The New York herald., 1922-04-30
High Lights and
Shadows on News
of Motion Pictures
Dong Fairbanks Is Risking
Another Heavy Roll on a
Big Production.
BY FRANK vREELAND.

film industry knows by now he bor-
rowsd 100000 for "Tke Three Mus
xeteers''/ and then. having played
Dumas to win thus heavily. he began
10 grow a bit gray around the ears
with anxiety. 1t was frosty weather
for him about his Beverley Hills home
for a while. despite all TIE California
sunshine.
Now, with this picture beginning to
show clear margin of safety for him
Doug grins boyishly, says. Gee! that
was a close gamble for mel" and
plunges more heavily on his next pro-
duction. Perhaps the actual risks he
ran in the slashing duels Of THE Mus
ketrees" made mere monetary risks
seem paltry.
At any rate, Doug is said to have
crowded already into his next picture,
which will be called Robin Hood" by
the time it sees the light Of day, twice
preceding one, according to the cautious
experts who figured out the cost on
pa II. BY the time Doug finishes the
picture. it is estimated that he will have
spent more than 100000 on it, If no
doesn't get paralysis first. Thrills come
cheaper to have the whole nation in
dulge in one general brawl on Saturday
night to get the same effect. Fairbanks
Is reported to be building bigger sets
than ID. w. Griffith made for "Intol-
erance," which afterward took their
place among the historic ruins Of Amer
ica. Mary's little LAM is running wild
over. the California landscape with feu-
dal castles N1~
The picture will not be ready for dis
tribution till next September, when it
is planned to give it ride at big
Broadway house. Despite the unfortu-
nate experiences that befeli some stars
in following Doug's lead and unload
ing their product for an indefinite run
/ in New York tneater. Doug's advisers
which means the whole farnily-still
appear to consider he is Broadwayproof.
A picture does not necessarily have
to cost pecks OF money to be a big hit.
though Erich Won Stroheim might be
inclined to make an affidavit to the.
contrary. THE Sheik," for instance, cost
little more than the price of a few rugs,
and even those might have been bor-
rowed. while SAND. the most plentiful
ingredient in the picture. seemed to
have been obtained at less than cost
price. Yet Famous Players-Lasky Cor
poration reports that 1t is bringing in
the money by leaps and bounds-and
after all, that means something in a
movie company's life.
The Universal company has been
able to rent out the Central Theater
during the current month to other con-
Germs for exhibition purposes. and It
is known in film circles that they are
more pleased with this fact than X
Foolish Wives" had peen crowned by
the French Acadamy. When they took
ever the Central for whole year It
was with the confident expectation that
it would serve as a fairly permanent
Hall of Fame for Won Stroheim's pro-
duction. Indeed. Universal was quite
sure. that the picture would require six
months to make 1t move on from Broad
way and Forty-seventh street. This
almost reconciled the company to pay
ing 100000, cash down, for the use OF
the hall-an almost unprecedented feat
of materializing coin for the movies.
But Foolish Wives hardly worked
for a living. Since Its untimely end
have been put to 1t to bring forward
SUCCESSORS that might survive In the
fierce, elemental competition that
surges on Broadway. Like so many
tenants Of New York apartments they
Rave found that sub-letting for short
periods is a wonderful tonic for the
bank balance.
In the wake of the news that Griffith
~, a
version of III. @. Wells's "Outline OF
History" comes the report that Wells
IL writing, or is going to write, story
for Charlie Chaplin to do with his feet
left out OF the reckoning. While
abroad on his last trip Chaplin visited
Wells for a week end and camo back
loaded to the brim with an ambition
to do a tale of a clown. as clown
really is. as a means of laying the
laurel wreath of Immortality on his
brow. 1t now leaks out that Wells Is
10 write the story and lay the laurel.
1t will be tale of heroic proportions.
n clown of the Pagliacci type, and
Chaplin may possibly play his violin
in II. to indicate that he 10 once more
making determined effort to be seri-
Gus
Wells, who told Chaplin that he re-
garded the movie at first as little bet
Ger than In the toy stage. seems to have
decided to take IL in hand bit now.
In his latest articles he has expressed
q belief in the films as coming educa-
tiona1 factor, though not sufficient In
themselves TO bring about that inevi-
table millennium. While he was In this
country Wells tried to meet Griffith. but
neither Of them could arrange to be on
hand whom the other was, as Griffith
WAS finishing orphans OF the Storm
and Wells was busy keeping the Wash
fngton arms conference In order---two
events Of almost equal consequence to
the human race.
William FOX is said to have contem-
plated some time ago making q picture
Of the life of Christ. and 70 have sounded
various members of the clergy on their
views regarding such a subject without
getting much encouragement. Fox is
reported 70 be planning a revival OF "A
Fool There Was" on the films. but with
out having Theda Bara, who played the
original vamp, duplicating her combus-
tible glances. t
The convention of the Associated
First National Organization. which ended
at French Lick Springs. Ind, last week.
clinched the affiliation Of this organiza-
tion with Goldwyn Pictures Corpora
ton. according to accounts altering In
! from the springs--rather absurd, what?