Marion Davies -- In the Days of 1776 -- August 26, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 16-August-1924

Marion Davies appeared in a string of successful movies.

Exhibitors Herald, 02-August-1924

Janice Meredith was an epic tale of the American Revolutionary War. Here we see the Battle of Trenton and Janice Meredith meeting George Washington, who was played by Joseph Kilgour.

Picture Play, August, 1924

Here we see Washington crossing the Deleware, the Battle of Trenton and Marian with her co-star Harrison Ford. This is not the contemporary Harrison Ford.

Exhibitors Herald, 23-August-1924

New York's Cosmopolitan Theater was specially decorated for the premiere of Janice Meredith.

Exhibitors Herald, 09-August-1924

San Francisco Bulletin, 30-August-1924

Note Gino Severi's eyebrows. 

Exhibitors Herald, 23-August-1924

"It's hundred proof!"

Marion Davies in a Charming Scene -- July 23, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 05-July-1924

Marion Davies starred in Janice Meredith, an epic film about the American Revolution. E Mason Hopper (great name) directed.

Exhibitors Herald, 12-July-1924

Composer Deems Taylor later appeared as the narrator in Disney's Fantasia.

Exhibitors Herald, 12-July-1924

People get Harrison Ford, Marion Davies' co-star in Janice Meredith, with the more recent Harrison Ford.

Exhibitors Herald, 05-July-1924

New York Daily News, 30-July-1924

"It's American to the Core."

Exhibitors Herald, 05-July-1924

Italian-American artist Edmund (Edmondo) Pizzella was a popular painter. I wonder if the painting still exists.

Exhibitors Herald, 12-July-1924

That is a silly hat.

A Spectacular Moment from Yolanda -- May 28, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 03-May-1924

Yolanda was another epic starring Marion Davies. 

Shreveport Times, 04-May-1924

William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan Productions signed Fields to play a supporting role as a Red Coat Sergeant in Janice Meredith, a movie about America's Revolutionary War, which starred Hearst's inamorata, Marion Davies. Despite the statement that "This marks Mr. Fields' debut on the screen," Fields' film career had been paused since he made two short comedies in 1915. Janice Meredith was Fields' first feature film.

WC Fields -- Banana Oil -- May 16, 2024

Tacoma News Tribune, 09-May-1924

In the 1920s, "banana oil" was a synonym for "BS," "baloney" or "horse feathers." Here we see WC Fields made up as Professor Eustace McGargle in the Broadway musical Poppy. Fields was a widely proclaimed dispenser of banana oil.

Tacoma News Tribune, 09-May-1924

The item at the top is part of a full page ad announcing that Milt Gross' comic Banana Oil was going to start appearing daily in the Tacoma News Tribune. The ad includes endorsements from many popular entertainers. 

New York Daily News, 26-May-1924

Poppy was in its tenth month at the Apollo Theater. It would soon suspend operations for the summer. 

Mr. Battling Buttler was another popular musical. It starred Charlie Ruggles. In 1926, Buster Keaton starred in a silent adaption entitled "Battling Butler." Note that the musical spelled the name "Buttler" and the movie spelled it "Butler."

Shreveport Times, 04-May-1924

William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan Productions signed Fields to play a supporting role as a Rec Coat Sergeant in Janice Meredith, a movie about America's Revolutionary War, which starred Hearst's inamorata, Marion Davies. Despite the statement that "This marks Mr. Fields' debut on the screen," Fields' film career had been paused since he made two short comedies in 1915. Janice Meredith was Fields' first feature film.

One Big Picture a Week -- August 28, 2023

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

Hearst's Cosmopolitan Productions and Goldwyn Pictures joined forces to form Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan. Distinctive Pictures was a company that produced films with George Arliss and others. Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan used this large and expensive trade ad to promote its upcoming series of big pictures, to be released one a week. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

King Vidor directed Three Wise Fools. I like the armored car. The Spoilers was based on a novel by Rex Beach. It was set during the Alaska Gold Rush. It was filmed many times, and the highlight was always knock-down drag-out fight between Glennister and McNamara.

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

I don't know a thing about Enemies of Women except that it was based on a novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, directed by Alan Crosland and starred Lionel Barrymore.  6 Days was based on another smutty book by Elinor Glyn. Someday I will write about a joke people made about her titles. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

The casually racist Green Goddess was based upon a stage play that George Arliss had played in for years. It was later remade as a talkie. It was a Distinctive Pictures production. The Eternal 3 was directed by Mickey Neilan. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

Clarence Badger was a short-legged omnivore with an incredibly strong bite. He directed Marie Prevost in Red Lights, a railroad story. The Steadfast Heart was a Distinctive Pictures production. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

The Magic Skin was based on a story by Honoré de Balzac. The Day of Faith was directed by Tod Browning.

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

In the Palace of the King was a melodrama. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

William S Hart -- Bill Hart Completely Vindicated -- June 7, 2023

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

We saw a few months ago that a young woman said that William S Hart was the father of her five-year-old son. Hart denied it, but wound up paying child support. "William S Hart has been vindicated of the charges brought against him some time ago by a Boston woman and which brought about his temporary retirement from the screen." That explains why I wasn't seeing many ads for his films in recent months. 

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

This item commended the Hearst newspapers because they did not bury the news of his vindication. 

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

"It is said that Jesse Lasky hopes to be able to announce the return of Bill to the screen in Paramount pictures."

