The Film Daily (1931)

THE Sunday, June 14, 1931 DAILY 23 A LITTLE from "LOTS" By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD (7J.EORGE MELFORD entered his second year as a director at Universal this week with the starting of actual camera work on "Homicide S(|iiad." He began his association with the company one year ago in the making of Spanish versions, even though he did not speak the language. * * * Players already cast for prominent roles in "Homicide Squad" include Leo Carrillo, Mary Brian, Noah Beery, Pat O'Malley, Russell Gleason and J. Carrol Naish. * * * Lou Brock has completed Rosco Ates' two-reel comedy, "The Gland Parade." In the cast of this Radio Pictures short are Otis Harlan, Eddie Dunn, Monty Collins, Bud Jamiesoh. Billy Bletcher, David Mir, Ralpb Sedan, Tom Francis and Dave Collins. Harold Schwartz directed. * * * Spencer Charters, who played a father role in Eddie Cantor's "Whoopee," wilt repeat in "Palmy Days," Cantor's second picture. Others in the supporting cast include Charlotte Greenwood, Barbara Weeks, Paul Page, Charles B. Middleton, George Raft and Harry Woods. Edward Sutherland is directing. * * * Solly Baiano owns a new batch of silver trophies as a result of his work in the sixth annual motion picture tennis tournament He won the singles, doubles and mixed doubles, being paired with Ted von Eltz in the doubles and with Mrs. H. Thomas in the mixed doubes. Their opponlents were Martin Cornica and Francis Perrett and Bob Koke and Mrs. Hal Rosson. Solly's opponent in singles was John Fowler. * * * The trophies were donated by Fred Niblo, Herbert Brenon, Alfred Santell and Ronald Cohnan. Presentation speeches were made by Dolores Del Rio and Ted von Eltz. * * * Famous last words — "Joe Doakes is in conference." * * * Howard A. Anderson is doing the special camera effects on "Fifty Fathoms Deep," which is being made by Columbia. * * * Paul Bern is heading a campaign to raise $2,000 weekly for 10 weeks for 10,000 Los Angeles children, who are now going without the one mea> a day which was being supplied them by the Parent-Teacher asso LATEST CINDERELLA Hard Witter, seamstress at the United Artists Studio, is the latest Hollywood Cinderella. The young woman, an alumnus of the University of Nebraska and fork College in Lincoln. Neb., has been selected by Samuel Coldwyn as one of (he twelve most beautiful girls in Hollywood to appear in "Palmy Days." Eddie Cantor's second starring vehicle. ciution. Beni has appealed to leading players, writers and directors to contribute not less than $5 and not more than $50 per week for the ten weeks. * * * Louis Gasnier, veteran director, who co-directed "The Lawyer's Secret," with Max Martin, will aiso co-direct "Silence," with Marcin. <>.i-nier has been with Paramount for several years. * * * Our Passing Show: Grant Mitchell, May Robson, Dudley Digges, Leon dUsseau, Al Rivkin, Georgie Harris., Howard J. Green, Walter De Leon, Jack Jevne, DeWitt Jennings at "As Husbands Go"; Harry Lichtig planning to play golf. * * * E. V. Durling relates the story ot busj Sam Behrendt, who has a telephone connection by his bathtub. The other evening a voice came over the wire, saying, "Send over a quart of gin." "You've got the wrong bathtub," said Sam, hanging up. * » * Cecil Cunningham, English comedienne, has been signed by M-G-M for a role in (,rcta (iarbo's "Susan Lenox — Her ball and Rise," now in production under the direction of I /.. Leonard. * * * May Ninomiya, editor of "Screen Romances" and executive editor of "Film Fun," is visiting the studios. She has been connected with fan publications for the past 10 years. * * * Allen Rivkin and Edward Churchill, members of Radio Pictures' scenario staff, will appear as "star" reporters in "Are These Our Children?" which will be directed by Wesley Ruggles. They are former New York newspapermen. * * * Dita Parlo, former Ufa star, will be seen in her first American speaking role in "Honor of the Family," Beebe Daniels' new starring vehicle for First National, now being edited for future release. * * * Here and There: Barney Hutchinson assuming his new duties in the RKO Pathe publicity department; Nick Carter motoring to Culver City; James Seymour and Earl Baldwin lunching. * * * Gilbert Warrenton, ace cameraman, has completed the camera work on "Honeymoon Lane." Eddie Dowling's starring vehicle, which will be released