Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

40 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD January 19, 1929 Warners Cut 5,000 Feet of "Noah" — It's Better Film Than Ever Wampas Decides on 13 1929 Baby Stars; George O'Brien Quits the Air — ■ First National Signs Writers By DOUGLAS HODGES HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 15.— Warner Brothers has cut 5,000 goodly feet from "Noah's Ark" and it's a better picture than ever. The picture formerly ran 14,000 feet when it opened nine weeks ago at Grauman's Chinese theatre. It ends its run there this week. For all other bookings the revised prints will be used. ON A LOT OF THE LOTS " T> ROADWAY MELODY" goes into the -D house this week for an extended run. It is an M G M picture. The most noticeable difference in the new cut is that instead of alternating from Biblical sequences to modern sequence and back to Biblical sequence throughout the picture, the director now sticks to his story until it is practically completed. You follow the fortunes of Travis and Maire through the wreck and through the war to the Armistice before the Biblical story begins. While much of the war sequences have been cut out, comparatively little of the Biblical stuff has been lost. The Biblical portion of the picture has been emphatically proclaimed to be the most charming part of the story. It remains so and is made more effective by the revision. * * * The Pendulum Swings the Other Way at F N First NationalVitaphone showed us this week it could hire as well as fire. Jack Warner and Al Rockett announced yesterday that they have acquired the talents of the following gifted scribes for work on next year's product : Bradley King has come in to work on "Pal anil Mike," for Milton Sills. Monte Katterjohn has signed up and has begun work on Alice White's next one, "The Broadway Musketeer." Louis Stevens is assigned to "Hot Stuff." Forrest Halsey is doing the adaptation of "Prisoners." the Molnar play in which Corinne Griffith will star. Ewart Adamson is working on the next Biljie Dove production. James Gruen is doing "The Girl in the Glass Cage" in which Dorothy Mackaill is to have a starring role. F. McGraw Willis is working on "Two Weeks Off" as a Mackaill-Mulhall film. Humphrey Pearson is doing the dialogue for "Hot Stuff." Gene Towne, Paul Perez and Edward Luddy are engaged as "stock" writers and titlers. Three months ago there were two scenarists under contract at Burbank. * * * Wampas Sends 13 More to Fame If it weren't for the election of the Baby Stars by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers every year the monotony and humdrum of the after holiday season would probably prove fatal to many newspapermen and publicists. It's grown to be an excuse for the slightest effort towards enthusiasm at a time when Hollywood's head is aching from emotional intoxication (nonalcoholic). We're printing the list herewith and hopebut do not trust— that you will recognize one or any of them. We have investigated the matter thoroughly and are prepared to take oath that (here's the surprise) everyone of them has appeared on the screen at some time or other. JEAN ARTHUR, Paramount. BETTY BOYD. Educational. SALLY BLANE, F B O. ETHLYNE CLAIR, Pathe. DORIS DAWSON, First Nat. JOSEPHINE DUNN, M G M. HELEN FOSTER, Freelance. DORIS HILL, Paramount. CARYL LINCOLN, Freelance. ANITA PAGE, M G M. MONA RICO. United Artists. HELEN TWELVETREES, Fox. LORETTA YOUNG, F. N. All will be introduced formally at the Wampas Frolic February 12 at the Shrine Auditorium. * * * George Amy, film editor, who has been with Burr and Hincs for the past three years, has resigned and entered the free lance field. Hehas had experience of late cutting and editing talking pictures. * * * George O'Brien's Lindbcrghian inclinations faded somewhat in the past three weeks. Not that George isn't an air advocate and a cold air advocate at that but he will probably confine his flying to more southern and more homelike surroundings in the future. Ever since Hollywood to San Francisco air transportation was inaugurated George O'Brien's aforementioned inclinations have taken him to the northern port regularly on visits to the home of his father, Chief of Police Dan O'Brien. But with the official retirement of the Chief a few days ago the family has been reunited at home in Hollywood. * * * NOTE TO TAY GARNETT: Watch that Ground Hog's behavior. If there's no shadow it's not long before we make that spring voyage on your yacht to Catatma. 