The New York herald., 1922-03-19
High Lights and
ShadOpS on NeWS
of Motion Pictures
Germany Stirred Over PAS
SION Hart's Retirement-Fa-
nous Players-Lasky Plans.
BY FRANK yREELAND.

a delicate barometer OF public opinion,
prove 1t. Word has just reached here
that Vienna. which is looked upon as
its appendix BY Berlin, has just risen
up mad at its German neighbor and
produced a photoplay to get back at
Inter den Linden.
The Austrian capital was stirred
70 take this drastic action By Pas
sion" Every one in America and
elsewhere made such a fuss over this
Berlin product by Ernest Lubitsch
that 1t looked as If Vienna w3uld be
overlooked. even with it's starving.
Lut Vienna would not tamely submit
10 being forgotten-it would Eave its
one glorious hour on the screen, as
Elinor Glyn might say. SO the leading
citizens OF Vienna got together and
the Burgomaster and the City Council
left Off muttering about the Little En-
fente long enough to get together and
they ali decided that il was high time
they had municipal movie plot. since
Soyalist plots seem going out OF fash
son.
They hired the distinguished German
sctor, who played the Prime Minister
!n Passion" and made him director
and leading player of the production
and gave him real money TO produce II.
which shows they were mad clear
through. Moreover, they let him make
the photodran1a. which was a medieval
theme. IN ancient noble castles, so that
when lord was knocked over In the
course OF the fights which they were
always having in those days, with OF
without referees. he bumped his head
on solid bit of history. AS most of
these edifices have since been razed for
one reason or another, 1t provides ar
opportunity for foreigners to see some
authentic baronial piles that Cooks
Tours themselves cannot point out with
all their customary thoroughness.
The story Is said TO concern Caelios-
tro. that enigmatic magician who trav-
eled about Europe century or so ago
and anticipated the methods of p. T.
Barnum. And the viennese submitted
70 having some of their ancient rulers
revealed in an unsavory light through
the picture, Indicating just how mad
they were at Berlin.
John S. Robertson, a leading director
for Famous Players-Lasky, is travelling
to Los Angeles to put life into the films
there. But 1t is not with his original
purpose OF making pictures Immediately
for Famous Players, as he has been
loaned to Mary Pickford TO make her
next picture. which will be ''Tess OF the
Storm Country" revived and brought
down 10 the era of flappers. After that
he will make a production on the coast
FOR Famous. probably with Agnes Ayres
furnishing the starry eyes and the pant
Ing lips Then he Is to return to New
York and permeate the Long Island film
hothouse.
or course. back of the decision to
farm out the noted director was one
more reversal OF the PLANS concerning
the Long Island City studio, which thus
prove more variable than the famous
March weather. A week having gone
by since the last decision TO keep ii
closed, Ii was deemed advisable to re-
solve on opening the plant Considera-
ton was given to keeping Robertson
here, and then It was decided TO stand
firm and keen the plant closed. That
is this weeks nian. mind and II must
oe distinctly understood that II Is SUBJ
tect to change without notice, like time
tables and musical comedy costumes
When Robertson returns, It is reported
he will direct picture here in which
Elsie Ferguson will once more ray some
attention to the movies. This IN all prob
ability viii be "Declassee," which will
presently be deciassee Itself as road
vehicle for Ethel Barrymore This play
BY Zoe Atkins was originally produced
by Famous Players in the hectic days
when that company was backing stage
productions through Charles Frohman.
Inc. and according to some champions
CT the theater threatening to tear the
drama UP by the roots. Now II ap-
pears that Famous Players Aas retired
from stage producing with the conviction
that II was more liable 70 tear out
bank deposits by the roots.
When they were formulating plans
for the Ethel Barrymore production the
story ran around that some OF the film
executives wanted to call the play by
some such title as "The Shooting star"
which no doubt would have lent itself
admirably TO a pyrotechnic electric sign
display. They urged this on the ground
which later proved to have some
foundation-that many patrons might
riisunderstand the word "Declasee," and
think perhaps that II was slang and
3ught TO have the word kid" TO COM
niete Il. But Miss Atkins gritted her
teeth--she is still young enough to have
them ail-and held out for this name.
When Il came to picking a star for
the screen presentation Miss Atkins is
said to have held out also for Miss Bar
rymore. but the ilm pundits wanted TO
decorate the picture with Miss Fergu-
son. It would appear that Miss Atkins
having won ono skirmish, has had to
roncede the other to the company grace
fully. This win be the second fabrica-
ton 70 get under way when the Long
island plant awakens TO Its duty to the
film fans
Harold Lloyd told friends on his visit
here a short time ago that he had Just
renewed his contract with Pathe at
salary OF s1.o00000 which caused the
friends TO become abstracted figuring
7ut how much that came to a minute
At the usual rate Of discount. this would
work out at about 1880. 900 in Amer
can money outside OF Hollywood.
II Is interesting to note-weil let's
pretend It's interesting 10 note, anyhow
that last week marked the passing OF
two figures who have been. each In his
line, sort Of Colossus OF Rhodes In the
movies. II you're we'll enough acquainted
with our friend the Colossus 10 ap-
nreciate this figure. They were Samuel
Cioldwyn, who retired from his position
IS the shek or Goldwyn Pictures Cor
poratlon, and William s. Hart, who de-
parted this fls, life with his final
si~tyre. "rravelln' on" wherein he lust
faued into the desert and home cooked
ylctuals AT the Ralto
Hart Is a force In Western thrfiIers
a. 80 ha~ "a tn