Exhibitor's Trade Review (Nov 1925 - Feb 1926)

Page 18 Exhibitors Review Production Highligh ts John Lowell featured in "The Big Show," a forthcoming Associated Exhibitors release made on the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch TOM TYLER has completed "Born to Battle" for F. B. O., under the direction of Bob De Lacey. The story, by William E. Wing, treats of the cowboy character in an original manner and is said to get away to a great extent from the stereotyped Western story. Tvler will shortly begin "The Arizona Streak" for F. B. O. * * * RALPH GRAVES, who was converted by Mack Sennett into a comedian, is reported planning to leave that producer at the expiration of his contract to get back into features. * * * HOWARD EMMETT ROGERS is writing the scenario for Richard" Dix's "Paradise for Two," for Paramount. FRED HUMES was signed by Universal under a five-year contract for Westerns. His first picture will be "Prowlers of the Night." •. * * * EDWARD LAEMMLE will start production of his next Universal special, "The Whole Town's Talking," this week. * * * BEBE DANIELS is on her way here from the Coast for the production of her next Paramount comedy. "The Palm Beach Girl." * * * E. M. ASHER is practically ready to start his production of the Drury Lane melodrama, "Good Luck," in which Conway Tearle is to be starred. The story, by Seymore Hicks and Ian Hay, was placed in continuity by Carey Wilson. Alan Hale will direct. As an attraction on the London stage last season, "Good Luck" had a long run. It is filled with the sort of situations that lend themselves to exciting action on the screen. * * * FRED THOMSON'S next Western feature for F. B. O. will be "Hands Across the Border," an original story by Frank M. Clifton. "Hands Across the Border" will be the second of his super-productions, in accordance with his long term, contract with Ihe distributing organization, his first having been "The Tough Guy," just completed. * * * LYA DE PUTTI has been signed to a long term contract by Paramount and will arrive in this country next month to be starred in Paramount pictures. Miss de Putti's first appearance on the screen in this country will be in a big special production, made in Berlin, entitled "Variety." Associated Exhibitors, Inc., have recently acquired two outstanding features in "The Earth Woman" and "The Big Show," which they feel confident will be declared among the best pictures of 1926. Each of these approaches perfection in photography, direction, story and audience appeal and is graced by a cast that can only be described as flawless. With epic qualities that stamp it as out of the same general mold as have come some of the biggest pictures in motion picture history. "The Earth Woman" at a recent private showing impressed Associated executives as a real contribution to the wt>rld of cinematography that will stand out as a box-office attraction par excellence. Mary Alden contributes a characterization as a pioneer mother that transcends her many remarkable mother portrayals and which is certain to have the same appeal accorded to the "Stella Dallas" mother. Although Mary Alden does the best work of her career in this picture, she is superbly supported by Russell Simpson, Priscilla Bonner, Johnny Walker, Carroll Nye, John Carr, Hoe Butterworth, William Scott and others. His direction of "The Earth Woman" will undoubtedly win for Walter Long an honored place in the foremost directorial ranks. Mrs. Wallace Reid sponsored the production of "The Earth Woman," and while it maintains her reputation for sure fire boxoffice successes it reaches a much higher degree of artistic excellence than she has attained hitherto. With the illuminative title of "The Big Show" to attract customers to the box-office and a circus story of certain entertainment value there exists little doubt that the other recentlv acquired Associated Exhibitors' feature will also find a ready welcome with exhibitors and public. It was pictured on the Miller Bros.' famed 101 Ranch, and all the thrills and gaiety of circus life find place in this fascinating story of life beneath the big tent. John Lowell and Evangeline Russell have the featured roles in this picturizatior, of the L. Case Russell story "On With the Show," and are supported by Dan Dix, Col. Joseph C. Miller, S. Serrano Keating, Joe Lewis and Naida Blatherwick. Director George Terwilliger has nt0.de of "The Big Show," a fast moving photoplay that will bring delight to all. Associated Exhibitors' announce "The Big Show" for March release. * * * M. C. LEVEE has engaged Al Santell to direct his production entitled "Molasses," scheduled to start February 15th. Up to the present time the cast includes Charlie Murray, George Sidney, Vera Gordon, Kate Price, Jack Mulhall and Gaston Glass. * * * RTCHARD BARTHELMESS has just reached the Coast for the production of "Ransom's Folly," the famous Richard Harding Davis story which will be his next First National release. Sidney Olcott, the director, and other members of the Barthelmess organization preceded the star to Los Angeles in order to prepare for the coming production. This will be the first picture that Barthelmess has made on the West Coast for a considerable period. * # * JOHN McCORMICK, West Coast production manager for First National Pictures, announces that Wid Gunning, noted production and story authority, has been signed to assist in the forthcoming Colleen Moore stories, as well as in the preparation of other scripts for First National. Mary Alden gives the finest performance of her career as heroine of "The Earth Woman,' a Mrs. Wallace Reid production, to be released by Associated Exhibitors. JOHNNY HTNES and his company, producing "The Brown Derby," a First National picture, will leave for Miami, Fla., on the S. S. Alexandria, February IS, to film exteriors. Included in the party will be the producer, C. C. Burr, Bradley Barker,, Harold Forshay, Diana Kane, Ruth Dwyer and a complete technical and scenario force. The entire' company will remain in Florida for about three weeks, following which interiorswill be filmed at the Tec Art Studios irt the. Bronx. * * * NOAH BEERY was assigned an important role in "Padlocked," Rex Beech's great story which Allan Dwan is to direct for Paramount. Announcement of the selection was made by B. P. Schulberg, associate producer in charge of the production. * * % FEODOR CHALIAPIN, the most famous bass in the history of grand opera, will appear in a screen drama with Pola Negri next winter. They are seeking a suitable story to make his film venture a definite matter. Plans whereby the greatest actor of the operatic stage will make his first film venture with the greatest dramatic star of motion pictures have been under discussion by the two for the past two weeks, according to Miss Negri. % Sl£ 4* PERCY PEMBROKE, who directed "Heavy Love" for Rock, is again wielding the megaphone while Murray Rock is handling production details of the cast of "A Fraternity Mix_Up," a Joe Rock-Blue Ribbon-F. B. 0. comedy now being filmed. * * * BEN LYON, May McAvoy, Sam' Hardy, Philo McCollough, Charlotte Walker and Tom Maguire left New York last week for the sunshine of Miami, Florida, where they will spend the next three weeks filming exterior scenes for First National's "The Savage," in which Ben and May are featured. * * * JOE ROCK is en route to his ranch near Las Vegas, Nevada, where a number of improvements are under way. The well known producer pians to use his large estate as an auxiliary studio and for the filming of outdoor scenes.