The Film Daily (1929)

|)A|LY\ Tuesday, April ^nrjit^yggyi'^^;^ Serial Production Being Trimmed Only One Chapter Play in Work at Present, Due to Sound Development — Three Pathe Units Working C.D.White Made Production Manager for Radio Pictures — Other Wired News and Wilk's Paragraphs BENNET SERIAL IN DIRECTING ONLY Only one serial is in production on the Coast. It is "The Black Bag," which Spencer Bennet is directing for Pathe. Universal, which has always been a considerable producer of the chapter pictures, is doing little in the way of serial production. Mascot Productions, has completed two serials for the state-right field. Most of the former serial directors are concentrating on features. Ray Taylor is busy with a Universal talker, while Richard Thorpe, who directed the two Mascot serials, is directing a talker for Columbia. J. P. McGowan recently completed a feature for Chesterfield. A Little from (( Lots ff By RALPH WILK Christie Supervisor Heads Screen Writers' Guild Alfred A. Cohn, editorial supervisor of the Christie Talking Plays, has been elected president of the Screen Writers' Guild of Hollywood, the writers' organization afifi-liated with the Authors' Leaeue of America. Other new officers elected are: Winifred Dunn, vice president; John F. Goodrich, secretary; Harold Shumate, treasurer; and the following directors: Grant Carpenter, Viola Brothers Shore, Louise Long, Vernon Smith, Julia Josephson, W. Scott Darling, and Sonya Levien. Henry B. Walthall Signed Henry B. Walthall has been signed for "Magnolia." "Buddy" Rogers will play the principal role with Mary Brian as his heroine. June Collyer also has a prominent part. Richard Wallace will direct. May Boley, Joyce Compton Added May Boley, who has just finished work in Paramount's film of "Burlesque" has been engaged for another role in "Dangerous Curves," the circus story by Lester Cohen, which will be Clara Bow's next. Joyce Compton also has been added to the cast, which includes Richard Arlen and David Newell, former leading man for Ethel Barrymore. Lothar Mendes will direct. FRANCES AGNEW Writer "SYNCOPATION"— R. K. O. Now at Hippodrome, N. Y. Next at Criterion, L. A. Hollywood HERBERT BRENON, who blazed new trials in bringing "Beau Geste" and "Sorrell and Son" to the screen has given tests to more than 30 stage and screen actresses who are seeking the title role in "Lunmiox," his next production. Each test required a full day's work. Winifred Westover won the part. * * * Our Passing Show. Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Al Jolson, Joe Schenck at the world pre-miere of "The Desert Song" at Warner Bros, theater; Hal Home extolling the virtues of Noah Beery's trout club. * * * The pest who read subtitles to his fellow spectators is now humming songs. * * * "You can get what you want if you go after it" said Nat Ross, director of "The Collegians," now in production at Universal studios. Ross thought of the idea of having the University of Los Angeles schoC)l songs injected into the picture, and after taking the matter into closer observance decided he could go a little better and have the University Glee Club sing, well this is what he is doing. "Oh, How We Love Our College," a comedy number, and "it's You," a love song composed by Dave Silverstein and Lee Zahler, also will be sung for the film. * ♦ * Montague Love will be married after completing the final retakes on "Bulldog Drummond," the Samuel Goldivyn picture in which he appears in a prominent character role supporting Ronald Caiman as star. His bride will be Mnrjorie Hollis, non-professional. + ♦ * Jack Benny, the dry, wisecracking humorist, and poi^ular Orpheum star, has been signed by M-G-M to do some of his strif? in pictures. He will be cast for his initial role in the "M-G-M Revue of Revues," an all musical extravanganza now in production. * * * More Passing Show: Tod Browning and Bob {"Hvppy") Hopkins chatting at M-G-M; smiling Monte Brice greeting friends at Pathe; George O'Hara and Allen McNeil attending a pre-view of "Coquette." Gets RKO Post C. D. White has been named production manager for Radio Pictures. Operetta to Be Written for Lubitsch's Direction The first original operetta written especially for the vocal picture screen will be filmed by Paramount, directed by Ernst Lubits^ch, and is to have a libretto by Guy IBolton, author of "Sally." This announcement was made today by B. P. Schulberg, general manager of Paramount West Coast production, following the signing of Bolton and simultaneously with the departure of Lubitsch for New York. Lubitsch will meet Bolton in New York on the composer's arrival from Europe Tuesday and they will work out together the preliminary plans for this production. Santell Signed by Fox Following F.N. Contract Alfred Santell has been signed by Fox to direct five pictures in two years. Werker Gets Fox Assignment Alfred E. Werker, former RKO director, who made "Blue Skies" for Fox, will direct "Chasing Through Europe," as his first all talker. European sequences of this picture, which features Nick Stuart, were taken abroad some weeks ago. Jeff Lazarus will act as supervisor. Richman To Write Claire Vehicle A play written by Arthur Richman, playwright, will be the vehicle for Ina Claire's first talking picture under her Pathe contract. Richman is en route to the Coast together with Richard Boleslavsky, who will direct. Cast For "Behind That Curtain" Warner Baxter, Claude King, Gilbert Emery and Philip Strange have been cast for "Behind That Curtain," Fox Movietone version of Earl Derr Bigger's story. Gleason Family on Pathe Lot With the signing of Russell Gleason for a part in William Boyd's next talker, "The Flying Fool," and Mr. and Mrs. James Gleason working in a talker series, the entire Gleason family now is working under one roof. Hale Back at Pathe Alan Hale has returned to the Pathe studio after a brief vacation at Palm Springs. TWO TALKERS AND SERIAL UNDER WAY BY PATHE Three companies are at work on Pathe productions, in addition to the Gloria Swanson unit which is also making use of the studio. Half a dozen pictures are in preparation. William Boyd's latest "The Flying Fool," all talker, is under way with Marie Prevost in the lead and Russell Gleason in the cast. Producer Maurice Revnes has started "Paris Bound," with Ann Harding, stage star, in the lead. In the cast are Frederic March, Charlotte Walker, Carmelita Geraghty, Herbert Clark, New York stage player; Hallam Cooley, George Irving, Ilka Chase and Juliette Crosby. "Paris Bound" is from the stage play by Philip Barry, and is being directed by Edward H. Griffith. Frank Reicher will direct the dialogue. The third in work is the new serial titled "The Black Book," which again brings to the screen Allene Ray J and Walter Miller. Spence Bennet 1 is handling the megaphone. Robert Wyler Made Director Robert Wyler has joined his brother, William Wyler, as a Universal director. He has acted as sul)ervisor of "Buck Privates," which Mel Brown directed, "Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly," and "The Shakedown" which were directed by his brother, who is soon to direct Laura La Plante in "Evidence." Lois Wilson Assigned Lois Wilson again will be featured in a Christie Talking Play, with production started on Florence Ryerson's farce, "Advice to Husbands," and with Harrison Ford playing opposite Miss Wilson. Other players are Nina Romano and Wanda Hawle\-. A. Leslie Pearce will direct. "The Climax" Under Way Production of the dialogue picture "The Climax," adapted from Edward Locke's stage play, is well under way at Universal City under direction of Renaud Hoffman. In the lead roles are Jean Hersholt, Kathryn Crawford, John Reinhardt and Henry Armatta. FRANCES AGNEW Writer "RAINBOW MAN"— Sono-Art Starring Eddie Dowling Tonight at Selwyn Theatre Address: CHATEAU ELYSEE Hollywood HO-2171