The Moving picture world (November 1926-December 1926)

November 20, 1926 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 147 Wood Is Appointed Assistant Producer at F. B. O. Studios To Adapt Tricks Charley Bowers' "camera-miracle*' comedies are creating: such a sensation, reports F. II. O., that his trick iihotography stunts may be adapted for use in F. B. O. features. President Joseph P. Kennedy hopes thus to Mave thouisands of dollars in "sets" and also s've the public some astonishinj? effects. Bowers' tricks have puy.zled experts. Sam Wood, the picture maker, Production chief, who will Sax Buys Books, Plays and Original Narratives Director of Many Screen Successes and Creator of "Red" Grange's Picture, to Be Aide to Edwin C. King IN line with his announced policy of "expansion in every direction," and particularly the engagement of the best directors and players available, Joseph P. Kennedy, president of Film Booking Offices, has just signed Sam Wood, who made the Red Grange special, "One Minute To Play," and ijiany other box-office successes, to be associate producer, with Edwin C. King, at the company's West Coast studios. The plan becomes effective in a few weeks. So many big pictures are in work on the F. B. O. lot, and the company has been stepping forward so rapidy, that Ed King has been working sixteen and eighteen hours a day, and it has become necessary for some one to take part of the load off his shoulders. After looking over the field of production experts, Mr. Kennedy chose Wood, with whom he had been in contact during the making of the Grange picture. It was pointed out to the F. B. O. president that "no one has ever chosen a director for just such a job," to which he replied, "and no one ever chose a steel man for the financing operations of a motion picture company, but we did, and he's the best in the business now." He referred to E. B. Derr, treasurer of F. B. O., whom he got from the Bethlehem Steel Company. and Fdwin C. King, F. B. work together hereafter. "Flaming Forest" Premiere Set For Capitol The Cosmopolitan production, "The Flaming Forest," will have its premiere in New York City Sunday, November 21st, at the Capitol Theatre. The film, one of the most elaborate ever screened at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, has been adapted by Waldemar Young from the famous novel of the same name by James Oliver Curwood. Reginald Barker directed. Have Striking Cast One of the largest and most important casts of the year, headed by Antonio Moreno and Renee Adoree, appears in the picture. Important parts are played by Gardner James, Tom O'Brien, Bert Roach, Oscar Beregi, William Austin, Emil Chautard, Florence Geldert, Charles S. Ogle, Roy Coulson, D'Arcy McCoy, and Mary Jane Irving. Laura La Plante Heads Cast in Leni Film Laura La Plante, popular blonde star, will head the cast for "The Cat and the Canary," Universal's forthcoming adaptation of John Willard's mystery play. The addition of Miss La Plante makes the line-up of players for "The Cat and the Canary" the strongest seen on the Universal lot in many months. In addition to Miss La Plante, the players include Arthur Edmund Carewe, Creighton Hale, Gertrude Astor, Tully Marshall, Forrest Stanley, Martha Mattox Flora Finch, and Dick Sutherland. Paul Leni, the noted UFA director engaged by Carl Laemmle to make pictures at Universal City, will direct the new La Plante picture, in cooperation with Robert F. Hill. PRIOR to leaving for California to supervise the resumption of production activities to complete the present season's program, Sam Sax closed for the motion picture rights to several well known and popular books and plays which will form the foundation for the coming season's program. "I would not purchase, for the most nominal sum, the best work of the world's greatest author," Mr. Sax stated, "if the Comedian a "Heavy" Ernie Adams, who won laurels as a comedian made outstanding successes as a villain in "Pals in Paradise" and "Jewels of Desire," two Metropolitan pictures. story itself is not suited for screen purposes. "There has been too much free adaptation in the past which has not reflected credit either on the author or the producer. Therefore, if I cannot secure the desired material from published books or produced plays I much prefer to purchase original stories written directly for the screen." Mr. Sax stated that announcement of new titles will be made shortly. Seiter-LaPlante Laura LaPlante will finish "The Love Thrill" for Universal, just in time to marry Director William Seiter, on November 14, according to announcement here. Additions to Cast of Fox Production Huntly Gordon will hz Andrew Paris and Josef SwicV? d will have the role of Old Gand in "Oms Increasing Purpose,"' the Fox picturization of the A. S. M. Hutchinson novel. These are outstanding character parts. Edmund Lowe, as Sim Paris, and Lila Lee as Elizabeth, have the leads. Interiors of the picture are now being made at the Fox West Coast Studios. Exteriors were made in London and surrounding country. Harry Beaumont is the director. Barbara Worth Cast Barbara Worth will play the feminine lead oposite Reginalo Denny in "Slow Down," according to an announcement from Universal. Miss Worth played in Norman Kerry's recent picture, "The Love Thief." Read Tom Waller XE of the most unique departments ever estnbll.shed by a trade paper mnimzine appears In this number of MOVING PICTURE WORLD. This department, knonn as "Hollywod," is condnrted by Tom Waller, who is familiar around the West Coast lots as a first mate aboard a ship. Watch for Wallerrs pointed stories straight from the lot.