Exhibitor's Trade Review (Nov 1925 - Feb 1926)

Page 22 Exhibitors Trade Review PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS THE PRO-DIS-CO CLUB composed of the executives, department heads and employees of Producers Distributing Corporation, will assemble at the Hotel Empire Tuesday evening, November 24th, for a dinner and theatre party. Dinner will be served at 7 p. m. Afterward the party will attend the performance of "Kosher Kitty Kelly" at Dalv's Theatre. . * * * R. H. HALL, Assistant Secretary of the Board of Public Works, Republic of Panama, on his first visit to the United States in 27 years, visited the De Mille Studio last week, where he watched progress of the current Rod La Rocque production, "Braveheart," as directed by Alan Hale. Mr. Hall told Mr. De Mille that, exiled as he is from America, he gets a great kick out of pictures, which he acclaims as the one great medium through which he keeps in contact with American ideas and customs. FRANK R. STRAYER whose latest achievement is "Lure of the Wild," a Columbia Pictures Corporation production featuring the hew marvel dog, Lightning, was discovered by Harry Cohn, in charge of production for this organization. Mr. Strayer, who was formerly "one of the best known assistant directors in the motion picture • industry was given his first opportunity to reveal his directorial genius when he was signed by Harry Cohn to direct "Enemy of Men." The adage that has now become old in the motion picture industry, "new faces needed for the screen," also applies to the directorial branch of this art. * * * FOR ONE PICTURE, at least, Monte Blue and Marie Prevost are to De reunited. Exhibitors and fans alike will find satisfaction in the announcement made this week by Warner Brothers that Mr. Blue and Miss Prevost will be starred together in "Other Women's Husbands." The, reunion of this extraordinarily popular teamrfs being effected in response to what may' fairly be called a popular demand. Neither1 Mr: Blue nor Miss Prevost has evef scored more heavily than when in the other's company, and each numbers such attractions as "Cornered," "The Dark Swan," "Recompense," and "Kiss Me Again," in which they shared honors. Both the story and scenario of "Other Women's Husbands" are by E. T. Lowe, Jr., who was responsible for "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and other big productions. As so far recruited the cast comprises Mr. Blue playing the husband, Miss Prevost as the wife, Huntly Gordan as the best friend and Phylis Haver as the vamp. * # * AN ANNOUNCEMENT from the Fox West Coast studios adds another name to the cast of "The Ancient Mariner," to be released for the coming Christmas holidays. The addition is Wilson Benge, who will have a part in the modern version of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's dramatic classic. The story as originally written will be presented as a fantasy, in conjunction with the present day conception. * * * GEORGE WALSH, who is making a series of six modern, action romances for Chadwick Pictures Corporation, will not come to New York, as previously announced, but will start work shortly on his fourth starring vehicle of the current season. The new* picture will be a screen version of "The Test of Donald Norton," the popular novel from the pen of Robert E. Pinkerton. The story, a North Woods mystery thriller, provides a new background for the fast moving action stories for which this star is noted. Dolores Costello as she appears in the Paramount production of Fannie Hurst's story, "Mannequin." The cast is now being selected and will be announced shortly. It is expected that Joan Meredith, who has appeared in several Walsh features, will be in the cast. Walsh has recently completed "The Count of Luxembourg," an adaptation of Franz Lehar's popular operetta, in which he will be featured with an all star cast, including Helen Lee Worthing, James Woods Morrison, Michael Dark, Lola Todd, Lucille LaVerne, Charles Requa and Joan Meredith. "The Count of Luxembourg" will be released January 15th. * * * CLAUDE GILLINGWATER, who was brought to New York from Hollywood to play the part of a millionaire steel mill owner in First National's big steel picture, "Men of Steel," has been forced by illness to drop out of the cast and return to Hollywood. Gillingwater caught a slight cold when he reached New York. The company went to Birmingham three weeks ago to shoot steel mill and iron mine scenes, and while there his cold grew worse. Finally, on advice of his physician, he returned to California. His place has not yet been filled, but there has been no let down in shooting, for Director George Archainbaud has been filming the scenes in which Gillingwater had no part. sfc ^ *K OLIVER B. GARVER, a former Los Angeles newspaper man, and more recently in the advertising business in Hollywood, has been secured for the publicity department of the DeMille Studio by Barrett C. Kiesling, publicity director. Garver will start immediately publicizing Rod La Rocque; Leatrice Joy, Lillian Rich, Vera Reynolds and other Cecil B. De Millie players SEVEN TYPES of motion picture film, each with an entirely different chemical treatment, were used by Camerman Peverell Marley in obtaining the photographic effects in De Millie's "The Road to Yesterday." * * * DOES AN APPLE a day keep the physician from calling? This question was given a test by Rod La Rocque, the Cecil De Mille Star, while on location in the middle of the great apple belt in Oregon filming "Braveheart" It seems thaj when Director Alan Hale accidentally sprained his ankle, Rod fed him apples for two days and at the end of that time it was found necessary to call a doctor. * * * "THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN," the Chadwick Pictures Corporation special production of the Louis K. Anspacher play, which served as a return vehicle for Theda Bara, is meeting with enthusiastic receptions in all parts of the country. "The Unchastened Woman," which was directed by James Young from Douglas Doty's adaptation of the play, is one of Chadwick's most pretentious offerings. The scenic background is varied, providing a strong contrast between the spectacular settings of European cities and the slums of New York. Several prominent players are in the support cast. Wyndham Standing plays the leading role opposite Miss Bara. Others include Eileen Percy, Dale Fuller, John Miljan, Harry Northrup and Mayme Kelso. * * * HARRY LANGDON has moved his effects to the First National Studios, Hollywood. The comedian, who will appear in feature length comedies for that organization, is comfortably housed within the walls of the big studio and has closeted himself with his quintette of gag men, making final preparations for the filming of his first feature under the direction of Harry Edwads. Shooting will start this week. Langdon enjoys the distinction of being the most talked about comedian on the screen today. Before he signed with First National, every big distributing organization sought his services. He is considered as an ace bet, and ace comedians are not to be picked up on every corner in Hollywood. Just what sort of picture Harry Langdon is going to make is not as yet disclosed. Only his inner office knows. He wants to be cotnpletely sure of his vehicle before he reveals its contents. * * * JACK STARNES, flashy halfback of the Florida University eleven. last fall, has transferred his pigskin activities to the movies. Needing a player of ability to appear witht Rod LaRocque in a big game staged from the motion picture production, "Braveheart," Director Alan Hale secured Starnes to give the football scenes in this picture the proper punch. Starnes plays quarterback on the team, with Rod at half. "Braveheart" will be La Rocque's next release through Producers Distributing Corporation. Lillian Rich is filling the feminine lead. Questions, suggestions, criticisms and communications are cordially invited by EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW and Exhibitors DAILY REVIEW. Help us to even make these papers better than they are. That is our ambition.