Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1932)

HOLLYWOOD FILMOGRAPH II Chit -Chat and Chaffer by Hal Wiener Alvin Wyckoff's Photography Adds Beauty to Kendall-DeVally Short; "Canteen Girl" Is His Next v jL?.StnTwki.this C°lumn raQ a revieW °f "The Brahmin*s Daughter" as produced by the Kendall-DeVally studios. Unfortunately we did not make any mention of the splendid photography. As we remember the picture, three outstanding achievements marking the success of The Brahmin's Daughter" were: the direction by Howard Higgin, camera work by Alvin Wyckoff, and recording via the new R. C. A. Photophone High Fedility system. J We want to state here, that an exhibition of the finest type of cinematography is displayed in this two-reel musical. Supposedly laid in an oriental land, "The Brahmin's Daughter brings out, photographically speaking, some of the finest of tone qualities. Shadows, contrasts and angle shots, so necessary to the success of a musical production, especially where there is dancing to be seen, is excellently brought to the screen. As a novelty, "The Brahmin's Daughter" should reign supreme, and as entertainment it should please highly. Now in preparation and due to start this month at the Kendall-DeVally studios is an operalogue, "The Canteen Girl," a condensed version of the grand opera "Daughter of the Regiment." Music is by Donizetti. Alvin Wyckoff, by this excellent work on the previous picture, will also take his stand behind the camera on this one. We are happy to hear this, as he is a cinematographer who knows his trade. Howard Higgin is due to direct "The Canteen Girl," while L. E. Clark will be recording engineer with the new R. C. A. equipment. H. Goodell Boucher, production manager for the Kendall-DeVally organization, has much cause for rejoicing, for en all sides come favorable reports following the exhibition of these operalogues. They are truly beautiful productions. "ESKIMO" CAMERAMAN HAS NARROW ESCAPE An amateur radio fan in New Zealand rescued another, through the ether seven thousand miles away, m an amazing feat reported from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer polar expedition filming "Eskimo" near Teller, Alaska. Clyde DeVinna, chief cameraman, and a radio fan, has a portable low-wave outfit with which he "talks" to other members of the amateur radio league. This is set up in a small shack near the frozen-in schooner, Nanuk, in which the party lives. He was exchanging messages with a radio enthusiast in New Zealand when suddenly his message faltered and stopped. The New Zealander alarmed, wirelessed an Alaskan amateur, who notified the authorities in Teller. In twenty minutes an investigation was under way. DeVinna was found unconscious. The cake fire in the hut generated carbon monoxide gas. If it had not been for the radio message from New Zealand, half across the world, consequences might have been tragic. R. C. A. Perfects Newest Type of Recording; Tests Prove Huge Success One of the newest outstanding achievements recently developed in the progress of talking pictures is the new Hi-Fedility system of recording as perfected by the R. C. A. Victor Co., Inc. After listening to several reels of sound track recorded on the new Hi-Fedility scale, we marveled at the near perfect like recording of the human voice. Heretofore, all voices sounded alike on the screen. Tone quality was unheard of due to the low frequency range, 100 to 6,000. The new type of ;ound recording allows a wider range from 40 to 10,000. In this medium, the lesser vibrations of the bass notes of an orchestra can be heard as readily as the more vibrant higher notes. Also individuals' voices can be more readily distinguished. The new Hi-Fedility system is one of the R. C. A.'s latest perfections to be contributed toward the making of better pictures. It is an achievement resulting from several years of research in their laboratories. Walt Disney's latest cartoon, "Santa's Workshop," as yet not released, is synchronized by this new method as are also sound tracks of Paul Whiteman's orchestra and Warren's Pennsylvanians. The first picture to be released with the new Hi-Fedility recording will be the KendallDeVally operalogue, "The Brahmin's Daughter." At present the Operalogue company is preparing "Canteen Girl," also to feature the new R. C. A. recording. We learn that Columbia, Warners, Paramount and several of the other major studios are eager to rent the R. C. A.'s new equiped sound trucks. "SCARLET RIVER" GOES INTO PRODUCTION WITH DOROTHY WILSON LENDING HER TALENTS Dorothy Wilson, that much talked about leading lady, because of her "big break" in pictures, is a busy person these days on the RKO-Radio lot. Wednesday Director Otto Brower called all hands on deck and work commenced on Tom Keene's newest outdoor picture called "Scarlet River." In case you haven't already guessed, Dot Wilson has drawn the leading feminine role, and from what she tells us, via Bell's favorite instrument, plans are