Universal Weekly (1917-1934)

40 Universal Weekly February 4, 1928 Barbara Kent to Play Lead in "Lonesome" BARBARA KENT has been selected for the leading role in "Lonesome," an original story by Mann Page recently purchased by the Universal Pictures Corporation. Paul Fajos, the youthful European directoi whose production, "The Last Moment," caused a sensation, will direct. Edward T. Lowe, Jr., prepared tne adaptation of this story, which is unusual in its simplicity, being the adventures of a day in the life of a lonesome girl. Fajos has demonstrated by his former productions that this is just the type of story that he can place upon the screen with the greatest success. Other members of the cast will be announced shortly, and production will commence within ten days. CARL LAEMMLE MOTION PICTURE PIONEER {Continued from page 13) when he had proposed it he had met with violent opposition from even the wisest men of the Inner Circle. The picture proved the organization's greatest financial success and also made conclusive another evidence of Mr. Laemmle's great sagacity. Being very human Carl Laemmle has taken the keenest satisfaction out of the picture's success, overshadowing his delight in its vast earnings. Another suggestion of Mr. Laemmle's, and one, too, which has met with instantaneous favor, has been the production of "The Collegians," glorifying American youth. Mr. Laemmle felt the time to be ripe for pictures not dealing with dramatic problems, one, with not even much of a story, but one with an intimate peep into the lives of Young America. His idea resulted in the series of two-reel films of "The Collegians." The audiences have received this film with so much approval that feature films along this same line are soon to follow. The mantle of a father's greatness may some day fall on the shoulders of Carl Laemmle's son, Carl Laemmle, Jr. Still a youth, he has already shown marked ability, occupying the very important position of supervisor in the organization's plant at Universal City. Carl Laemmle's life, aside from his colossal business activities, is spent in comparative quietude. When in this country he retires to the beautiful and harmonious surroundings of his estate at Beverly Hills, fitly named "Dias Dorados" (Golden Days). The splendid villa set in its thirty-eight acreage of almost tropical vegetation stands high up upon a hill, and is approached through everupwardclimbing roads. The Benedict Canyon Jean Hersholt, the famous character actor, plays the lead in "No. 13 Washington Sqiiare," Universal's comedy-drama which will appear on the Roxy's screen this week. in the distance adds to a panorama of startling beauty. Just one more question I felt it would be possible to ask Mr. Laemmle before I would have to take my leave. I was curious to know his favorite amusements or diversions. To it he replied, "Moving pictures." In that beautiful Californian home he has built a moving picture theatre, and there he spends his evenings, enjoying the films of the other producers. As he sits before a picture in this private theatre I feel sure this wizard of the screen is seeing into the far future of the industry for which he has so successfully labored. "A man unspoiled by conquests," I thought, as I bade him good afternoon and thanked him for his rare courtesy. Wm. Worthington Has Important Role In "Be Yourself" WM. WORTHINGTON. one of Universal's old-time directors, has again returned to the screen, this time in front of the camera. He will play an important role with Reginald Denny in "Be Yourself," which Denny is now making under the direction of William R. Seiter. Denny has two leading ladies in this picture, Mary Nolan and Dorothy Gulliver. Other members of the cast include Bull Montana, Otis Hari Ian, William H. Tooker, Sailor Shar "Les Miserables" Real Achievement THE editor of the Waterbury American extends sincere congratulations to the makers of "Les Miserables" in the following editorial: "For their treatment of a somber spiritual theme without heavy melodramatic exaggeration and with painstaking fidelity to the source of their inspiration, the producers of the motion picture version of 'Les Miserables' are deserving of a special word of respectful commendation. Necessarily a drastic condensation of Victor Hugo's vast novel, the photodrama has nevertheless been constructed with careful regard for continuity of episode. It is often, if not usually, disappointing to witness a motion picture version of well-remembered characters from fiction. But the characterization in this screen version of 'Les Miserables' give the spectator an impression of accuracy throughout. Jean Valjean, Cosette, Marius, Thenardier, Javert, Gavroche, and Bishop Myriel take on the semblance of living beings, awakening the authentic emotion of sympathy as they portray the sorrows and spiritual triumphs of their prototypes, struggling manfully in the grip of tragic circumstance. "The familiar weaknesses of motion picture dramatization are satisfyingly absent in this film. It is a splendid artistic achievement." "LOVE ME AND THE WORLD IS MINE" LIVES AGAIN AS MELODY AND MOVIE {Continued from page 12) own triumph on the screen, but the greater part of the man lives on in this music. "Love Me and the World Is Mine" is being sung again all over the United States. M. Witmark, the publisher, has been obliged to issue a new movie edition of the ballad which has suddenly returned to such popularity as it never enjoyed even in the heydey of its first furious flare. It has also become the piece de resistance of the "Memory Numbers" on radio station programs. On account of the sentimental attachment to this song as one of the very first played in the theatre, it is a fitting thing that it has been decided to release "Love Me and the World Is Mine" during the Carl Laemmle 22nd Anniversary Celebration which marks the culmination of twenty-two years of eifort and success which started in the White Front Theatre on Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago on February 26, 1906. key and William Davidson. "Be Yourself" is an original story by Harry 0. Hoyt.