Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

1832 Motion Picture News Universal Lists Cast for New Pictures Star and Directors Named For Coming Big Gun Jewels; Players Designated for Other Product CASTS for a large iuiml)(T of I'liivcrsal pictures now in work or completed for the new season were announced tliis week. The Universal line-up of new season product, by titles, stars and directors was carried in a news article in tlie issue of April 8. Here are the casts on the current Big CJun Jewels: "Back to God's Country," directed by Irvin Willat with Renee Adoree ;ind Kobei't Frazer heading a cast comprising Walter Long, Mitchell Lewis, Mabelle Strickland, Ira Walker and Stanton Heck. "War Eagles," an Elmory Johnson production with Barbara Kent and Raymond Keane featured, the cast including Nigel Barrie, Jack Pennick, Donald Stuart, Cuyler Supplec, Frank Camphill, Marcella Daly, Eugene Pouyot, Wilson Benge, Brent Overstreet, Lieut. Egbert Cook and Trixie, the dog. "The Small Bachelor," directed by William A. Seiter, the cast including Andre Bernnger and Barbara Kent, featured, Otis Harlan, Vera Lewis, Ned Sparkes, Tom Dugan, George Davis, Carmelita Geraghty, Gertrude Astor, William Austin, Milton P.enge and Lucien Littleficld. "Silk Stockings," a Laura La Plante Jewel, with Otis Harlan, John Harron, and AVilliam Austin; Wesley Ruggles will direct. "The Midnight Rose," directed by James Young, Lya di Putti is featured and the supi>orting cast includes Kenneth Harlan, Henry Kolker, "Gunboat Smith," George Larkin, Lorimer Johnstone, Fred Kelsey and Wend;ill Phillips Franklin, child actor. "Wild Beauty," first X^niversal picture starring Rex, the horse with Henry McRea directing; June Marlowe, Hugh Allen, Howard Truesdale, William Bailey, Scott Seaton, J. Gordon Russell, Hays Robinson, and four animals. Lady, Marquis, Moe and Eva, comprise the cast. "The Eternal Silence," Ernst Lacmmlc directing Francis X. Bushman, June MarloM'p, Neil Hamilton and Otis Harlan, featured and a sui)p()rting cast including Burr Mcintosh, Theodore Lorch and James Farley. "The Irresistible Lover," William Beaudine directing a cast headed by Norman Kerry and Lis ^loran, including Gertrude Astor, ]\Iyrtle Stedman, Lee ]\Toraii, Phi!ii)s Smalley, Arthur Lake, George Pierce. "The Chinese Parrot," directed by Paul Leni, the cast, headed by Marian Nixon, including Hobart Bosworth, Eddie Rui-ns, K. Sojin, George Kuwa, Pjdgar Kennedy, Albert Conti, Florence Turner, Fred Fsmelton, James Wang, Anrui May Wong, Slim Summerville and Dan Mason. "Alias the Deacon," directed by Edwai-d Sloman; Jean Hersholt starred and Ralph (Jraves and June Marlowe in principal support; i)layers include Myrtle Stedman, Tom Kennedy, Ned Sparkes, Lincoln Plummer, Maurice Murphy, Joseph W. Girard and George West. "Cheating C'heaters," cast headed by Betty Compson and Kenneth Harlan. Others are Sylviii .Vshton, Erwin Connelly, Maude Turner Ciordon, E. J. Ratcliffc, Lucien Littleficld, Eddie Gribbon and Cesare Gravina; Edward Laenmde directing. "Surrender," starring Mary Philbin with Ivan Moskine co-starred and Nigel de Brulier, Otto Mattieson, Otto Fries, and Daniel -Makarenko as the other principals. "Hot Heels," cast headed by Patsy Ruth Miller, with Glenn Tryon, Charles Girard, George Fawcett, Francis Ford, George French, and Cuyler Supplee; AVilliam Craft directing. Al Wilson, air-devil, is now on his fourth of a series of five features. Having already completed ' ' Sky High Saunders, " " Three Miles Up," and "The Phantom Flyer," he is now working on "The Air Patrol," under the direction of Bruce Mitchell, with a cast including Elsa Benham, Monte Montague, Art Goebel and Frank Clark. Dynamite, the Belgian police dog star, is working on ' ' The Hound of Silver Creek," in which Edmund Col)b, Gloria Gray, Gladden James, "Red" Jones and Frank Rice play important roles. Completed pictures of this group of five are "The Four Footed Ranger," "Wolf's Trail" and "The Fangs of Destiny." Stuart Paton is directing the current one. Ted Wells is now making "Frontier Courage," under the direction of Willy Wyler, with