Motion Picture News (Jan-Mar 1929)

February 2 3 , 19 29 565 HOLLYWO OD LAWRENCE A. URBACH Western Representative JERRY HOFFMAN Western News Editor Hollywood Office: Mezzanine Floor, Hotel Roosevelt Phone Granite 2145 Awards of Merit Made by Academy Judges Decide Upon Leaders In Picture Phases (Hollywood Bureau, Motion Picture News) HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 21.— The first annual Awards of Merit by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were announced this week. Nominations for the honored individuals and companies were made by the members of each branch of the industry to the judges of that branch. The final selections, following eliminations, were turned over to a central board of judges who made the awards. Awards of this nature will be an annual feature of the Academy's work. No set rule of conditions govern making selections, because of the variable conditions in the industry due to talking pictures. Twelve awards, to the five different branches of the industry, were made, plus two special awards of a nature not included in any one branch. The branches are productions, acting, writing, direction, and technical. The Central Board of Judges for Merit Awards comprises Alec B. Francis, Sid Grauman, Frank Lloyd, Tom Geraghty, and A. George Volck. The period for which awards are made includes all pictures during the year ending August 1, 1928. The individual awards follow: Emil Jannings— first award for his performances in •'The Way of All Flesh" and "The Last Command. Honorable mention to Richard Barthelmess for his performances in "The Noose" and "The Patent Leather Kid." Janet Gaynor — first award for her performance in "Seventh Heaven," "Sunrise" and "The Street Angel. Honorable mention to Gloria Swanson for her performance in "Sadie Thompson," and to Louise Dresser for her performance in "A Ship Comes In." Frank Borzage — first award for directing dramatic picture "Seventh Heaven." Honorable mention to Herbert Brenon for directing "Sorrell and Son," and to King Vidor for directing "The Crowd." Lewis Milestone — first award for directing comedy picture "The Two Arabian Knights." Honorable mention to Ted Wilde for directing "Speedy." Ben Hecht — first award for writing the original story "Underworld." Honorable mention to Lejos Biro for writing "The Last Command." Benjamin Glazer — first award for adaptation of "Seventh Heaven." Honorable mention to Alfred Colin for adapting "The Jazz Singer," and to Anthony Coldewey for adapting "Glorious Betsy." Joseph Farnham — first award for title writing.. Honorable mention to George Marion, Jr, and Gerald Duffy. Charles Rosher and Karl Struss — first awards for cinematography of "Sunrise". Honorable mention to George Barnes for cinematography of "Sadie Thompson," "The Devil Dancer" and "Magic Flame." William C. Menzies — first award for art direction of "The Tempest" and "The Dove." Honorable mention to Rochus Gliese for "Sunrise" and Harry Oliver for "Seventh Heaven." Roy Pomeroy — first award for engineering effects in "Wings." Honorable mention to Nugent Slaughter and Ralph Hammeras. Paramount-Famous-Lasky Corporation — first award for the production of the most outstanding . picture — "Wings." Honorable mention to Fox Company for "Seventh Heaven" and to the Caddo Company for "The Racket." Fox Company — first award for production of most unique and artistic picture — '"Sunrise." Honorable mention to Paramount-Famous-Lasky Corporation tor "Chang," and to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation for "Tile Crowd." Special first award to Warner Bros, for producing "The Jazz Singer" the pioneer outstanding talking picture, which has revolutionized the industry. Special first award to Charles Chaplin for acting, writing, directing and producing "The Circus." In making the above awards the Board felt that Warner Bros, and Charles Chaplin should be considered separately from the other classified achievements owing to the unique character of their accomplishments. EMBARRASSING MOMENTS When you thought you were slipping in quietly from the stag party . . . be nonchalant . . . LIGHT A MURAD. They taste just like they did 20 years ago.