Exhibitors Herald World (Jul-Sep 1929)

48 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD July 13, 1929 36 Sound and Technicolor Pictures AAA In First National's $15,000,000 Group THE highest development of Vitaphone pictures, all of them 100 per cent dialogue and many of them with Technicolor, will be the aim of the First National Studios in the production of its 1929-1930 program, according to A. L. Rockett, in charge of production, who announces a $15,000,000 program for the coming year. The recent construction of additional sound stages and recording buildings, costing almost half a million dollars, as well as the current installation of three additional recording channels, obviates the necessity of any further construction or extension of these facilities during the coming year. With the improvements now being made, the First National-Vitaphone Studio will have a capacity for the simultaneous production of nine pictures. During the coming season, First National will release 36 feature length Vitaphone Pictures, presenting leading stars of the screen and the stage in plays and stories of proven circulationand popularity. The 1929-1930 program, known as the Rainbow Group, includes the following: One Colleen Moore picture, "Footlights and Fools," adapted by Carey Wilson from the original story by Katherine Brush, and directed by William A. Seiter. This picture of theatrical life features Raymond Hackett and Frederick March in support of Miss Moore and will present the stage sequences in Technicolor. AAA Richard Barthelmess will be represented by two pictures: "Son of the Gods," adapted from the best seller of the same title by Rex Beach, will be directed by Frank Lloyd and will have several Technicolor sequences. This picture will be one of First National's most ambitious offerings and will be released as a roadshow for long runs in the key cities of the country. In addition, Barthelmess will star in a second picture, as yet untitled. Corinne Griffith will also be starred in two pictures: "Lilies of the Field," a stage play by William Hurlburt, and "Back Pay," a dramatic story of metropolitan life, based on the novel of the same title by Fanny Hurst. Billie Dove will be represented by four pictures on the First National-Vitaphone program, of which only the first has been definitely selected. This is entitled, "Give This Girl a Hand," based on the recently-published magazine story by Fanny Hurst. Miss Dove will be directed by Millard Webb, who has just finished several important pictures in the East. The four Dorothy Mackaill pictures will include "Hard to Get," a comedy, featuring Charlie Delaney, Louise Fazenda and Jack Okey, with Miss Mackaill, based on a story by Edna Ferber and directed by William Beaudine: "The Great Divide," adapted from the stage play by William Vaughn Moody, with Ian Keith and Myrna Loy featured in support of Miss Mackaill, and directed by Reginald Barker: "The Woman on the Jury," by Bernard K. Burns, in which Sidney Blackmer will be featured with Miss Mackaill, and which will be directed by William Seiter: "The Queen of Jazz," from the story by Charles Behan and Frances Kanes — director and leading man not yet selected. Alice White will also be represented by four First NationalVitaphone Pictures: "The Girl From Woolworth's," by Adele Comandini, directed by William Beaudine, "Playing Around," based on the musical comedy by Vina Delmar, "Sweet Mama" and still another picture as yet untitled. Leatrice Joy will have four pictures: "A Most Immoral Lady," from the New York stage success by Townsend Martin, now being directed by John Griffith Wray, with Sidney Blackmer, Josephine Dunn, Walter Pidgeon and Montagu Love in support. This will be followed by "Furies," another stage success by Zoe Akins, in which Blackmer will again be featured in support of Miss Joy; and then she will have two additional pictures as yet untitled. Jack Mulhall and Lois Wilson will each appear in four pictures— their first two will be made together and will include "The Dark Swan," from the book by Ernest Paschal; and "In the Next Room," a mystery play, written by Eleanor Robson and Harriet Ford. