The Film Daily (1928)

tHE -m^^ D/^ILY Thursday. August 16, 1928 'UJSf>><>^^JiMUA M-G-M Mapping Sound Film Plans Sound Features and Roach Comedies to be Made in West with "Vaudeville" Films to be Produced in East — New Camera Shots Being Developed — Other News of the Studios 5 FEATURES, MANY SHORTS ARE SLATED FOR SOiD Four new pictures, retakes on one already made, and a number of short subjects are included on M-G-M's sound production program already determined ui)on for 1928-29. One sound picture, "White Shadows in the South Seas"' already has been completed. "The Bellamy Trial," recently completed is to have a number of retakes for incorporation of dialoRue in the trial sequences. Disc and sound-on-film methods will be used, under XW'stern I'.lectric patents. M-G-M's first all-talker will be "The Trial of Mary DuRan." Bayard V'eiller, author of the play, will supervise production of the picture. The picture will be released at a time when the stage version is touring key cities. Almost all of the more important of the forthcoming M-G-M releases will be synchronized with musical and sound effects. "Dancing Daughters." "Excess Baggage," "While the City Sleeps" and "Nize Baby" already have been chosen for musical and sound sjnchronization. Short features tentatively announced for synchronization include "Imagine Mv Embarrassment," "Early to Bed." "The Ol' Gray Horse," aii Our Gang comedy, "School Begins," also an Our Gang, and probably 30 more comedies from Roach. All of the Great Events series will be produced with sound. All the Ufa Oddities will also be handled with unique sound accompaniment and effects. Vocalized short features, handled by the film method of producing sounds, will include a variety program, with selections from Mary Eaton and Oscar Shaw, Louise Groody and Eddie Allen, Keller Sisters and Lynch. Mabel Wayne, Colonial Sextette, Lucas Sisters, Sunshine Sammy. Walter Roesner and the Capitolians, Paul Tiesen's string orchestra, Arnaut Brothers. Elsa Ersi and Nat Ayer and Miller and Lyle, as well as many others. The M-G-M News will alsOs^ be produced with Movietone. ^ The sound stage now is being completed for synchronization at Coast studios, while in New York, M-G-M has acquired the Cosmopolitan studio for sound films. However, Cosmopolitan will concentrate on shorts, making only those features which would be made in New York under ordinary circumstances. Airplane Camera is Developed at Paramount A still cametfa for use in aerial photography and long range work where portability is a problem, has been developed by the Paramount studio photographic staff. The model of the new camera was recently constructed in Hollywood from discarded bits of camera et|uipment and in its initial tests has proved successful, it is claimed. The camera carries a 12 inch lens and focal plane shutter and utilizes standard size 8 x 10 plates. The plate size obvitatcs enlarging from smaller negatives. The new camera was developed from ideas submitted by Eimmett Schoenbaum and constructed under supervision of George Hommcll by VV'. H. Hazel. It carries a discarded finder which, with the fixed focus, permits speed in operation. It is operated without a tripod and can be strapped on the chest of the operator or carried in the hand. The camera will receive its official try-out during the filming of "Dirigible." Flynn to Direct Lia Tora Einnictt Flyiin, who has been resigned by Fox Studios, will have as his initial assignment, the direction of a production featuring Lia Tora. It is an original story, as yet untitled. Douglas Z. Doty is working on the script. Columbia Signs Virginia Valli \'irginia \'alli has been signed by Columbia for the leading feminine role in "The Street of Illusion." Ian Keith, Kenneth Thompson and Harry Myers appear in the supporting cast. Erie C. Kenton is slated to direct. The story is by Harvey Thew. "Haunted House" Cast Set Cast of "The Haunted House," Owen Davis mystery sound melodrama which Benjamin Christensen is directing for First National, is complete. The three new players are Edmund Breesc, Sidney Bracy, and Erville Alderson. Others are Thelma Todd, Larry Kent, Chester Conklin, Flora Finch, Barbara Bedford, William V. Mong, Johnnie Gough and Eve Sothern. Bretherton to Direct Blue's Next Howard Bretherton will direct "The Greyhound Limited," starring Monte Blue for Warners. It will follow the star's first Vitaphone