The Film Daily (1931)

—J%0*1 °*4& Thursday, February 5, 1931 O LATEST HOLLYWOOD HAPPENINGS © Coast Wire Service = Arlen, Louise Dresser Co-Featured in Western Richard Arlen and Louise Dresser are to be co-featured by Paramount in a western, tentatively entitled "Roped In." Edward Sloman will direct. It is an original story based on historical events during the days of cattle rustlers and written by Keane Thompson and Agnes Brand Leahv. Six Shorts Under Way At Columbia Studios Columbia has six shorts now in work, some of them nearly ready for release. The lineup includes: "The Home of the Sheikh," latest "Rambling Reporter"; "Taken for a Ride," a "Krazy Kat Kartoon." now in the cutting room; "Birds of a Feather," a Walt Disney "Silly Symphony"; "Up Pops the Uncle." latest of the shorts starring Eddie Buzzell"; "Talking Screen Snapshots," No. 5, with Roy T. Barnes as master of ceremonies, and a "Curiosities." Added to "Bachelor Apartment" Fred Stanley and Carl Gerrard have been added to RKO's "Bachelor Apartment," in which Lowell Sherman, Irene Dunne, Mae Murray and Noel Francis will be featured, with Sherman also directing. Pathe Signs Rex Bell for Comedy Rex Bell has been signed by Pathe for a leading role in "Disappearing Enemies." a two reel comedy directed by Wallace Fox. The cast also includes Dot Farley, Edward M-cWade. Marion Shockley, Arthur. Hoyt and Martha Mattox. Samuel Goldwyn's Next Samuel Goldwyn's next Colman picture, "What Fun Frenchmen Have" will be his first picture on the new United Artists schedule. Goldwyn hopes to begin production within three or four weeks in order to be able to bring the Michael Arlen story to Broadway early in July. He is busily engaged in casting the picture now, which, despite its English authorship and central character of a Frenchman, is in background and in every other way typically American. More Action Of the 11 two-reel comedies being released by Educational in February and March, all will stress action. This is in line with the recently announced plans of Mack Sennett, Al Christie and E. H. Allen to put more action in comedies. Situation and dialogue will continue to get attention, these producers say, but action will be emphasized wherever the story permits. A LITTLE from "LOTS ►// By RALPH WILK B ARNEY SARECKY, associate producer of Radio Pictures studios, has been assigned the task of whipping into shape an original mystery story with a new slant, according to William LeBaron. * * * The new tennis court of Ann Harding and Harry Bannister was officially dedicated by Mary Browne, nationally known professional. The court is located atop the highest peak in Hollywood Hills, adjacent to the Bannister home. * * * Our Passing Show: Joe Schnitzer Leon Schlesinger, C. Graham Baker, Hal Wallis, Mauri Grashin, Robert Z. Leonard, Raquel Torres, Francis Edwards Faragoh, Raymond Hatton at the opening of "Little Caesar"; Louis Stevens being welcomed on his return to Hollywood. * * * Leigh Jason clipped 38 points off his golf score in 30 days and now does 18 holes in 102. * * * The transparency photographic process used in filming Ruth Chatterton's dual role picture, "The Right to Love," was invented by Roy J. Pomeroy, who directed "Inside the Lines" and "Interference." * * * Dialogue for "Ship Mates,'* starring Robert Montgomery, was written by Malcolm Stuart Boylan. The story is an original by Delmer Daves and Lou Edelman. Harry Pollard is directing. * * * Sixteen years ago, Ralph Ince observed that a young actor in the cast of his picture, was continually making intelligent directorial suggestions. Ince gave the actor — John Robertson — a job as a director of his next production. Robertson, who will direct John Gilbert in "Cheri Bibi," for M-G-M, has been directing ever since. * * * Hollywood fable — Once upon a time a Hollywood premiere started on time. * * * Samuel Freedman is supervising "Peep, Peep," Daphne Pollard's first comedy for Universal. He also supervised "Divorce a la Carte." starring Charles Murray and George Sidney. Short Shots from Eastern Studios ,Bv HARRY N. BLAIR pRED GROF, studio coiffeur at the Paramount plant for the