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., who has recently been signed to a long-term contract, will also appear in four pictures on this program: "The Careless Age," in which he is co-featured with Loretta Young, and with Carmel Meyers and Plolmes Herbert in support. This is based on the play, "Diversion," by John Van Druton, and directed by John Griffith Wray — "Fast Life," co-featuring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Loretta Young and Chester Morris, from the stage play by Sam Shipman and John B. Hymer, and directed by John Francis Dillon — "The Forward Pass," a collegiate football story by Harvey Gates; and "Spring Is Here," a youthful musical comedy success now being presented on the New York stage by Owen Davis. In both of the latter pictures, Loretta Young will be featured with Fairbanks. In addition to these pictures and stars regularly under contract to First National-Vitaphone Productions, there will be several individual star and all-star pictures of important significance. In this group are: "Sally," starring Marilyn Miller, adapted from the musical comedy success by Guy Bolton and Jerome Kern, in which Miss Miller starred on the stage. In this John Francis Dillon Production, which will be completely in natural colors, Miss Miller will be supported by Joe E. Brown, Alexander Gray, Pert Kelton, T. Roy Barnes, Ford Sterling, Jack Duffy, E. J. Ratcliffe and Maude Turner Gordon. "Paris," starring Irene Bordoni, based on her recent musical comedy success of the same title by Martin Brown, directed by Clarence Badger, with Jack Buchanan featured, and with a supporting cast including Jason Robards, Louise Closser Hale, Zasu Pitts and Margaret Fielding. This picture will also be marked by lavish production and Technicolor stage sequences. "No, No,. Nanette," another musical comedy hit by Frank Mandel and Vincent Youmans, will also contain several Technicolor sequences and will feature Bernice Claire, a recruit from the Eastern company of "The Desert Song," Louise Fazenda, Lucien Littlefield and other established artists. It will be directed by William Beaudine. "The Song of the Flame," another Vitaphone operetta, by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II, will be one of First National's road-show super-specials. "The Isle of Lost Ships," a fantastic drama, based on the novel by Crittendon Marriott, has an all-star cast including Virginia Valli, Jason Robards and Noah Beery, and is directed by Irvin Willat. "Little Johnny Jones," from the successful musical comedy by George M. Cohan, features Eddie Buzzell, with Sally O'Neil, Robert Edeson, Edna Murphy and Raymond Turner and will be directed by Mervyn LeRoy. "Loose Ankles," which was a successful stage farce of a few seasons ago, written by Sam Janney, will have an all-star cast, as yet unannounced. AAA Of these pictures, the following will be road show productions: "Son of the Gods," "Sally," "Paris," "No, No, Nanette," "The Song of the Flame," "The Isle of Lost Ships" and "Footlights and Fools." The stars represented in these productions include: Colleen Moore, Marilyn Miller, Richard Barthelmess, Corinne Griffith, Billie Dove, Irene Bordoni, Alice White, Dorothy Mackaill and Jack Mulhall; the featured players are Leatrice Joy, Lois Wilson, Jack Buchanan, Eddie Buzzell, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Loretta Young and James Ford, all under contract to First National-Vitaphone Productions, in addition to many acknowledged leaders of the acting profession from the screen and stage fields. The famous authors and playwrights represented on First National's program for the coming year include Rex Beach, Fanny Hurst, Edna Ferber, Katherine Brush, William Vaughn Moody, Townsend Martin, Zoe Akins, Ernest Paschal, John Van Druton, Samuel Shipman, John B. Hymer, Sam Janney, Martin Brown, Crittendon Marriott, George M. Cohan, Bernard K. Burns, Charles Behan, Frances Kanes, Eleanor Robson, Harriet Ford, Harvey Gates, Owen Davis, Frank Mandel, Otto Harbach, Frederick Lonsdale and William Hurlburt. The directors who will be represented on this program include Clarence Badger, Reginald Barker, William Beaudine, Eddie Cline, John Francis Dillon, Alexander Korda, Mervyn LeRoy, Frank Lloyd, William A. Seiter, Irvin Willat, Millard Webb and John Griffith Wray. Adaptations, continuities and dialogue for these pictures will be prepared by Adele Comandini, Harvey Gates, John F. Goodrich, Forrest Halsey, Adelaide Heilbron, Bradley King, Eddie Luddy, Fred Myton, Paul Perez, Harold Shumate, Gene Towne, Waldemar Young and Carey Wilson. The basic payroll of the studio includes over 1,100 workers under regular contract and employment.