Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1932)

HOLLYWOOD FILMOGRAPH TONY GAUDIO Creates New Effects for "The Mask of Dr. Fu Manchu" Gary Grant Ghosen to Play Opposite EHae West Who Said "Prop Man" Was Not Worth His Weight In Gold? Hal Roach to Make Four More Comedies This Year WITH CEDRIC GIBBONS ON M-G-M PRODUCTION; CHARLES BRABIN DIRECTS Tony Gaudio, ace A. S. C. cameraman, together with Cedric Gibbons, M-G-M art director, has evolved a new type of set photography in "The Mask of Dr. Fu Manchu," so ably directed by Charles Brabin and now playing at Loew's State theater, and featuring Boris Karioff, Karen Morley, Myrna Loy, Lewis Stone and Charles Starrett. Gaudio photographed his characters against absolutely black and white sets, with no intermediate colors seen. The awesome shadow of Dr. Fu Manchu and the huge oiled bodies of the half-naked Negroes take on a new and sinister significance against the stark white backgrounds. This new technique will be copied. Gaudio, whose motion picture career commenced with the old Ambrosio Film Company in Toreno, Italy, nearly 30 years ago, is a former worker in the famous old "Imp" company of Carl Laemmle. He photographed the not-to-be-forgotten Harold Lockwood and after that was Norma Talmadge's cameraman for many of her best pictures. In recent years, Gaudio counts to his credit such notable productions as "On With the Show," "General Crack," "Hell's Angels," "Sky Devils," "Little Caesar," "Tiger Shark" and others equally well-known. He is one of Cinemaland's crack cameramen — an innovator of new fashions in motion picture photography. LOWELL SHERMAN STARTS PARAMOUNT FEATURE WITH CAST OF BIG NAMES One of the newest of Paramount productions which is drawing a good deal of attention because of the many changes that have occured since the announcement of the story, is Mae West's "Ruby Red" formerly titled "Diamond Lil." The newest change to occur is the assignment of Cary Grant as leading man for Mae West. Director-actor Lowell Sherman is handling the megaphone on the production. A large cast has been chosen to support Miss West and Mr. Grant, including Gilbert Roland, Noah Beery, Rochelle Hudson, David Landau, Owen Moore, Harry Wallace, "Fuzzy" Knight, Dewey Robinson, Mike Donlon and Grace La Rue. James Dugan is assisting Lowell Sherman at the directorial helm. Paramount has laid great hopes upon the outcome of this picture which, by all indications, should be fully justified. NEW CAMERAMAN Congratulations are in order for Mr. and Mrs. Glen "Pan Gano, who have a new son, Charles Glen Gano, in their home. Mr. Gano is a well known cinematographer, nicknamed for his pioneering in the development of panchromatic film. He vows that one of the first words spoken by the newest member of the family was, "Camera!" JACK BELL Exclusive Haberdashery Fine Tailoring PLAZA HOTEL— 1639 N. Vine St. Louis Gasnier is yet in Spain looking for Spanish starring material for Paramount. Spain, through Ahora of Madrid, cannot understand why Imperial Argentina (Magdalena de Nile) is not placed under contract and brought to Hollywood. It refers to her as the most loved artist of the Spanish peoples. "SIGN OF THE CROSS" WAS TEST FOR PARAMOUNT PROP DEPARTMENT When a motion picture studio needs 70 donkeys, an electric chair, a bouquet of orchids, a dash of salt or a two-ton elephant, who comes to the rescue ? The answer is, the studio "prop" man. When production plans were launched for "The Sign of the Cross," Cecil B. De Mille, the director, appointed Joe Youngerman to handle the thousand-and-one details necessary for the gathering of some 3,341 separate properties for this elaborate film. In recounting the trials and tribulations of his profession, Youngerman pointed out that practically every "extra" appearing with Fredric March, Elissa Landi, Claudette Colbert and Charles Laughton in "The Sign of the Cross" had to have something to carry, ride, push or use that required the prop man s attention. One of the many groups of props in "The Sign of the Cross" became a decided studio nuisance before the picture was completed. Pigeons needed for a street scene, were purchased three weeks before the scene was taken, and fed in the exterior setting daily until they became accustomed to the place. The scene was filmed with the birds performing like veterans. However, once thoroughly at home, it is difficult to make pigeons move, and today the birds still haunt the deserted set, apparently awaiting another opportunity to appear before the cameras. | BEN BLUE ) ( — Under Contract — ) HAL ROACH STUDIOS j Management LEO MORRISON j WITH HIS FAMOUS FUNMAKERS, SAYS G. M. HENRY GINSBERG With four more comedies under way and scheduled to be completed by the first of the year, the Hal Roach studios will have made 28 short subjects and one Laurel and Hardy feature comedy, fully 75 per cent of the season's product, according to Henry Ginsberg, general studio manager. The four comedies include Pitts-Todd in "Asleep in the Feet," being directed by Gus Meins, Laurel and Hardy in an untitled comedy to be directed by James Parrott, another Charley Chase, and a Taxi Boys short to be directed by Del Lord. The current season's production schedule also includes an additional Laurel and Hardy comedy feature which is now being written by Jeanie McPherson. The Hollywood Film Reporter of the Air, Dot Meyberg, who broadcasts the latest news of the film capital every day over KFAC and KFVD at 1 1 :45 a. m. is now drawing much interest to the Friday night interviews when Dot presents a prominent movie star. Already those who have been interviewed number John Boles, Reginald Denny, Pauline Frederick, Olga Baclanova, Monte Blue, Leo Carrillo, Joan Marsh, Lila Lee last week and Peggy Shannon for this Friday evening at 6:15 over KFAC. The public has been coming to the radio station to meet the stars and get autographs and now standing room only signs are put up for the crowds. CAROTHERS' DIXIELAND SOUTHERN DINNERS Jo Carothers I600-02 No. Western Ave. • HI-9693 The Man of Many Faces and Moods . . . David Phillip/ Attention Producers, Directors and Casting Directors. ..New Phone Number, GR-3373