The Film Daily (1929)

THE ■c@2k Doubting Out There will be no more doubles — voice, or otherwise — in First National Vitaphone Pictures, according to an announcement by Al Rockett, and steps will be taken immediate y to equip all of the organization's stars and feature players to cope with the new arrangement. A Vitaphone Vocal Academy will rise on the lot where 15 instructors will be employed giving vocal lessons to stars and feature players, as well as the large chorus ensembles. Casting Activities Brine; Many to Warner Lot The Warner studio continues busy with many now at work before the cameras and many more well known players moving their make-up boxes to the Sunset Boulevard plant to appear in the numerous Vitaphone productions that are being made there at the present time. Michael Visaroff and Norman Cannon have been added to the cast of "Disraeli" which Alfred E. Green s preparing to direct with George Arliss starring in the title role. George Cooper and Francisco Maran have joined the cast of "Under a Texas Moon" which also includes Frank Fay, Armida, Myrna Loy and Noah Beery. "The Aviator" with Edward Everett Horton and Patsy Ruth Miller has also been augmented by Lee Moran and Johnny Arthur both having comedy roles in this version of James Montgomery's play. Phillips Smalley, William Norton Baile and H. A. Morgan are also in the cast. Casting for the David Belasco play "Tiger Rose" is progressing. Bull Montana has joined the cast which already comprises Monte Blue, Lupe Velez, H. B. Warner, Grant Withers and Rin-Tin-Tin. "Crazy Feet" Next Chase Film Warren Doane is directing Charley Chase in "Crazy Feet" at the Roach studios. Thelma Todd has the leading female role supported by Eddie Dunn, Edgar Kennedy, and Fred Warren. Browning Directing "13th Chair" Tod Browning is working on "The Thirteenth Chair" at the M-G-M studio with Conrad Nagel, Leila Hyams, Mary Forbes, Holmes Herbert, Moon Carroll, Cyril Chadwick and Helene Millard in the cast. Moore Vehicle Completed William A. Seiter director, has completed Colleen Moore's latest First National Vitaphone production "Smiling Irish Eyes." The picture is to have its New York premiere sometime this summer. Ted Wilde for White Film Ted Wilde will direct Alice White's next First National production, "Playing Around." Coast Wire Service Shorts for Relief Fund SERIES OF 12 SOUGHT FROM MAJOR PRODUCERS ■ -xln'-tion of a series of 12 one reelers for general distribution, one of which will be asked from each major studio, is planned by the M. P. Relief Fund to raise $2,000,0.0 for a build. ng and endowment. Seventy thousand dollars is being sought for the annual relief fund. Mary Pickford has been reelected president of the fund; Frank Woods, chairman of me executive committee; Conrad Nagle, chairman of the char.ty ball committee, and Mike Levee, chairman of the bu.lding endowment fund. "Mary and Doug" Next Make Separate Vehicles Separate starring vehicles will mark the next screen appearances of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks after completion of "Taming of the Shrew," which they are now producing as co-stars. According to present plans, these stars will go to New York after the "Taming of the inrew" lias been edited and sail from their for a br.ef sojourn in Europe. Miss Pickford's next picture will be an all-talking version of a stage play, the script for which is now being prepared, while Doug's next undoubtedly will be based upon a well known novel, the rights to which he already owns. Sono-Art Buys Vehicle Sono-Art Prod, has acquired "My Melody Girl," musical comedy by Tom L. Waring of Waring's Pennsylvamans and Pat Ballard. The picture, according to George Weeks, vice president of the company, will be put into production at an early date. No star or other member of the cast has been selected. "Lost God" Arlen Starring Film "1 he Lost God" by John Russell has been selected as Richard Arlen's first talking picture as a Paramount star. Mary Brian will appear opposite the star under the direction of George Abbott. Hardy in "Big News" Sam Hardy has been assigned a part in "Big News," Pathe production being directed by Gregory La Cava with Robert Armstrong and Carol Lombard in the featured roles. Poland Signs Pathe Contract Joseph Franklin Poland has been placed under a long term Pathe contract. He recently completed the original story and adaptation of "Sailor's Holiday" featuring Alan