by Paramount. * * * William H. Titers and Mack Stengler are producing "Historical Highlights," a series of one-reel subjects in Multicolor. » * * More Passing Show: Victor Schertzinger directing with a bamboo cane, instead of a megaphone; Mary Lewis, secretary to Henri de la Falaise, teaching Jeane Helbling, French actress, English. EASTERN STUDIO ACTIVITIES By HARRY N. BLAIR R UTH ETTING, Broadway's song bird and comedienne, who recently had to call in the police to rid her of a too ardent admirer, will be starred in tour more two-reel Vitaphone shorts which will be released on next season's schedule as part of Warner Bros, -trie-, called "Broadway Brevities." Random Not<s: Monta Bett hud u mi, inn escape from serious injury u>h( n struck by a taxi on Broadway . . . only a fin slight scratches resulted . . . Emil {"Buddy" I // popular cameraman, happy <>< fact that his wife has presented hi,,, with (i 10 pound baby girl . . . CIiiii dette Colbert laid up with a case of quinsy. Much of the comedy in "Moving In," a recent Vitaphone short, is supplied by Eddie Ryan, a stage and screen veteran, despite the fact that he is only seven years old. Jane Cowl, whom I-'.ddie recently appeared with, pronounced him the most natural child on the Stage. "My Sin," which goes into production next week at Paramount's New York studio, will be directed by George Abbott. His assistants will be Frank Cavett and Fred Spencer. George Folsey will be cameraman and Ernest Zatorsky, monitor man. Emma Hill will edit the film with Herman Zerrenner in charge of still photography. Saul Tepper has been appointed unit manager of the "My Sin" company. This marks Tepper' s fourth picture in that capacity, the others being "Night Angel," "Secrets of a Secretary" and "Personal Maid." Murray Roth, bronzed and tit. after a vacation trip to Bermuda, is engaged with the Vitaphone scenario writers in going over the script for the Booth Tarkington series of juvenile stories on which production is scheduled for next month. The Paramount New York studio is haunted with memories of the colorful silent days for George Fawettt, veteran character actor, who has a prominent supporting role in "Personal Maid." Among the parts acted by Fawcett here was his fun, rite role, that of Major Dubonnet in "Peter IbbetSOn," directed by George Fit -.ma mice Edmund Goulding, whose latest production. "Night Angel," is now running at the Rivoli on Broadway, HAROLD MULLER FIRST CAMERAMAN IN dependence 3-0743 Wisconsin 7-5448 came to this country from England iccompanist for Nora Hayes, lafc comedienne. He was later featured by the Shubcrts in several productions, before turning to motion pic Itud more mi 1, ■ the milking than "Night Augrl." It {finally callt d "Bt World*," tin „ "Scarlet fin ' a brief period, followed by "i and Ever" and finally "Night Angel." Aurora Films Corp. i the latest producing organization to join the last group. This newly formed company is planning to make rie of Italian all-talking pictui Officials are Rosario Romeo and J. Lombardi, with the former scheduled to direct. "Miss Italy, 1931" now in the process of being selected through the medium of a nation-wide beauty contest, will be featured, according to announcements. Pat O'Brien, now playing opposite Nancy Carroll in "Personal Maid," at I'a in monnt's New York studio, began his screen career at the WurY ita phone studio, while appearing on the New York staiji . He was subsequently chosen to play the role llildy Johnson in "The Front Page," which firmly established him as a screen personality. The market for juvenile talent promises to pick up with the announcement that Xcd Wayburn, who developed numerou id screen personalities, is planning a shorts to be made at the Royal studios. Grantwood, X. J. "The Li use Hi rakers," by Corey Ford and Howard Deitz, and "A Put Up Job," by Rube Welch, both featuring Karl Dane and Co. K. Arthur, are highlights in the current Paramount shorts program. Al Ray will direct in i aeh < The Four Musketeers, in "The Bridge of Songville," directed by Aubrey ScottO, and Herb Williams in "The Beach Nut," directed In Ray Cozine, were completed lln week at the Paramount New York studio. Paramount has signed Joe Laurie, Jr., popular vaudeville and musical comedy star, for "Catch as Catch Can," a two-reeler, which he a^o authored. FOR STOR] ES FOR ST A RS GO TO VIOLA [RENE COOPER ■