The Film Daily (1931)

THE ■%2H DAILY Tuesday, May 26, 1931 O LATEST HOLLYWOOD HAPPENINGS © Coast Wire Service Paramount Preparing Six Mystery Stories Six mystery stories are in preparation at the Paramount studios in Hollywood. The subjects comprise: "Murder by the Clock," by Rufus King; "Daughter of the Dragon," by Sax Rohmer; "The Glass Key," by Dashiell Hammett; "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," by Robert Louis Stevenson; "Uncertain Women," by Edgar Wallace, and "Twenty-four Hours." by Louis Bromfield. Join "Murder By The Clock" Recent newcomers to the cast of Paramount's "Murder by the Clock" include Irving Pichel, one of the leading exponents of the Little Theater movement, who recently began his screen career by playing the husband in "The Right to Love" opposite Ruth Chatterton; Blanche Friderici, well-known character actress of stage and screen; Leneta Lane, one of the group of ten leading Broadway players recently recruited by Paramount, who makes her debut in this picture, and Lester Vail. Chatterton Film Titled "The Magnificent Lie" is the title of Ruth Chatterton's new starring picture, the Paramount studio announces. It entered production under the tentative title of "Laurels and the Lady." Lucy Doraine for Ufa Film Lucy Doraine is en route to New York. On May 29 she will sail to Berlin on the Bremen. She is to be starred in a Ufa picture. Nena Quartaro in "Arizona" Nena Quartaro is the latest addition of importance to the cast of "Arizona," Columbia's adaptation of the classic American stage play by Augustine Thomas. Curtiz to Direct "Safe in Hell" Michael Curtiz instead of Rov Del Ruth will direct "Safe in Hell," which is now being prepared at the Warner Bros. West Coast studios. Del Ruth has been transferred to "Larceny Lane." Ilka Chase in "The Strange Woman" Ilka Chase has been signed for "The Strange Woman" to be directed by Richard Boleslavsky. New Title for Dix "The Million Dollar Swindle" is the new title for Richard Dix's picture, "The Reckoner." Efficiency Roy Del Ruth completed the direction of "Side Show" with but 75 feet of film in excess of the footage in which the picture will be released for public showing. This is said to be an unprecedented record. A LITTLE from "LOTS ►// Bv RALPH WILK _Jy[ARK SANDRICH will direct the first Clark and McCullough comedy for Radio Pictures, Louis Brock producing. It is titled "Beau Legs" and is a satire on the French Legion. * * * Our Passing Show: Thomas Meighan and Louis A. Sarecky lunching at Radio Pictures; Ivan Lebedeff chatting with Don Eddy. * * * Charles O'Loughlin has handled the sound recording on all the Eddie Quillan pictures. He also did the sound work on three Constance Bennett productions and is now working on "The Iron Chalice," starring Bill Boyd. * * * Dorothy Howell and Ray Chanslor wrote "Fifty Fathoms Deep," which ivill serve as Richard Cromwell's second starring vehicle. His initial picture was "Tol'able David." "Fifty Fathoms Deep" will be directed by R. William Neill. * * * Here and There: Richard Dix fighting again — in "The Reckoner" — under sizzling lights on a sizzling day; Leigh Jason lunching with his wife, Ruth Harriett Louise; Ruth Weston working in two pictures, "The Reckoner" and "Nancy's Private Affair." * * * Pert Kelton, New York stage star, who is part owner of a Hollywood hotel, is co-featured with Tommy Dugan and George Gary in "The Albany Branch," which is being made by Mack Sennett with B. C. Stafford directing. * * * Genial Joe Sherman of the M-G-M publicity department, has crashed the scenario citadels. In collaboration with Martin Flavin, author of "The Criminal Code," he has written "Through the Window," a murder mystery melodrama, which will be made by Paramount. Joe practised law in Seattle before coming to Los Angeles, where he did newspaper work. By the way, Ray Coffin, who is a former president of the Wampas, as is Joe Sherman, addressed the Women's Press Club of Southern California and regaled the press women with anecdotes of his varied experiences. He has been engaged in motion picture publicity work for 20 years. * * * A search of several weeks for a