Exhibitors Herald (1925)

August 1, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 63 East Coast Production ( Concluded from Page 46) who made such a hit in “The Lucky Devil,” the latest Dix picture, which was also a Frank Tuttle production. “Lovers in Quarantine,” adapted by Townsend Martin from the stage play, “Quarantine,” is a colorful romantic comedy, full of fast action and laughter-provoking episodes. Many scenes were filmed in Bermuda and on shipboard. Filming started last week on “That Royle Girl,” D. W. Griffith’s first picture for Paramount. This is an adaptation of Edwin Balmer’s story which ran in serial form in Hearst’s Cosmopolitan Magazine, and deals with jazz life in Chicago. It is a tense drama and gives the director ever)' opportunity to put his genius into play. Carol Dempster has the title role, James Kirkwood will be seen in the leading male role and others in the cast are Harrison Ford, Marie Chambers, Florence Auer, Ida Waterman and Alice Laidley (Mrs. John Harriman Jr.). Within a week Herbert Brenon will start actual camera work on the screen version of the James Barrie masterpiece, “A Kiss for Cinderella.” Mr. Brenon had a number of personal conferences with Sir James on the adaptation of his story, and the famous author himself selected Betty Bronson, who made such a success last year in his “Peter Pan,” to play the leading role. Miss Bronson will reach New York in a few days and will at once begin work in the new Christmas film. Tom Moore has been engaged for the role of the Policeman and Henry Vibart will be seen as Bodie. Other players will be selected by Mr. Brenon this week. Preparing New Swanson Vehicle Preparations are also going forward steadily for the next Gloria Swanson production, “Stage Struck.” Forrest Halsey, who has adapted several stories in the past for the popular Paramount star, including her “Madame Sans Gene,” is now putting into screen form this novel by Frank R. Adams. The directing will be in the hands of Alan Dwan, who has been responsible for a number of Gloria’s most successful picture. Camera work on “Stage Struck” will commence within a few weeks. As soon as Richard Dix finishes work in “The Vanishing American,” which is now being filmed in the deserts of Utah, he will return to the Long Island studio to star in “Womanhandled,” in which he will be directed by Gregory La Cava, who co-operated with Frank Tuttle in the making of “The Lucky Devil.” Plans for this production are shaping up rapidly. Esther Ralston will again be Richard’s leading woman. Arrow Pictures Corporation will have three important units at work in the East this season : The Whitman Bennett unit, the Wilfred Noy unit and the Maurice Campbell unit, all of which will work at Mr. Bennett’s newly acquired Glendale studio, Glendale, Long Island. Bennett Sponsors Six The Whitman Bennett bloc will sponsor six of the 24 first-run pictures which will make up the Golden Arrow franchise. These six pictures subdivide as f ollows : Four Whitman Bennett productions and two W. E. Shallenberger special attractions. Of these, in each instance, the first is completed. Whitman Bennett’s first production will be “Children of the Whirlwind,” a picturization of Le Roy Scott’s underworld story, published first as a serial in Hearst’s International Magazine and later in book form by Houghton Mifflin & Co. — creating in both cases a vast deal of comment — which boasts as its stars Lionel Barrymore, Johnnie Walker and Marguerite De La Motte. “Children of the Whirlwind” is a tale of society and those who prey upon it. The first W. E. Shallenberger special attraction— and incidentally the first picture ever to reach the screen personally sponsored by Arrow’s executive head — will be “Scandal Street” written by Frank R. Adams and published originally in Hearst’s Cosmopolitan Magazine. It deals with a certain phase of motion picture life. Madge Kennedy is seen in the greatest acting role of her career while opposite her in a dual role Niles Welch contributes a splendid performance. Also included in the cast are such popular players as Coit Albertson, Edwin August, Louise Carter and F. Moy Bennett. Wilfred Noy, the talented English director, whose greatest success was registered with “The Lost Chord,” has practically completed the first of a series of four productions, in all of which lovely Jane Novak is to be starred. The first one, “The Substitute Wife,” written by Katherine Smith, is a fast-moving society drama in which Miss Novak is said to do excellent work, while Niles Welch, in her support, is his usual dependable self. The balance of the cast includes Gordon Standing, Coit Albertson, Louise Carter, Lucius Henderson and Ruth Andre. The next Wilfred Noy production will be “Led Astray,” the screen adaptation of Alfonse Daudet’s novel “The Little Parish Church.” “Cleaner Flame” an Original Another forthcoming Whitman Bennett production wil be “The Cleaner Flame,” a screen original by Clara Beranger and Forrest