The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

August 19, 1931 THE BIOSCOPE 31 New Standard of Excellence’ —With Larger and More Varied Selection of Shorts Huston, Sally Blane and Edward J. Nugent among the players. “ The Mouthpiece,” by Frank Collins, is a story of a criminal lawyer who dominates many people in the underworld. More Stage Successes Then there are “ The House of Seven Sins,” a society drama by Nicholas Armand ; Y Man in the Case,” a story by Harry Leason, of a man whose secret controlled the lives of an entire family; “Wings of the Sea,” by Fred J. Russell, a yarn about the U.S. Naval Flying Service ; “ Society Lane,” by Catherine E. Knox, a story of intimate life in wealthy circles of New York ; “ The Submarine Commander,” by M. J. Jones, another naval adventure picture ; " For Sale,” a human story by Frederica Drescrau ; Y The Yankee Kid,” by Booth Tarkington ; “ Larceny Lane,” another story by Kubec Glasmon and John Bright ; " Midnight Subway,” by Owen J. Barnes ; " The Green Cat,” the screen version of the play by A. M. Willner and E. Rubricus, which scored a historic success on the Berlin stage ; “ Manhattan Nights,” the book by William Almon Wolff which caused a general scramble of producers for the screen rights ; “ Beauty and the Boss,” which is at present a title without a story. The missing plot will soon be found, however, for a contest is being conducted by “ Photoplay Magazine ” for a story to fit the title. Vitaphone Shorts will also figure largely on the new programme, the most outstanding of which will be thirteen series, covering widely diversified subjects. Two of the series are far advanced in production. These are Leon Janney Barbara Stanwyck the Bobby Jones “How I Play Golf" Vitaphone Shorts, and the “ Adventures In Africa ” series of twelve two-reelers filmed by Wynant D. Hubbard, Fellow of the American Geographical Society and a noted traveller, author and authority on African wild life. Robert L. Ripley, whose “ Believe It Or Not ” Vitaphone Shorts during the past season have proved so popular, has been signed for a new series of thirteen. Vitaphone has also made a contract with Dolores Costello Ed. G. Robinson Leon Schlesinger to produce another series of animated song cartoons with Bosko and Honey, so popular in last season’s “ Looney Tunes,” of which there will also be thirteen more. Vitaphone Sport Films Vitaphone will also present on the coming programme a new series of Ted Husing “ Sportslants,” consisting of thirteen onere el ers. Vitaphone has also signed the noted globe-trotter, author and travel talk lecturer, E. M. Newman, to make a series of thirteen one-reel Globe Trotter World Travel Talks. Booth Tarkington, whose series of the natural boy have won world-wide admiration, will bring some of his famous juvenile characters to the screen in a series of thirteen one-reel Booth Tarkington Juvenile Stories. Then there will be the Pepper Pot Novelties —also thirteen in number — a melange of novelties, bits from old news reels, etc. The final series of one-reelers will consist of “ The Melody Masters ” — seven band numbers, conducted by famous maestros of jazz, and six new “ Nagger ” comedies, starring Mr. and Mrs. Jack Norworth, whose “ Nagger ” series last season were so popular. Then among the Warner two-reelers are the S. S. Van Dine Detective Stories, with a new detective character fresh from the imagination of the creator of Philo Vance. There are twelve in this series, and a popular star will be signed to play the role of Van Dine’s new detective. There will also be a series of twelve tworeelers entitled “ Broadway Brevities,” and a series of twelve “ Big Star Comedies,” with stars of the legitimate stage, of vaudeville and the screen. “ Formula is Right ” “ Whatever lies behind the success of our company,” concludes Mr. Milder, “ I am convinced that it has not all been just an accident. Our formula must be right and the people supplying that formula know what they are about. Our greatest pictures will be those we will make next season.” Arliss as ‘Rockefeller’ Story of Financier’s Life Being Prepared If present plans mature, George Arliss will portray John D. Rockefeller, sen., on the screen in a romantic epic of American business titled “ Rockefeller.” A story of the famous financier’s life is now being prepared by Lucien Hubbard, associate executive of Warner Brothers Pictures. When completed it will be presented to Mr. Rockefeller for approval. The story is said to present in a graphic way the romance and human interest behind the formation of one of the biggest corporations in the world. It is known that Mr. Arliss himself has long wanted to do such a story.