The Film Daily (1929)

THE M~"day, November 18, 1929 -awok DAILY 13 A Little from "Lots" By RALPH WILK Hollyivood LEON SCHLESINGER, genial head of the Pacific Title and An studio, has returned from an extended trip to Europe. He loved the wate SO much that his return from New York was made via the Panama Canal. * * * Alex Troffey, who learned the art of editing in the East several year, ago, is busy at Fox. His lutes wielding of the scissors was oh thi Fox Movietone production, "Cameo Kirby.". * * * Our Passing Show: Renaud Hoffman and Jimmy Ashcraft chatting at the Metropolitan studio; Lon Young busy at the Tec-Art studio; Jack Conwav, convalescing, being welcomed at M-G-M. Larry Weingarten\ is active at MG-M. He will supervise "On the Set," which will star Buster Keaton. Keaton ivill sing and dance in the new picture. * * * Dr. Friedrick Kohner, who wrote "The History and Critical Review of German Films," is studying production here. He is a brother of Paul Kohner of Universal and is a correspondent of German, Hungarian and Czecho-Slovakian trade papers. His story "Souls in the Street," was picturized in Hungary. * * * Velda West, motion picture actress is rehearsing for a tour of the Orpheum circuit with Chester Conklin. * * * The services of Joseph March, author of "The Wild Party" and "The Set-Up," are very much in demand. Contracts were drawn up whereby he was to dialogue "Journey's End' for Tiffany, but at the last moment Howard Hughes, who had prior claim to his services, decided not to release him. March will remain with Hughes until the completion of "Hell's Angels." * * Niles Welch, who recently returned to Hollywood to resume his screen career after several successful seasons on the New York stage, played the featured role in "Christmas Knight," a special Vitaphone short subject directed by Archie Mayo. * * * More Passing Show: A. George Volck and Noll Gurney visiting the Columbia studio on business; Dave Epstein motoring to First National; Leonard Fields hurrying at Universal. Excellent reports filter in on "Always Faithful," a Vitaphone short subject, written and directed by Alfred A. Cohn. It stars Blanche Sweet. Coast Wire Service Hollywood Happenings Battleship Set Erected at RKO for 'Hit the Deck' An exact replica of the deck of a battleship, with, gun turrets and all, .as been constructed at RKO for sequences in "Hit the Deck." The et, which i.- roomy enough for 300 layers, was only built after the stulio's technical staff had spent several days at the U. S. naval base at jan Diego. Luther Reed is the diector. Polly Walker and Jack Oakie are playing the leading roles. To Do Specialty Numbers Specialty numbers in Fox's "New Orleans Frolic" have been assigned to Tom Patficola, El Brendel, Victor McLaglen, Edmund Lowe, Walter Catlett, William Collier, Sr., Ann Pennington, Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, Dick Keene, Marjorie White, Fifi Dorsay and Dixie Lee. Shooting Scenes in Pacific The "Flesh of Eve" company, headed by Nancy Carroll, is in the Pacific taking scenes for the Paramount film under the direction of William Wellman. Long Contract for Helen Wright Universal has signed Helen Wright to a long-term contract. Her first role will be opposite Glenn Tryon in "Paradise Ahoy," which William James Craft will direct from a story by Sherman Lowe. Matt Taylor did the adaptation and Albert DeMond the dialogue. Ross Made Production Manager Robert Ross has been made production manager of "The King of Jazz Revue," which Universal is making with Paul Whiteman. "Dance Hall" in Production Production on "Dance Hall" is in full swing at RKO. The film, based on a story by Vina Delmar, is being directed by Melville Brown, with a cast including Olive Borden, Joseph Cawthorne, Margaret Seddon, Ralph Emerson. Ben Ames Williams Writing Ben Ames Williams is working on an original screen story to be known tentatively as "What Do You Say, Bill?" Fox will produce. Sings" Frankie and Johnnie" "Frankie and Johnnie" is sung in the talkers for the first time in Fox's "The White Flame." Frank Richardson does the warbling. Fejos to Direct Schildkraut Joseph Schildkraut will be directed by Paul Fejos in his net picture for Universal, "The Devil," based on Alfred Neuman's novel. Polly Moran in "Hot for Paris" Polly Moran has been cast for Fox's "Hot for Paris." Chester Morris Awarded Choice Role by Brenon Chester Morris has picked what is regarded as one of the film plums of the year in being selected by Herbert Brenon for