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

Page ]« Exhibitors Review FOUR OF A KIND Mack Sennett Players Now Active Ruth Hiatt (above) and Raymond McKee (right) the Mr. and Mrs. Smith in the new series of the "Smith Family" comedies. Thelma Parr (left) and Ralph p Graves (above), two of the most popular of the Sennett group producing for Pathe release. P H ALMOST A SCORE of some of filmdom's most prominent players have been signed by Universal for parts in forthcoming productions, according to word from Henry McRae, directorgeneral of production at Universal City. * * * JACK MULHALL, one of screendom's best known and most popular leading men, has been added to the cast of "Silence," now being produced at the Cecil De Mille Studio. The past year has witnessed Mulhall in the male lead of four outstanding productions, with Corinne Griffith in "Classified," Colleen Moore in "We Moderns," Dorothy MacKaill in "Joanna," and Blanche Sweet in "The Far Cry." * * * VIOLA DANA has been selected to play opposite Kenneth Harlan in "Crashing Timbers" with Henry B. Walthall in a prominent supporting role. Frank Hagney, DeWitt Jennings, Fred Kohler and Billy Kent also will be in the cast. * * * LOUISE FAZENDA is a most important addition to the cast of "The Old Soak," Sloman's picturization of the Don Marquis play. She will be seen in the role of the eccentric maid. George Lewis, June Marlowe, George Siegmann and William V. Mong will be in the supporting cast of the picture, which marks Jean Hersholt's first bow as a star. * * * EDWARD EVERETT HORTON, who has been signed to star in "The Whole Town's Talking," under the direction of Edward Laemmle, will have many well-known names in the supporting cast. Dolores Del Rio will play the role of the stage "vamp" ; Trixie Friganza, the famous stage star, has just been signed. Virginia Lee Corbin will play the ingenue lead. Malcolm White, Robert Ober, and Margaret Quimby have been signed for supporting parts. * * * MACK SWAIN, popular comedy "heavy," Cissy Fitfgerald, and Billy Kent, the child actor who scored so heavily in King Baggot's "The Home Maker," will play supporting roles in "The Big Night," Laura La Plantc's forthcoming starring production, which Melville Brown will direct. * * * HOUSE PETERS will be starred in "Prisoners of the Storm," from the popular novel "The Quest of Joan," by James Oliver Curwood as his next production for Universal, according to an announcement from Henry McRae, acting studio general manager. Lynn Reynolds, who directed Peters in his last picture, "Combat," and who just RODUCTION IGHLIGHTS finished "Chip of the Flying U," will make the new production. * * * HONG-KONG has it all over Paris in the matter of creating fashions, Leatrice Joy says, because the heavy silk trousers, woven by the Chinese girls in her present starring picture, "Eve's Leaves," have made such a favorable impression on Leatrice that she predicts the adoption of feminine pants as everyday wear within a few years. Glen Hunter and Mildred Ryan, who put over some very excellent acting in "The Clod Hopper," released by Associated. RALPH GRAVES started his new picture under Moffit's direction, following completion of a two-reeler which Wesley Ruggles, well known feature director, supervised. In the current Graves' film Ruth Taylor appears opposite the star. Others in the cast are Patsy O'Bryne, Dale Fuller and Marvin Lobach. * # # DIRECTOR William K. Howard's description of "Bachelors' Brides," is "A laugh in every foot with a thrill between each laugh." It is the newest Rod La Rocque starring picture for De Mille. Howard describes the film as a delightful "comedy-mystery" piece, which masterfully combines genuine laughs with hair-raising situations. ALICE DAY'S new comedy is laid in a farm locale. Supporting Alice are Eddie Quillan, Danny O'Shea, Joseph Young and Thelma Parr. Earle Rodney is at the megaphone. $ $ $ RAYMOND McKEE and Ruth Hiatt are maintaining a busy schedule on the Smith Family series. Gilbert Pratt isnow guiding these stars in a two-reeler in which Carmelita Geraghty makes her Sennett debut. Also in this cast are several screen favorites including Mary Ann Jackson, Barney Helium and Irving Bacon. * * * EDWARD HORTON, immediately following the completion of "Poker Faces," which he is making at Universal under the direction of Harry Pollard, will start another comedy, "The Whole Town's Talking" under the direction of Edward Laemmle. Laura LaPlante is co-starring with him in "Poker Faces." * * * LAWRENCE GRAY will play the leadingmale role in Bebe Daniels' next Paramount comedy, "The Palm Beach Girl," by Byron Morgan. He has just completed his second part opposite Gloria Swanson in "The Untamed Lady." This has just been announced by William Le Baron, associate producer at the Long Island studio where interiors will be made. * * * GRETA NISSEN has been signed by Universal to play the lead opposite Norman Kerry in "The Love Thief," according totelegraphic announcement from Universal City. "The Love Thief," adapted from the story by Margaret Mayo, will be directed by John McDermott as one of the special productions of Universal's 1926 program. * * * OTIS HARLAN has been signed to do a. featured role in "The Whole Town's Talking." The leading lady and other membersof the cast have not yet been chosen. Production will start in about ten days. BEN TURPIN, under the directorial wingof Eddie Cline, is making a mythical kingdom comedy with Ben as a Crown Prince. Madeline Hurlock, Sunshine Hart, Dave Morris, Blanche Payson, Herbert Sherwood and Bud Jameson complete the cast. NIGEL BARRIE, recently returned from England, Borgatto, the celebrated Italian actor, and Charles Puffy, Austrian stage star who has been playing in Universal comedies, will have important parts in the supporting cast of "The Love Thief," for Universal.