265 Players Engaged; Monthly Pay $40,000 (Continued from preceding page) Colors" was George's most recent production. This one will exceed it in expenditure. It may be that the friendship between the author of the story and the star ha-had some influence in bringing them together in this work. The picture will be directed by David Butler and according to O'Brien it has an excellent supporting cast. In it Nora Lane plays "opposite George; Farrell MacDonald is the principal character actor and David Sharpe, James Gordon, Edward Peil, and Frank Hagney compose the cast. Tlhe title of the picture is "Son of Anak," which has been scenarized by Harry Brand and Benjamin J. Markson. Having completed the selection of the cast for "The Hottentot," director Roy Del Ruth has started actual filming of this production. Such satellites as Edward Everett Horton, Patsy Ruth Miller, Douglas Gerrard, Stanley Taylor, Gladys Brockwell, Otto Hoffman, Edmund Breese, Maud Turner Gordon and others are included in the list to appear in this all-Vitaphone. Meticulous care, according to Del Ruth, was exercised in choosing these people, as the exacting requirements demanded of them by the synchronization device made this imperative. Del Ruth, moreover, is the director of "The Terror," monev-making all-audien. Brice Deserts Scenarios For Songs and Production (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 16.— Monte Bricc has deserted his scenarios to work on some songs and plays for a short time. One of the songs is called "Agua Caliente." He is also working on a story based upon the same title which he and Grant Clark and Red Nichols will produce in color and synchronization. Regarding : Tommy Hacker "Speed" Kendall Harry Burns Harry Nichols Arthur Ungar Robert Mims Welford Beeton Doug Hodges Ralph Wilk Ann Christy Dick Hunt Harold Lloyd Jerry Hoffman Alice White Larry Unbach Wesley Ruggles Monoe Lathrop Laura LaPlante HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 16.— Tommy Hacker, through his installations of electric devices, has been offered several opportunities to work with dialogue pictures, but hesitates on account of a device that he is perfecting. This new angle has met with the approval of irfany of the best critics but remains to be tested thoroughly before it will be offered. Hacker is well known in the picture industry, having been with several of the more prominent studios, but retired to spend more time on his brainchild. * * * Well, the time has come and gone for the Wampas to name the "13 Baby Stars" from the ranks of beautiful young women who have made their way toward fame. They're a nice lot and we envy them. It is my privilege to reveal the information that Wampas will have competition in a fashion from now on. Their sister organization, the Wasps, which is the Women's Association of Press Agents, contemplates naming a strong list of names from among males in Hollywood who will contribute their share towards screen histrionics. First on their list of chosen candidates is Harry Burns, a Valentino type of man. Second is Arthur Ungar who will be projected for Wally Reid roles. The man named for juvenile portrayals is Welford Beeton. Others on the list include the pulchritudinous Ralph Wilk and Dick Hunt. Jerry Hoffman and Larry Urbach are represented as sure contenders among the Irish Baby Stars. Monroe Lathrop and Speed Kendall have always had the desire to be Baby stars and if they can do it Harry Nichols should be among them. But after suggesting H. E. N. it is only fair to enter the name of Robert Mims. And, like it or not, I'll put in my own paddle if the worst comes to the worst. We need a 13th candidate and there's only one likely name we have missed. Besides which. Doug Hodges says he'll feel like the devil if his name is left out of the list. * * * Ann Christy, former leading woman with Harold Lloyd, believes in everything. After her marvelous portrayal as Harold's "sweetie" in "Speedy," she decided to stay in the freelance field. Since, she has had four offers for contracts from studios, but has declined them. Two happened within a week before Christmas. She states that the Thirteenth, Friday, Mack cat and ladders are her best bets. According to the work she is scheduled to do, she must be right. * * * Alice White, First National star, proved a life saver at a preview recently. The audience was very cold along the first few scenes of "Naughty Baby" but Alice/ who enjoys good pictures, emitted her inimitable laugh at a scene that was exceptionally clever. The reaction followed. The audience seemed to enjoy the peal of laughter, from the "unknown" person. Wesley Ruggles, Universal's ace director, is recuperating from a sprained ankle, and directing Laura La Plante in "Haunted Lady." * * * Fox casting office have moved to their new quarters on the Fox lot. They are now loaded on the corner of Western and DeLongpre avenues, with large spacious quarters and pleasant surroundings. The offices also house the accounting departments. The Movietone department has retired to Fox Hills also to new quarters, in charge of Dave Thompson. FRAZIER.