The Film Daily (1931)

DAILY Monday, March 23, 1931 © LATEST HOLLYWOOD HAPPENINGS 0 — Coast Wire Service Four Comedies in Work, Three To Go, at Pathe Four of the seven two-reel comtnadc on the RKO Pathe 1930-31 program are now in work. They are "Chasing Trouble, directed by Fred Guiol and featuring Franklin Pangborn, Dot Farley and Junior Coghlan; "Not So Loud," di rected by Harry Sweet, with Edgar Kennedy, Jay Belasco, Monte Collins, and fimmy Finlayson in the cast; "Three Wise Clucks," megaphoned bj Wallace Fox, with a cast consisting ol Glen Tryon, Marion Douglas, Frederic Howard, William Robyns, Rodnej McLennan, Jerry Drew, Martha Matand Billy liarty;-and "The Gossipy Plumber," a story by Arthur Wanzer of the vaudeville team ol Wanzer and Palmer, who also plays the leading role under the direction of Charles Lamont. Harry Fraser and Charles Callahan are now writing two of the three comedies which will draw the present prom to a close. They are "Night (lass," which will feature Nat Carr and "Who's Who," a vehicle for Daphne Pollard. A LITTLE from "LOTS ►// By RALPH WILK Donald Cook in "Side Show" Donald Cook has been selected by Warner Bros, for an important role m "Side Show," the comedy selected for the introduction of Winnie Lightner and Charles Butterworth as co-stars. k is a recruit from the legitimatestage. Guy Kibbe has also been signed for a prominent part. Armstrong on New Contract RKO Pathe has signed Robert Armstrong to a new long term contract. In addition Armstrong has a two months' leave of absence which he is spending in Europe. When he returns it is probable that he will heassigned to an important role with Helen Twelvetrees in her next starring picture. Montagu Love in Arliss Play Montagu Love has been assigned to the role of Thomas Jefferson in irge Arliss' next for Warners, "Alexander Hamilton.'' John Adolfi is directing. Lilyan Tashman Signed Lilyan Tashman's first assignment under her Paramount contract is in Ruth Chatterton's "Women Love Once,'' adapted from Zoe Atkins' "Daddy Goes a-Hunting." Coincidences Hedda Hopper is a Quaker. The first important role she ever played on the stage was "The Quaker Girl." She was born in Holidaysburg, Pa., and came into recent screen prominence with Ann Harding in "Holiday." fHAKLKS E. SCHOENBAUM, chief cameraman for all the James Cruze productions, had charge of the camera work on "Hell Bound," the Tiffany release that was booked by Paramount for dayand-date showing at its ace houses in New York and Brooklyn. * * ■Jimmy Finlayson, immediately o>i completion of a featured role in the RKO Pathe two^reeler, "Frozen Face," teas re-engaged for a part in •'Not So Loud," directed by Harry Sweet. * * * Wallace Smith will adapt "The Dove," tentative title of an underworld story by James Whittaker, to be produced by RKO with Bertram Milhauser as associate producer. * * * Although "RKO's "Cracked Nuts" was practically completed, William LeBaron has decided to spot a song in the film for Bert Wheeler and Dorothy Lee. It's to be called "Dance," and Harry Tierney, composer, and Ray Eagan, lyric writer, are busy on the orchestration. * * * Josephine Lovett is completing the screen play and dialogue for "Stepdaughters of War," which will star Ruth Chatterton. * * * Beryl Mercer continues to be one of the busiest actresses in pictures. As soon as she completes work in "Always Goodbye," at Fox, she will go to Columbia to play an important role in "The Miracle Woman," which Frank Capra will direct. * * * Russell Hopton, who plays "Jerry" in "Once in a Lifetime," is seen on the screen as "Whitey," a gangster, in "Dance, Fools, Dance." * * * Hugh McDowell, Jr., who developed and perfected the anti-noise system on variable area track, is using his device on "Madame Julie," for Radio Pictures. Victor Schertzinger is directing. * * * Simile — As generous as a gag-man in giving others credit for a new gag Marion Davies and Robert Z. Leonard faced each other from opposite ends of the camera for the seventh time in filming a photoplay when work was started a few days ago on Miss Davies' new M-G-M starring film, "F^ire