The Film Daily (1931)

DAILY Sunday, June 7. 1931 HOLLYWOOD ACTIVITIES ^ A ^ Latest Production News Received By Wire From The West Coast j± ^ Jk> TOD BROWNING STARTS NEW M-G-M CONTRACT Tod Browning has returned from his vacation trip abroad and is getling ready for his first production under his new contract with M-G-M. 'I itle lias not yet been announced. Browning directed many of Lon Chaney's pictures. New Member for McGuire Gang Clifton Thompson, Jr., four-yearold San Pedro youngster, has become a member of Larry Darmour's Mi' key (Himself) McGuire gang. Clifton, who was discovered by Director Albert Herman, has been nicknamed "Butch." "Honor of the Family" Completed Bebe Daniels in "The Honor of the Family" has been completed by First National. "The Other Man" Finished William Powell's first starring picture for Warner Bros., "The Other Man," has been completed at the Burbank studio. Pathe's Reno Comedy RKO Pathe is contributing to the Reno cycle by producing a two-reel comedy, "Crashing Reno," by Nick Barrows and William Watson, with Daphne Pollard starred. A/e*v Low Rates in HOLLYWOOD ROOM WITH BATH $ 5 Right in the heart of Hollywood— with interesting places to go-people to sco PH9 IMM flia^l ™d '"'"g5 to do n ill ~M — ■ »nr3u^ Vrin ft BwkUt. Vtctthn Bmnsm kOosevejLT ROBERT J. McCABE, Manage* HOLLYWOOD. CALIFORNIA A LITTLE from "LOTS" By RALPH W1LK \\ ARK SANDRICH, in collaboration with Monte Collins and Johnny Grey, is writing an original story, which will serve as Clark and McCullough's initial vehicle under their new contract. Sandnch will also direct the comedy, which will be produced by Lou Brock for release by Radio Pictures. * * * Famous last words — "Joe Doakes Is no longer with us." * * * Howard Estabrook will begin the screen adaptation of "Frontier," Ricnard Dix's starring vehicle, as soon as he completes adaptation of "Are These Our Children?" Wesley Ruggles' next assignment. * * * Walter De Leon has written two originals for Warner-First National. His "Local Boy Makes Good" wili star Joe E. Brown, while "Strictly Confidential," a collaboration, will star Bebe Daniels. He is now writing an original kid story for WarnerFirst National. * * » Frances Lee will be seen opposite Jack Duffy in a new Educational-Tuxedo comedy, "What a Head." Konnie Kondell is cast as the juvenile lead. * * * Ralph Dietrich, who edited "Daddy Long Legs," for Fox, is becoming an ardent collector of books. * * * William Goodrich will preside as principal director at the Educational studios next season, according to E. H. Allen, general manager of the studio. * * » Phil H. Whitman, who directed "The Fourth Alarm," will direct "The Mystery Train," a feature, for Larry Darmour. * * * Julia Swayne Gordon has the part of a haughty continental dowager in "Common Law," RKO Pathe's new picture starring Constance Bennett. * * * If the economy wave continues, each supervisor may be allowed only five relatives in his unit, a studio wag reports. * * * "The Lady Killer," by George Kibbe Turner, has been purchased by RKO Pathe as Eddie Quillan's next vehicle to follow "Sweepslakes." Al Rogcll may be re-engaged to direct the new Quillan feature. Ivan Lebedeff's initial starring vehicle, "Strange Women," is now in production at Radio Pictures, with Richard Boleslavsky directing. The story is an original by Lebedeff and Benn W. Levy. "Transgression" is the new title for "The Next Corner," Herbert Brenon's latest production for Radio Pictures. "Helga" is another title which has been shelved by Radio Pictures. The new title of the original by Martin Flavin is "Three Who Loved." Jed Buell relates the story of a sailor who wanted to work in pictures. He had a battleship tattoed on his chest. The casting director told the sailor that he was overweight, so the would-be actor went on a diet. When he returned to the studio, the battleship resembled a row boat. George Green, former song writer and more recently an assistant director on the RKO Pathe lot, was promoted to director on the "Bufftown Comedies" starring James Gleason. ♦ * * Fox has signed Jed Prouty for "The Plutocrat" and Stanley Fields for "Skyline." * * * Our Passing Show: Thornton Freeland, June Clyde, Frank Eastman, E. H. Allen, Margaret Ettinger, Ramon Romeo at "Mrs. Bumpstead-Leigh," starring Mrs. Fiske; Ronald Colman, William Powell, Sam Taylor, Carol Lombard, Aileen Pringle. Zelma O'Neil, Dolores Del Rio, Don Alvarado, Lawrence Olivier, Mrs. Noll Gurney, Charles C. Burr, Bessie Love, Frank Gay at the Motion Picture Tennis Ass'n matches. Kay Francis in M-G-M Picture Kay Francis will have a leading role in M-GUM's "Guilty Hands," with Lionel Barrymore, Madge Evans, William Bakewell, Polly Moran and C. Aubrey Smith. Supporting Rubin Bud Jamieson, John Sinclair, Marie Wells, George Billings and Stanley Blystone have been signed to support Benny Rubin in his RKO Pathe comedy, "The Messenger Boy." Edward Luddy has the megaphone. 12 SHORTS AND FEATURE BEING MADE IN SPANISH Twelve one-reel comedies in Spanish, featuring Cristina Munoz, are planned by Talk Art Productions. A Spanish feature, "Sangre de Villano" ("Villain's Blood"), also will be made by this company. Gabry Rivas, prominent Latin-American writer, is supplying the stories. Carlos L. Cabbello is adapting the comedies and also will direct both the English and Spanish versions under the supervision of Rivas. "Lady From New Orleans" Starts With Lillian Bond in the leading feminine role and David Manners as leading man, "The Lady from New Orleans" has started production at the Warner studios. Victor Varconi, Richard Bennett, Montagu Love, Ivan Simpson, John Harrington, Ralf Harolde, Boris Karloff, Cecil Cunningham, Nina Mae McKinney and George Marion, Sr., also appear in the lineup. Michael Curtiz is directing. Trem Carr Finishes First Trem Carr, producer of the Bo Steele westerns for Tiffany, ha completed "Near the Trail's End," first in the series of eight. Supporting cast includes: Marion Shockley, Jay Morley, Hooper Atchley, Si Jenks, Henry Roquemore and Murdock McQuarrie. Wallace Fox directed. 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