The Film Daily (1929)

THC Thursday, April 11, 1929 J^^ ^IbL Coast Wire Service 10 Christie Talkers Set THREE-A-MONTH SCHEDULE Operating sound studios since Nov. 1. Al Christie has produced ten of his short "Talking Plays" for Paraiimunt release. They are: "The Melancholy Dame," by Octavus Roy Cohen, with all-negro cast including F'lorian Slnppey, Pernianciit \\'illianis and Webster Dill. "A Bird in the Hand," by E. Percy Heath, with Lois Wilson. Jason Robards, Roy D'Arcy and Dot Farley. "Post Mortems," from the play by Charles Devine, with Raymond Griffith, Tom Kennedy. Mabel Forrest, Robert Emmett O'Connor. "Mu.sic Hath Charms," by Octavus Roy Cohen, with Florian Slappey. Roscoe Griggers, Bud Peagler, Prof. Aleck Champagne, Sam Gin and Willie Trout. "Meet the Missus," by Kenyon Nicholson, with James Glcason, Lucille Webster Gleason, Helen Mehrmann and Eddie Waller. "Jed's Vacation," with Charley Grapewin and Anna Chance. "The Framing of the Shrew," by Octavus Roy Cohen, with Privacy Robson, Florian Slappey, Lawyer Evans Chew, and Melissie Cheese. "When Caesar Ran a Newspaper," by Waldemar Young, with Raymond Hatton and Sam Hardy. "Hot Lemonade," by Florence Ryerson and Colin Clements, w*ith I uuise Fazenda, Johnny Arthur and Walter Hiers. "Dear Vivian," by Waldemar Voung, with Raymond Hatton and Sam Hardy. Production is going forward rapidly in the Christie sound studios, with Paramount releasing approximately three of the new "Talking Plays" each month. Merna Kennedy Opposite Denny Merna Kennedy, who has just completed one of the featured roles in "Broadway," has been cast in "Companionate Troubles," a Reginald Denny production, which William James Craft will direct. Others in the cast will be Otis Harlan, William Austin, and Greta Grenstadt. The picture will be with dialogue. "Fare, Lady!" Dowling's Next Eddie Dowling's next talker for Sono-Art Productions will be a screen adaptation of Frank C. Reilly's story, "Fare, Lady!" The story was originally written for a musical comedy. Lazarus to Write Pathe Dialogue Sidney Lazarus has been signed to write dialogue for the screen version of Hugh Wiley's "Wildcat" stories for Pathe. Monte Brice is producing the Wiley stories with Paul Powell directing. A Little from a Lots *f By RALPH WILK Hollywood BILL" CLARK has gone to Sydney. Australia, where he will be associated in an executive capacity with John Hicks, Famous Players' general manager in Australia. We liope he will be as lucky in Australia as he was in India, where he was with Fanious Players for three years. He bought $7.50 worth of chances and won $3,000 at the Calcutta Sweepstakes. * * * Try and find a talker, in which one of the characters does not stutter. Our Passing Show: Edward H. Griffith and Morris Small chatting at Pathe; Peverell Marley rushing to C. B. De Mille's "Dynamite" set at M-G-M. * * * Twelve years ago Sam Newfield was an errand boy for Carl Laemmle in New York. Now, he is supervising 52 two reel comedies for Universal. * + * Rowland V . Lee who has completed "The Insidious Dr. Fu. Manchu," will sail for Italy this month. His first talker was "The Wolf of Wall Street." During the past year he also dh-ected "The First Kiss" and other Paramount productions. * * * Qualitone claims a record for speed in the installation of talking picture equipment. The firm equipped the Redlands theater of the Junior West Coast circuit in ten days. The order for the Qualitone device was received on March 21, and on March 31 the house was presenting its first sound picture, "The Bellamy Trial." Cast for 'Magnolia' Mrs. George Fawcctt, wife of George Fawcett, actor, and William Holden have been assigned parts in "Magnolia," being directed by Richard Wallace for Paramount. The picture is an adaptation of Booth Tarkington's story. Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Mary Brian have the principal roles. Wood for Moran and Mack Film Freeman Wood has been added lo the cast of the forthcaming Moran and Mack dialogue fijm as yet untitled. The story is an original by Octavus Roy Cohen. George Abbott wrote the dialogue and will direct for Paramount. Los Angeles Record r -THIS WEEK'S ■> I EDITORIAL T'S a wow! Columbia Pictures has done it again! "The Donovan Affair," produced by the same company and directed by the same man who made "Submarine," is another outstanding production — only this time it is an all-talking film. It isn't often that one can be completely thrilled by a feature which is supposed to both chill and tickle the funny bone, but "The Donovan Affair," which, after all, was a very successful stage play by Owen Davis, has been transferred to the screen in admirable fashion with excellent sound and dialogue effects. The talking picture medium is a natural aid to the mystery play. It provides ample opportunity to produce spooky storms with thunder and lightning. Sound effects come into their own in this case. All have been employed well in "The Donovan Affair." Jack Holt plays the ma.ster detective — a different type of in.'^pcctor than is usually found in thrill dramas— and he plays it with his u.sual finesse His voice registers well, and — you know how t:<'od Jack is when it comes to motion picture acting. Dorothy Rcvier, Agnes Ayres, Wheeler Oakman, William Collier, Jr., Hank Mann, Virginia Brown Fairc. Fred KcLsey and others complete the well chosen cast. Limited .epacc prohibits individual tribute. To Director Frank Capra we bow low with a grand sweep of our editorial hat in appreciation of his splendid megaphone work. To }:{arry Cohn, the man in charge of Co' himhia Pictures: we congratulate him upon the quality of the production and for the manner in which it If 05 done. "The Donovan Affair" is another \noc\out from Columbia.' JIMMY STARR