The Film Daily (1929)

DAILY. Friday> J^y rr^iLSf^^^JtM^ 9 Producers at Metropolitan Studio Sono-Art, Harold Lloyd, James Cruze, Cliff Broughton, Columbia, Coronet, Berkowitz, Hamilton and Bruce Working at Plant — 12 Two Reel Talkers Planned By Van — Irwin Making Historical Series IS PITCH AT METROPOLITAN With production well under way on Harold Lloyd's first big talking picture for Paramount, "Welcome Danger," and with nine producing companies now making talking pictures, Metropolitan Sound studios activities are at its peak. Following "The Rainbow Man," Sono-Art is preparing four more talkers. O. E. Goebel, George Weeks, and Eddie Dowling are here from New York and steps are being made for "Honeymoon Lane." James Cruze Prod, has practically finished "The Great Gabbo," with Eric Von Stroheim. The Cliff Broughton organization is scheduled to start Aug. 1 on its first talking pictures, which is to be filmed in many outdoor locations. Columbia has just completed production on its fourth of the talkers. Coronet Comedies have completed the sixth in the series of two reelers for Educational, starring Edward Everett Horton. Berkowitz Prod, has launched a full schedule of two reelers at Metropolitan, under which one a month will bo filmed. The first has already been completed. Lloyd Hamilton Talking Comedies, produced by Harry D. Edwards for Educational, are working on the fourth of the series. Robert C. Bruce has launched a series of all outdoor talking and singing pictures similar to his "Wilderness Tales." Bruce has already completed three. Theme Song for Talking Serial Lee Zahler is writing theme song and musical score for Mascot's talker serial, "King of the Kongo." The title of the theme song is "Love Thoughts of You." Jacqueline Logan and Walter Miller are co-featured in the serial, soon to be released on the independent market. A sound trailer is being issued to adveitise the chapterplay. M-G-M Preparing "Kempy" "Kempy," the stage play by J. C. and Elliott Nugent, will be produced by M-G-M as an all-talker under direction of E. Mason Hopper. Norma Lee (Mrs. Elliott Nugent) will play feminine lead. Monte Blue, Myrna Loy Co-star Warners have purchased rights to Jack McLaren's novel, "Isle of Escape." which will be one of the 35 Vitaphone pictures to be released by them during the season of 1929-30. Monte Blue and Myrna Loy will be co-starred. A Little from a Lots yy By RALPH WILK. AL DUBIN and Joe Burke are -£*■ busy songsmiths. They wrote all the songs for "The Gold Diggers of Broadway," which Roy Del Ruth directed. Among the hits they wrote before coming to the Coast are "A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You," "Yearning," "Just a Sailor's Holiday" and "Just a Girl That Men Forget." * * * Hubert Voight, a Minneapolis boy, who made good in New York, is busy at Burbank, where he has become publicity director at the First National studio. Voight was with M-G-M for several years before joining First National. Excellent reports filter in on "The Cock-Eyed World," which has been previewed at San Pedro and Riverside. It was directed by Raoul Walsh and will have its world premiere at Grauman's Chinese, following the run of "The Hollywood Revue." * * * Our Passing Show: Schlesinger preparing for his trip to Europe; Lee Goldberg of Louisville catching an East-bound train; Sol Lesser hobnobbing with friends at the Hotel Roosevelt. Alan Crosland in Canada Alan Crosland, Warner Brothers director, who has completed filming "General Crack," John Barrymore's first dialogue production, is on a short vacation in Canada. Crosland motored to Banff with his son, Alan, Jr., aged ten, and expects to remain away one more week. Production on his next picture will start July 31. Alberta and Adamae Vaughn Cast Alberta Vaughn and her sister Adamae have been added to the sister specialty number for Warner Brothers "Show of Shows." Alberta is under contract to Larry Darmour for "Record Breakers" a series of 13 two reel talking pictures, but a clause in her contract permits her to appear in other pictures during the filming of "Record Breakers." Powell Vehicle Starts in August William Powell's first Paramount starring vehicle, "Pointed Heels," will go into production first week of August, with Edward