that the company is to work right on through to the wee sma' hours. It looks as though they are rushing production for an early release. And what a SWELL cast they have lined up in support of Miss Wilson and Mr. Keene: Betty Furness, Edward Kennedy, Creighton Chaney, Roscoe Ates, Billy Butts and Jack Raymond. Otto Brower, as I have said before, handles the megaphone. Jack Curtiz will take credit for the scenario, if it's good, and it should be coming from his pen. Belcher Studio of Dance Provides Wants and Needs of Studios Having long established himself as one of the foremost dancing masters in America, Ernest Belcher is looked upon by the moving picture and theatrical world as the last authority on the subject of lerpsichore. That is one reason why we sought him out for our enlighting interview. The other reason — because he has trained so many of the film celebrities, who were called upon to perform intricate dance routines in their picture work. Mr. Belcher's studios, located at 607 So. Western Avenue, has provided training quarters for such famous names as John Gilbert, Marion Davies, Lina Basquette, Bessie Love, Patsy Ruth Miller, Margaret Livingston, Colleen Moore, Ramon Novarro, Marion Nixon, Rod La Rocque, Lois Moran, Pola Negri and others too numerous to mention. Here, under his personal supervision, they have mastered the finer art of terpsichore in order to properly execute these routines on the screen. Whether it be Ballet, Tap, Acrobatic, Spanish or Ballroom dancing, Mr. Belcher provided the necessary teachings and when they have been properly transferred to the screen have always been correct in every detail. Aside from his training course, Ernest Belcher stages huge Ballet numbers for the Hollywood Bowl concerts. On all of these past occasions he has had over 100 girls in the ballets. If you remember, it was he who staged the gigantic Olympic Ballet, in which, aside from the 104 girls, 26 champion amateur men athletes participated. Should you go back as far as Carl Laemmle's production "The Phantom of the Opera," it was Mr. Belcher who staged the beautiful Ballet sequences. And these dances caused any amount of favorable criticism from drama and music critics alike. It is mainly through his close contact with the moving picture industry, that producers are able to bring to the screen the beautiful and rythmic ballet dances. Recently, pretty Nell O'Day, a former protege of the Belcher Studios, was awarded a long term contract with the Fox organization. A visit to the noted University of Dance, proved vastly interesting, for it is among the oldest and best known on the coast. SPLENDID SCREEN TALENT NOW LOAFING IN HOLLYWOOD; INDUSTRY SHOULD WAKE UP Talking pictures are more and more drawing artists from the legitimate stage. The reason, we suppose, is because they are perhaps, better qualified to deliver the goods, d*ie to their experience in delivering dialogue. It has been proven time and time again that former silent artists have turned to the legitimate stage in order to draw attention to themselves as expert dialoguists. Recently Helen Hayes, formerly of the Broadway stage, won the academy award for the best screen performance in 1932. Fredric March, also of the legit, won the mens award. Both artists are more and more in demand. Right here in Hollywood, there is more excellent screen talent than anywhere in the world. People who have proven in the past that they can perform. And yet, producers will continually look elsewhere for their casts. If need be they will import talent from other lands. The other day we ran across Margaret Seddon who gave us that marvelous performance as the mother in the stage production of "Blessed Event." We wonder why we haven't seen her in more screen plays. Her past performances have proven to us that she is a splendid actress. Such sterling bits of acting as she did in M-G-M's "Smilin' Thru" are gems to file away in your album of truly understanding characterizations. COSMOPOLITE CLUB MAKES ITS BOW AT JOE CAROTHER'S DIXIELAND With Otheman Stevens as the guest of honor at Joe Carother's Dixieland restaurant, 1600 North Western Avenue, Thursday evening, it was voted to call the club the Cosmopolite. Otheman Stevens admitted that the name was suggested by Bill Home, an old timer, who was also present. Curley Robinson, from Universal City, an old time friend of Mr. Stevens, was there as the guest of Ye Editor, Harry Burns. There were about 30 present. Bill Sharpless, one of the prime movers in the organization with Joe Carothers, was present and told of the great results of the Now and Then Broadcast over KNX, election night. In fact he had a great batch of fan letters to prove his claims. Walter Catlett told some very funny stories. Frederick V. Bowers sang his own songs. Alfred Latell played the banjo; others sang and entertained — all to great applause. How Is Your Health? FREE CONSULTATION Phone TU-6191 E. C. H AMLE Y, M. D. SUITE 404, GARFIELD BLDG., 403 WEST 8th STREET