Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Jul 1930)

26 May 10, 1930 Fox Films Plan Five Year Program Bert Lytell in "Brothers" at El Capitan '17th To Spend $22,000,000 For 1930-1931 Lineup Of Pictures Fox officials and film salesmen from the thirty-seven branch offices in the United States and Canada will assemble May 26 at Movietone City, near Beverly Hills, California, to formulate plans for a five-year program of pictures, according to an announcement recently made by James R. Grainger, general sales manager. Twenty-two million dollars has been appropriated for the first year's production by the new financial board headed by Harley L. Clarke, president of the Fox Film Corporation. Mr. Clarke said recently that few changes would be made in the operating staffs of the two Fox companies, and added: "I am sanguine that we may all have sufficient prescience for the future to make our contributions to this but of such a nature first, that the public and the companies' stockholders will be always well served and, second, that we will so conduct our business relations that we will earn the good will and respect of all our competitors. "I have assumed a great obligation to the public, the creditors and stockholders of these large enterprises, and my chief concern is to speedily deal fairly with all. Now is the time for composing all differences and consummating, rather than talking about these obligations. "The purchase by General Theatres Equipment, Inc., of the control of Fox Film Corporation and also the Fox Theatres Corporation was a logical one when Mr. Fox and the companies' officials decided to sell control. There will be comparatively few changes in the personnel of the very efficient operating staffs of these two great industry not merely expedient organizations. "General Theatres Equipment, Inc., of which I am president, will bring to the Fox companies efficient executives and engineers and they will aid wherever possible in rounding out a still better organization. "The company's production program, I understand, is considerably ahead of any previous year both in respect to quality of pictures and in time of completion." About two hundred men, including a delegation of foreign representatives headed by Clayton P. Sheehan, general foreign manager, will leave New York by special train May 21. They will be the first to view the pictures they will sell during the coming season, many of which are now completed and many more in production. This enthusiastic gathering will meet upon the two recently completed sound stages, the addition of which increases the total number of stages to fourteen and places Movietone City in the enviable position of being the largest and most modern studio in the world. Construction on eight additional sound stages for which an appropriation of $1,500,000 has been made was also announced by Winfield R. Sheehan, vice-president and general manager. These additional stages are necessary to take care of the increased program. Color and Grandeur film, separately and combined, will reveal to the convention this revolutionary step in screen entertainment which plays such an important part in the current and future programs. These two items alone represent years in scientific research and secret experimentation. The convention will make a tour of the enormous plant and have the production processes explained to them by technical experts. Following this they will be introduced to the celebrities, new and old, who occupy important places on the current program. Among the pictures that will be in production at that time will be Raoul Walsh's historic film based on the story of the Oregon trail titled "The Big Trail." Ian Keith, Tyrone Power, El Brendel, David Rollins, Mitchell Harris and Russ Powell have already been cast for featured roles. Films they will screen in completed form or in production include "Common Clay," now being made under the direction of Victor Fleming; a melody-comedy written by DeSylva, Brown and Henderson, to be directed by David Butler; "Alcatraz," the first sound picture with Rex, a black stallion, in the leading role, and Beatrice Lillie, Jillian Sand, John Garrick, George Grossmith and Olga Baclanova in "Are You There?" under the direction of Hamilton MacFadden. Victor McLaglen will shortly commence "Dust and Sun," an adventure story, following which he will costar with Edmund Lowe in "Women of All Nations." Among the other either completed or in production will be: "Basquerie," from the novel by Eleanor Mercein; 'Blondie," from the short story by Grace Menken Plays Lead Opposite Popular Actor Bert Lytell, noted stage and screen star, is coming to El Capitan on Saturday, May 17th, to appear in "Brothers," the stirring drama by Herbert Ashton, Jr., in which he has been starring for the last two seasons. The engagement of this popular stage and screen star is considered one of the most important events in the history of the Henry Duffy Players. "Brothers" will give Lytell a dual role, that of two brothers, separated in infancy and brought up in different environments. They meet under strange circumstances, neither knowing the other's identity and one acting as counsel for the defense to free the other from a charge of murder. Lytell considers "Brothers" the best stage play he ever has had. He long has been a Broadway favorite while his screen popularity dates from his first appearance in the picture, "The Lone Wolf." His last stage appearance here was in the playlet, "The Valiant." With Lytell come several members of the original Broadway production who have been brought to the coast for the presentation at El Capitan. Among them are Grace Menken, the attractive actress, who plays the chief feminine role ; Clara Palmer and Frank Sylvester. Edwin H. Curtis is conducting the rehearsals. "Love 'Em and Leave 'Em" is in its final fortnight at El Capitan where John V. A. Weaver's and George Abbott's comedy is proving a highly popular attraction, and will give its last performance on Friday night, May 16th. Isabel Withers, as the slangy and good-hearted shopgirl, Mam.e Walsh, heads the cast, which includes Kenneth Daigneau, Frank Darien, Lillian Dean, Emily Lowry, Olive Cooper, Thomas L. Brower, Harold Waldridge and Byron Hawkins. ■f 1 i AT M-G-M Russell Simpson is playing a fine part in "Billy the Kid" at the M-G M Studios, under the direction of King Vidor. WITH CHANEY Little Harry and Billy Watson are working in "The Unholy Three," starring Lon Chaney and directed by Tack Conway. Stephen Morehouse Avery; "The Last of the Duanes," which will feature George O'Brien in another outdoor film; an untitled story of the Northwest Mounted Police; "On Your Back," which will feature Irene Rich; "The Painted Woman;" "The Sea Wolf," which will feature Milton Sills; "See America First," a starring vehicle for Will Rogers, and a comedy prepared by Rube Goldberg for Ted Healy.