The New York herald., 1921-12-18

week solely to see that spoken play
"rhe Bad Man." which Douglas
fancied would do him rather well on
The screen and probably hoped to
down in a characteristic rush. That
trip threw an interesting sidenght on
the fact that film producers are no
longer Offering their fortunes and
their private stock for stage vehicles.
year ago film entrepreneur
seemed to think he was treating him.
self shabbily unless he forced a the
atrical manager to accept 100000 for
the film rights TO play. Now the
cry of the movie producer is Where
can I get a good play cheap-and on
the easy payment plan?" The press
agents typewriters no longer add a
string of noughts TO the purchase
price from force of habit.
Take the case of William Harris,
Jr.. the stage impresario who has been
besought by Fairbanks for a chance
to shoot "rhe Bad Man" full OF holes.
A year ago Harris was turning down
well nigh fabulous offers for his pro-
ductions with his eyes shut and a
gentle smile on his lips. He intended
to envelop them in celluloid himself,
through them. In the case of "The
Bad Man." this policy was fortified by
the resolve of Holbrook Blinn, the
star. that none but he should eat
beans in the principal role.
Then late this summR Harris made
up his mind to go abroad and curtail his
productions. letting the movie directors
take toll of his treasure chest of plays.
SO he opened this Pandora box and al
lowed THE Bad Man to be blown into
the Famous Players-LaslSy office. The
film company offered $4,000 for this
chance to subdue Mexico to the screen.
Harris demanded 100000, so Famous
Players loosened up and raised ITS bid
$4,000.
In the midst of this dickering cable
gram was sent to Fairbanks firing the
rights at his head. Douglas asked for an
option on it until December Is and hur
ried back to view the play--which he
had never seen-to determine whether
it was frisky enough for him. 1t was
expected that as a result of his Boston
trip an agreement would be reached.
that 100000 would be offered aid ac-
cepted without q struggle and that
glasses would clink over the deal. Fair
banks would not be likely to start any
production of "The Bad Man" for sew
eral months, as he is anxious to acquire
sunburn for '"The virgirian." for which
he paid $4,000 to tether it to the silver
sheet.
In the same way Griffith IS said to
have told Harris that 100000 was al,
he could afford for East Is West" in
which Miss Lillian Gish would probably
have been put UP for sale. Harris de-
clined, Tightening his grip on the com
edy. Now it is being displayed tempt
ingly in the face of Miss Marion Davies
a1 10 Gof hot fIAr
abouts might win the day and the play
any time.
Harris. however, will probably cling
firmly to Abraham Lincoln" az that
drama is probably good for four or fiv :
years more before 1t is finally yielded
to the movies.
Meanwhile, Famous Players-Lasl<y is
said to have come to an arrangement
with A. l.. Erlanger over unleashing on
the screen "Ben-Hur," prize of them all
as regards its purchase price. which
about equals that OF a battleship. Fa-
nous Players are reported to be laying
plans for filming this dreadnought
among plays, and IT is TO be hoped they
viii show every detail of the noted
chariot race through slow motion pic
tures. Recently IL was runored that the
Unione Cinematografica Italiana had
Rome. but this wes denied without re-
straint. 1t Is quite possible, however,
that the picture may be photographed in
the Eternal City, where art Is as cheap
as labor. and temperament as abundant
. as spaghetti
Charles Ray and Mrs. Ray. who ac-
complishes the feat of being a charming
wife and keeping quiet about 1t. are
known for their weakness for domestic
ity. and desired to move away from the
seething vortex of Hollywood, where the
milling about In search OF gayety by
many OF the boys and girls were apt TO
jostle other folks regulations. So the
Rays bought house in the exclusive
Beverley Hills section, where It would
seem that the air was too rarifled for
most of tho film colony painting after
pleasure. The Rays lost some Of their
r'acidity when they discovered soon that
two movie households had moved on
either side Of them, cutting off all re-
treat.
Late reports from the coast have II
that Chaplin has gone cold on May Col
lirs. despite the natural warmth OF the
climate. But in the words which Ber-
r1i'! Shaw designed for Chaplin and
ether Of his temperament, you never
can tell" Miss Collins Is now starring
~ the head OF hcr own company, pre-
sumably on the talent she showed in be-
ing spoken Of az Chaplln's next.
Gollwyn Is said TO be looking for
ward 90 a particularly happy Christmas
becapse Of the fact that "The Old Nest"
s. being lined with money throughout
the country. In New York this Rupert
Hughes picture was something of n
vacuum. but folks are making a great
deal OF fuss over II on the road, where
homes mean much more anyhow. Ex-
hihitors are writing In about Il en-
Enthusiastically, and also about Hughes's
other picture. Dangerous Curve Ahead. ="
which Is curveting and prancing around
wipningly. Numerous contracts IN other
cities are also said TO have been signed
Tor 'Theodora,' now running out of
hr0ath ut the Astor, so Goldwyn Is ioolS-
ing for the guy who hollered Hard
timcs!" :"
Tho mystery Of the Goldwyn office
there Is always some mystery In every
ofIlce--is Just what will be done with
"Thc Ship" Gabrielle d'Annunzio's photo
drama. which was TO have been launched
as coon as the lions in "Theodora" had
been sent Of their way woofng. This
picture OF the founding of Venice has
been cut down and altered considerably