The Film Daily (1927)

THE Wednesday, October 5, 1927 J^^ DAILY HOLLYWOOD HAIM^^NINGS Waste Being Eliminated at Studios SAM WARNER'S CONDI! ION IS CRITICAL-OUTLAW FILMS IN NEW VOGUE FIELDS' INJURIES NOT SERIOUS -OTHER WIRED NEWS FROM COAST LOTS riLMS ON SCHEDULE, QUALITY UNIMPAIRED It won't be lonR now, in tlie vernacular of the street before Old Man Waste is given the knockout blow at Coast studios. It has been a lonp uphill fisht, this cutting of production costs, but right now victory is in sight. To introduction of b u s i n e s s methods, and elimination of merrygo-round tactics which ke|)t the producer from ever realizing where he really was at, may be credited the new era, which is conducive to thc gcneral health and well being of the industrj'. This has been accomplished without the sacrifice of quality. That's the important thing, for production standards must be maintained and new ones established, regardless of mounting overhead. That it has been and is being done, dfmonstrates producers' ability to inject business methods into the studios. Not only the producer is benefiting by the reduced costs, but the director and players are being credited with turning out money makers, instead of lemons under the old system, an important point in maintaining their (Continued on Pape 7) Fears for Recovery of Sam Warner After Operation Sam Warner is in a critical condition at California Lutheran Hospital following an operation for frontal sinus. The illness became acute last week, necessitating the operation. Up until yesterday, it had been generally understood that Warner was improving, but a sudden turn for the worse led to fears for his recovery. Previously, news of his improvement was the first inkling many in the film colony received of Warner's illness. This was due to the fact that complete (|uiet had been demanded by attending physicians. New Roach Comedy Team Completes First Film Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, new comedy team, have completed their first comedy, "Putting the Pants On." on the Roach lot. Charley Chase's latest comedy has been titled "Philip, the Bird Man," directed hv James Barrott with Margaret Quinihy, Hazel Howell, Frank Leigh and Tommy Dugan in the cast. Outlaw Films Popular The outlaw is to have his day in pictures, it is indicated by announcement that "Jesse James," Fred Thomson special, has been booked into the Rialto, New York for a run starting Oct. 15. Survey reveals that there are to be several films of the bandit type for release during the season. Billy the Kid, is a notorious outlaw whose exploits are exi)ected to be recorded on the screen, while Al Jennings is declared planning to enact his own exploits. Jennings some years ago made a picture, which he roadshowed. Emmett Dalton, last survivor of the gang of brothers who terrorized Kansas and Missouri, is seeking to organize a company which will make a film of the Dalton Gang. Richard Dix is making the life of Joaquin Murietta, a Spanish robber of old California. A Little from **Lots'' Injuries to Keep Fields in Hospital Five Weeks Five weeks is the estimated period of inactivity necessary for W. C. Melds, Paramount star, to recover from injuries received w^hile making "The Side Sho^y." He w^as .struck bv a truck while riding a bicycle. X-ray photographs showed a slight fracture of the third cervical vertebra. His condition is not dangerous, although the injuries are painful. Carlyle Black well Says He Plans British Studio Carlyle Blackwell is planning erection of a studio in England, the star who has been appearing in a number of British productions, declares He is here for a brief visit and will leave for England about the middle of the month. Banks Coming East Monty Banks leaves today for New York. Studio Economy and Efficiency at Highest Peak, Lasky Says (.Continued from Page 1) the company's fall convention at Chicago. "Policies which we adopted last winter are beginning to bear fruit," he said. "These policies, which were already in force, were enunciated at our convention last May when I served notice on stars, directors and studio personnel that the Paramount organization was an institution that stood for certain standards of entertainment, that this institution was bigger than any single member or group of members in it, and that if an artist or director could not do things the wav we wanted them done lie could seek employment elsewhere. ".Since then Rreater progress has been made !)>■ our stndio executives in carrying out these policies. Incmmpetents have heen weeded out. Players whose box-office drawing power was largely in their own imagination or in our theater advertising have been replaced by fresh, eager personalities that fit better into our plans for the continuing growth of an institution. Directors who had lost freshness and brilliance in their treatment of stor ies have been dropjied. and in their places are young men who have the new. modern manner of screen story telling which the public wants. But. above all. we have built a producing organization at the studio which is young, resourceful, new in its viewpoMit and keen in its showmanship. "The campaign against incompetence and extravagance reached a focus early in the summer when the producers in Hollywood announced a reduction in salaries. Although this salary cut was abandoned, it had its effect in the creation of a new state of mind throughout the studios. "All this is extremely gratifying to me. because the reaction of the studio forces to this common-sense operation of picture prothictioii justifies the faith I have always had in Hollywood. I am proud of Hollywood. I am prouil of its studio workers. Their loyalty to this business can never be questioned in the face of the progress we have made this summer toward sane, sensible operation. Today the production of motion pictures rests upon as efficient and sensible a foundation as that of any other business you can name. And not aniy has this lieen accompli bed but quality has been improvefi. Never before have the theaters of this country lieen receiving such fine productions as the/ have shown this fall, and plans for future oictures make it obvious that this high stai.dard will lie raised even higher." By RALPH WILK Hollywood BOBBY NORTH, we believe, got a little homesick when he saw The (ircat Neckcr" in Los Angeles. I'.obby is a busy figure at the United .'\rtists studio and likes the Coast. * » * Hugh Trevor, who as Hugh ThomaH, was a prosperous New York lif-e insurance mayt, is now one of the most popular leading men in Hollywood. He has done several important leads at FBO. He recenly returned from a flying trip to New York. * * * Our Passing Show: Raoul Walsh and John Barrymore hobnobbing on the United Artists' lot; Ray Lissner, recuperating from a recent illness, miling his popular smile; Mark Larkin, hatless and coatless, hurry ng to and fro at the United Artists' studio; Louis Wolheim counting the lays until his second coast produc 'ion starts. * * ♦ Malcolm St. Clair is building what is believed to be the second grass tennis court in the Hollywood district. CUve Brook owms the other. * * ♦ Burnett Hershey, Fox writer, has sold "The Bobber of Sayville" to George M. Cohan. He has also written "The Broadway Cavalier", a new play. Hershey had an extensive career us an European newspaper correspondent before starting to write plays and fiction. * ♦ * R. A. Walsh is finishing his contract at Fox and will accept a vei-y attractive offer from United Artists. * * * Now that Bill Tilden is entered in a Coast tournament, we are wondering whether he will resume picture work. He appeared in Fox's "The Music Master". * • « As we write this we can hear John Barrymore's hearty laugh, but it is not due to any of our jokes. He is listening to someone else — JacI: Pick ford. * * * Lothar Mendes is vreparing to direct Adolphe Meniou in "The Beauty Doctor", at Paramount. Gausman, Wilk, Crowley cover coast studios daily for Film Daily I