Hollywood Filmograph (Jun-Aug 1929)

HOLLYWOOD FILMOGRAPH 13 PICTURES PREVIEWED Preview "Bow-Wow" Where shown, Alexandria Theatre, Glendale, Calif. Produced by Campbell-Hess. Supervised by Wm. S. Campbell. Directed by Chas. Diltz. Cameraman, Billy Bitzer. A National Recording Talkie. A new child star appeared on the horizon the other night at the Alexandria Theatre in the person of Billy Barty. Without a doubt, the youngest and most capable of tots we have seen since Davey Lee startled theatregoers by his performance in "The Singing Fool." One thing that helps little Billy along is the manner in which this fun film has been developed in the story by Glen Lambert, who worked on the story with the veteran in the producing line of comedies, Wm. S. Campbell, whose name is synonymous with kiddie and animal comedies, and one can see his handiwork as the gags loom on the screen and the artists speak their lines, thereby matching up their comic antics such as the youngsters, Billy Barty, Gale Henry, Pinto Colvig, Tiny Ward, Ali Ben Jack, William Irving, and don't forget that always interesting and clever dog, Buster, who has as his co-workers in this picture a large monkey with whom he does battle in a prize fight ring besides doing other very clever stunts. Then, they have a talking parrot which helps to roll out a perfectly amusing as well as interesting tworeel comedy, the first of its kind made as a talkie. Charlie Diltz directed "Bow Wow" and we want to say that it is a wow and Messrs. Campbell and Hess need not try to find any apology for its being the first that they have attempted along these lines. Billy Bitzer photographed the comedy and his comedy tempo that he carried through the aid of his trusty camera helped the picture in a great measure. Exhibitors need have no fear of playing this one. It is well worth your audiences' attention.— H. B. / i 1 Preview "As You Mike It" Previewed at the West Coast's Ritz Theatre. Larry Darmour Two-Reel AllTalkie Comedy— R. K. O. Production. Albert Herman, Director. Photography by Jas. Browne. Cast — Al. Cooke, Alberta Vaughn, Lewis Sergeant, George Gray and Fern Emmett. "As You Mike It" is a cataract of fun and high-voltage stunts that keep the auditors in a continual burst of laughter. It is replete with fast-fire gags and snappy wisecracks and unless we have lost the sense of our funny bone, is sure to bear down hard on the box office. The plot clusters often and rapidly around a | frame-up, motor boat race, in which ' a fake Lord Westerfield gets his \ hooks scorched badly. Al Cooke, as the Lord, has taken on Paradise Park, a sort of a teach resort, but i the place has run down at the heel. He invokes the services of three pals to pull off trick stuff over the radio, for the purpose of drumming up a big attendance. Westerfield has cooked the big motor race up, so that he is to win the 10,000 prize, but as he never did any skipper work, his "Leaping Lena" gets into all kinds of jumbles, finally capsizing. He is eventually pulled out of the water by a bunch of constables that have attached the box office receipts. This motor boat race is one of the funniest things we have seen on the screen in some time. Alberta Vaughan is a "wow"' in the part of Jessie. Cooke is at his best and the rest of the cast play well into his hands. Directing and photography excellent. Don't miss this two reeler — it's a scream. — Ed O'Malley. 111 P re vi cw "Why Women Love" Previewed at The Forum Theatre. International Production, two-reeler series. Directed by Desider Pek. Photography by H. Cronjager. Produced at Tech-Art Studios. Cast — Jack Donovan, Jean Porter and Tibor von Jany. "Why Women Love" is one of a series of two-reel pictures evolved by Desider Pek, a foreign newspaper man who has represented Hungarian papers in Hollywood. The films will be known as the "Why Women" series, the plots being built around up-to-date, conventional-life episodes, running the full gamut of passions, affections, greed and feminine sacrifices. The next effusion (Continued on Page 23.) Lasky Causes Shake-Up In Their Eastern Studios NEW YORK, July 19.