The New York herald., 1922-06-25

have laid the halo of being conse-
Grated to directing Ben Hur" on the
screen. Goldwyn, 1t would seem, cap
tured Neilan just in time. They no
sooner contracted with him than along
came a story worthy Of his talents,
though Il is a puzzle to other directors
how Neilan is going 10 follow his usual
penchant and work airships into Lew
Wallace's tale. Also how he is going
10 incorporate Wesley Barry's freclxles
IN IL without damaging its classic char
acter? Still. knowing Neian, the film
colony wouldn't be surprised If he did
these stunts.
Inasmuch as Neilan was a close
friend of Frank ]. Godsol. the new
head OF Goldwyn, with whom he pro-
duced The Lotus Flower" and with
whom he at one time contemplated in
dependent production, it was a fore
gone conclusion as they say of any
thing after il has come to pass. that
he would be projected into the center
OF the whirlpool that will now begin
TO eddy about Goldwyns biggest pro-
duction. He has now been made direc-
tor general of Goldwyn. occupying
= with Famous Players Lasky, and no
: doubt rating a salute of twenty-one
, spotlights whenever he is on the lot
The United Artists organization is 60
ing to split and yet continue in exist
I ence. thereby adding the talents of the
: anoeba TO its other distinctions. Ac-
.Rcording to reliable report from the
Pacific coast, Mary Piclford, Charlie
Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks are to-
leave the fold and Immediately come
back TO il disguised subsidiary
company. IN other words. Mary Doug.
and Charlie, as the principal figures in
this distributing organization. are to
g become affiliated with themselves as their
own subordnates.
~ Just what is the particular purpose
= of this move would appear TO be as
clear as the foregoing statement. How
ever, it would seem that these three
largest money makers in the flm world.
having borne a large share of the over
head expense of United Artists. now feel
that the other stars like Charles Ray and
George Arliss. who have come into the
organization on a releasing basis, are
getting a lot of the pie with very little
of the indigestion afterward. So the
trio plans to assume more minor roie
jn the condun of the organization but
10 make morl money at it, which ought
TO be considerable compensation.
Whether the three will come East to
effect the new arrangement is not
known, but Mrs. Charlotte Pickford
Smith, who generally represents Our
Mary in business matters. is mere ana
may possibly have the whole matter
slowed away in her handbag at this
moment.
This is not the only reorganization
ia king place out in the only city IN the
country where photographers don't nave
to say, Smile please There is a gea'
eral financial shaking down, though not
OF the kind administered TO wayfarers
BY bandits in the East. But. like the
breaking up Of old associations that fol-
loved the revolutionary success OF the
carly special feature pictures decade
ago. former affiliations are breaking
MD in the film world and new personal
ities are coming to the fore, suggesting
the fashion in which Lake Hopatcong
purges itself every seven years. While
production activities are picking, up is
evidenced by the fact that some studios.
such as the Lasky. are running at full
blast, the flux about new centers
makes the Los Angeles business look
uncertain, though 1t is expected that the
industry will be all set by fall. ready TO
give three rousing cheers, and EN- bark
on an unparalleled period of prospect
ity," 10 quote from almost any pub
hclty folder.
While Il was thought by their friends
that Norma and Constance Talmadse
would remain In Hollywood for about A
year and then be only too glad TO fly
back TO the East, where all the best
shops are, il now seems pretty well
settled that they will remain on the
coast indefinitely. relying for their
wardrobe on some very intensive shop
ping In occasional descents upon New
York. And then, OF course, there's al
svays Sears Roebuck e. Co.
State Senator James ]. Walker. coun-
.rsel for the Theater Owners Chamber
of Commerce. and Sydney 5. Cohen.
president of the Motion Picture Thea
ter Owners Of America, appeared to-
eether at the conference which VIII
il HAYS had with various organizations
\ al the waldorf-Astoria last week and
there was much talk of harmony being
. restored between Walkers local organ
. ization and the national body, from
i which II amputated itself few weeks
ago Still, those on the inside claimed
that the breach was wider than ever
and that no amount of conversation
would heal II.
Inc opponents OI 1OnCn Qeel6TG InHL
with twelve States lined up against him
his national organization will wither
. sinto the sere and yellow, though not. as
might be expected Of movie exhibitors.
putting Il quite so classicsly. They
assert that the income OF the national
organization will shrink from about
$4,000 year to $4,000. which .hey think
ought to hurt.
Cohen. on the other hand. afsirrns that
= the local theater owners chamber of
b. commerce. which was a leader In the
disaffection, never was n part of the
national organization and he can prove
Il. And there. In a manner OF speak
ing. you are.
The film exhibitors of the Great White
Way. asi every one but a New Yorker
calls II. In addition to turning on the
electric fans in their houses, are now
turning on the snow. The Central on
rounces forthcoming film OF the great
Northwest which, with "Nanook Of the
North and "The storm" at the Capi-
toi and "Over the Border" at the Riv-
oil. makes the fourth storm that has
sifted across the screens. Instead Of
suting the actlc1 TO the weather, the
managing directors seem to feel IL Is
better to cool off .he spectators lmag-
nations at least Whatever the rest
of the city is having, broadway is en-
Toying a blizzard.