past seven years, will address the International Beauty Shop Owners' Convention and Exhibition at the Hotel Pennsylvania, to be held March 10-13. on "The Hair Styles of the Stars." Arrangements have been made by Vitaphone to shoot race track episodes for Earl Sonde's first talking picture, "The Handy Guy," now in preparation. The story, an original by Casey Robinson, was inspired by a poem, written by Damon Runyon, extolling the racing career of Sonde. Harold Fingerlin is in charge of sound on "New York Lady," Paramount feature now in work at the New York studios. Charlie Ruggles has been assiene-l to a prominent role in "The Smiline Lieutenant," which Ernst Lubitsch is preparing to direct at the Paramount New York studios. This promises to be a most elaborate production with the principal setting that of colorful Vienna. Warner Bros. Vitaphone studio in Brooklyn makes the most of its close proximity to Broadway. Prac tically the entire cast of two Main Stem successes has appeared in Vitaphone short subjects. From "Once In a Lifetime," has come Hugh O'Connell, Jean Dixon, Granville Bates, Spring Byington Charles Halton, Walter Drehar, Charles Mack and Janet Currie Recent recruits from Ballyhoo," now running on Broadway include Janet Reade, Max Hoffman, Jr. Jeannie Lang and Dom Tomplins. Tallulah Bankhead, now appearing in "New York Lady," at Paramount's New York studio, held a birthday party on the set last Saturday afternoon, to which the entire company was invited. Herbert Rawlinson, a favorite in silent days, who deserted the screen for stage work, visited Paramount's New York studio the other day to see how talking pictures are mnde Mell Efrid. stage actress. who is frequently mistaken for Nancy Carroll, recently completed a prominent role in a Vitaphone short. Miss Efrid. who was seen on Broadwav this season in "Sweet Stranger," has also played small parts in various Paramount features marie hfre, Darmour Lining Up 7 To Complete Schedule Larry Darmour is back at his studio and busy lining up the seven shorts still to be produced on his current schedule for RKO. Louise Fazenda is slated to start on "Second Hand Kisses," which Lewis R. Foster will direct. Simultaneously, Mickey McGuire, fresh from a triumphant personal appearance tour in the Midwest, swings into action with "Mickey's Crusaders," the fourth in his series. In all there are five McGuire's and two Fazenda's to be filmed. Pallette and 4 Writers Sign New Para. Contracts Eugene Pallette, featured player, and Zoe Akins, Herman and Erna . MankTewicz and Betty White, staff writers, have just signed new contracts with Paramount. Ford Sterling in Brock Comedy Ford Sterling will appear in "Powder Marks," Louis Brock's two reel comedy scheduled for early production. He and Lucien Littlefield will co-star. Mark Sandrich is to direct the story, now being prepared by Lloyd French and John Grey. Wolheim To Take Rest Louis Wolheim will take a rest fo •■ about a month because of his hea'th. which has been impaired by overwork. As a result he will not appear in the Howard Hughes product'on of "The Front Page." Four Pathe Players in "Front Page" Four important players signed for the screen version of "The Front Page" had just completed important roles on the Pathe lot before moving over to the Howard Hughes plant. Edward Everett Horton and Spencer Charters, two of the featured players in Russell Mack's newest Pathe production, "Lonely Wives," had but a few days rest before they started work on the newspaper drama. Walter Catlett, who is under contract to Pathe to write and act in two-reel comedies, had no sooner completed his initial vehicle, "Stage Struck," then he and Heinie Conklin, another member of the cast, moved their make-up boxes to the other studio. As soon as he finishes his role in the Hughes production. Catlett will return to the Pathe lot to begin work on his second comedy. RKO Film in Color RKO will make "Waiting at the Church" in 100 per cent Technicolor. Mary Astor has the lead and among others in the cast are Joseph Cawthorn and Kitty Kelly, with Mel Brown directing. Carey Wilson was assigned to do the dialogue.