Exhibitors Herald (1926)

35 April 17, 1926 EXHIBITORS HERALD Pro-Dis-Co Will Release 41 with Big Cecil DeMille Special Al Christie to Make Two Long Comedies PRODUCERS Distributing Corporation will release 41 productions for the 1926-27 season, including one big special to be personally directed by Cecil B. DeMille and two long feature length Al Christie comedies, DeMille announced this week. DeMille, who went East last week to arrange personally for completion of the new program, stated that in making up the schedule of productions special effort was directed to getting the widest possible variety of entertainment and that stories and plays well suited to the personalities of his stars and featured players had been obtained. 22 Novels Among Sources The schedule of 41 pictures will include adaptations from 22 well-known novels, eight successful stage plays, four popular magazine stories, and six original scripts, including the big DeMille special, “The Deluge,” on which Jeanie Macpherson is now at work, and one undecided vehicle to be used by Al Christie for his second comedy feature. The list of authors includes such popular writers as Jack London, Irvin S. Cobb, Willson Collison, Izola Forrester, Avery Hopwood, Samuel Merwin, Albert Payson Terhune, Peter B. Kyne, Rosita Forbes, Owen Davis, Edgerton Castle, Edna Ferber, Zelda Sears, Frank R. Adams, Fred Jackson, Monte Katterjohn, Welford Beaton, Charles Brackett, Wallace Smith, Don Marquis, Lenore Coffee, Rudolph Lothar, Hans Bachwitz, William Slavins McNutt, Agnes Parsons, J. Palmer Parsons, Frederic Chapin, Anne Warner, Denison Clift, A. A. Milne, Lajos Biros, Frank Condon, Mann Page, Aubrey Kennedy, Henry St. John Cooper, and Jeanie Macpherson, who in addition to writing “The Deluge” will adapt three other stories for screen presentation. Twenty-two productions will be made at the De Mille Studio, 17 will be produced at the Metropolitan studio and the tAvo Christie long features will be made ^ partly at the Christie studio and partly at the Metropolitan. Leatrice Joy, Rod La Rocque and Vera Reynolds will each be starred in four productions, and Jetta Goudal will be starred m three of the pictures to be made at the De Mille studio. Marie Prevost will be starred in five productions; Priscilla Dean Will star in three pictures, and Joseph Schildkraut will be featured in two of the pictures to be made at the Metropolitan studio. .*^be four Leatrice Joy starring vehicles "r u Clinging Vine," an adaptation of Henry W. Savage's musical comedy success of the same title, written by Zelda produced under the direction of Paul Sloane; “For Alimony Only," to be directed by William C. de Mille from an original story specially Avritten for Miss Joy by Lenore Coffee; “Vanity," anoriginal story by Lenore Coffee, AA'ill be Miss Joy’s third starring vehicle; and CECIL B. DeMILLE “Nobody’s Widow,” adapted from David Belasco’s successful stage play by Avery HopAVOod, to be directed by William C. de Mille, Avill be the fourth nroduction in the Leatrice Joy series. The Rod La Rocque series Avill consist of "Gigolo,” an adaptation of Edna Ferber’s novel of the same title, to be directed by William K. HoAvard ; "The Cruise of Jasper B," from the novel by Don Marquis, to be directed by Paul Sloane ; “His Dog,” from Albert Payson Terhune’s famous novel, under William K. Howard’s direction; and “Ladies Must Love," adapted from the play by Aubrey Kennedy. No director has yet been assigned to this. Vera Reynolds’ Pictures Listed “Sunny Side Up,” adapted from Henry St. John Cooper’s novel, “Sunny DucroAV," AAdll be the first starring vehicle for Vera Reynolds. It Avill be produced under the direction of Donald Crisp. The three other starring vehicles selected for Vera Reynolds include “Risky Business," adapted from “Pearls Before Cecily,” a Saturday Evening Post story by Charles K. Brackett to be directed by Alan Hale ; "Corporal Kate.” adapted from Zelda Sears’ novel, to be directed by Paul Sloane; and “The Little Adventuress," an adaptation of the New York and London stage success, “'rhe Dover Road," by A. A. Milne, Avhich