Sutherland directing. The supporting cast includes Helen Kane, Esther Ralston, and Richard "Skeets" Gallagher. Charles Brackett wrote the story which was published in "College Humor." SENNETT SIGNS PLAYERS AND ENLARGES STATE Following Educational's announcement that the number in the series of Mack Sennett talking comedies on its new program would be increased to 30, Mack Sennett has placed several of his players under long-term contracts, increased his studio staff, and worked out an enlarged production schedule. Among the featured players placed under contract by the comedy producer are Andy Clyde, Thehna Hill and Harry Gribbon. Sennett made several of his talking comedies with this trio in the casts before signing any of them for long terms. Sennett has made available for immediate release two comedies featuring Clyde, which were recently completed. These are "Girl Crazy" and "The Barber's Daughter." "Girl Crazy," in addition to Clyde, features Alma Bennett, Vernon Dent, Irving Bacon and Sennett bathing beauties. In "The Barber's Daughter," Thelma Hill plays opposite Clyde. Others in the cast are Vernon Dent, Addie McPhail and others. Sennett personally directed both pictures. The comedy, as yet untitled, now in production at the Sennett studios again combines the three contract players, Andy Clyde, Thelma Hill and Harry Gribbon. Loff Contract Renewed Jeanette Loff has had her contract renewed by Pathe. Miss Loff during the past season has been featured in a number of Pathe pictures, among them "Hold 'Em Yale," "Love Over Night" and "Annapolis." Recently she has been studying dramatic art under Frank Reicher in Pathe's school for juniors. On her "graduation" from this school she played in Eddie Quillan's latest picture, "The Sophomore." Theme Song for "Evidence" Al Dubin and Joe Burke, Warner song writers, have composed the theme song for Pauline Frederick's new picture. "Evidence." It is called "Little Cavalier" and will be published by M. Witmark & Sons. Miss Frederick sings it during the action of the story. Doris Hill and March Cast Paramount has begun casting for its talking film of Edith Wharton's novel, "The Children," with the selection of Doris Hill and Frederic March for the leads. The film will go into production early next month under direction of Lothar Mendes. New F. N. Board Al Rockett, Jack Warner, Graham Baker and Hal Wallis comprise the production board at First National. Ray Rockett has resigned as supervisor, as has Ned Marin. Van to Make 12 Two Reel Talkers at Tec-Art Wally Van, comedian, has established quarters at Tec-Art where he plans to produce a series of 12 tworeel talking comedies to be known as Wally Van Pictures. The comedies will be followed by six features with dialogue in which the comedian will be starred, according to J. Frank Holliday, general manager of the organization. Jack Magee heads the scenario department. Irwin Making Series of Historical Pictures A series of dramas depicting episodes in American history will be made by William R. Irwin Prod., according to Irwin, who is general manager of the organization that bears his name. The pictures will be made at TecArt, where the company established offices this week. The first will start in 30 days under title, "Souls of Mettle." It is a story of the Mormon exodus west, written by Dolores Carlyne. Irwin will use 100 per cent dialogue and also plans to film part of the picture with color. Irwin intends using all-Equity casts. Pathe Now Editing Four for New Season Four pictures are now in the Pathe cutting room. They are: "Her Private Affairs," in which Ann Harding plays the heroine; "Sailor's Holiday," in which Alan Hale appears as a gob; 'The Awful Truth," 'Arthur Richman's play in which Ina Claire appears, and "Big News," a story of crime in a newspaper office in which Robert Armstrong and Carol Lombard play leads. Furthman Returns to Duty Charles Furthman has returned to his writing duties at Paramount after an absence of six weeks, due to illness. Fox Assigns Lila Lee Lila Lee has been signed by Fox Films for the feminine lead opposite George Jessel in "The Hurdy Gurdy Man," his first starring vehicle. Cameraman Killed Alvin Kneehtel, trick cameraman for First National, was killed in an airplane accident . •