Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

40 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD October 5, 1929 "Laughing Lady" in Production; Ruth Chatterton Is Featured Vitaphone Plant Continues to Be Busiest in East — LeMaire's Contract with Pathe Increased Several Times — Trenches Of 1914 Reproduced in "Stand To" By DOUGLAS FOX NEW YORK, Oct. 1. — Victor Schertzinger reports that all is well on the Paramount front with "The Laughing Lady," now in production at the Astoria studio. Ruth Chatterton, it is said, fits the feature role as well as Jeanne Eagels, whose place she has taken. The Vitaphone plant is still the busiest in the East and will probably continue to be if it maintains its present production schedule. Exhibitor demand is believed to have caused George LeMaire to increase his output for Pathe. His initial contract called for six talking comedies. This was increased to eight subjects. Then he was given a contract to make another series of six (Manhattan Comedies) and finally another contract came up for a third series of six (Checker Comedies). LeMaire, who has kept well along on his schedule, has only six more comedies to make in his present contracted-for series. These, it is understood, like the others, will be made at Sound Studios. Accuracy in "Stand To" People who see "Stand To," Bruce Bairnsfather's new Radio short, will recall the author's series of cartoons, "Old Bill in France," which were published in England during the course of the war and later reprinted over here. "Stand To," which was made at the Gramercy studio last week, boasts of Old Bill and Alf as its main characters. The scene is laid in a 1914 trench which was not, for your information, like the trenches of 1915, '16, '17 or '18. The styles of trenches changed with the new exigencies of warfare. Bairnsfather made the sketches for the sets himself. They were gone over by Ernst Fegte at the Gramercy studio and the sets built with a careful eye for accuracy to detail. Wenman Gets Major Role For the major part RCA landed Henry Wenman, who was Old Bill in the first stage production of "The Better 'Ole," and is now Lieutenant Trotter in the New York production of "Journey's End." Harry McNaughton, English comedian, has the part of Alf. Leo Meehan directed. Dudley Murphy's "St. Louis Blues," brought so much favorable comment that he left the Gramercy plant to go to Paramount. He has been given the post of short subject director on the regular staff of the Long Island studio. He will produce one and two reel features under the supervision of Larry Kent. Kohler in Ruggles Picture Fred Kohler, one of the nicest villains in pictures, has been assigned a feature role in a production which will present Charles Ruggles in an as yet untitled story by Ben Hecht. Kohler arrived yesterday. He will work under Hobart Henley, who directed "The Lady Lies" at the Paramount plant. Charles J. Hunt and his company are putting the finishing touches to "Howdy, Broadway," produced by W. Ray Johnston at the Metropolitan Studios in Fort Lee. Captain Noble has finished three of his series of "Schoolday Frolics" at American Sound Studios. One of these is on this week's program of the Brooklyn Strand. Warners has booked Bert Lahr, comedian of "Hold Everything," for a Vitaphone Variety. Murray Roth last week directed Lahr in a sketch entitled "Faint Heart" written by Ed. Joseph and Fred Allen. Allen is comedian in "The Little Show." Arthur Hurley also directed a Variety last week with Tex McLeod in a Spanish number for foreign consumption. Cummings in Sacramento (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1.— Irving Cummings, Fox director, has left for Sacramento. He has taken three principals and a technical crew of 40 with him. Cummings will shoot scenes for "Cameo Kirby." J. Harold Murray and Norma Terris have the leading roles. "Call of the Circus" HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1. — Pickwick Productions is in the field to make audiens that are for distribution in other than key city houses. Officials of the firm are experienced picture men and have studied needs of small theatres with regard to audible pictures and have begun to turn out pictures to suit those needs. The first one is a great piece of stuff for the theatres in small towns or neighborhoods. "The Call of the Circus" features Ethel Clayton and Francis X. Bushman. It is a complete feature length picture that tells a story of a clown who has retired from the arena and has gone to live in a vine covered cottage in the country. Bushman meets the son of Ethel Clayton and invites him to live with him. Later, Bushman marries her and the three live together. Happiness is jeopardized when a fourth person enters the story. It is a young woman who has lost her family in a flood. Her presence menaces the story very well. It is ended when she falls in love with the son of Miss Clayton and a happy ending ensues. It is a piece of romance that is well told. The story was written for the screen by Jack Townley. The company will make a series of these features with the same box office policy that was in effect for the last one. — D. H. "Footlights and Fools" HOLLYWOOD.— In my opinion this is the finest acting Colleen Moore has ever done and it is one of the moniest pictures she has ever made. It looks like it will forge far into the class with "So Big" and "Flaming Youth." But those opinions are purely personal. "Footlights and Fools" is a story about Hal per ins Plan Reptile Age Audien; Hoyt Will Direct It; To Cost Million, Report (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1.— Victor and Edward Halperin are soon to start production on "Creation." It will be the first million dollar sound special. The baby talk of the brontosaurus, pterodactyl, megalosaurus and other pets of prehistoric time will be heard for the first time. Harry O. Hoyt, director of "The Lost World" will direct. He also wrote the script for the story. It is believed that TiffanyStahl will release the picture. Studio and Theatre Folk Meet; Karl Dane Is Cook (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1— Mark Hansen and Karl Dane staged a unique party here. The occasion was a birthday part" tendered Mrs. M. H. Newman, wife of "Mike" Newman, general manager of the Pacific Coast Independent Theatres. The program featured the Danish star and the theatre magnate in a cooking contest and songs of their native land. Those present were Larry Urbach, Renee Adoree, Les Weir, Fred Beers, Harold Herond and wife, Gwen Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Riesner, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Wheelright, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Strickling, Captain Carey Harrison and many ethers. foolish romances behind flickering footlights. It has a fine cast and fine direction. The music and color sequences give it richness and a high class type of production. Colleen is the Cinderella girl who has found stardom in a musical show after tedious work in a chorus. She is a dancer and singer. Men pursue her. Wealth has little charm for her romantic notions. She prefers a youngster, enacted by Raymond Hackett, who has no limousine and who appears to love her simply and sincerely. But he is shy of work. And there comes the story. Colleen insists that he get a job. He demurs. Colleen finally breaks with him and delivers the ultimatum that he will have a job before she sees him again. Then comes a job. On its heels a number of other developments: The story winds up with a finish that is upsetting. It is the work of an artist. Screen credit should go to the man who conceived that. I have very accurate suspicions whom that credit would go to. It is the kind of finish that suits everyone. Those who care for unhappy endings get their dish. But the paradox is that those who don't care for unhappy endings also get their dish. Now if you can produce a picture with an ending that suits both kinds of fans you certainly have an O. Henry mind. The synchronization is as perfect as any picture I have seen. Combined with beautiful color shots of the musical troupe on the stage the picture has about everything a picture could have. With all of her dancing and singing, her tinsel costumes and silver wigs, Colleen Moore has retained that simplicity and charm that her ten million fans demand. In other words I'm trying to get the idea over that I think this picture is a knockout. —HODGES. Hollywood Showings