The Film Daily (1928)

THE -.%^ DAILV Wednesday, February l^fl Coast Wire Service 20 Westerns Planned by FBO NUMBER NOW BEING SET BY WILLIAM LE BARON There will be between 20 and 30 westerns on the FBO 1928-29 program, according to plans of William Le Baron. These will star Bob Steele, Buzz Barton and Tom Tyler. This supplements the previously announced program of four designed as super specials, 26 Gold Bonds and six dog pictures. Conklin Back From Trip With Chester Conklin back from a vacation in Honolulu filming of "Quick Lunch," W. C. Fields-Conklin vehicle, will soon start with Charles (Chuck) Reisner directing. Cast for the film are Mary Alden, Sally Blane and Guy Oliver. Jasper Blystone to Direct Jasper Blystone, former assistant director to his brother, J. G. Blystone, has been made a director in his own right for Fox and will direct "Daisies Won't Yell," a Fox comedy. Thomson Starts Next Production on Fred Thomson's latest for Paramount, "The Sunset Legion," has been started. It is a story of the early mining days, an original by Frank M. Clifton. Edna Murphy plays opposite Thomson. Lloyd Ingraham and Alfred L. Werker are directing. Davidson Making Another Hank Mann, Harvey Clark and Patsy O'Byrne have been signed by Leo McCarey to support Max Davidson in his current Roach comedy. Davidson's last comedy formerly called "Round by Round," has been t.tlcd "Blow by Blow." Paramount Writing Staff Complete Paramcunt's writing staf? is operating at full strength once more following the return to Hollywood of John F. Goodrich and Llovd Corrigan, both of whom liave been to h.ospitals for several weeks. Denny Going to Europe Reginald Denny is leaving for a vacation in Europe following completion of "Be Yourself." His next probably will be "The Man Disturber," an original by Frederick and Fanny Halton. Plannin'g Ten S. S. Millarde, producer, announces that he will make ten features in 1928. He has signed Virginia Lee Corbin, Ruth Robnson, Lillian Woods and others. On Committee Henry King and Rod La Rocque have been named members of the conciliation committee of the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences, succeeding Monte Blue and John M. Stahl who have resigned. Casting Department Is Abolished by U. A. United Artists has abojished its casting department. Casting "Five and Ten Cent Annie" Cast of "Five and Ten Cent Annie," at the Warner studio, is now assembled. Roy Del Ruth is directing Louise Fazenda and Clyde Cook as co-stars, and players selected for their support include William Demarcst, Gertrude Astor, Tom Ricketts and Douglas Gerrard. The story is the work of Leon Zurade with adaptation hv Charles Condon. Ford Signs New Fox Contract l'"i X has s'gned a new long term crntract with Director John Ford. Considered as Cohen Teammate Jack Oakie and Joseph E. Brown arc being considered as a teammate for Sammy Cohen, replacing the late Ted McNamara. First Nat'l Buys "Water Front" First National has purchased "Wa ter Front" for Dorothy Mackaill and Jack Mulhall. The story is by Gcr trudc Orr and Will Chappel. "Excess Baggage" for Haines "Excess Baggage" has been been purchased as a starring vehicle for William Haines. The scenario is being prepared by the author, John McGowan. "Abe" Assignment for Thelma Todd Thelma Todd has been cast in "Abie's Irish Rose." Cast in Negri Film Warner Baxter has been cast opposite Pola Negri in "Three Sinners." Loss Signed as Harris Aide R. Beers Loss has been signed by Columbia as assistant to Elmer Harris, scenario editor. Adapting "Companionate Marriage" Raymond Schrock will adapt "Companionate Marriage," which will be produced by Tiffany-Stahl from Judge Ben Lindsay's novel. "Crooks Can't Win" Completed Production on "Crooks Can't Win" has been completed at FBO studios. George M. .Arthur directed, with star cast including, Joseph E. Brown, Ralph Lewis, Thelma Hill, and Gene Strong. Direct-to-Consumer Plan Sponsored by Broughton Cliff Broughton Prod, is making a picture at Metropolitan designed as a roadshow