a cast including the Universal Ranch Riders and Al Ferguson, Lillian Gillmore, Buck Connors and others. Fred Humes has a cast including Dorothy Gulliver, Robert MacKenzie, Francis Ford, George French and Cuyler Supplee in his current . production, "The Arizona Cyclone," directed by Edgar Lewis. Casts are now being assend)led for "Painted Ponies," to be Hoot Gibson's first Jewel Production for next year, in which Barl)ara Kent will play the leading femi Halperin Bros. Firm of Production Engineers EDWARD and Victor Halperin, producers, who have made more than twenty pictures during the past twenty years, have formed a company under the name of Halperin Brothers, Production Engineers. The Halperins declare that the purpose of their company is to handle the production of features from the time the story is bought, through its filming and into the final stages of exploitation. Before a story is produced, it is stated, it will be analyzed from the showmanship angles of screen adaptability, negative cost, suitability to a star, advertising value of circulation in book, magazine and newspaper form. Both of the Halperins are now in New York where they are using the Cosmopolitan studio for the production of "Dance Magic," a forthcoming First National picture which they are producing in conjunction with Robert Kane. nine role; "Buck Privates," to be directed by Mel Browm, and "Betty's a Lady," a Jewel in which Charles Ray has just been engaged to j)lay the leading role. James Gleason also is signed up for this cast. The picture will be directed by James Flood. Universal is picking stars and players for two Super Pictures, "The Man Who Laughs" and "The Big Gun." The stars of these two productions are likely to be Conrad Veidt and George Lewis respectively. Casting for "Showboat," the Edna Ferber story will not be undertaken for a month or so yet. Norman Kerry and Mary Philbin are suggested for the principal roles. More Incorporations in M. P. Industry at Albany Albany, May 2. — Companies incorporating in the motion picture business in New York state during the past week included the following, according to papers filed with the department of state : Waltzer Manufacturing and Operating Corporation, $70,000, Benjamin H. Patrick, Harry S. Hechheimer, William N. Hechheimer, New York City; Lyric-Rochester Corporation, Rochester, $.50,000, Nathan Kaplan, Kathrine and Henrv W. Thompson, Rochester; Collwyn Pictures, Inc., $20,000, Michael Breuer, David Queen, David Wince, New York city; Birton Productions, Inc., capitalization not specified, Simon Anhalt, Henry Schiffer, Samuel Hurdus, New York city; Robert Kane Pictures, Inc., $25,000, Charles Rush, Jennie A. Katz, Mary Tartaglia. New York City; Irving Aaronson and His Commanders, Inc., $5,000, Irving and Morris Aaronson, Frank J. Friedman, Brooklyn; Cocalis Corporation of N. Y., $7,500, Benjamin Rich, Murray Morris, Charles Ginsburg, New Y'ork city; Goodhue Stillman Attractions, Inc., $20,000, William Stillman, Harry M. Goodhue, Henry Goldman, New York city. N. Lavene, of Cleveland, Dead From Pneumonia Nestor Lavene, 39 years old, manager of the Columbia theatre, died last week of pneumonia at the Stoneleigh Court Apartments, Clcvelaiul, where he was living. Lavene suffered a breakdown a month ago which was attributed to overwork. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Florence Lavene, known on the stage as "Babe Abbott." Four brothers, all theatre managers and his parents, who live in Toronto. Ontario, also survive. Lavene began his theatrical career as nuinager of a road show. Later he was manager of the Empire theatre, Cleveland, and the Grand theatre, Akron. From Akron he returned to Cleveland and took over the management of the Columbia theatre. New Loew Theatre in Richmond to Seat 2,500 The Theatre l)uildiug to be constructed in Kiclunond, Va., on the Northeast corner of Sixth and Grace Streets, by Loew's Incori)oratcd, will cost about $800,000 and it will have a seating cai)acity of 2,500 persons. Plans have been drawn by .John Eherson, architect, and bids for the construction are due on May 12.