The New York herald., 1922-08-13
High Lights and
ShadOws on Mems
of Screen World
Rupert Hughes, Author, Up
sets Movie Traditions by
Changing Own Story.
ny FRANK vREELAND.

a upset II lHe HoNies' "heie
they set EN- up one day only
TO knock 'em down the next. Rupert
Hughes in filming his story OF Holly
wood, Souls for Sale" is going to
change 1t from its magazine form so
that its own heroine wouldn't recog
nize II. Hitherto such alterations have
generally been made only after the au-
thor has growled himself hoarse.
Fanny Hurst and Star Dust for the
instance that rings most loudly In
memory.
In fact. a movement was started re-
Gently by screen writers to exercise
some sor. of compulsion over producers
90 that they wouldn't buy a story, use
the title, throw away the rest Of 1t and
then let their fancy roam at large. And
now comes Hughes and starts a new
deal all around by voluntarily remold-
ing his story nearer to the hearts de-
sire OF his Goldwyn hackers. No doubt
there Is much compensation for the
writer in this case, because he will
direct the production himself and decide
just where the ak ought to fall with
the best grace.
The whole Hughes family seems de-
termined to help the movies all they
can. Not only does Mrs. Hughes as
efst her husband In the preparation of
his scenarios but his son Rush seems
destined for a career before the camera.
after having demonstrated in his first
picture, The Wall Flower" that he
could do more than top off a tuxedo
with pompadour. Rush seems to have
been appropriately christened. for he
moved about in this film with the speed
of his name.
) Leave IL TO the films to open up alb
Boluteiy new vistas OF life-unforeseen
vistas YOU might say. Some OF the
suburban neighborhood houses are ad-
vertising Basil Kings picture. THE
Dust Flower" on their billboards as a
drama os "slum society life"
But thcn the ways of exhibitors are
wonderful. simply wonderful. In one
place "Nanook OF the North" has been
run as a serial, the exhibitor feeding
1t to his patrons a bit at a time each
week, which must have been tantaliz-
Ing in this warm weather. That is
something quite unexpected in connec-
tion with this picture. though the pic
ture itself has developed the habit Of
being unexpected
This Eskimo film Is proving a big hit
throughout the country, which must be
source Of secret qualification to s. L.
Rothafel, who first showed 1t at .he Cap
itol because he liked 1t himself. though
ne was rather apprehensive that the
general public would give the Arctic
Circle the cold shoulder. But ii is going
like wildfire in most localities. though
once In a great willie 1t is dead loss !.
others-which may be in regions where
they don't like Eskimo pie.
The film, by the bye, was originally
offered to Paramount. whose representa-
tves turned It down because they
figured II was primarily a scenic. In
spite of the fact that not once was there
mention OF Gods glorious open spaces
of the Wild" Paramount figured they
didn't have any place for II on their list
OF features-especiaily as II didn't con-
tain a word of that rum running which
the public has come to associate with
most pictures of the north to-day.
The GOODWIN company. which took
screen tests a short while ago OF the
Count and Countess Zichy. has not con-
tracted with the titled pair to immure
themselves permanently In a studio This
does not mean that the Count and
Countess were considered Ineligible as
film players-in fact the Count enter
tained several of the company with the
little bits of extemporvaneous business
he did before the camera-but the Gold
wyn company finds no place In in cur
rent roster wherein the couple might fit
to the greater glory OF all conserned.
Houdini has a new picture all COM
-pleted. called ''Haldane of the Secret
Service" ABOUT which he Is saying moth
ang until he Is ready to uncoil II at the
public. Like THE Man From Beyond
Il was written and produced by the IA
nous handcuR expert, but unlike its
predecessor II does not use water falls
20 start ones emotions overlooking. But
of course Houdini makes a spectacular
escape--he is one knight OF the celluloid
who counts a picture lost unless he car
literally escape from the tolls.
He gets away from ship by devious
means. including his favorite water boz
trick. by which he extricates himself
from his fetters while upside down ir
n box immersed In water. with no dam
age except to his hair comb After suct
tricks Houdini by his heavy breathing
conyincingly shows that he iS cut out
for a modern screen hero.
L He has been busy OF late organizing
Its for "The Man From Beyond" ant
ecnding them out with performing
magician doing Illusions as a sort oi
refined ballyhoo. Mono OF them. how.
ever. will include the elephant which
proved so bashful on tho opening night
in New York and declined to come or
the stage. even in response to the lure oi
gum drops. The three weeks run which
this picture had In New York made nc
money TO speak OF. but then Houdin
had anticipated that using the engage
ment here simply as an advertisement
TO give the photoplay momentum that
would speed 1t on its way on the road.
More and more attention is being de-
voted to lighting in the movies, and tho
Germans as well as others seem to bt
realizing that for mortal combats or fo'
zen fights careful illumination is hal
the battle Douglas Fairbanks In "RobiI
Hood" the sumptuous production nov
nearing completion In Los Angeles. OF
Scrs the latest example OF the devotion
being shown TO "the white light of In
epiration." List to the dulcet words from
Dougs studio:
In laying out the lighting system b,
means OF which the camera staff always
n assured of the very best results {
light OF the greatest might was sought
one hundred and fifty electricians
worked for two months in perfectint
the plant The amount OF current con
surned in one afternoon properly Z
Illuminate the banquet sail set In Kirt
richards castle ia sufficient to light thu
entire city OF Los Angeles for sever
hours. All this brilliance is needed e
ttaaN w.rt1 hn ehf .xrug