Motion Picture Classic (1923, 1924, 1926)

Just to prove that Antonio Moreno is no slouch as a knifethrower he has coaxed Virginia Brown Faire to make herself useful as a target while he executes his deadly shots The latest vaudeville clowns to be recruited for the movies are Al Brendel and his feathery friend, "Bozo," the goose The Screen Observer A Director's Whims MAL ST. CLAIR has become so capricious that Famous Players can hardly keep up with his whims and heart changes. He is admittedly their most promising director, and yet as this is written he is not scheduled for any picture. For months Mai had expected to do "The Ace of Cads" with Adolphe Menjou, but when the moment arrived he was so immersed in other things that the picture was given to Luther Reed. Mai at once decided to direct Thomas Meighan in "The Canadian." He waited until the press-agents had blared forth the news, and then coyly changed his mind, necessitating a flood of denials. Now I hear that Gloria Swanson is contemplating making one more picture for Famous Players, and if she does this, Mai St. Clair will direct her. It is all very uncertain — but, of course, a man as brilliant as St. Clair is privileged to act like a prima donna for awhile, while his success is still new. A Real Uncle Tom The era of the negro in motion pictures has been inaugurated by Carl Laemmle. He has signed Charles Gilpin to play Uncle Tom in the new version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Gilpin is famous on the New York stage, especially as The Emperor Jones, and Universal has been angling for him for several months — ever since Harry Pollard started production on "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The picture has been greatly delayed by Pollard's illness, and in the meantime the effort to sign Gilpin has brought results, and he will leave for the Coast at once to begin work under Lois Weber. Miss Weber took time out from her work for a wedding and a brief honeymoon with Captain Harry Gantz, and is all ready now to complete "Uncle Tom's Cabin," as Harry Pollard's substitute. 60 To my knowledge, Charles Gilpin is the first of his race to be given an important role in pictures. But he will not be the last, for both Cecil De Mille and Monta Bell seem bent on making pictures of negro life, and Josef von Sternberg also yearns to direct a drama of the colored race. Mrs. Cheyney in Celluloid Jesse Lasky bought the screen rights to that clever comeJ dy, "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," and then couldn't make up his mind whether to use it as a starring vehicle for one of the gentlemen or one of the ladies of his company— as it was equally appropriate for either. So he solved, the difficulty by doing both. Florence Vidor and Adolphe Menjou are happily cast in the leading roles, but production will not start until the stage version has finished its runs in New York, Chicago, and points west. Meanwhile, both these stars have plenty to occupy them. Florence Vidor is starting work on "Captain Sazarac," and Adolphe Menjou tells me "The Ace of Cads" is about ready to go into production. He recently spent ten days, with his director and scenario writer, at Hot Springs, whence he returned with the script and a very becoming tan. Unless Mr. Menjou's famous enthusiasm has utterly carried him away, this is going to be a very good picture, and the memory of the departed Michael Arlen will be revived more honorably than it recently was by "The Dancer of Paris." Take That and That and That "\X7illiam Boyd has been slashed with a razor blade — ^ not in an attempt to commit suicide for love of Clara Bow, or anything like that. William eloped with Elinor Fajr several months ago, and they might have lived happily ever after that if it hadn't been for Joseph, the Philipino boy who did the chores around their house. He disappeared about a month ago, and then William dis