Hale. A Little from a Lots tt By RALPH WILK AL BOASBERG, who wrote the story and dialogue for "College Days," which Sam Wood directed for M-G-M and who co-authored the dialogue for "The Hollywood Revue of 1929," is writing the dialogue for "Cotton and Silk," in which the Duncan Sisters will be starred. * * * Peggy Lent, a familiar figure at Fox, informs us she has deferred the purchase of an automobile so that she could subscribe for THE FILM DAILY. * * * Ned Marin, who has produced several hits for First National, is making plans for "Give the Girl a Big Hand," which he will also make at the Burbank studio. He recently completed the production of "No, No, Nanette," for First National. * * * Our Passing Show: Benny Rubin and "Ukulele Ike" Edwards rehearsing a song at M-G-M; Josiah Zuro and Richard Bolaslavsky of Pathe enjoying the heat, although they were born in Russia; Gene Towne, former professional baseball player, recovering from, a cold he caught in an amateur game here — not the only thing he caught at the game. * * * John G. Adolfi, who recently directed "Evidence," for Warner Brothers, is making preparations for "The Isle of Escape," which he wil' make, with an all-star cast, including Monte Blue and Myrna Loy. Replaces Jean Arthur Doris Hill is to replace Jean Arthur :n "Darkened Rooms" due to a change in schedules which transfer lean Arthur to a supporting role in "The Saturday Night Kid" featuring Clara Bow. Louis Gasnier will direct "Darkened Rooms" with Neil Hamilton and David Newell also in the "ast. Two Warner Films Completed Two Warner Vitaphone productions were recently completed. They are "Hearts in Exile," featuring Dolores Costello, and "Gold Diggers of Broadway," based on the Belasco stage play. Renews With Paramount Fred Datig, casting director at the Paramount studio, has signed a new contract. Tashman for "Hold Everything" Lilyan Tashman has bee,n signed by Warner for a role in "Hold Everything," Vitaphoue.. version of the musical play of the same name. Wednesday, July 10, 1929 —AND THAT'S THAT By PHIL M. DALY TT WAS a sizzling hot day. Tht ■*■ annual sales convention was ii progress. A tall, dark chap, with oodles of unobtrusive personality, got up on his feet and started to talk to those hardboiled division and branch | managers about the company's prod i uct. His voice was even, unruffled, i No fireworks. No bombast. No, bull. Just straight sales talk. Built | on logic, backed by cold facts, and presented with clarity. And he; sounded a new note. A note that might well be the keynote of all future sales talks. Fair play was the i gist of it. No underselling or over-; selling of the exhibitor. "This com | pany wants what it is entitled to, and no more." That was his story, and he stuck to it. From 11 o'clock inj the morning till six in the evening, with only a brief recess for lunch, this quiet, dignified man talked. We i said it was a sizzling hot day. Yet the fellows in that convention hall: stuck through to a man. The speaker had a real sales message, and that hardboiled bunch knew it. They went out with enough assurance, conviction and confidence to last them till the next season. One of the] greatest sales talks this 111* ole business ever listened to. The speaker was Ned E. Depinet, general sales manager for First National. * * * Looking over the Tenth Anniver-\ sary announcement of the Mills Music Com.pany's lineup, could one say that these songs are ground out from the mills? — Petunia. Find out if they are wind mills, sweet Petunia, and we will try and answer with our usual unintelli gence. * * * Shocking Did you hear about the Scotchman who tried to get free currents from the third rail for his wedding cake? * * * "Mysterious Mame" Chapter VIII We started out with Mame for a wild evening — a regular orgy of heavy spending. "First," sez we, I "let's dine at Sardis, then we'll blow into the New Amsterdam to see Eddie Cantor in 'Whoopee,' and from there to the Casanova Roof to peel an eye at Frances Williams, and after that — " Mame looks at us suspiciously. "Say, you a newspaper man, with all this heavy jack? Come clean, kid, come clean. What's your side graft?" We draws ourself up with dignity, and sez: "Believe it or not, we're bein' financed by our head mail clerk." And maybe you think that's a lotta applesauce. It HAS been done. In any event, let's give credit where credit is due. * * * Famous Film Conversations "Not a chance."