Exhibitor's Trade Review (Aug-Nov 1925)

Page 40 Exhibitors Trade Review Patheserial "Wild West" Greets Return of Old Star "COMEDIES FOR NEWCOMERS" SAYS ROACH (Continued from page 39) the conviction that only dramatic studios can help them to win fame and fortune, and that work in comedies is inferior to work in the big features. The other girls, the 99 out of 100, whose chances are dubitable, simply are sent away because there isn't enough "extra work" and "bits" to keep them busy. They aren't needed. The entire country floods Hollywood with them constantly. There are perhaps 200 girls in Hollywood at any one time who "have a chance," and yet are unknown and just seeking that chance. They have the qualifications, but with them they have a conviction that the difference between two reels and five reels means the diffrence between inferior and unrecognized work and big work that people will notice This conviction in newcomers is unexplainable, because it is well known that of the biggest stars of today the great majority got their chance in the comedies. In Culver City, where the Hal Roach studios, the DeMille studios and the MetroGoldwyn-Mayer studios are located on one boulevard within a few blocks of each other, the girls will go past the Hal Roach studio to the other two, with visions of being a dramatic star in gorgeous settings. As a matter of fact, here is the actual truth regarding their chances. Even in the old days of ordinary slapstick, hokum comedies, a girl "in stock" in a comedy studio would make fifty appearances on the screen in one year, perhaps more. This in contrast with perhaps, six, eight or ten roles in dramatic features — with good fortune — at (he most, sometimes only four or five. The difference not only is a radical difference in experience and valuable training, of which comedies give several times as much as features within a definite period, but an important difference in how well the public will know the girls' faces at the end of the period. The comedy girl will be better known, and to a wider and more diversified audience. Today, with Hal Roach and other comedy producers hiring the same big players who play in the best features to fill the casts of their two reel comedies, an innovation which gained its biggest impetus within the past three months, although it has been formulating for a year or two, if comedies offer a girl opportunity to "break in" it is a better opportunity than dramatic work. Today the difference between comedies and features in quality, aside from those comedies which are still running but were produced many months ago, is merely the same difference as between a high class vaudeville act and a high class full length play — a difference in length, only. The casts and quality of production are on a par. Hal Roach himself has adopted a concise slogan to govern all production, declaring that it must be worthy of being called "half the bill on any program." Katherine Grant, Martha Sleeper and Sue O'Neil are three girls under contract with Hal Roach. Their contracts are for a period of years and at their conclusion these three, practically newcomers, will be getting the same graduation of salary that extremely lucky dramatic actresses would achieve in the same period of time. They have the added certainty of being under contract and having the "star maker" of comedies, who has trained many like Harold Lloyd and Bebe Daniels, as their guide. * * * LANGDON THREE REELER Harry Langdon's first three-reel special comedy made by Mack Sennett, entitled, "There He Goes," will be released by Pathe on November 29th. The Educational-Christie International beauty squad — (Upper left. Marion Andre, born in St. Petersburg, of Russian and French; (Upper right) Jean Lorraine, whose grandfather was a pure blooded Cherokee; (Lower left) Yola D'Avril, formerly of Paris and Lisbon; (Lower right) Stella Doyle, who hails from London, England. Virginia Warwick, former Mack Sennett player, returns to the screen in an important role in the thrilling Patheserial production "Wild West," which features Jack Mulhall and Helen Ferguson. Miss Warwick, who plays the second feminine lead in the Pathe chapter film, gives a highly commendable characterization as Elsie Withers, a jealous circus performer, ever seeking to defame the show's beautiful star, portrayed by Helen Ferguson. Ten years ago Miss Warwick, accompanied by her parents, left St. Louis and settled in Los Angeles. Virginia began her motion picture career as many celebrities before, with Mack Sennett. She was one of the beauty background, which then included Betty Compson, Phyllis Haver and Gloria Swanson, and at that time was the youngest girl playing in Sennett productions. With the completion of her Sennett contract, Virginia signed to artpear in Century comedy offerings, at which lot she met and married Jimmie Adams, the comedy star. Displaying unusual dramatic ability, Mis« Warwick was chosen to enact important parts in the Richard Talmadge picture, "The Speed King" and "Hands Off," with Tom Mix. She finally Worked her way up to a leading role with Rudolph Valentino in "The Four Horsemen." Miss Warwick is said to have given the best screen portrayal of her career in "Wild West," which, in addition to being a serial production, is also released as a feature to exhibitors throughout the country. The first chapter of the serial version was launched on September 27, and is enjoying tremendous popularity among picture fans wherever shown. Big Month for Universal Julius and Abe Stern, officials of the Century Film Corporation, announce an unusual schedule of releases for the month of November. Five two-reelers will be released in all, including a new Buster Brown comedy and a Century Special entitled "Little Red Riding Hood." "Red Riding Hood" is a screen adaptation of the famous fairy story and was made with an all-star cast. Included in those who took part in this production are Arthur Trimble, now popular as Buster Brown, Baby Peggy, Louise Lorraine, and Peter the Great, the famous dog-star. Peter the Great, not to be confused with Pete the dog comedian, now playing Tige in the Buster Brown comedies, is seen in "Red Riding Hood" as the Wolf. The Century release schedule includes comedies by Edna Marian, Wanda Wiley and Eddie Gordon, in addition to the two aforementioned. The first release for the month will be "Nursery Troubles," an Edna Marian Century comedy directed by William Watson. It depicts Edna as a nurse-maid in a babychecking establishment. Besides containing several amusing and entertaining baby sequences, in which a dozen or more of lusty infants provide sentiment and comedy, "Nursery Troubles" shows Edna in a delightful role, filled with humor and laughable escapades. It is scheduled for release November 4th. The next Century release, on November 11th, will be "A Taxi War," in which Eddie Gordon is seen as a belligerent taxi-driver, whose chief rival is played by Larry Rich ardson. Their troubles and battles will afford great satisfaction and amusement to anyone who ever harbored vengeance against a taxi-driver. It was directed by Noel Smith. On November 18th, a new Wanda Wiley Comedy will be released. It is "A Speedy Marriage," and was directed by Edward I. Luddy. Miss Wiley's chief support in this two-reeler is Charles King. Its action concerns her escapades in dodging a group of persistent motor-cycle cops, and the various disguises and occupations she takes to throw them off the track. The Century Special, "Red Riding Hood," will be released November 21st. It is an ideal picture for children, and makes the fairy story thrilling and graphic, while at the same time, including many comedy scenes and laughable situations. Baby Peggy makes an ideal "Red Riding Hood." Some of the film is in color, and the tie-up with the title is doubly effective. The last Century release of the month, on November 25th, will be "Oh, Buster." the third of the Buster Brown comedy series, and said to be far better to the first two which now are establishing new records for Century Comedies. "Oh, Buster" was directed by Gus Meins, a newcomer to the Century lot. He has obtained the maximum comedy out of the ability of Pete the dogcomedian, and has made Tige a very laughable and important figure in the picture. These comedies are adapted from the famous R. F. Outcault newspaper cartoons, but are played by real people. Buster is played by little Arthur Trimble, Mary Jane by Doreen Turner, and the butler by Pinto Colvig.