and Ten," a picturization of Fannie Hurst's novel, adapted to the screen by Edith Fitzgerald. The cast includes Leslie Howard, Richard Bennett, Irene Rich, Kent Douglass, Halliwell Hobbes and Lucy Beaumont. Richard Dix, upon completion of "Big Brother" under the direction of Fred Niblo, will find himself provided with another strong vehicle, "The Splendid Crime," by George Goodchild. Do you remember when Al Boasberg was selling jewelry to vaudevillians in Buffalo? When Johnny Miles was editing an undertakers' magazine in New York? When Don Eddy was ivriting for the Los Angeles "Examiner" and other papers? When Herb Moulton was an actor? Theatrical blood unquestionably flows in the veins of Edward McWade, who is featured in "Parents Wanted," an RKO Pathe farce directed by Fred Guiol. Edward is the son of Robert McWade, a countrywide favorite of the 19th century who, in the role of "Rip Van Winkle." was the only rival of the great Joseph Jefferson. Edward's brother, Robert, Jr., is a currently prominent stage and screen character actor. Marie Dressier is recovering from a rather serious illness. Hugh Trevor, William Hawks and Larry Lebaron are forming an agency to handle affairs of screen folks. Marking his '6<dth comedy for RKO Pathe within the past 12 months, Charles Younger, sound recording expert, has completed work on "Rough House Rhythm," a tworeelcr directed by Harry Sweet. Loretta Young Cast The combination of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Loretta Young will appear in "I Like Your Nerve," an original story by Roland Pertwee for First National, Miss Young also will have the feminine lead in "Blue Moon." tinoriginal written for First National by S. S. Van Dine Story for Ben Lyon Fields, Rodgers and Hart, responsible for "The Hot Heiress," have completed a new story that has been accepted by First National It is entitled "The Love of Michael." Ben Lyon has already been selected for the lead in the comedy. Scandinavian Versions Planned by Universal Universal is planning to go in for versions for the Scandinavian countries the coming season. The first deal is on for the English screen rights to 'Faust," which carries a clause for lie Scandinavian rights. Marion Douglas in Pathe Short Marion Douglas, pretty blonde comdienne, has been selected to play opposite Glen Tryon in the RKO Pathe comedy, "Three Wise Clucks," which vVallace Fox is megaphoning. Miss Douglas recently appeared in a short for the same company entitled "Twist•d Tales." Complete Cast for Mackaill's Next The cast assembled by First National for "The Reckless Hour," Dorothy Mackaill's next starring vehicle, includes Conrad Nagel, Joan Blondell, B. Warner, Ivan Simpson, Walter Syron, Claude King, Joe Donahue, William House, Dorothy Peterson, lelen Ware, Mae Madison and Robert \llcn. Florence Ryerson wrote the piece; Robert Lord adapted it; John Francis Dillon is the director, assisted by Bill Cannon; James Van Trees is the photographer and Harold Young \?. film editor. Ben Lyon Opposite Connie Bennett Ben Lyon has been cast as Constance Bennett's leading man in "Virtue's Clothes," her first starring vehicle under her new Warner contract. Joe Brandt in Hollywood Joe Brandt, president of Columbia, has arrived from the East to confer with Harry Cohn on the company's new program. Robert Ellis, Harlan Knight Cast Robert Ellis and Harlan E. Knight have been added to "Red River pletion of "The Party Husband." "As Good as New" for Mackaill Thompson Buchanan's stage success >f last season, "As Good as New," is to 1k> made over for Dorothy Mackaill's use on the screen. This farcical comedy of married life is to be adapted ' v Robert Presnell and Walter Deleon Mid will go into production at the First National studios upon the completion of "The Reckless Hour." Another Player Up in Air The latest screen player to obtain an airplane pilot's license is Ed Deering, "hardboiled" comedian appearing in RKO Pathe comedies. This automatically entitles Deering to a membership in the RKO Pathe Pilots' Club, which is headed by Danny Mandel, cutter, Dewey Wrigley and Bill Dietz, cameramen.