production and to be distributed on a direct-to-consumer plan, with 12 companies to be started out under direction of Willis Kent. The company will seek to prove the feasibility of operating without an exchange system. Norton Parker wrote the story assisted by David Hampton. In the cast are: Helen Foster, Grant Withers, Virginia Roye, Tom Carr and Florence Turner. Henry Cronjager heads the camera force. Griffith Starting Second Picture D. W. Griffith soon is to start production of "The Battle of the Sexea," as his second picture under his new United Artists contract. Lupe Velez is expected to play the lead. Gerrit J. Lloyd is preparing the script. Polly Moran Cast Polly Moran has been cast in support of Max Davidson in Roach's next M-G-M comedy, as yet untitled. Cast also includes Gene Morgan and Dorothy Coburn. Arch Heath is directing. Cast With Charley Chase Viola Richard and Edna Marian have been cast in Charley Chase's current comedy. Fred Guiol is directing. Schader's Plans Freddie Schader, who has resigned as Hollywood representative of "Photoplay," is planning to join a national producing organization, it is reported. Gilstrom, Vignola to Europe Arvid Gilstrom leaves Tuesday for a vacation in England. Robert G. \'ignola is also planning to take a European vacation. Enders on Coast F. A. Enders, head of FBO (Britsh ) is visiting the studios. Cannon in San Francisco Raymond Cannon, Paramount scenarist, is in San Francisco acquiring local color and looking for location for a Clara Bow vehicle. Sargent Titling Grey Film (jeorge Sargent is titling and editing "The Cruise of the Fisherman," Zane Grey's personally produced South Sea picture, which is to be released as six two reelcrs. Young Working on M-G-M Script Waldemar Young is putting the finishing touches on a script at MG-M. which Jack Conway is to direct. The story is an adaptation of Peter B. Kyne's novel "The Argonauts of '49." UFA TO TAKE BACK OW Ifo Berlin (By Radio)— Ufa wilUdraw its distribution from Par met under the terms of a new c tract scheduled to have been sig yesterday. Parufamet will distril only American pictures in Gernii; probably confining its activities. Paramount and Metro releases., will handle its own and other pean films, including Frencj British. Contract conferences have a successful conclusion. Dr man, well known German has been sitting in on the pects of the new agreement the new alignment is underi be a desire of Alfred Hui leader of the Nationalist pal litical), powerful newspaper and owner of the Ufa, to company from American ini Ufa's latest balance sheet slio? depreciation of 55,000,000 i ($13,750,000) over its previoui ment. Dividends have been right along and the company in a highly involved financial tion. Ufa's Action Pending Sim Tri-Cornered Confrb in Oi As far back as Aug. 14, 1927v FILM DAILY declared thai, f ing negotiations conducted in York by Ludwig Klitsch. mar director of Ufa and Paranioiiii M-G-M olificials, LIfa distributi , Germany would be divorced 11 ; Parufamet. Publication of the} I port was vigorously denied b^ In its issue of Nov. 7, 1927. tlii; lication reported from Berlin: "The report persists that Ufa will f| its (listrilnition in Gertnany. thus « I ing from Parufamet's activities. Tfi ever, will retain a 50 per cent ii Parufamet, hut the amount of pi; Paramount and MC-M product in ters has been reduced from 50 to' cent.." Ii $9,000,000 HELD INVI IN FOX DEAL WITH f. Minneapolis — Acquisition of trol by Fox of the Northwest T ter Circuit fFinkelstein & Ru involve $9,000,000, it is reportei "Greater Amusements." The firm, it is stated, is to get $9,00 for its holdings: $2,000,000 of « goes to William Hamm, and $1, 000 each to M. L. Finkelstein at H. Ruben. The balance, it is st goes to Hamm to meet the f indebtedness. % 111 Jack Lustberg Forms Empu Empire Pictures, located at Seventh Ave.. New York, has formed with Jack Lustberg as 1 dent. Sells Salt Lake House Denver— H. E. Clissold has the Photoplay at Salt Lake tc D. and Blanche Harrison.