Camera - April 14, 1923 to February 16, 1924 (April 1923-February 1924)

» Camera! Camera! News Section Page Eleven (Author's Tales Have Human Quality Of all modern fiction writers Booth Tarkington's tales are most fitted for the screen without change lof original plot because they are human. Tarkington understands children ; he understands adults — he has a vast knowledge of the innermost thoughts of people. He can peer beneath a grouchy exterior and know that the chronic grouch is human, pliable, easily moved when properly appealed to. Tarkington's stories are filled with human interest and therefore are of general appeal. Because of this superb quality in this writer's stories, J. K. McDonald, producer of "Penrod and Sam," is to give the picture-going world another story from Tarkington's pen — "Misunderstood," a story even more human than was "Penrod and Sam." Like its predecessor "Misunderstood" is directed by William Beaudine and scheduled for First National distribution. Rockliffe Fellowes, who so wonderfully interpreted the stern father in "Penrod and Sam" will play the role of a man most kindlv disposed toward children; the very antithesis of his first characterization. Ben Alexander who interpreted the role of Penrod, will play the part of Bill Latimer. The leads are to be taken by Henry B. Walthall and Irene Rich. So pleased was Tarkington with the production of "Penrod and Sam," that he wrote "Misunderstood'especially for McDonald's laest production. The author expressed a desire to journey to California to assist in titling the picture. Director Robert McGowan has finished another "Our Gang" comedy at the Hal Roach Studios and the film has been shipped to Pathe headquarters in New York. The mischievous youngsters are shown running amuck in the amusement zone at Venice. McGowan is also completing camera work on a pirate picture in which the "gang" threatens the entire Pacific fleet. "Family Life" is the title which has been given to the sixth Mermaid comedy, directed by Bob Kerr, and supervised by Jack White. It is a laugh-generator of the complications incident to the ownership of an unbalanced flivver, life in auto camps, and a husband addicted to — fishing! The cast includes Mark Jones, Ruth Hiatt, Sunshine Hart, Otto Fries and Tommy Hicks. ALLEN HOLUBAR will shortly return from Nashville, Tenn.. BENGALS COME TO BAGDAD Douglas Fairbanks has been working with a Bengal tiger every night this week. This animal is required in Doug's new film, "The Thief of Bagdad." In fact, he has several companions. all lithe, sneaky, striped and with excellent sets of teeth. They have become the chief citizens of the ancient city of Bagdad which stands on the Pickford-Fairbanks lot, and have been encouraged to stay in the town by wire fences twelve feet high. Behind these barricades, the director, cameraman, Doug, the animals and their trainer have been disporting themselves in the glare of the huge bright lights of Hollywood. The tigers are the chained guardians of Bagdad and must be eluded by the thief, meaning Doug, who by the aid of his magic rope surmounts all insurmountable obstacles. The reason for all this energy on the part of the thief is that he desires to steal the Princess of Bagdad. Just whether he will succeed is one of the secrets of the scenario department. Night work will continue for some time, it is announced, as there are several sequences which call for nocturnal effects. Bert Sprotte's Gamble Success Back in 1915 Bert Sprotte after having spent twenty-nine successful years on the legitimate stage in the capacity of actor, stage-director and producer in many parts of the world, called upon L. M. Goodstadt at the Lasky Studio and asked his advice as to whether to take up the moving picture profession. After receiving encouragement and having decided to cast his lot with the exponents of .the silent drama and forsake the spoken, he was, of course, unaware that in the month of October, year 1923, he would be cast at Lasky's for the most important of the hundreds of roles which had fallen to his lot to portray. In William S. Hart's second super-western, "Singer Jim McKee," to be filmed at the Lasky studio, Bert has been cast for the role of "Sheriff Dan McKettrick," an exceptionally strong character part and one in which it is expected he will bring out a superior style of dramatic talent. Critics have many times predicted this would occur when Bert Sprotte would be cast for a part requiring a portrayal by an actor long years in experience and