Motion Picture Classic (1923, 1924, 1926)

Classics Late News Page COSMOPOLITAN will film a motion picture based upon Beatrice Fairfax's "Advice to the Lovelorn." Cecil B. De Mille liked H. B. Warner's acting in "Silence" so much that he signed him for three years. Mary Philbin engaged to play the feminine lead in "The Man Who Laughs," based upon Victor Hugo's story, "L'Homme Qui Rit." Gaston Glass arrived in New York to play opposite Dorothy Mackaill and Jack Mulhall in First National's "Subway Sadie." Lillian Gish's mother has so improved in health that the star will return from England to begin work on "Annie Laurie," which will be made in Hollywood. John Robertson will direct. It is possible that Owen Moore will be Lillian's leading man. May McAvoy has been signed to play the feminine lead in "The First Brigade," opposite Charles Ray. The film will be a Metro-Goldwyn special and will be built around the life of a fireman. H. B. Warner is also in the cast. Norma Shearer's next starring picture is "Upstage," a story of the footlights. Monta Bell will handle the megaphone. Marion Davies has decided to star in a screen version of "The Miracle." playing the role that Lady Diana Manners created on the stage. Due to her present production schedule, Miss Davies will not start work on "The Miracle" for quite a while. Premier Mussolini received Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pick ford in a half-hour audience at the Chigi Palace in Rome — and expressed his admiration for the stars and the movies. William Haines signed for the romantic lead in "Tell It to the Marines," the George Hill production which will star Lon Chaney in the role of a leatherneck sergeant. "The Show-Off," from the George Kelly play of the same name, has been started at the Paramount Eastern studio under the direction of Mai St. Clair. Ford Sterling will be featured and Gregory Kelly who has played leading roles in many stage LAST MINUTE REVIEW "Aloma of the South Seas" ASIDE from the personality and talent of Gilda Gray so capitally expressed in her film debut, this picture hardly comes up to the mark. As a play it didn't create any emphatic impression — and transferred to the screen it doesn't manage to be very sustaining because of the absence of dramatic movement and suspense. As a result, its appeal rests entirely with the characterization and the settings. The director, Maurice Tourneur, took the company to Porto Rico, and having a good photographic eye he succeeded in capturing some beautiful exteriors. The breakers rolling in on the shores, the expanse of foliage and the atmosphere of Nature in her most generous mood — all of these lend a pictorial quality which compensates somewhat for the shortcomings of the plot. The idea is simply a romance of a native South Sea maiden who grows to love a broken-hearted American — the latter exiling himself in order to find solace for his unhappiness. There is a native youth who has figured as Aloma's lover up to the arrival of the American. When other white trespassers interfere, the brown-skin boy suffers them to be captured by sharks — who prefer white meat in place of dark. And thus William Powell, who had caused the other American's tragic romance, is exterminated. The girl who had innocently responded to the villain visits the isle and becomes reconciled to the unhappy youth — while Aloma turns again to the brown man. The story is feeble, is always obvious and is minus any dramatic punch. And aside from Miss Gray, Warner Baxter as the native youth, and Harry Morey as a rough Yankee, the cast has not been well selected. Percy Marmont, usually restrained in his acting, is allowed to overemphasize his role. The picture is wholly Gilda Gray's and she makes the heroine a whimsical, wistful character. Her South Sea dance electrifies the audience and her romantic moments are touched with sympathy and understanding. Inasmuch as her acting registers a success, she needs a story with a bigger "kick" in it than this conventional yarn. L. R. successes has been added to the cast. There is a rumor that if his work registers O. K. in this film he will probably be given the role of Clyde Griffiths in Dreiser's "An American Tragedy," assuming that the novel will be produced. Lloyd Bacon, son of the late Frank Bacon of "Lightnin' " fame, has been signed as a director by Warner Brothers. His first production will be "Broken Hearts of Hollywood," which will feature Louise Dresser, whose Goose Woman has made her one of the most-sought-after character women in recent years. Eric Pomrner, European director, is on his way to Hollywood to take charge of Pola Negri pictures. Pommer is the producer of "The Last Laugh," "Siegfried," "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," and several other pictures which have never been shown in America. Louise Brooks selected to play title role in the Ziegfeld production, "Glorifying the American Girl." Edward Sutherland, who will direct, is busy assembling a cast which will include William Collier, Jr. Eddie Cantor, the comedian, will put "Kid Boots" on the screen. Lawrence Gray will have the juvenile role in the film while the leading feminine roles will be enacted by Clara Bow and Esther Ralston. Having recovered from her illness, Gloria Swanson has returned to work on "Fine Manners." Glenn Hunter to return to screen in "The Romance of a Million Dollars." Jacqueline Logan will play the heroine. Tom Terriss will direct. Harrison Ford is now a featured player for Metropolitan productions. His first role will be that of "T he Nervous Wreck," an adaptation of the successful play of last season. "For Alimony Only" is the title of a new Leatrice Joy film which William de Mille will direct as his first effort on joining brother Cecil in the independent field. Clive Brook will appear opposite the star. Evelyn Brent, who has been waiting for a suitable story, has been rewarded with "The Flame of the Argentine." 6