Avill be produced under the direction of William C. de Mille. Jetta Goudal’s three starring vehicles Avill be, "Her Man O' War,” adapted from the stor}', "Black Marriage,” bv Fred Tackson, Avith Frank Urson directing; “Fighting I^ve” from the novel and magazine serial by Rosita Forbes, to be produced under Rupert Julian’s direction; and “White Gold” from the play by J. Palmer Parsons under William K. HoAvard’s direction. Marie Prevost Avill be starred in "Almost a Lady” from the Cosmot’oUlan story, “Skin Deep,” by Frank R. Adams, and directed bv E. Mason Hopper; “For Wives Only,” from the play, “The Critical Year," by Rudolph Lothar and Hans Baclnvitz, under the direction of Joseph Henabery; “The Night Bride” from the story by Frederic Chapin under E. Mason Hopper’s direction; "Man Bait,” an original story to be directed by Scott Sidney; ami "Gelling Gertie's Garter,” an adaptation of the A. H. Woods stage success by Willson Collison and Avery 1 lopAVood. This will be directed by Joseph Henabery. The three Priscilla Dean starring vehicles Avill include “The Speeding Vcmis" from Welford Beaton's story, "Behind the Wheel,” Robert Thornby directing; "West of Broadway',” from the Red Book serial, “New York West,” by Wallace Smith, to be directed by EdAvard Dillon; and "JcAvels of Desire," from the stop’ by Agnes Parsons, which Avill also be directed by EdAvard Dillon. Joseph Schildkraut Avill be featured in “Meet the Prince," an adaptation of Mtinsoy’s story, “The American Sex," written by Frank R. Adams, and “The Hwirt Thief,” an adaptation of the Lajos iTiros stage play, "The Highwayman.” Both of these productions Avill be directed by Joseph Henabery. Joseph Schildkraut Avill also be co-fcatured Avith his father, Rudolph Schildkraut, in “Yoimo' April." an adaptation of the popular novel of the same title by Edgerton Castle. This production Avill he directed by Donald Crisp and will be released as a Donald Crisp production. De Mille Motion Picture cornoration Avill produce five other specials. These five sulijects Avill embrace "Rubber Tires” from the story by William Slavins McNutt and Frank Woods; “The Yankee Clipper,” by Denison Clift featuring William Boyd, Elinor Fair, Junior Coghlan and Waller Long; and “Turkish Delight” from Irvin S. Cobb’s story. These three pictures will be released as Donald Crisp productions. The tAVO others arc “Silk,” from the novel by Samuel Merwin, Avhich Avill be a Rupert Julian production with Jetta Goudal and Joseph Schildkraut in the featured roles ; “The Country Doctor," from the story by Mann Page and Izola Forrester, a William K. Howard production featuring Rudolph Schildkraut. Julia Faye, Kenneth Thomson and Sally Rand. Seven Metropolitan Specials Seven Metropolitan .specials are scheduled. These include "The Flame of the Yukon." featuring Scena Oavch and Arnold Gray to be directed by George Melford from the story by Monte Katterjohn ; "Pals in Paradise,” adapted from Peter B. Kyne's story in Avhich William Boyd, Scena Owen and Phyllis Haver Avill be featured; “The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary" from the famous play by Anne Warner to lie directed by Joseph Henabery, aviIIj an all-star cast including Harrison Ford, John Doavers. Marguerite De La Mottc, Phyllis Haver. Arnold Gray and Trixie Friganza; “No Control" from the Saturday Evening Post story by b'rank Condon, featuring Phyllis Haver and Harrison Ford, to be directed liy Scott Sidney; “Jim. 'fhe Conqueror," from the story by Peter B. Kync, featuring William Boyd and Elinor Fair, directed by E. Mason Hopper; “A Harp in Hock," featuring Rudolph Schildkraut and Junior Coghlan, and “The Sea Wolf," the Ralph W. Ince production, directed by Ralph Ince. The first Al Christie feature will be "The Nervous Wreck," adapted from Sam II. Harris’ remarkalde stage success written by Oavch Davis. This Avill be an especially elalioratc production produced under the direction of Scott Sidney with an all-star cast. The title of the second Christie feature is not disclosed in the announcement, but this production is promised as a “surprise special."