Motion Picture News (Jan - Mar 1927)

February 11. 1927 479 Bissell Special Representative for Tiffany-Color Art Acting as the new spec-iiil lejjresentative of Titfany-Color Art Productions, H. C. Bissell left last Tuesday to cover the key cities throughout the country making his first stop in Philadelphia and Washington. His object is to make a si^ecial sales drive on the series of six Color Art subjects, photographed in Technicolor, and which have already been shown in leading first run houses in the United States, including the Paramount and Capitol in New York Citv. Among these short subjects are "The Barefoot Boy," "On the Trail of the Ranger," "The Isle of June," "Fisherman's Luck" and '"Clothes IMake the Woman." Mr. Bissell has been in the motion picture industry for the past seven years. Before joining Titfany he was manager of Universal 's Albanv office. M-G-M Buys 'The Miracle" for Lillian Gish One of the most widely discussed theatrical properties in years, "The Miracle," has been purchased by Metro-GoldwynMayer and will be used as a starring vehi-_ cle for Lillian Gish, with the possibility that Lady Diana Manners will play the role which she has had in the stage production. "The Miracle" was Mritten by Carl Vollmueller and produced in Europe by Max Reinhardt, who later came to America and staged it at the Century Theatre in New York on a costly scale. It has since been roadshowed in some of the larger cities. Reinhardt, who is now on the Coast, may supervise the screen production. in Two Pathe Comedians Next Rex Feature Oliver Hardy and Jimmy Finlayson, two of the comedians appearing in the majority of the Hal Roach "big name" two reelers, distributed by Pathe, ventui'c into the field of heavy drama in ' ' The Avenging Stallion," the new Roach production featuring Rex, the king of wild horses. Hardy will jiortray one of the two heavies in the picture, his other coherent being Theodore Von Eltz, who eventually reforms and becomes a first class hero. Finlayson ^\^ll enact the role of father to Barbara Kent, the heroine of the tale. Paramount Casts for Mildred Davis' "Too Many Crooks" Mildred Davis and Lloyd Hughes have been selected to head the cast for "Too Many Crooks" which Fred Newmeyer will make for Famous Players. The supporting players include George Bancroft, ElBrendel, Betty Francisco, Gayne Whitman, Otto Matieson, William V. Mong, John St. Polls, and Tom Ricketts. First National Plans "The Little Cafe" for Leon Errol General Manager .John ]\IcCormick, in charge of the West Coast production of First National Pictures, announces that Leon Errol will star in ' ' The Little Cafe, ' ' to be produced at the Burbank studio. It is a translation by Tristan Bernard of the French musical comedv, "Le Petite Cafe." Eighteen U. A/s in 1927 Lichtman Outlines Production Schedule After Conference With Schenck on Coast BACK in the New York headquarters of United Artists after a three-weeks' visit with Joseph M. Schenck on the Coast, Al Lichtman announced this week that his company will release in 1927 eighteen or more pictures. The pictures announced include one from ^Nlary Pickford, story as yet unselected, "The Dove," a Norma Talmadge vehicle directed by Roland West Avhich will go into work immediately after filming of "Camille," one from Gloria Swanson on which camera work will be started soon, one from Charles Chajilin and a Douglas Fairbanks picture for which the story material is now being gathered. •John Barrymore will make one, either an historical story or a j^resent day life character. Buster Keaton will have two, one of which is now in production under the temporary title "Hercules, the Weak," a college story; two from Samuel Goldwyn, the first of which is a Henry King production starring Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky and based on Rudolf 's ' ' King Harlequin." Morris Gest will have "The Darling of the Gods" and the Duncan Sisters are making "Topsy and Eva," directed by Lois Weber. Fred Niblo will make one to be known as a Joseph M. Schenck presentation of a Fred Niblo production. Roland West will produce "The Purple Mask," which will be started when Mr. West finishes direction of "The Dove." "Two Arabian Knights" will be a Caddo production supervised by John W. Considine, Jr., and directed by Lewis Milestone with. William Boyd and Louis Wolheim in the cast; the story is based on Donald McGibeny's magazine story. Three and possibly more productions will be announced in the near future, said Mr. Lichtman. P. D. C. Scenarists Active Writers at Both De Mille and Metropolitan Studios Preparing New Productions for Filming THE scenario departments at both the De ]\Iille and Metropolitan studios are at present busily engaged in pre]);ning the many productions scheduled for filming within the next few months. Practicallv everv writer on both staffs is active ly occupied in turning out scripts from which the productions, released through Producers Distributing Corporation, Avill l)e filmed. Douglas Doty is whipping the script for "Vanity," Leatrice Joy's next starring j)icture, into shape. Donald Crisp is scheduled to direct. GaiTett Fort, who adapted "White Gold" for the screen in coUaboration"with Tay Garnett, is assisting William K. Howard and C. Gardner Sullivan in the editing of this newest Jetta Goudal starring picture. F. McGrew Willis, of Metropolitan_, is assisting with the editing of "No Control," his screen adaptation of Frank Condon's "Saturday Elvening Post" story "By Remote Control." Scott Sidney directed this picture, with Harrison Ford and Phyllis Haver in the leading roles. Zelda Sears is at Metropolitan working on the script of "The Night Bride," which stars Marie Prevost under E. Mason Hoisper's direction. Bertram Millhauser and Beulah Marie Dix are busy on "The Country Doctor," which is designed to bring to the screen the story of one of America's truly unsung heroes. No director has as yet been assigned to this picture. Albert Shelby LeVino is putting the final touches on the script for "Turkish Delight," Irvin S. Cobb's first original for the screen, which will feature Julia Faye, Kenneth Thomson and Rudolph Schildki-aut. Paul Sloane will direct. Four Feb. F. N. Releases Schedule Headed by ''McFadden*s Flats' 'and Harry Langdon's *'Long Pants'': Three Are Comedies FIRST NATIONAL PICTURES will release four productions during the current month of which three are comedies and one other a mystery story. "McFadden's Flats" which will open in the New York City Mark Strand Theatre, and "Long Pants," Harry Langdon's newest comedy, head the list of releases which also includes "Easy Pickings" and "An Affair of the Follies." Asher, Small and Rogers produce "McFadden's Flats" with Charlie Murray and Chester Conklin in the leading roles; it is dated for release February 5th. Gladys Brockwell, Al Roscoe, Alma Bennett, Frankie Darro and Priscilla Bonner support Langdon in his* latest comedy effort which was directed by Frank Capra. It is a stoi'y of adolescence scheduled for release February twenty-seventh. The picture will have its premiere shoAving in the East. Lewis Stone, Billie Dove and Lloyd Hughes are featured in "An Affair of the Follies ' ' which was produced by an Al Rockett unit with Millard Webb directing. It is a dramatic story of a show-girl, a neck-tie salesman and an inventor-millionaire. Released February 1.3th. The mystery story for the month is "Easy Pickings" with Anna Q. Nilsson, Kenneth Harlan and Billy Bevan in the leading roles. Frank Griffith produced, and George Archainbaud directed, with a supporting cast including Philo McCullough, Jerry Miley, Charles Sellon, Zack Williams and Gertrude Howard. It is «et for release February 20th. lit