the title role in the Radio Pictures production, "The Case of Sergeant Grischa," by Arnold Zweig. Other members of the cast include Betty Compson, Alec B. Francis, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Paul McAllister and Rudolph Schildkraut. Columbia Staff Get Free Hand in "Around Corner" Every department at Columbia has been given a free rein in the production of "Around the Corner," written by Enid Hibbard, with dialogue and adaptation by Scott Littleton. The film will be directed jointly by Arthur Van Buren and Karl Brown. Reed Directing Color Sequences Luther Reed has begun directing technicolor sequences of "Hit the Deck," Photophone version of the stage musical show. Among the players in the production are Jack Oakie, Polly Walker, Ethel Clayton, June Clyde, Marguerita Padula, Roger Gray and Franker Woods. Richardson in Fox Film Frank Richardson has been cast for Fox's "Hollywood Nights," which Frank Strayer is directing. Others in the cast are Joseph Wagstaff, Lola Lane, David Rollins, Stuart Edwin. Dixie Lee, Sharon Lynn and "Whispering" Jack Smith. Bartlett Cormack Signed Bartlett Cormack has signed a new contract to write screen plays for Paramount. To Appear in "Trifles" Sarah Padden, Blanche Friderki, Jason Robards and Frank Campeau will be seen in the Vitaphone Variety "Trifles," from Susan Glaspell's playlet. Bryan Foy is directing. To Be in Vitaphone Variety Helen Jerome Eddy and Bryant Washburn have been engaged for "Niagara Falls," a Vitaphone Variety, which William McGann is directing. "Jazz Rehearsal" in Technicolor Neely Edwards and Eddie Kane will be featured in a Vitaphone Variety in Technicolor, "The Jazz Rehearsal," which Roy Mack will direct. Hardie Albright in "All Quiet" Hardie Albright, stage player, has been signed by Universal for an important role in "All Quiet on the Western Front." Bobby Watson in "Baby Bandit" Bobby Watson will have the male lead in a Vitaphone Variety to be called "The Baby Bandit." Now On Broadway Astor — "Hollywood Revue" Cameo — "Blackmail" Capitol— "The Kiss" Carnegie — "The Last Performance" Central — "Paris" Colony — "The Shanghai Lady" Criterion — "Applause"— "The Love Parade", Tuesday Earl Carroll — "Rio Rita" Fifth Ave. — "Grass" and '"Forever" Fifty-fifth !St. — "Waterloo" Film Guild — "Arsenal" Gaiety — "Sunny Side Up" Globe — "Woman to Woman" George M. Cohan — "Song of Love" Hippodrome — -"Jazz Heaven" Loew's New York — Monday, "Sweetie" ; Tuesday, "Sailor's Holiday" ; Wednesday, "The Shanghai Lady"; Thursday, "Unholy Night" ; Friday, "Frozen Justice"; Saturday, "Senor Americano"; Sunday, "A Most Immoral Lady" Mark Strand — "Young Nowheres" Paramount — "The Saturday Night Kid" Rialto — "The Trespasser" Rivoli — "Welcome Danger" Roxy — "Seven Faces" Selwyn — "Condemned" Warners — "Disraeli" Winter Garden — "Show of Shows", Wednesday Rich man Production for U. A. Putting on the Ritz West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — The film which United Artists is making with Harry Richman as the star has undergone another change in title. It is now "Puttin' on the Ritz." The latest addition to its cast is Purnell Pratt. Others in the film are Joan Bennett, James Gleason, Lilyan Tashman and Aileen Pringle. Ted Sloman is directing from the script by John W. Considine, Jr., with dialogue by William K. Wells. Eight Irving Berlin tunes give the picture added importance. Dix Completing "Seven Keys" Richard Dix has nearly completed "Seven Keys to Baldpate," his first starring vehicle for RKO. Prominent in his supporting cast are Miriam Seegar, Margaret Livingston, Nella Walker, Alan Roscoe, Joseph Allen, Dewitt Jennings, Edith Yorke, Harvey Clark, Crauford Kent and Lucien Littlefield. New Navarro Film Under Way Filming has started on M-G-M's "The House of Troy," with Ramon Novarro, at the direction of Robert Z. Leonard. Dorothy Jordan has the leading feminine role. Others in the cast are Ethelind Terry, Josef Swickard, Claud King, Bruce Coleman, Nanci Brice, David Scott and Herbert Clark. Army Equipment for "All Quiet" German army field equipment used in the World War, bought at a cost of $27,000, has been received at Universal for use in "All Quiet on the Western Front," which went into production on Armistice Day under direction of Lewis Milestone. Haskell to Direct Ensembles Jack Haskell will supervise the ensembles in First National's "Song of the Flame," which Alan Crosland will direct. Nine thousand singers and extra players will be used in the film.