The Film Daily (1930)

THE Sunday, July 20, 1930 'aB&H DAILV PRODUCTION IN THE EAST WHO'S WHO AND WHAT'S WHAT IN GREATER NEW YORK STUDIOS EASTERN PRODUCERS AHEAD (^SCHEDULES With a heavier production schedule than at any time since the studio was opened, Warner Bros, is planning even greater expansion in its Eastern studio activities. Paramount also is running ahead on its short subjects schedule with rive one and two-reelers having been turned out the past week. So far as features are concerned, much activity is expected during the summer to furnish a number of Paramount productions scheduled for fall and early winter release. These include, besides "Animal Crackers" and "Heads Up," already completed, "Laughter," now in production, and "The Best People," "The Royal Family," "Skippy" and "Manhattan Mary," all in preparation. Warner Bros. Rushing Foreign Short Subjects Having completed "Where There's a Will," the first Vitaphone short to be made in both English and Spanish, work has begun on the second, entitled "Alpine Echos," with more closely scheduled to follow. In the first named, George Hassell headed the English cast while the Spanish version, "Quieres Es Poder," lias Eduardo Arozemena, supported by Carmen Valencia and Rodolfo Hoyos. Douglas Stanbury is featured in "Alpine Echos" with Tito Coral acting the same role in the Spanish version. Roy Mack directed both pictures, assisted by Henry Dagan, former director of silent pictures in Spain. "Best People" Set "The Best People," with a cast headed by Miriam Hopkins and Charles Starrett, will go into production on July 28 at the Paramount New York studios under the direction of Fred Xewmeyer and Bertram Harrison. Haidee Wright for Films Haidee Wright, prominent English actress, who created the role of Fanny Cavendish in the stage version of "The Royal Family," will probably play the same role in the film which Paramount will make here. Vitaphone Oldtimer Douglas Stanbury, former Roxy and Capitol theater soloist, has just completed "Alpine Echos," his fifth Vitaphone short. Stanbury was one <>f the first to sing for Vitaphone, three years ago. Short Shots from New York Studios .^s^^^^^^^r By HARRY N. BLAIR TAMES R. COWAN, chief studio J executive at Paramount's New York plant, who is now visiting the West Coast studios, is expected back in two weeks. "Politics" is the name of George Jessel's Vitaphone short. It's a new type of story for Jessel, and will be entirely without music. Arthur Hurley has been chosen to direct. Elizabeth North, staff writer at the Paramount studios, and her mother, Carrington North, Pathe's scenario chief, once played on Broadway in "The Garden of Weeds," in which Lilyan Tashman also appeared. Walter Strenge, president of Cameramen's Local No. 644, is saying "skoal," while lifting 'em these warm summer days, having moved to his country place at New City, which is in the heart of a large Swedish settlement. Walter Winchell, newspaper columnist turned actor, is very happy over the fact that the script of his Vitaphone short is laid in a girl's school and that he will have a score of Broadway beauties supporting him. How's that for a break? Miriam Hopkins, who will shortly appear before the Paramount mikes in "The Best People," is the second Theater Guild player to appear at the Long Island studios recently. The other Guild alumnus is Glenn Anders, featured in "Laughter." Sume acting teams are formed, while others just happen. The latter situation is the case with Ralph Morgan and Bob Middlcmass, appearing together in "Excuse the Pardon," at the Eastern Vitaphone studio. Both have appeared in the same shows at least a dozen times without being aware of the fact until meeting at rehearsal. Now the same thing is starting to happen in their picture work. Having completed her comedy role in "Laughter," at the Paramount New York studio, Sarah Edwards has been borrowed to add a little of the same ingredient to "Seeing Helen Home," a short subject directed by Georgie Hale, with Helen Lynd featured. Helen Fletcher, secretary to Porter H. Evans, chief sound engineer of the Pastern Vitaphone studio, is a sister of Adele Whitley Fletcher, well known fan magazine writer. The Morgan brothers, Ralph and Frank, will soon be as well known to movie audiences as they are to numerous playgoers. Ralph just completed "Excuse the Pardon" at the Vitaphone studio, while Frank plays a leading role in "Laughter," his third Paramount production. Vivienne Osborne, who recently appeared in "The Nightingale," at the Eastern Vitaphone studios, first came into prominence when she succeeded Lenore Ulric in "The Harem," after the latter's break with David Belasco. Plenty of activity over at the old Fort Lee studios these days where they are re-making "Samson and Delilah" over into talkie form, with a cast recruited from the Metropolitan Opera. Richard Moses, formerly a reader with Pathe, is now connected with the short subject department at the Paramount New York studios, working under Larry Kent. Vitaphone Yiatmins: Harold Levey telling all about his new "International Symphony" . . Murray Roth in biege knickers, putting the "white flannel brigade" to shame . . . Wally Sullivan, true son of Broadway, and proud of it . . . Ed DuPar, seemingly lost without the walking stick . . . Assistant cameramen, "grips" and extras, playing handball in the studio yard during lunch hour . . . long lines of screen hopefuls despite sign "No Casting Today." Rivaling any art gallery in its display of colorful sketches is the room where all sets used at the Paramount New York studios are designed by a staff of creative artists, working under William Saulter. Upon completing their role in "For Art's Sake," a Vitaphone Varieties comedy, Helen Broderick and Lester Allen will leave for Hollywood to appear in the film version of "Fifty Million Frenchmen," in which they also played on Broadway. Harold Beaudine directed "For Art's Sake" which has a cast including Helen Eby Rock, Jimmy Barry and Philip Lord. Willie Hopkins, head of Paramount's special effects depart m< nt, has been granted a leave of absence to visit his family on the West Coast and leaves shortly for Hollywood. MORE JUVENILE TALENT , IS BEING USED IN EAST For the first time in many months', child actors are finding a ready market for their services in the East, with both the Paramount and Warner studios turning out juvenile shorts and features. Paramount recently completed three "Mother Goose" shorts at the New York studios, with children in the featured roles, and will soon start work on "Skippy," a tea lurelength production with practically an entire juvenile cast. At the Eastern Vitaphone studio, Roy Mack has just completed a tworeel musical special, entitled "Showing Off," which has a cast of 25 children. Others are planned to satisfy what seems to be a decided demand from exhibitors for juvenile talent. Audio Cinema Busy The Audio Cinema Studios are preparing original scripts for a rush of Industrial two. three and fourreelers, to be made within the n< xt ten days at both their Long Island studio and the remodeled Edison, studio. "Two Trees" has just been completed for the New York Telephone Co., with Carlisle Ellis directing. Smith's Three-Bagger Three one-act plays by Paul Gerard Smith have been purchased by Murray Roth, director-in-ehicf of the Eastern Vitaphone studios. The titles are "The Gob", "One on the Aisle" and "Compliments of the Season." Rube Welch Signed Rube Welch has been signed by Paramount to write shorts material, with his headquarters in the New York studio. Welch was formerly with C. B. Cochrane, English producer, for eight years, following which he collaborated with Mark Sandrich on the RKO conn dies formerly made here by Louis Brock. Georgie Hale Signed Georgie Hale, former dance director of numerous musical comedies, has been signed by Larry Kent to direct short subjects at the Paramount New York studios. WALTON BUTTERFIELD Second Year with Paramount I i>< tc uork studio)