Hunt Stromberg Productions (1923) 🇺🇸

The first Hunt Stromberg Production set for release by Film Booking Offices is “Breaking into Society,” a big comedy special.

Breaking Into Society is that unusual thing — a screen comedy without a star. Instead, every player has been picked for his or her individual ability to arouse laughter, and “gags” of the most original and humorous kind have been evolved around every member of the cast. Such people as Bull Montana, Carrie Clark Ward, Chuck Reisner [Charles Reisner], Florence Gilbert, Kalla Pasha, Gertrude Short, Stanhope Wheatcroft, Leo White and “Tiny” Stanford [Tiny Sandford] have the leading roles. Nearly all of these players have at one time or another been starred in screen comedies.

Breaking Into Society tells of the ludicrous attempts of the O’Tooles to break into the exclusive social set of Pasadena. The fact that they hail from Tin Can Alley in the smokiest section of Pittsburgh, daunts them not, but the results of their new surroundings provide as much fun as has been encountered in many a day. In fact so fast does one laugh supersede the other that went before it that one cannot believe that this fun feature is of feature length.

A resume of the career of Hunt Stromberg, the man behind the guns — or more appropriately, in this case — behind the cameras of Breaking Into Society, reads like an Horatio Alger story at first glance. Underneath, however, is revealed a business story of how brains, stick-to-it-iveness and ability that would not be downed, won their just rewards. Hunt Stromberg is said to be the youngest producer in motion pictures. Although but 29 years of age, he has produced the series of Doris May features, the Bull Montana comedies, and now, Breaking Into Society, which he considers his greatest success. Not only did he formulate his own company and attend to all the production details connected with such an undertaking, but, as in the case of Breaking into Society, he wrote and personally directed many of the pictures which he sponsors.

When Stromberg graduated from college he saw motion pictures as his goal. Taking advantage of the newspaper experience he had gained while attending college, he struck out in the publicity and advertising end of the industry. In a short time he found himself directing such a department for the Selznick Pictures Corporation. Not long after Goldwyn sought his services [Lewis J. Selznick | Samuel Goldwyn].

All this time he had been quietly preparing himself to qualify and when he received an offer to take charge of the publicity and advertising for the Thomas H. Ince studios, he left for California.

Then came his first opportunity to demonstrate his ability. He conceived and directed a three-reel advertising picture that took the spectator on a trip through the Ince studios. The ingenious manner in which the embryo producer staged it, proved that his goal was now a certainty.

The formation of the Hunt Stromberg Productions followed and now, with two years of success at his back, Hunt Stromberg can look to the future with inspired confidence and the assurance that he is firmly established on the peak of the mountain he has succeeded in climbing.

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Richard Thomas Productions

The Love Pirate is the title of the first Richard Thomas Production for release through Film Booking Offices. It is a strong dramatic story with an element of mystery that helps make it a powerful photoplay. Filled with thrilling dramatic episodes, the story revolves around a cabaret which is the most notorious resort in town, and which is secretly owned by an unscrupulous man who is married to a well-known society woman.

This society woman’s cousin is on the District Attorney’s staff, and with these complications to start out with a swift moving plot has been evolved which keeps the viewer breathless through its telling on the screen.

With all of its dramamatic strength, the picture carries a strong flavor of romance, which is interpreted through the persons of the district attorney’s assistant and a beautiful and talented girl who is studying music. Plot and counter plot vie for interest with each other, and the climax sequence, in which the unscrupulous cafe owner meets his death through the hand of a mysterious person, is one of the strongest ever filmed.

Presented by Richard Thomas, the sterling cast includes Carmel Myers, Melbourne McDowell, Charles Force, Kathryn McGuire, Clyde Fillmore, John Tonkey, Carol Holloway, Edward W. Berman and Spottiswoode Aitken.

Adapted by William Sester, the picture was directed by Mr. Thomas. Photography by Jack W. Fuqua [Jack Fuqua]. Set for release November 18, 1923.

Phantom Justice is the second Richard Thomas production listed for release by Film Booking Offices. It is an unusually dramatic story, teeming with suspense and thrills.

The story deals with a young attorney who, when offered a fabulous fee, is tempted to defend a girl whom he knows to be a murderess. On his way to court, he stops at a dentist’s to relieve an aching tooth. Gas is administered, and he dreams that if he takes the case, the girl will double-cross him; and he in turn will be accused of the crime after the murdered man is found buried in his backyard.

He awakes with a piercing scream, rushes back to his office and tacks a sign on his door:

“Corporation lawyer — no criminal cases.” He is cured, forever.

A charming love interest runs through the story, and the production is graced with a cast of distinguished and brilliant players. Prominent among them are Rod La Roque, Estelle Taylor, Kathryn McGuire, Lillian Leighton, Frederick V. Room, Gordon Dumont, Garry O’Dell and Fred Moore.

Collection: Moving Picture World, November 1923