with that certain finesse resultant only from the highest degree of effort and concentration for which Sprotte is noted. Bill Hart will himself play the stellar role and other notables in tha cast including Bert Sprotte are Gordon Russell, Phyllis Haver, Ruth Miller and Bill Dyer. Home Run Wins Her Gown When Babe Ruth poled out his second home run in the second game of the World Series, he provided Miss Eulalie Jensen, featured screen player with any evening gown in Los Angeles she may select. The gown is "on" Jimmy Morrison, otherwise James Morrison. Morrison, who was once a great Ruth fan, soured on him last year when, through suspensions and other causes, he failed to lead in home run hitting. He bet against him this year and won. He thought he could go on winning by betting against him. He wagered that Ruth would not even equal a single World Series home run record. His second home run in the Kame did it. Only once before had two circuit clouts been registered by a single player in one game. Had Miss Jensen lost, Morrison would have been privileged to have gone to the best tailor in Los Angeles, ordered the best suit the tailor could make and to have sent the bill to Miss Jensen. With the opening of the nczv home of Oscar Apfel, motion picture director, on Loma Linda avenue, Hollywood is enriched ivith one of the most complete personal collections of armor in the United States. ■ . Over a long period of years Apfel has made the gathering of medieval armor a hobby, picking up pieces wherever ne has traveled in Europe and the Orient. Until recently his collection zvas in Nczv York. In addition to the armor, and zvith it, the weafons of the days of chivalry, Apfel has several hunt trophies. One of these is the skin of a polar bear that measures more than ten feet. The new house has a gun room that contains every imaginable modern zueapon from a tiny automatic pistol to an elephant gun. A typical army "awkward squad" has been drilling at the Hal Roach Studios for several days. They appear in a new Roach Pathecomecly, with Stan Laurel in the leading role. /. C. "J a c k" Fowler, has just finished portraying the role of John Greenleaf Whittier, author of "Maude Mullcr," in the screen version of the same name and featuring Marjoric Daw in the title role as Maude Midler. Mr. Fowler before coming to Hollywood, spent twenty years on the legitimate stage and since casting his lot zvith the silent drama enjoys the distinction of portraying twenty-seven separate and distinct roles, no two of zvhich were alike. Lloyd Hughes wishes he were twins. Since Lloyd left for the Flagstaff, Arizona location for the Laskv Company, his manager Fred Fralick, has had five offers for the young actor's services, which he has had to turn down. Hughes is one of the most actively engaged leading men in Hollywood and holds the record for number of engagements during the past five months, among free lance leading men. He is at present engaged in a leading role of Zane Grey's. "The Heritage of the Desert," for Paramount. By coincidence, he is working in his own home town in Arizona. This marks his first visit "among the folks" in several years. John H. Richardson has been signed to play the part of Mr. Byng in Warner Bros, production of "Beau Brummel," with John Barrymore in the title role. Creighton Hale, who is portraying a Viennese surgeon in Warner Brothers, "The Marriage Circle," has two weeks more work in the production and is already receiving offers for different productions. Whiie the actor is considering the dotted line, he has come to no decision as to work or a much needed vacation, for since his arrival on the Coast the first of the year he has worked unceasingb in one picture after another with no rest between. Mr. Hale will soon be seen in Goldwyn's "Name the Man," for which he was accorded all praise by Victor Seastrom who directed it. Russell Joy, zvho the "jovial juvenile, to Hollyzvood after tour in the east in sketch. Prior to his the other end of the played the heavy in ton's "Extra! Extra made at the United terms himself has returned a six month's a z'audcz'ille departure for continent, Joy Lloyd Hamil!" which was studios. . Sam Mogi, well-known throughout filmland as an expert cameraman and all-round director, has blossomed out for himself and is now the President of Independent Comedies, Inc., with offices in the Conlon Building, Hollywood. Mr. Mogi, who has just completed a two-reel comedy is planning to produce a series of eleven more for release by Shadowland, Inc.