The Film Daily (1926)

HOLLYWOOD APPENINGS o/'FILMDOM ANDWEEKLY FILM DIGEST By Harvey E. Qausman De Mille to Start Monday Aug. 23 has been definitely selected as the starting date of C. B. De Mille's biblical production "The King of Kings." The cast to date includes H. B. Warner, Jacqueline Logan, Joseph and Rudolph Schildkraut, \'ictor Varconi Majol Coleman, Ernest Torrcnce and Robert Edeson. Who Is Responsible ? Julian Directing "Yankee Clipper" Rupert Julian is directing "The Yankee Clipper" for C. B. De Mille. The cast consists of William Boyd, Elinor Fair, Junior Coghlan, Julia Pave. Walter Long, John Miljan, Clarence Burton, George Ovey, William Blaisdell, Burr Mcintosh, Clarence Geldert, Louis Payne, Sidney D'Albrook, Stanton Heck and Zack Williams. Strong Support for Howes Harry J. Brown has selected the following to support Reed Howes in "The High Flyer," Ethel Shannon Cissey Fitzgerald. Josef Swickard, Paul Panzer and Ernest Hilliard. Andrews Cutting "Is That Nice?" Director Del Andrews is cutting on George O'Hara's recently completed feature for F. B. O., "Is That Nice?" while the script for the star's next picture, "Hi. Taxi" is being prepared. "A Little Journey" Started Production has started on "A Little Journey" under Robert Z. Leonard's direction, with a cast including \\'illiam Haines, Claire McDowell. Seaton in Curwood Picture Scott Seaton. character actor, has a role in "The Country Beyond." The leading role is portrayed by Olive Bordon. Irving Cummings is the director. Whew... SvenionecMi _, Twenty-five r minutes to r Broadway . . . Twenty-five minutes to the Beaches . , . in the Center of Hollywood HOlLVWOODs^l PlAIAtM HoltyuooJt California This is the second of a series of' articles published in "The M. P. Director" dealing with the views of those who are actively engaged in production. The general subject is "Better Pictures." The following ideas are those of Richard Wallace, now director for Corinne Griffith : Responsibility for better pictures is so utterly intangible that to point the finger to any one group or class is well nigh impossible. Responsibility must be divided to a certain extent for everybody who comes in contact with motion pictures shoulders a part of the responsibility. Therefore I believe that the answer to the question "Who is the responsible party?" is "Everybody." ♦ * * Make no mistake about it. Every film produced by the leading companies of today has points of distinct superiority over the best films of a few years ago. Who deserves the credit for the improvement? Everybody. No single individual or group of individuals or succession of groups has brought about the result. Every picture fan, every exhibitor, producer, director, player, cameraman, electrician and prop boy has played his part in bringing pictures up to their present standard. Nothing is ever produced for which there is not a demand somewhere. It is a patent fact that tastes and standards and ambitions are never stationary. Fixed conditions become wearisome. Because nothing human is ever perfect, there is always someone to demand that improvements be made and always someone to meet the demand and create the improvement. Everj' time the film makers have felt that they had practically reached the acme they have discovered that the picture going public becomes res^ tive under monotony and waning box-ofifice receipts compelled the production of better pictures. * * * The fan has the easiest time of_ it. So long as pictures entertain him, he looks at them. When they cease to entertain him he simply forgets about the film theater. Then the exhibitor comes into the equation. When attendance drops of?, he begins to inquire as to why. And when one customary fan and another cites definite reasons, he has something to impart to the distributor and the distributor's message reaches the producer and sincere efforts result which seek to overcome the indifference of the fan and win him back with new and better entertainment. I know of an exhibitor who manages one of the most successful picture theaters in the country, who frequently lounges about like a mere hanger-on in the lobby of his theater or on the walk in front of it. He simply Isitens as the prospective ticket purchasers' comment before entering, and he listens again when they come out of the theater, and he acts on what he hears. That is why he has one of the most successful theaters in the country. He is a direct contributor to picture improvement, and everyone whose comments he heard also played their part. Kathleen Key in Western Kathleen Key has been signed for a role in Francis McDonald's second western starring vehicle. Cliff Smith will direct and it will be called "The Desert's Toll." "Understanding Heart" Cast Complete With the addition of Carmel Myers, Richard Carle and Harvey Clark, the cast of "The Understanding Heart" is practically complete. Jack Conway is directing. Barthelmess Title Changed "The \yhite Black Sheep" will be the working title for the next Inspiration picture starring Richard Barthelmess instead of "The Four Feathers." Sidney Olcott is directing. F. B. O. Purchase Story F. B. O. has purchased "Jack O' Diamonds," a magazine story by Fred Jackson for George O'Hara. Mix Starts New Picture Tom Mix has started "The Canyon of Light," a story by Kenneth Perkins, to be directed by Ben Stolofif. The feminine lead is Dorothy Dwan. Andrews to Direct Alberta Del Andrews has been chosen to direct Alberta Vaughan's third feature for F. B. O., "Sherman Was Right." Logue Loaned to "U" Through arrangement with Smauel T. Briskin, Charles Logue has been loaned to Universal to do the adap ation and continuity of "The Claw." Farnham Titling "Red Mill" Joseph W. Farnham has been assiened to title Marion Davies' latest, "The Red Mill." Alice Calhoun with Rayart Alice Calhoun will play leading feminine role in "Tentacles of the North," for Rayart. Landis, Hawley Team Cullen Lantlis and Wanda Hawley have been signed for leadine roles in "The Smoke Eaters," by Rayart, Lillian Valentine in Charge Hollywood — Lillian Valentine has been placed in charge of the casting office at Columbia. O'Brien in "Flaming Forest" Tom O'Brien, who played the pai of "Bull" in "The Big Parade" ha been assigned a comedy role in "Th Flaming Forest," a Cosmopolita Prod, now being directed by Regir aid Barker. Antonio <Moreno an Renee Adoree have leading role; Others in the cast are Gardner Jame: Bert Roach, Claire McDowell, Osca Beregi, Emil Chautard, Charles Og! and Roy Coulson. "Noiseless" Stage a Boon "We notice a 25 per cent increas in efficiency, through the system fc preventing noise on First National new closed stages," says B. P. Fim man, whose unit is filming "Ladie at Play," in which Doris Kenyo and I-loyd Hughes are featured. "Fools of Fashion" Finished "Fools of Fashion" a Tiffany ha just been completed with a cast in eluding Mae Busch, Marceline Daj Theodore Von Eltz, Hedda Hoppei Robert Ober, Rose Dione and Alber Roccardi. It was directed by Jame C. McKav. il Bert Lytell the Lead Bert Lytell has been signed b. Columbia for the leading role ii "Obey the Law." Al Rabocl will direct. J. O. Taylor is doing the camera work. Cast includes Eugenii Gilbert, Hedda Hopper, Wm. Welch Sarah Padden, Larry Kent, Edn; Murphy and Paul Panzer. Heustis with Langdon Reed Heustis has been added tc the staff of writers on Harry Lang don Prod. He will title the star'i next picture and also assist in pre paration of "Johnny Nerwcomer." Leads for "The City" Chosen "The City" will be produced by Fo: under the direction of R. Willian Neill. Players so far chosen art Janet Gaynor, Walter McGrail, Ma; Allison and Robert Frazier. The Life of Los Angeles Centers at the Ambassador's Famous Cocoanut Grove i -«®>-> i i ! Special Nights Tues. and Sat. ( j College Night Every Friday I