— Jesse L. Lasky, vice-president in charge of production, has made the shake-up at the eastern studios of the company which has been in prospect for the last several weeks. With the smoke cleared away, John W. Butler is out as executive manager of the studio ; Monte Blue has been demoted to associate producer ; James R. Cowan has become the general manager of the studio, and John W. Fingerlin, becomes executive manager. Butler and Bell have carried on the whole responsibility of the studio since Paramount reopened it a little over a year ago. Bell was producer and Butler as executive studio manager, organized the personnel at the studio, and got it into running shape. Considerable mystery attended the appointment of these two, as they were regarded as the selections of Walter Wanger, instead of Mr. Lasky. Mr. Cowan, who now becomes general manager, has been production manager at the studio for nearly a year. Mr. Fingerlin has been the home office production manager for a similar period. Henry Duffy Urges Audience To See Pilgrimage Play There is nothing selfish about Henry Duffy. . Grateful for the success which his organization has enjoyed in Hollywood and Los Angeles, Mr. Duffy took the center of the stage at his opening Sunday night at the El Capitan and thanked the enthusiastic audience for their support of the Duffy Players during the past three years. He then gave a strong boost for other attractions, stressing the Pilgrimage Play. His little informal talk came at the end of the second act of the play, "The First Year," in which his wife, Dale Winter, and himself are being starred. Mr. Duffy said that it had been his experience during the two years of his players at the El Capitan that Hollywood audiences desire farces. During the past 24 months they have presented 14 plays. The feeling that the public desire a hearty laugh is the result of close observation during this period of time. That audiences want something to chuckle at, to bring forth laughs, and therefore lighten their burden, is quite evident. Mr. Duffy made a short but very pointed appeal asking that theatregoers "trade at home." He laid special stress upon an institution which should receive the whole-hearted support of amusement lovers in the Southland. He referred to the Pilgrimage Play, which again opens here on July 22. Mr. Duffy's attitude is most commendable and the theatre shook with applause when he concluded his talk. The Pilgrimage Play appeals to the whole world and is a movement in the right direction to bring people to the realization that they should appreciate the fine things in life. We can recommend "The First Year" to you. It is a most delightful play. Miss Winter and Mr. Duffy give wonderful performances. Miss Florence Roberts, the darling of the screen, is delightful in the play. Lloyd Neal also gives a great comedy performance, portraying a character who suffers from impaired hearing. Neal always wants to know what is going on but misses out on everything. It is to laugh. Other players who pleased with their performances were Ray L. Royce, George Leffingwell, Olive Cooper ,and two old favorites, Ann Little and Edward Lynch. "The First Year" is a comedy of married life written by Frank Craven. It was very capably staged by Edwin Curtis. The large first night audience was handled in a fine manner by Manager Matthew Allen. In announcing the changes at the studio Mr. Lasky stated that Mr. Bell has signed a new contract as associate producer under the terms of which he would personally direct two pictures and supervise three others during the coming year. Under the Bell-Butler regime ten feature productions and forty-eight short subjects were produced at the studio in less than a year. The list of features include "The Letter," "The Hole in the Wall," "Gentlemen of the Press," "Nothing But the Truth," "The Cocoanuts," "Jealousy," "The Lady Lies," "Glorifying the American Girl," "The Gay Lady," and "Applause." In the short subjects such stars as Eddie Cantor, Alice Boulden, Lillian Roth, Rudy Vallee, Ruth Etting and others have appeared. 111 TED LEWIS BIG HIT By special request of theatregoers, the Orpheum holds over Ted Lewis and his Musicala Klowns and dance stars, Eleanor Brooks and Arline Langan, for a third week, starting Saturday. Aligned with other important headline and feature RKO acts, "Ted" will present a new pot-pourri of melody, song, dance and fun. 111 BELIEVE IT OR NOT For five years Lew Mearen, publicity impressario of the Hillstreet Theatre, has endeavored to break a hundred in golf. Last week Lew hit his stride and shot a 96. The stock market must be going down. 111 BACK IN VAUDEVILLE Alexander Carr is returning to vaudeville after an absence of two years. He opens on RKO Eastern time doing a single. 111 COMEDIAN IN VAUDE Fred Ardath, the comedian of the ill-fated "Chippies," is back in vaudeville. He is doing his old act featuring "drunk" characterizations, and is supported by Grace Osborne and Earl Hall. 111 Wallace Mcdonald signed for "sweeties" starring nancy carroll Frank Tuttle is to direct Nancy Carroll in "Sweeties" at the Paramount. Wallace McDonald has been signed to appear opposite Miss Carroll. Rehearsal starts immediately. Jack Oakie, Stewart Irwin, William Austin and Stanley Smith so far round out the cast. 111 HITCHCOCK IMPROVED Raymond Hitchcock, who suffered a serious breakdown recently, has gone to Colorado to recuperate. The actor is reported well on his way to recovery.