Halsey. Miss Beranger is the executive head of the Famous PlayersLasky West Coast Scenario Department, and has sponsored some of their best productions, while Forrest Halsey has provided practically all of the recent Rudolph Valentino vehicles. Another is “The Great City,” a drama of New York, written by Dorothy Farnum, who, while associated with Warner Brothers, wrote or adapted such outstanding successes as “Beau Brummel,” “Babbitt,” “The Lover of Camille,” “Daring Youth,” “Tess of the D’Ubervilles” and who holds at present, an important post in the editorial department of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Major Maurice Campbell, who will produce and direct for Arrow, four productions bearing his name, is a veteran in the field of entertainment, having begun his career as a collaborator of David Belasco with whom, and for whom, he directed many great stage successes. Later he was associated with Jesse Lasky, and with that gentleman produced a number of important vaudeville acts. Still later he entered the directorial field and while under contract to Famous Players-Lasky sponsored the first important group of Bebe Daniels productions. Major Campbell’s first production will be “Wandering Fires,” by Warner Fabian who startled the reading world some time ago with “Flaming Youth,” the outstanding book of recent years. Thereafter, Mr. Fabian clicked again with “Sailor’s Wives” which also proved a literary sensation. Unit Returns to California Following a year of production in the East, Associated Pictures Corporation, which organization produces SawyerLubin films starring Barbara LaMarr, will return to California in August, where the fourth LaMarr vehicle “Spanish Sunlight” will be made. The Sawyer-Lubin unit, after several years of production activities in Hollywood, moved East in April, 1924, and during the year in New York made “Sandra,” “The 'Heart of a Siren” and “The White Monkey,” all starring Miss Lamarr. The move to the West Coast is for the purpose of taking advantage of the production facilities of the First National Pictures, Inc., Western Studio, which organization releases Sawyer-Lubin product. The New York offices of Associated Pictures Corporation will be maintained at 383 Madison Avenue, and the headquarters of the publicity department under the direction of Bert Ennis will also remain in New York. Jans Completing Arrangements Herman F. Tans is rapidly completing arrangements for the filming of “Ermine and Rhinestones,”, the fourth of his new series of productions for the independent market. West Coast Production (Concluded from Page 47) Blue and Pasty Ruth Miller are in the final stages of “Hogan’s Alley.” RinTin-Tin and a large company are out on location making “Clash of the Wolves,” and John Barrymore is shooting the initial scenes for “The Sea Beast.’ Julian Josephson and Director Ernst Lubitsch will begin work soon on “Lady Windermere’s Fan,” as will Erie Kenton on “The White Chief.” E. J. Lowe, Jr., has finished the script of “Compromise” which will be used as a starring vehicle for Irene Rich. “U” Making Western Universal seems to be running to Westerns this year. Hoot Gibson is making “Calgary Stampede,” while “The Chip of the Flying U” is being filmed on the ranch of the Prince of Wales in Alberta, Canada. “On the Frontier,” another Western, featuring Norman Kerry and Dustin Farnum, is now being directed by Edward Sedgwick. Art Acord will appear in “Sky High Corral,” while Robert Bradbury is directing “Slipper Tongue” with Jack Hoxie. Universal plans at least one big production this fall, “The Midnight Sun,” a dramatic story of Russia in the days of the Czar. It is to be directed by Dimitri Buchawetzki. The A1 Christie organization has finished “Seven Days,” the adapted Mary Roberts Rinehart stage success, and it will be the piece-de-resistance on the new season’s program. This will be included in the forty productions from the Cecil B. De Mille, Metropolitan, Marshall Neilan and other producing units for Producers Distributing Corp. There are ten companies now in operation at the California Studio, which is evidence enough that the independent producers are as active as the old-line companies. J. P. McGowan has completed several railroad stories starring Helen Holmes; Del Henderson is directing the Lackey Productions; William Russell will make six pictures at the California plant, and Joe Brown has started work on a series in which Reed Howes will be starred. Independent Plants Busy John Ince Productions, Inc., announce they will furnish fourteen feature pictures for the independent market during 1925-26. E. K. Lincoln will be starred in several of these. Lincoln is now on his way to Hollywood from New York. Harry J. Brown, another independent producer, has just finished his ninth feature for the State Rights market. Mr. Brown will make 24 independent pictures. At the Berwilla Studios Paul Hurst is directing “A Gold Hunter.” Davis Distributing Company will handle this.