suitable leading lady for "Ground Hogs," which Eddie Sedgwick is directing for Howard Hughes, ended when Lola Lane was signed for the part. Miss Lane attracted much attention by her work in "Hell Bound," which was directed by Walter Lang. * * * Warren Stokes, editor of "Film Trade Topics" of San Francisco, is making his first trip to the studios in four years. * * * Gilbert Warrenton relates the story of the new producer who saw a boy carrying a small package. "What are you carrying?" "A sound track," was the reply. The producer held the package to his ear. "You're mistaken, that is only film," said the producer. * * * Ray Lissner, pint-sized assistant to Herbert Brenon for many years, has been signed by Radio Pictures. He will assist Richard Boleslavsky, director of "Strange Women." "Side Show" Finished The last retakes have been made on "Side Show," in which Warner Bros, are co-starring Winnie Lightner and Charles Butterworth, and it will go into the hands of the cutter in a few days. Roy Del Ruth directed it, and among the supporting cast are Evalyn Knapp, Donald Cook, Guy Kibbee, Louise Carver and Mathew Betz. Warner Oland in Bill Boyd Feature Warner Oland has been signed for the chief menace role in "The Iron Chalice," Bill Boyd starring vehicle on RKO Pathe's new program. LeRoy to Direct Joe E. Brown Mervyn LeRoy has been given the directorial authority over the production of "Local Boy Makes Good," the next Joe E. Brown starring picture. Hugh Herbert Back Hugh Herbert, after fling at a personal appearance tour, is back at the Radio Pictures studios. Warners After Kay Strozzi Warners have opened negotiations with Kay Strozzi to play the feminine lead in "The Rich Are Always With Us." Miss Strozzi is now in the stage play, "The Silent Witness." Huston Replaces Holt Walter Huston, instead of Jack Holt, will play the leading role of the district attorney in "The Star Witness" for Warner Bros. John P. Medbury at Universal Universal has engaged John P. Medbury, prominent newspaper humorist and radio star, for its series of two-reelers, "Dangerous Jobs." Samuel Freedman is now preparing the films, which he will supervise. Pathe Gives Pola Negri Three-Year Contract Pola Negri's test scenes preliminary to starting her first vehicle for RKO Pathe have proved so satisfactory that Charles R. Rogers has signed her to a three-year starring contract. Hoot Gibson's Second Finished Hoot Gibson's second Allied release, "Wild Horse," from the Cosmopolitan Magazine story by Peter B. Kyne, has been completed. It was directed by Richard Thorpe and Sidney Algier, from a dialogue continuity by Jack Natteford. Editing is in the hands of Mildred Johnston. The cast is headed by Alberta Vaughn and Stepin Fetchit and includes Neal Hart and Edmund Cobb, "Skeeter Bill" Robbins, John Bunny, Edward Peil, Joe Rickson and Fred Gilman. Radio Pictures Assignments Eddie Dunn, Ben Holmes, Tom Francis, Clarence Hummel Wilson, Gertrude Sutton, Carol Lewis, Sam Lufkin, Phil Dunham, Gladden James and Harry Bernard, have been cast for Jimmy Savo's short, "The House Dick." Helen Chandler and Rochelle Hudson will appear in "Fanny Foley Herself." Hughes Signs Frank Lloyd Frank Lloyd First National director, has been signed to a long term contract by Howard Hughes. The first picture under the new alignment will be "The Age for Love," starring Billie Dove, on which he has already spent several months of preparation. Scenarists Write Play Doris Anderson and Joseph Jackson, scenario writers, have completed a play entitled "Smart Women," which is slated for production in Los Angeles soon. A popular feminine picture star may enact the leading role. "Lover Come Back" Cast Completed Jack Mack and Katherine Givney, | formerly vaudeville headliners, complete the cast of Columbia's "Lover Come Back." Kinnell in Van Dine Picture Murray Kinnell has joined the cast of "Blue Moon Murder," the S. S. Van Dine original play which First National is on the verge of producing. A Slip Through inadvertence, the title in the Richard Talmadge Productions ad in the May 17 issue of THE FILM DAILY was given as "Dancing Daughters," instead of "Dancing Dynamite."