The Moving picture world (November 1926-December 1926)

MOVING PICTURE WORLD European Film Folks Reach Coast Left to right — N. H. Brower, manager of Los Angeles First National exchange; Ray Rockett, production manager of a unit; Maria porda, European artist under F. N. contract; Carey Wilson, a production executive; Alexander Korda^ husband of Maria Corda, a noted UFA director, now with First National. 492 Finish Work On Story By Gene S. Porter (Continued from page 489) And the word translate can in this respect be used with superlative authenticity, because Meehan was not only this late author's son-in-law but the head reader of her stories when they were in manuscript form or in the shape in which they were submitted to the publisher. Aw<uted Last Touches Meehan tells us that "The Magic Garden" manuscript was undergoing its last revisement by Mrs. Porter and lay on her desk awaiting a few final touches in the nature of commas and periods, when her hands were joined for the last time in a room a few doors away. During the past four years Meehan's specialty has been to translate Porter novels to the screen for F. B. O. He first adapts them with the natural appreciation for the trend of their theme which one could obtain only through an intimate association during working hours and recreation periods with the author. He then assembles his cast who immediately assume the characterizations he got to know almost as soon as they sprang from the mind of the author. Meehan is emphatic in his assertion that he never deviates from a single detail in the plot of the original Porter story. "Mrs. Porter," he states, "based the characters in all of her stories upon people whom she actually knew." Mrs. Porter, Meehan authorizes, in the course of her early contact with the film industry resented for this reason certain changes in one of her stories which the scenario department of a prominent producer sought to eflfect. As the result, Meehan further states, she withheld for a long time after that, the granting of screen rights to her books. Her Greatest Work When Meehan was assigned to direct his first Porter story he quotes the author as saying to him : "Make your people real and you will make them the friends of the audience." This authority on Porter novels considers her story of "The Magic Garden" the most artistic she ever penned. It is a story of beautiful love which starts in childhood days and cul minates with the climax of romance in maturity. Not once does the story vary from this theme, Meehan states. Members of the cast join with Meehan in his prophecy that "The Magic Garden'' on the screen should be accorded even a greater reception than that recorded for other Porter story picturizations. The picture was six weeks in actual production, during which time the company spent two weeks on location in a little town north of San Francisco. It was there that the principal action in the story, bearing directly upon the title was filmed. Weeks were spent by location hunters to find a garden around Hollywood similar to that described in the Porter story. The sycamore and maple trees which Mrs. Porter had written about, with a New York City suburb in mind, when she was describing the Magic Garden in her story, were not to be found here. About the Story It was in the garden in Marion County, California, that little Amaryllis Minton, esayed by eight-year-old Joyce Coad, while running away from the chauffeur of her divorced father, meets John Guido Forrester, who is practicing on his violin. John is then played by ten-yearold Phillipe de Lacey. Before they are separated the love theme commences and the picture terminates with the garden scene and Amaryllis and John, fully grown and plighted, then portrayed by Margaret Morris and Raymond Keene, respectively. William V. Mong plays the Bancroft in "White Gold'* George Bnncroft, olinriicter player of note, has been loaned to the Cecil n. De Mille studios for one picture. The loan was made by the Flamons Players-Lanky Corporation at the nreent request of William K. Howard, who Is directing? "White Gold," starring Jetta GondaL part of the boy's father while Charles Clary and Hedda Hopper interpret the roles of the little girl's divorced parents. The other four weeks in producing "The Magic Garden" were spent on the F. B. O. lot where sixteen sets, erected under the architectural supervision of Art Director Carrol Clarke, were used. Here John's experiences as a student of the violin in Italy were depicted on a lavish Venetian set, with picturesque gondolas floating on the river streets. Here also were sets upon which the action in the artistic interior of little John's home in the Magic Garden were photographed, as well as the furnished rooms of the city residence of little Amaryllis' wealthy parents. It took Art Director Clarke's department nearly two months to make the plans for these sets. The Venetian street set, alone, cost F. B. O. approximately $7,000, Clarke informed us. Those familiar with the demands of the motion picture camera know the disastrous effect hilation has upon photography. Thus some difficulties can be appreciated. December 18, 1926 High Praise Goes to New Laemmle Film That "Held by the Law," the Universal-Jewel production, directed by Edward Laemmle, will be one of the best box office attractions of the 1927 season when it is released soon after the first of the year, was the almost universal prediction of newspaper critics and high studio officials who attended a preview of the film at the Writers' Club Thursday night. Sheriff William I. Traeger of Los Angeles County, was guest of honor at a dinner presided over by Carl Laemmle that proceeded the showing of the picture attended by nearly one hundred of the leadnig film critics and studio executives in the industry. Among those present were : Marguerite de la Motte, Johnnie Walker, Ralph Lewis and Robert Ober, of the cast; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Laemmle, Miss Rosabelie Laemmle, Carl Laemmle, Sheriff Traeger, Dr. Kilgore, John Bowers, Mr. and Mrs. Sigmund Moos, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wurtzel, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Montagne, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Reed, Jack Ross, Tom Waller, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Starr, Mrs. Florence Lawrence and many others. Change Title of Denny's New Fikn Reginald Denny's latest picture for Universal which is nearing completion has undergone a change of title. The story as Denny wrote it was known as "Slow Down" but it will be released, we are informed, as "The Four Flusher." One of Universal City's largest sets has just been converted into a motor dome where the climax of this racing story takes place. As many as fifty racing cars of all makes and designs may now be seen at Universal City. Says Hokum Is Out That the public is no longer gullible for hokum pictures and that producers are now bidding against one anotiicr for the purpose of suitable story material, are some observations reaching Moving Picture World from Raymond L. Schrock, associated producer with Warner Bros. "However, Warner Bros.," Schrock states, "are wxll fortified in having placed under contract, individuals with creative minds." European Celebrities At Hollywood