The New York herald., 1922-06-11
High Lights and
Shad0wS on Mems
of Motion Pictures
Production at Long Island
City Studio Of Famous Play
ers-Lasky Revived.
BY FRANK vREELAND.

IcttOtS III oily Va tuC Sttdicss
is running at large over a big acreage
of Aim again. Having finished his
latest picture at Universal City. Cal.
he has gone into retirement in order
that his flesh might not creep and his
teeth chatter while Universal blandly
performed that magic trick-new for
Won Stroheim-entitled Saving a
Movie in Half
1t has taken him no less than 1,760
scenes to show low much genius he
has on the screen in the latest bit Of
mileage from his megaphone. This is
being moved down to 900 scenes. The
operation is being performed by sheer
strength by Lucien Hubbard Of the
Universal scenario department. TO
date neither Of Hubbard's arms has
given way.
1t is interesting to observe that Uni
serval welcomed Won Stroheim back to
the fold after all the uncertainty con-
cerning his return to that company fol-
lowing the release Of Foolish Wives ''
when that picture was finally crowded
into the Central Theater after chain
gangs of film editors had been set to
work to condense it and the producers
had perspired large globules that almost
turned into celluloid as they ran. Won
stroheim buried himself in New York.
as ne felt his picture being torn limb
from limb. But as 1t had taken hin,
something like 10000 feet-or sixty reels
Ito dilate his soul and expand his eyes
in closeups throughout this picture.
tome method short Of hydraulic pressu, Q
had to be used to keep the picture with
In bounds.
have a contract with Universal, tnt was
allowed for the time being to roam at
will on a leave Of absence 1t was
finally decided to harness his Lrain
power for Universal again. But this
time the company executives, reniem-
nering the hectic period when t@c pre-
ceding picture was being shrunk for
New York consumption to something
less than the dimensions Of q Wagneriari
cycle. decided to do their mpu.atins
early. Curiously enough. Won Stroheim
nas never directed a serial. thoagh ne
rhows just the reproductive power for 1t.
When comment was made on Foolish
Wives" to the effect that the director
might have taken his principals and
cameraman to the real Monte Carlo and
shot the actual scenes there a. about
/. ,000th Of the expense OF building
elaborate sets Of the noted gambling re-
sort, It was carefully explained that the
authorities OF the Mediterranean princi-
rality were as inflexible as The Chinese
about having pictures taken OF their
sacred city. And just about then Hy
Mayer had to come along with his
travelaugh, Such Is Life in Monte
Carlo" and spoil everything.
Following Adolph Zukor's conviction
from countrywide reports that business
was booming, production at the Long
Island City studio OF Famous Players
Lasky has taken a new lease of lie,
contrary to pessimistic belief that this
studio would remain chiefly notable
henceforth as a monument to the in
dustry Jack Holt and Thomas Meighan
are scheduled to come East in about a
month and practice running the gamut
| Of human emotions at the Long Island
| studio. the first time in several years
that either Of them has worked in this
neck of the woods. though Meighan has
been committing from the coast so often
of late that he almost knows where the
] Aquarium is.
With Alice Brady already engaged or
a picture here, their advent will mean
that the big plant will be running al
about half capacity. and various extras
property men and electricians who have
not been there for a year will begin tc
feel that after all the great art Of the
movies has not gone to smash. The
| Ia Slv IN "a ic Af
to be working at full capacity, and yet
not single announcement has come
| forth OF any OF the players, suddenly
restored to prosperity. being arrested FOR
speeding.
Mae Collins, runner up In the elimina-
tion contest for Charlie Chaplin's hand
in marriage, Is back In New York look
ing the town over preparatory to decid-
ing how much Of II she will buy anL take
back with her to California in the form,
Of jewelry. costumes and hair nets. She
has just finished sequestering herself
with a stock company In Detroit. where
she determined to round out her dra.
matte education for the speaking stage
and develop more lung power than the
movies require. Miss Collins is con-
vinced that she has a future in the
spoken drama. and is ready at a mo-
ment's notice to convince any one else
Being ambitious, she may remain II,
New York after all and give the stage a
hefty hoist.
The Stroke OF Midnight" which falls
due for a second week at the Criterion
to-day. 10 another Of those foreign pic
tur-s which have spent many months
battling their way against the traffic ur.
I'll Il finally lodged on Broadway. This
Swedish picture had to walt a couple of
years before 1t finally broke over the
crest.
| 3. A. Rolfe. who used to handle the
reins at the Strand several years back
as the managing director. and later
formed his own photoplay producing
company. has recently been at the head
Of band In vaudeville that seeks to
iival the resounding glories OF the Elm
City Silver Cornet Band. Such is the
way that life in the big city varies,
there being no known way TO stop II.
Rodolph Valentino. the ex-defendant
Of Los Angeles. is scheduled. among the
numerous pictures which Famous Play
ors-Lasky is preparing to release. to
send the temperature OF the screen right
UP into the Oriental regions again
with q bit OF passionate dynamite called
| 4. A~<~ I