The Film Daily (1931)

THE Wednesday, January 14, 1931 S^J DAjty © LATEST HOLLYWOOD HAPPENINGS Coast Wire Service — o First National Starts Three New Productions Three First National pictures have been placed in production. The new Richard Barthelmess vehicle was the first to go into actual work. Fay Wray has the leading feminine role. The next picture to start was "Big Business Girl," whh Loretta Young starred in the title role and a supporting cast which includes Ricardo Cortez, Frank Albertson, Joan Blondell, Frank Darien, Mickey Bennett, Bobby Gordon, Nancy Dover and Phillip Smalley. William A. Seiter is directing it. The third production is "Party Husband," Dorothy Mackaill's new starring picture, the list of supporting principals consisting of James Rennie, Dorothy Peterson, Paul Porcasi, Joe Donahue, Helen Ware and Don Cooke. The director is Clarence Badger. Marjorie White in F. N. Picture Marjorie White has been signed by First National for "Broad-Minded," with Joe E. Brown and Ona Munson. Thelma Todd also is in the cast. Butterworth Due Soon Charles Butterworth will close his tour in Arthur Hammerstein's "Sweet Adeline" a week from Saturday and immediately start for Hollywood to carry out his contract with Warner Bros. Una Merkel in "All Woman" Una Merkel is the latest addition to the cast being assembled by Warners for "All Woman," in which Bebe Daniels will be starred. Others are Ricardo Cortez, Dudley Digges, Thelma Todd, Otto Matiesqn, Oscar Apfel, Walter Long and Dvvight Frye. Dolores Costello in "We Three" Dolores Costello will signalize hereturn to the screen in "We Three", an unproduced play bv Edith Fitzgerald and Robert Riskin, which will be produced by First National. Kay Francis Marrying MacKenna Kay Francis and Kenneth MacKenna have filed marriage intentions. They made the application under their legal names, Katherine Gibbs and Leo Mielziner, Jr. Staub Honored Ralph B. Staub, who made the first interior scenes of Alaska in the Mt. McKinley section about 10 years ago, when he was about the youngest cameraman in the business, has received word from friends in Alaska that a river up there has been named in his honor. It is called Ralph River. A LITTLE from "LOTS ►// By RALPH W1LK A/TARK SANDRICH, veteran comedy director, is directing the first subject in the new series ol "Broadway Headliners," being produced by Lou Brock for Radio Pictures. The subject is as yet untitled. * * « The first efforts of Jerome Kern, noted composer, and Otto Harbach, well-known playwright, in writing directly for tne screen, have resulted, according to First National executives who have seen "Men oi the Sky," in a picture that will prove of keen interest. An unusual feature of the film is the weaving of the music into the plot of the story, which deals with the activities of two spies during the war. The music serves as a code between Irene Delroy and Jack Whiting who play the leading roles. Alfred E. Green directed. * * * David Mendoza, although a resident of California for several months, occasionally becomes homesick for New York and its orchestras. He was the conductor of the Capitol theater orchestra for nine years. * * * James Seymour is writing the screen play and dialogue for "The House of Glass," which Al Green will direct for Pathe. * * * For once in his screen career, Ivan Lebedeff, usually the sleek and sophisticated villain, gets the girl. It happens in "Bachelor Apartment," in which he plays the role of a "hoofer," who falls in love with his dancing partner, and wins her away from a designing show manager. It will be his eleventh Radio film appearance. * * * Eiissa Landi is superstitious about mirrors and when she had to break a mirror in "Squadrons,' Director Alfred Santell made five others on the set break mirrors as moral support for the feminine star. * * * Benny Rubin, who on his present tour has topped the personal appearance records of every star in the last five years, is due here Feb. 11. He broke the house records at the R-K-O theater in Paterson, N. J., the Mastbaum and Earle theaters in Philadelphia. He also played five weeks at the Palace, New York. * * * C. Edgar Schoenbaum is photographing "Platinum," a James Cruze Prod., which Walter Lang is directing. He also did the camera work on "The Command Performance," which was also directed by Lang. * * * Do you remember when Rowland V. Lee played "Tony Lumpkin" in "She Stoops to Conquer" at the DeWitt Clinton high school, New York, and Arthur Hornblow, Jr., James Seymour and Donald Lee were also in the cast? When Bill Koenig managed theaters in Minneapolis? * * * While on her trip East, Betty Roberts, head of Radio Pictures' story department, saw 32 plays and read 48 publishers' manuscripts, some of which were purchased for early production. Nat Carr Starts New Pathe Comedy "Campus Champs," a Pathe Campus Comedy featuring Nat Carr, has gone into production under the direction of Fred Guiol. This is an original story by Charles "Chuck" Callahan and Nat Carr. Harry Frazer did the adaptation. Ray Cooke, Kane Richmond and Ed Dearing have featured roles. Para. Buys "Stepdaughters of War" "Stepdaughters of War" has been purchased by Paramount. The stage version was produced in New York this season by Chester Erskine. It was dramatized by Kenyon Nicholson from the story by Helen Zenna Smith. The screen play is to be prepared by Zoe Akins. Arthur Hoyt, Ethel Wales Signed Arthur Hoyt and Ethel Wales have been signed for "The Flood," Columbia drama of life in the Mississippi River country. June MacCloy in "Musketeers" June MacCloy, contralto, who appears in "Reaching For the Moon" with Douglas Fairbanks and Belr.' Daniels, will appear opposite Charles Rogers, Skeets Gallagher and Stuart Erwin in "Manhattan Musketeers." which Paramount will film as a companion to "Close Harmony." Edward Sutherland will direct. The story is an original story by Son iik. Marion Due is preparing the scenario. "Platinum" Becomes "Hell Bound" "Platinum," tentative title for lames Craze's latest Tiffany special, has been changed In "Hell Bound." The story is bv Edward Dean Sullivan, and Adee Commandini. Production has starti d under the direction of Walter Lang, with a ca9l headed by Lola Lane. Leo t'arrillo and Lloyd Hughes. Warner's "Public Enemy" Has 42 Speaking Parts There are 42 speaking parts in "The Public Enemy," which is now being cast at the Warner Bros. studjos. Edward Woods and James Cagney will play the two leading roles, with Beryl Mercer, Louise Brooks, Mae Clark, Joan Blondell, Leslie Fenton, Don Cook, Billy House, Arnold Lucy and Mia Marvin also in the cast. Bradley King on Honeymoon Bradley King, married some time ago to George Boyd, who is associated with an engineering concern, has left with her husband on a belated honeymoon trip. Thev will tour Mexico, then sail for Snain and other interesting points. The popular feminine scenarist expects to resume work in six weeks or so. Josephine Park Dies Josephine Park, sta^e and screen actress and former wife of Conway Tearle. is dead in Glens Falls. X Y„ according to word just received here. She had been living with her parents in Hudson Falls, N. Y., since she left professional life. Boh Steele Cast Comdeted ^ Trem Carr, producer of the Bob Steele westerns for Tiffanv release, announces that the cast for "The Ridin' Fool," next Steele production, has been completed. Frances Morris will play the leading feminine role. The supporting cast will include such well known players as Ted Adams, Eddie Featherston. Josephine Velez, Fern Emmett. Florence Turner, Jack Henderson and Gordon Demain. J. P. McCarthy will direct. Stewart Story, "Finn and Hattie" Donald Ogden Stewart's hilarious story of Mr. and Mrs. Haddock and their trip to Paris will be titled "Finn and Hattie" when it reaches the screen. The picture is now in work. Leon Errol, Mitzi Green, ZaSu Pitts, (ackie Sear! and l.ilyan Tashman are featured. Louise Closser Hale Cast Louise Closser Hale has been cast by Pathe in Constance Bennett's new starring vehicle, which Paul L Stein will direct. Joel McCrea and Paul Cavanaugh also are in the cast. 3,7 1 8 'Lynne' Extras Extras got a good break in Fox's "East Lynne". Director Frank Lloyd used a total of 3,718 in the production, which features Ann Harding, Clive Brook, Conrad Nagel, Cecilia Loftus, O. P. Heggie. David Torrence and Beryl Mercer.