shown by grace of Ford
Later, however. they came out In their
true colors as the Ford Weekly.
Now they are no longer being handled
by Goldwyn, but have reverted to Titz-
patrick. McDlroy g. Co. of Chicago, who
are their private guardians. 1t is not
known to what extent Ford intends to
plunge on his film venture--whether hs
intends to get out several educational
producing. or maybe to splurge on q
fiction venture, properly standardized
and assembled. In this connection the
following interesting comment rushed to
the lips OF an independent producer:
Ford win find out, IL he hasn't al
ready. that money itself will not mako
the movies go. Millions mean nothing
In this business--we can get all the
money we want. What Is needed in this
p a N n hro ms or III
kings In Europe. And pictures can't be
turned out with quite tho same mar
vellous ease az dollar watches or elegant
tin Lizzies."
The appearance few days ago OF
cinema camera men at Ellis Island with
the pronurciamento that they were there
to take pictures OF the local color for a
picture called Through the Back Door,"
In which Mary Piclsfords curls would be
presented as those of n Belgian inimi-
grant occasioned no alarm hero that
Mary was about to descend on the local
map and cast gloom In the hearts of
resident celluloid queens. Mary is re-
ported to be working on picture with
different title out West. and the prob
ability Is that the prints OF Ellis Island
will be shipped to California and Mary
will be deposited on this country FROM
Belgium via the Golden Gate.
Douglas Fairbanks. the husky hus-
band. In also busy on his next picture,
which Is none other than a screen
adaptation of Owen Wister's tale Tho
Virginian," with Douglas wearing tho
six shooting jewelry. Following that 1t
Is planned for him to do Tho Melan-
cholians." Aim yarn by Rob Wagner,
and then will come the great exodus Of
Mary. Doug and Charlie Chaplin to tho
Old yVArId nhoh "a ,lxy I'm,
history with which the average film
fan can link It is the exodus from
Egypt of the children OF Israel.
This Is the exclusive story OF the
manner In which the American navy
was recently chased out Of Mexico.
The Mexicans themselves did not tip oft
the world to this exploit a few days
ago. because they became suddenly
bashful when they learned that tho
sailors they routed out OF Tia Juana
were bunch Of movie actors.
Players composing a company that
John Emerson and Anita Loos sent
into Mexico for the filming Of their
latest picture were the thespians who
rislxed being shot because OF their art.
II happened shortly after Victor F1em-
Ing the director. recruited a couple OF
battalions OF the leisure colored class OF
san DleEO, lex. ne Outntteu tHcru
partly in uniforms OF United States
Navy seamen and partly In old French
equipment, the latter representing SOL
diers of "the kingdom of Bunkonia,'
which was naturally what Mexico stood
for In the story.
The costumes made q gaudy but
motley array for the picture, called
wife Insurance." and were as impress
sive as a social razor N cutting a
swath in dusky San Diego circles. So
the warriors. AZ they marched like
parading members of a new fratcrnal
order into Tia Juana under the lead OF
big Tom Wilson. a burnt cork comedian.
were quite ready TO die for their ooun-
try--in the films However. they swal-
lowed their grins when II looked as II
they would actually get q chance to do
this inside tho border town. The dcni-
gems OF the "wickedest town" roared
objections. though not because Mexico
stood for the Kingdom of Bunkonia.
The yeip that the mob raised was;
"sansre de Diol The gringo army 10
invading usi'
Drunken ruralcs and Just plain drunls
set upon the movie actors with real
movie action. The pseudo giadiators ex-
changed a few surprised thumps with
the maddened popuiace and then shriv-
eiled back across the border before
dreadful blast OF Mexican curses. Wild
patriots, thiisting 10 wipe up the whole
United states. had TO content themselves
with capturing three ebony hued sailors
n attached 20 the names John Aristotle