The Film Daily (1932)

THE j^^ DAILV Sunday, April 17, 1932 A LITTLE from "LOTS // By RALPH WILK 1 HOLLYWOOD JyflLTON WALLACE, now playing in the stage production of "Blessed Event" at the Longacre theater in New York and who will come to the Warner studios in California this week to appear in the screen version of the play with James Cagney starring, was one of the principals in the original cast of "Abie's Irish Rose." He appeared in 1,776 performances during the classic run of that comedy at the Republic theater. * * * Allen Jenkins, another member of the "Blessed Event" cast who is coming West to support Cagney in the film edition, followed Spencer Tracy as Killer Mears in the Broadway production of "The Last Mile." He was also a member of the original cast of "Five Star Final" The screen version of "Blessed Events' will start production April 25 under the direction of Roy Del Ruth. * * * Betty Mack, who appears in Big 4's "The Scarlet Brand," is one of the country's finest horeswomen and has won some blue ribbons in important equestrian events. * * * Three former English players of note are currently appearing in scenes of RKO Pathe's "Westward Passage," now in production starring Ann Harding. They are Juliette Compton and Lucy Dorane, both stars in their own right on the British screen, and Laurence Olivier, until a year ago wne of the most popular leading men on the English stage and screen. Olivier is now playing opposite Ann Harding in the picture, while the Misses Compton and Dorane have important supporting roles. * * * Six of the best known writers of western stories are under contract with Columbia to turn out stories for Buck Jones and Tim McCoy features. They are Lambert Hillyer, Jack Jungmeyer, Fred Myton, Milton Krims, Kurt Kempler and Randall Faye. * * * Los Angeles' Central Ave. doubled for New York's Harlem, at the RKORadio Pictures' studios in Hollywood during the filming of colored night club scenes for "State's Attorney," starring .John Barrymore which George Archainbaud is directing. A ten-piece orchestra and the star performers from one of the leading clubs of the local "dark belt" provided the entertainment. Martha 500 Stories for Ray Schrock Ray Schrock, who is putting the last touche< to "War Correspondent,' in which Columbia will star Jack Holt, has turned out approximately 500 stories | in the course of his career as a screen writer. ^ Chinatown Mayor in Movies Tom Cubbins, unofficial "mayor" of Los Angeles' Chinatown, is assisting the RKO studio casting department in lining up Oriental talent for "The Roar of the Dragon," the Richard Dix starring picture. Cubbins will also play a rolt. Ritchie, dusky blues singer, was the headliner on the bill. Seventy-five atm,osphere players were used in an authentic duplication of a typical Harlem, night club. A collection of some of Wallace Reid's favorite possessions has been added to the motion picture exhibit at the Los Angeles Museum. The exhibit is sponsored by the Society of M, P. Engineers. * * * Famous Teams — Mclntyre and Heath, SelznickJoyce, McNutt and Jones, Bren-Qrsatti, 0 Connor and Goldberg, "Min and Bill," Conners a7id Klein, the Giants, Am,os 'n' Andy, Wolfson and Rivkin, Wheeler and Woolsey, Ike and Mike, Laurel and Hardy, Collier and Flinn, Harman^Ising. * * ^) Frank Marsales, musical director of the Harman-Ising Studios, which produces "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies," in association with Leon Schlesinger, is a wrestling enthusiast. He is hoping the proposed "Strangler" Lewis-Jimmy Londos match will be staged in Los Angeles. * * * Five Players have been added to the cast of Will Rogers' forthcoming Fox comedy, "Down to Earth," They include Clarence Wilson, Brandon Hurst, Louise Mackintosh, Harvey Clark and Matty Kemp. Noel Madison and Noel Francis have been assigned roles by Fox in "Man About Town," featuring Warner Baxter. Russ Powell and Betty Francisco have been placed in "The Killer," George O'Brien's new Fox action-romance. * * * Buzz Barton's new Big 4 action film now casting has been tentatively titled "Pony Express Kid." * * :|c "New Morals for Old" has been selected as final title for M-G-M's screen version of "After All," the John van Druten stage play. Charles Brabin is directing the new film with a cast including Margaret Perry, who is repeating her stage role, Robert Young, Laura Hope Crews, Lewis Stone, Donald Cook, Jean Hersholt, Kathryn Crawford, Mitchell Lewis and Myrna Loy. • * * Mae Marsh will play her first role since her return to the screen in "Over the Hill" when she appears in "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," the Fox picture which features Marian Nixon. Louise Closser Hale has also been secured for this production by Director Al Santell. Willis Marks is another addition to the cast. 4> * * "The Scarlet Brand," Big 4's April release starring Bob Custer, replaces "Lure of the Range" on this company's schedule. Custer is supported by Betty Mack, Robert Walker, Duke Lee and others and the film is directed by J. P. McGowan under the supervision of Burton King. * * * Karl Hajos, formerly a composer for Paramount, is now associated with Villa Moret, Inc., which will operate a musical service for producers. A complete service, from original scores to arrangements ready for synchronization, will be available. Frances Dee, who soon is to begin work in the leading feminine role in "Merton of the Talkies," picture version of tha Harry Leon Wilson romance of Hollywood to be produced under direction of William Beaudine, has signed a new contract with Paramount. Stuart Erwin, who will play the leading role in the picture, signed a new Paramount contract shortly after his arrival in Hollywood recently to begin preparations for his work in the film,. James Ashmore Creelman and Robert Lord have completed the continuity and dialogue of "S. S. Atlantic," which will serve as the next starring vehicle for Kay Francis. Tay Garnett has been assigned by Warner Bros, to direct it. * * * Universal has signed two more players for its two-reel program for next year under the supervision of Warren Doane. They are Frank Albertson and Robert McQuade. Before production on the comedies starts, McQuade will be used for an important role in "Back Street," the novel by Fannie Hurst which John M. Stahl is producing with Irene Dunne and John Boles. "Doctor X," now in production at First National, will reach completion a week from tomorrow. Michael Curtiz is directing this mystery thriller, which has been adapted from last season's similarly named Broadway success which was authored by Howard W. Comstock and Allen C. Miller. "Doctor X," which is being photographed in Technicolor, is played by a cast that includes Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Lee Tracy, Preston Foster. Arthur Edmund Carewe, John Wray, Harry Beresford, Robert Warwick, Leila Bennett, Mae Busch and others. Earl Baldwin and Robert "Tasker made the screen adaptation of the play. Florence Britton, the University of California co-ed who made her film debut a year ago, will enact an important role in "Merrily We Go To Hell," screen version of the Cleo Lucas novel, "Jerry and Joan," to be produced by Paramount under the direction of Dorothy Arzner with Fredric March and Sylvia Sidney in the leading roles. HOLLYWOOD PLAZA Where the "Famous Doorway of Hospitality" Greets You MOST convenient locarion in Hollywood, Next to motion picture studios, theatres, cafes and shops . . . only ten minutes from golf courses, bridle paths, and other amuse* ment places. The Plaza Hotel is quiet, luxuriously furnished, with deep, restful beds, glistening tile baths and showers, excellent service and cuisine, convenient parking — every modern convenience for your comfort. European plan. $2.50 up, single. $3.50 up, double. $4.50, twin beds. Special weekly and monthly rates. hook for the "Doorway of Hospitality" VINE STREET AT HOLLYWOOD BLVD., HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA