The Moving picture world (November 1926-December 1926)

December 4, 1926 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 349 Dwan Soon Through With Belasco Film DIRECTOR ALLAN DWAN is completing work for Fox on "The Music Master," David Belasco's stage play. It is being fashioned in the company's eastern studios, No. 850 Tenth avenue, where Dwan completed "Summer Bachelors," his first Fox production, some weeks ago. The choice of Alec B. Francis for the title role, after months of consideration of players of the spoken and silent stage, has met with much favor in cinema circles. Francis' performance in the name part in "The Return of Peter Grimm," soon to be released, was particularly instrumental in clinching this "plum" for him. Lois Moran Stars Lois Moran, who sprang to prominence in "Stella Dallas" and added much to her popularity in other vehicles since then, has the leading feminine part, Helene, daughter of "The Music Master." Others of the cast include Leo FeodorofT, as Fico ; Armand Cortes, as Pinco, and Marcia Harris, as Miss Husted. Greta Garbo May Succeed Mae Murray Greta Garbo, it is said, will take Mae Murray's place in "Diamond Handcuffs," on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production scheduled with Edmund Goulding directing. Miss Murray has just finished "Valencia." Her trip to New York was made known in advance, to the studio, and, according to reports, "there was no trouble." She is expected back in Hollywood within a month when she will commence work in a vehicle not yet decided upon by M-G-M. Beauty in a Basket Obsolete Scenery Little Lon Ahern as "Harry" in Universal's "Uncle Tom's Cabin." A Hot Tip Here's an Idea not so bad for other exchange managers to folloiv. Girl employees — and they're lots of good lookingones — have agreed to give one kiss each to the winning Kansas City salesman in the present play-date drive. Ralph Heft of that exchange arrived for work an hour early the morning after the agreement was reached. "Breed of the Sea" Peter B. Kyne's novel, "Breed of the Sea," has been made into a melodrama by F. B. O., under the direction of Ralph Ince, who also played a double role in the picture. • In the cast are also Margaret Livingston, Dorothy Dunbar, Pat Harmon, Shannon Day and Kalla Pasha. In a basket and a blonde Estelle Clark appears in Smiling," for M-G-M. 'Exit Chrisander's Next Nils Olaf Chrisander, who has just completed the direction of "Fighting Love," starring Jetta Goudal, for the De Mille studio, has hied himself to the mountains in Southern California with three books from which to select his next story. Saenger Theatres Sign P. D. C. Success Series THE SUCCESS SERIES of De Mille-Metropolitan Pictures will be shown in all the Saenger theatres and the affiliated houses. This was the news brought back to New York by Sales Manager W. J. Morgan of P. D. C, when he returned from his trip through the Middle West and South. While in New Orleans, he, with District Manager Ralph Morrow and Branch Manager Brown, got the signature of the Saenger people to the P. D. C. contract. P. D. C. pictures are sold 100 per cent in most of the places controlled by the Saenger interests, and will have representation in all the others. "This means that P. D. C. will have representation in all key cities throughout that territory," Mr. Morgan said. "Inasmuch as the Saenger theatres are the best and biggest, this deal is something to shout about. The list includes nearly 100 theatres in forty-two cities and towns. In New Orleans, the first runs are split between the Saenger houses and the Orpheum, but that is the only city where that condition exists." The cities and towns included in this deal are: Alexandria, Monroe, New Orleans, Shreveport, Baton Rouge, Crowley, Franklin, Jennings, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Plaquemine, Huston, Vinton, Houma, Bunkie, Donaldson, New Iberia, Rayne and Thebodaux, all in Louisiana; Biloxi, Clarksdale, Greenville, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Natchez, Vicksburg, Columbus, Gulfport, Jackson, McComb, Brookhaven, Tupelo, Laurel, all in Mississippi; Helena, Pine Bluff, in Arkansas; Pensacola, Florida ; Texarkana, Port Arthur, Beaumont, Houston and Orange, Texas. New Orleans alone has more than twenty Saenger theatres, and several of the other places have two or more each. Mr. Morgan's trip, which occupied about three weeks, took him to Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago, Minneapolis, D e s Moines, St. Louis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta. The other newcomer is Jack Egan, a dark-haired comedian of the vaudeville theatres, known on the Orpheum circuit as a member of the Stanley Company. Other players featured in support of W. C. Fie'ds are Mary Alden and Ivy Harris, the latter a product of the Paramount School. Fred Newmeyer is the director. Starr Says Europe Waits For Vitaphone Success HERMANN STARR, chief home office executive for Warner Bros., who went to Europe several weeks ago to meet Gus Schlesinger, general manager of foreign distribution and arrange a new distribution basis, is back in London after a tour of the Continent with Schlesinger. Their principal visits were to Germany and France, where final arrangements for the future distribution of Warner Bros, pictures were made. Starr reports to New York that "Lady Windermere's Fan," with Irene Rich, directed by Ernst Lubitsch, is the sensation of Germany and hanging up new records. Private showings of "The Better 'Ole" in London also have come in for splendid tributes and all the Continent it waiting to hear the Vitaphone, word of its sensational success here having been broadcast throughout Europe. Mr. Starr is completing arrangements for the distribution of Warner Bros.' product through Warner Bros.' Pictures, London, and will return to New York in the near future. Lionel Barrymore As Sheik m M-G-M Fihn T lONEL BARRYMORE, after L' a long series of character roles, such as the sea captain in "The Barrier" and "The Greek" in "The Road to Mandalay," has reverted to his matinee idol days once more. Barrymore plays a modern city sheik in a very modern city life story, in his latest role in "Women Love Diamonds." Pauline Starke is starred, and Owen Moore, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and a notable cast appear in the production, an original story by Edmund Goulding directed by himself. The cast includes Cissy Fitzgerald, Gwen Lee, Constance Howard, Dorothy Phillips and George Cooper.