Marion Davies -- Supported by the Most Impressive Cast Ever Assembled -- May 8, 2023

Washington Times, 23-April-1923

In 1922, William Randolph Hearst was looking for a suitably ostentatious project for his inamorata, Marion Davies. His production company, Cosmopolitan, hit upon the novel When Knighthood Was in Flower. Director Robert Vignola used a virtually unlimited budget to create a huge movie. "Cosmopolitan's mammoth spectacle drama."

Annapolis Evening Capital, 20-April-1923

"Special Augmented Orchestra." "This magnificent production represents the Supreme Achievements of the Motion Picture Art."

Washington Star, 20-April-1923

"Supported by the Most Impressive Cast Ever Assembled..." 

Marion Davies -- The Most Amazingly Beautiful Picture Ever Screened -- April 7, 2023

Brownsville Herald, 01-April-1923

When Knighthood Was in Flower was an 1898 novel written by Edwin Caskoden. His real name was Charles Major. The story was inspired by the life of Mary Tudor, Henry VIII's sister. The book sold well. In 1901, Paul Kester adapted the story into a play which was also successful.

In 1922, William Randolph Hearst was looking for a suitably ostentatious project for his inamorata, Marion Davies. His production company, Cosmopolitan, hit upon When Knighthood Was in Flower. Director Robert Vignola used a virtually unlimited budget to create a huge movie.

I have come across many quite elaborate ads for the movie.

Gardneville Record-Courier, 13-April-1923

The small drawing showed up in many ads. This ad has a nice image of Marion. 

Dawson Georgia News, 17-April-1923

Brownsville Herald, 14-April-1923

Her next movie, The Young Diana, is thought to be lost. Robert Vignola directed.

Moscow, Idaho Daily Star-Mirror, 12-April-1923

I like this ad for Adam and Eva, except that it looks as if something is coming out of Marion's nostril. Robert Vignola also directed this one; he must have been a busy guy.

Motion Picture News, 07-April-1923

We saw recently that a fire in Cosmopolitan's New York studio interrupted the shooting of Little Old New York. The film was finished just about on time. The director was Sidney Olcott.

Marion Davies -- She is the Flapper Daughter Who Tries to Give the Efficiency Expert Lessons in Flapperism -- March 5, 2023

Seattle Star, 17-March-1923

Adam and Eva sounds like a fun movie, but only one reel is known to survive. I was surprised to see T Roy Barnes ("Do you know a man by the name of LaFong? Carl LaFong? Capital L, small a, Capital F, small o, small n, small g. LaFong. Carl LaFong.") listed above Marion Davies. 

Motion Picture News, 03-March-1923

The Cosmopolitan Studio, owned by William Randolph Hearst, was hit by a fire when Little Old New York, starring Marion Davies was about 60 per cent completed. The negatives of that film and two others were not damaged. 

 

Motion Picture News, 03-March-1923

We saw last month that Marion Davies appeared on Western Electric's New York radio station WEAF to talk about applying makeup. It appears to have been a success.

Motion Picture News, 10-March-1923

William Randolph Hearst, Marion's long-term partner, purchased a theater in Manhattan. The first movie shown was to be Little Old New York, starring Marion Davies. I wonder if this influenced Charles Foster Kane building an opera house for Susan Alexander.

Motion Picture News, 31-March-1923

Despite the fire, Little Old New York was finished nearly on schedule.

Marion Davies -- The Most Amazingly Beautiful Picture Ever Screened -- January 5, 2023

Moscow, Idaho Daily Star-Mirror, 10-January-1923

When Knighthood Was in Flower was an 1898 novel written by Edwin Caskoden. His real name was Charles Major. The story was inspired by the life of Mary Tudor, Henry VIII's sister. The book sold well. In 1901, Paul Kester adapted the story into a play which was also successful.

In 1922, William Randolph Hearst was looking for a suitably ostentatious project for his inamorata, Marion Davies. His production company, Cosmopolitan, hit upon When Knighthood Was in Flower. Director Robert Vignola used a virtually unlimited budget to create a huge movie. This full-page ad must have cost lots of money.

Marion Davies -- When Knighthood Was in Flower -- October 6, 2022

Motion Picture News, 28-October-1922

When Knighthood Was in Flower was an 1898 novel written by Edwin Caskoden. His real name was Charles Major. The story was inspired by the life of Mary Tudor, Henry VIII's sister. The book sold well. In 1901, Paul Kester adapted the story into a play which was also successful. 

In 1907, the Biograph Company produced a one-reel adaption called When Knights Were Bold. DW Griffith, who had not yet become a director, played a role, as did his secret wife Linda Arvidson. The film is probably lost. 

In 1922, William Randolph Hearst was looking for a suitably ostentatious project for his inamorata, Marion Davies. His production company, Cosmopolitan, hit upon When Knighthood Was in Flower. Director Robert Vignola used a virtually unlimited budget to create a huge movie.

Moving Picture World, 07-October-1922

I have never seen it, but Criterion has released a restored version with a score by Ben Model.

 

listal.com

I have never seen it, but Undercrank Productions has released a restored version with a score by Ben Model. It is on my queue. 

   

listal.com

In 1953, Disney decided to make another adaption of the story, directed by Ken Annakin. It was released in the US as The Sword and the Rose If I have seen it, I don't remember it.