roadshow, "Conquest." Albert S. Howard, scenario editor, wrote "The Greyhound Limited" and Anthony Coldeway is preparing the script. Adolfi Gets Assignment John Adolfi is to direct Betty Bronson and William Collier, Jr., in "One Stolen Night," Vitaphone production. D. D. Calhoun wrote the story and Edward T. Lowe, Jr., is preparing the script. A Little from ''Lots'' l^iHi^ By RALPH WILK Agnes Franey Gets Another Role Agnes Franey has completed her first screen role in "The Singing Fool," starring Al Jolson, and has been assigned a part in support of May McAvoy in "Stolen Kisses" now being made under direction of Ray Enright. Bakewell Gets Dual Role William Bakewell will play a dual role in Douglas I-airbanks' "The Man with the Iron Mask," for United | by Lew Lipton,"^ to be directed by Artists. I Herman Rayniaker. U. A. to Make Talker A United Artists talking picture based on "The Shot," by Alexander Pushkin, is one of the latest pictures announced by John W. Consi'dine, Jr. Rod La Rocque is slated to head the cast. Roach Signs Nina Quartero Is'ina Quartero has been signed by Leo McCarey, supervising director and vice president of the Hal Roach Studios, to play the leading feminine role opposite Charley Chase in his next forthcoming Hal Roach M-G-M comedy, as yet untitled. Hal Yates is directing. Cast in "Honeymoon" Polly Moran and Harry (iribbon will have featured comedy roles in M-G-M's "Honeymoon." an original Fox Buys Play Fox has purchased "Through Different Eyes," novelty play by Milton Herbert Gropper, adapted from a story by Edna Sherry. "Our Daily Bread" Started Production has started on "Our Daily Bread," with Jack Pennick and a company of players and technicians leaving for Portland, Ore., to film exteriors. Due to the illness of Director F. W. Murnau, William Tunmiell is in temporary charge. L. William O'Connell is in charge of the camera battery. Fejos Starts Second Paul Fejos has started work on his second production for Universal, "Erik the Great." with Conrad Veidt and Mary Philbin starred. Others in the cast are Leslie Fenton, Fred Mackave and Gustave Partos. Lebedeff Signed by King Henry King has signed Ivan LebedefT for one of the featured roles in "She Goes to War," the Rupert Hughes' story which he will produce for Inspiration. U. A. to Make Russian Film .^nother Russian story, "Taras Bulba," by Nikolai V. Gogal, is slated to be brought to the screen as a United Artists' special. Plans for the filming of the Russian story await the completion of large sound stages now being erected at the studio. Hollywoi OERT GLENNON, who is direc -1^ ing "The Air Legion," knows h' airplanes. He has had ISOO hou; in the air and is a licensed pilot. I' was an aerial gunnery expert durir' the war and taught flying at Man! Field, Riverside, Cal. He also mat the first motion picture of arn "stunt" flying and the picture is no in the War Department archives Washington. * * * John P. HarHs of the Harr\ Amusement Co., which operate th} aters in Pennsylvania and Ohio, ,, visiting the studios. He believes €'.. hihitors of "talkie" features shou lay much stress on the hour tht start p'-ojectiyig the sound picturt as patrons who arrive during t}, sho^ving have much more difficu, getting the trend of a "talkie" tho\ of a silent picture. '. * * * Excellent reports filter in on "0 phan of the Sage," which Louis Kiq directed, with "Buzz" Barton as tl star. King has directed your "Buzz" in several FBO pictures. * * * Solly Biano, set violinist at M-G-M, now has a house full of silver cups. He won the singles in the motion picture tennis taurnament and was also a member of the winning doubles team. In mixed doubles, he played with Irene Mayer, with the satne success that marked his work in the other events. * * * Ernest Pascal, now with Par mount, is one of the most prolifi writers on the Coast. He has mar successful plays, novels and scenario to his credit. He wrote "The Cha latan." a mysterv play that w; po])iilar on Broadway. His bool include "The Dark Swan" and "Tl' Marriage Bed." He is now writiri the scenario of "The Letter." | % * * Hugh Bennett, Joe Nadel and Ted Sears, who have been showing Milt Gross various Coast sights, took him to Tia Juana Sunday. New Meighan Ready 1 "The Mating Call," starriili t Thomas Meighan, has been title ' edited and shipped East for relea by Paramount. Evelyn Brent ai | Renee Adoree are featured wi , Meighan. James Cruze directed.