The Film Daily (1929)

DAILY Sunday, December 1, 1929 PRODUCTION IN THE EAST WHO'S WHO AND WHAT'S WHAT IN GREATER NEW YORK STUDIOS UNDEVELOPED TALENT BEST FOR TALKIES SAYS LEWIS Musical comedies, combining a human interest story with plenty of singing and dancing, will comprise the great bulk of future screen output, according to Albert Lewis, general representative for the Fox West Coast studios, in New York. Lewis has no great hopes for the movie operetta and doubts if screen operas will ever prove very pooular with motion picture patrons. Speaking of the great influx of stage talent, recruited for the talkies, Lewis said that stage nlayers from now on will be introduced to the screen in minor roles and advanced to more prominent parts according to the public's reaction. According to this plan, young players of promise will be given preference over established stage favorites, who usually expect to be launched in a starring picture. It has been demonstrated that a stage following means little to motion picture patrons, Lewis said. He added that there will be exceptions to this rule, from time to time, such as in the case of John McCormack, but, generally speaking, the undeveloped talent will be favored. Stories are becoming increasingly important and the best writers are now being sought by Fox, according to Lewis. This does not mean writers of established reputation but, rather, those who demonstrate they have what is needed, regardless of previous accomplishments. He believes that dialogue written "down to earth" will always prove most popular with the screen public and that the writer who can turn out easy, natural dialogue, will always be in demand. Lewis feels that the stage often sets the style for what the public demands in entertainment and that while motion picture producers are fighting shy of stories laid in the 80's and 90's, such as are now popular on the stage, they will have to come to it. Fox is now planning an elaborate production with the "Mauve Decade" as a background, which will be one of their principal releases. Victor Scherlzinger to Direct Helen Kane in East Victor Schertzinger, who recently directed Ruth Chatterton in "The Laughing Lady," with Clive Brook, at the Paramount Long Island studio, will remain in New York to direct Helen Kane's next production, to be made here. Schertzinger, who composed the music for "The Love Parade," will devote himself to music in the meantime. "All Stuck Up" Completed George LeMaire has just completed one of the most amusing short comedies ever made in the East. It is called "All Stuck Up" and required 50 extras in addition to 20 principals. Among the latter are Harry McNaughton, Glyn Landick and Evelyn Knapp in the leading roles with Charlie Howard, Blanche LeClaire, Joe B. Stanley and Martha Bell in support. Short Shots from New York Studios — By HARRY N. BLAIR J AS. A. FITZPATRICK has completed cutting, editing and synchronization of his feature "The Lady of the Lake," the RCA Gramercy studio. In addition to the symphony orchestra, a chorus of 40 male voices, a troupe of bag-pipe players and a special quartet is included in the accompaniment. When three players, unknown to the screen, win contracts as the result of their work in one picture, that's news! The picture is "Applause," recently made at the Paramount Long Island studios. The players are Joan Peers, Fuller Mellish, Jr . and Henry Wadsworth. Most casting directors can pick an occasional "winner." H. Emerson Yorke is to be congratulated on picking three "winners" at one shot! Elizabeth North, whose short stories have Appeared in several National magazines, is now a member of the shorts department, at the Paramount Long Island studio. The Yacht Club Boys, who are greatly favored by film executives for private affairs, when a "hot" band is desired, have opened their own nipht club. The Boys recently made a short at the Paramount Long Island studios. Erwin Gelsey, who is Walter W anger's right hand man at the Paramount studio, is such a great billiard fan that he has had a regulation pool table installed in his apartment on East 57th St. Dewey Bloom is hoping to be out of the Mt. Sinai hospital in time for the opening of "The Battle of Paris," which Gertrude Lawrence recently made at the Long Island studios. Dewey was operated on last week for an intestinal disorder. Pennsylvania Station had all the appearance of a moom pitcher studio on last Sunday. Surrounded by the usual crowd, a crew of cameramen were busily photographing several swell dames in the act of purchasing tickets for the new air line route to the Coast. J. Leo Meehan, who has been directing at the RCA Gramercy studios these past few months, has packed up and gone bye bye to that sunny Californey. George E. Stewart, head of Paramount's sound department, at the Eastern studios, is now in Holly1 wood getting a line on sound apparatus used at the Coast studio. After several delays, due to Chevalier's accident to his hand, and the intervening Thanksgiving holiday, production on "The Big Pond" will be started on Monday, at the Long Island studios. Several real gondolas, such as the Venetian maidens are said to swim home from, have been secured by William Saulter, art director at the Paramount studios, to be used during the canal scene in "The Big Pond." Fred Ryle, makeup man at the Fox-Case studios here, is beginning to become as well known among the Broadway players as he is to the many screen stars, whose pictures decorate his studio. Stage luminaries in search of a contract with Fox must first submit themselves to his skill before making their test. Ryle formerly worked at several of the big studios on the West Coast. Evelyn Knapp, the only player at the Pathe Sound studios who possesses a long term contract, is looking forward, to spending the Christmas holidays with her folks, in Kansas City, provided she can manage to get sufficient time off. Joe E. Brown, having completed the same role in Warner Bros, production of "Hold Everything" that Bert Lehr played here on the stage, is expected in New York for a brief visit. After getting re-acquainted with Broadway, the comic will rattle back to Hollywood for the Christmas holidays. WARNER PLANS NO CHANGE That no change in personnel is planned at the Eastern Vitaphone studio is revealed by Jack L. Warner in a letter to Murray Roth. "I wish," writes Warner, "yc would post this letter, to reassure everybody over there . . . that our Brooklyn studio will operate under Mr Levinson's and your management, as far as I am concerned, for many, many years to come ... because you know the good work tha you and the organization have bee„ accomplishing in the past few months has done a great deal for the ent organization of Warner Bros, maintaining the rapid strides whi we have achieved." ■F Warners to Open Sound Stage at Brooklyn Dec. 2 Warner Bros. Eastern Vitaphom Studios in Flatbush, Brooklvn, open their new $300,000 sound-proo stage on Monday, Dec. 2, at a. m. At that time Murray Ro director-in-chief of Vitaphone Va ety productions, will make a two r short featuring the Notre Dame U versity of 85 pieces. Included in tl band is a stringed orchestra of players. The Notre Dame footb team will also play a part in th picture. I If Jack Dempsey and Gene Tun! ney have doubles anywhere, thev \W be welcomed at the Paramount Stuj dio in Astoria, L. I. Candidates wh j feel that they can qualify both as t resemblance and fistic ability, will bl interviewed by H. Emerson York'ii casting director, on Tuesday, Dec. .1 at 2 P.M. There was much slinging of paste around up at the Pathe Sound studios during the making of "All Stuck' Up," which George LeMaire directed. Harry McNaughton, one of the featured players, is happy these days having been practically assured of a featured role in a comedy production to be made on the Coast. Helen Morgan, having completed her role in "The River Inn," is looking over stories for her next Paramount vehicle. As for us, all Helen would have to do during the entire length of the picture is sit on top of a piano and sing songs about the man she loved who went away. La Morgan would be willing to give away the catch in her voice for a chance to play "Camille." Walter Wanger, who tells 'etf what to do at the Paramount Lonm Island Studios refusedn the regvl lation $50 check offered him M addressing Harvard under graduate* on picture making, since he fei\ it was all for the cause. MARKSANDRICH Director Just Finished THE GINSBURG SERIES Starring NAT CARR for RKO Release LOUIS BROCK, Producer RCA Photophone Gramercy Studio, N. Y. C. Hi.. E i ft