The Moving picture world (November 1926-December 1926)

December 4, 1926 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 345 Thinking Up the Laughs Johnny Minci and Producer C. C. liurr hold a gag meeting for the comedian's forthcoming First National Picture, "All Aboard," right in the midst of the celebrated California climate. Left to right: C. C. Burr, Horace Woodmansee, Johnny Mines, Peter Milne, Charles Mines, George Amy. (On extreme left is Loretta) "Big Name" Camj 3aigii Of F. B. 0. Gains Impetus Desert Film Winner For Barthelmess Richard Barthelmess' current First National release, "The White Black Sheep," received executive endorsement this week when previewed by First National officials in New York. The picture was acclaimed a sure-fire box-office hit. It will be given national release early this month. Dick, in the role of a soldier of fortune, driven from his home because of the disloyalty of his fiancee, joins England's desert brigade and wins love and honor after a series of romantic and thrilling experiences. Patsy Ruth Miller is seen opposite Barthelmess in the role of a Greek dancing girl, winning a personal triumph with her performance. Others in the cast who are given especial mention are Constance Howard, Erville Alderson, Gino Corrado, Albert Frisco, William H. Tooker, Sam .Appel, Col. G. L. McDonnell and Tempar Saxe. New Chadwick Cast Is Now Announced James Young, who recently directed 'The Bells," for Chadwick Pictures Corporation, and I. E. Chariwick, president of the company, are selecting the cast of "Driven From Home," the well-known Hal Reid play, which the former will direct. Sheldon Lewis, character actor, and Virginia Pearson, stage and screen star, have been engaged for prominent parts. Ray Hallor will p'ay the leading male role. Melbourne McDowell has also been engaged for a "heavy." The balance of the cast will be announced next week. "Driven From Home," which James Young will direct personally, was adapted for the screen by Edith Hibbard and Ethel Hill. ClifT Saume, associated in the direction of several recent Chadwick pictures, will assist Mr. Young. Richard Dix Is Cast For "Knockout Riley" Malcolm St. Clair will direct Richard Dix's next Paramount picture, "Knockout Riley," which is to go into production at the Long Island studio following the completion of "Paradise For Two." "Knockout Riley" is a rough and ready fight picture. It is to be based on Albert Payson Terhune's short story, "The Hunch." Forrest Halsey is doing the treatment. THE ANNOUNCEMENT that Belle Bennett and Conway Tearle have been secured to star in forthcoming productions by Film Booking Offices is a significant outgrowth of the steady development in F. B. O.'s vigorous "big-name" campaign, now being launched by this company in connection with its present and future production schedules. Miss Bennett, the splendid actress whose fame was permanently secured by her work in "Stella Dallas," will play the lead in Kathleen Norris's "Mother," a melodrama of contemporary domestic life. Tearle, who needs no introduction, will take the leading role in F. B. O.'s projected Elks picture, called tenta tively "Makers of Men." The big-name campaign was given momentum at the beginning of the present production year by such players as Pauline Frederick, America's great dramatic actress, in "Her Honor thGovernor," Viola Dana in "Bigger Than Barnuni's," Margaret Livingston in "Breed of the Sea," Shirley AtaSon in "Rose of the Tenements," and others. Mary Brian, immensely popular little star, is making "Her Father Said No," by H. C. Witwer, the humorist. Margaret Morris, popular Paramount player, has been loaned for "The Magic Garden," the Gene Stratton-Porter story. Gotham Likes Rork Success, "Blond Saint'' Sam Rork's production of "The Blonde Saint" for First National cleaned up at the New York Strand, where it has just completed a run, according to Joseph Plunkett, manager of the house. "The Blonde Saint" got oflf to a flying start following its enthusiastic endorsement by the newspaper reviews, who, for the most part, found it one of the most attractive romances of the season. Doris Kenyon and Lewis Stone, who have the leading roles, and Svend Gade, the celebrated Danish director, received high praise. Particular note was made by the critics of two newcomers in "The Blonde Saint." One is Gilbert Roland, a handsome youth, whom Mr. Rork entrusted with the featured supporting role. The other is Ann Rork, the producer's daughter, who has appeared in several First National releases of late and who definitely achieved a personal triumph in this picture in an important role. Automatic Cameras Used For Battle Shots Operated by remote control, six automatic cameras were used to photograph the closeup action of a German air raid on a French village in the filming of one of the scenes in Lucien Hubbard's Paramount production, "Wings," which William Wellman directed on location near San Antonio, Texas. Several of these cameras were buried in the ground with only their lenses protruding. Others were placed in bomb-proof enclosures. All were stationed at points so close to the doomed village that they, too, were in danger of demolition by misplaced bombs or falling debris. Twelve full-service-charge 100pound bombs were dropped from the air while regulation cameras in bomb-proof shelters as well as in the cockpits and on machine gun mounts of accompanying planes recorded the scene. "Afraid to Love" Is Off Indefinitely Production of "Afraid to Love" has been indefinitely postponed by Associate Producer William LeBaron at the Paramount Long Island Studio because of the illness of Florence Vidor, who is to return to the West Coast to continue her recuperation. "Afraid to Love" was to have been directed by Frank Tuttle with Wyndham Standing, Philip Strange and Charles Byers in the cast. The Better Way" Ready On Colmnbia Programme Two STRONG DRAMAS with abundant comedy relief and unique situations are December offerings of Columbia Pictures Corporation on its schedule of two releases a month. They are "The Better Way," released on Dec. Sth and "Remember," ready on Dec. 20th. At their California previews, both pictures were acclaimed as measuring up with the best that Columbia has produced. McConville and Montague, Columbia franchise holders for New England, after screening "The Better Way" privately in Boston on Nov. 19th, hailed it as "the very best production we ever received from Columbia, and absolutely on a par with the very iiest being released by any producing organization in the industry."