Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

M a V '9-\ \')\\ niiiwiliitiiiiiiiiHliiiiniliiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiniiiiiiiiiuiiNiiiiiiinniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiitiiiiiMiiiiiii^ of the Production Situation iiiiiuiiiiiiuiioiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiHiiiiiiiiiiniiiiaiiiiiiuiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHUiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^ iiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiinaiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiii i iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinuiiiuiiiiiiiuiiiiuuiiiiiiuiiiiniiniiiuMl I The F. B. O. schedule is not increased in volume over last year. But, last year, more than half the product came from outside sources. Now the entire slate of seventy pictures, — including the Witwer two reel features, is bein^ made within the F. B. O. lot. And King has borne the brunt of this heavy schedule. A most interesting schedule is presented. Pictures founded upon ideas — especially exploitable ideas — that is the general policy of production with F. B. O. It has proven successful in the past and this year is still more closely adhered to. The second test is that the stories and treatment shall be melodramatic— action, thrills, comedy situations, as opposed to the sophisticated type of picture. "The Wind Jammers of Gloucester", by John Pell, who wrote "Down to the Sea in Ships" will tie up with the well advertised local industries of Gloucester. "The Legionaire in Paris" will be filmed in connection with the trip to Paris in August of 30,000 members of the American Legion. "Crooks Can't Win" will glorify the American police; also"Chicago After Dark," a mystery melodrama of the night life of Chicago's cabaret world. The great success of Henry Irving Dodge's recent rejuvenation story in the Saturday Evening Post will be taken advantage of, from the exploitation angle, by a series of pictures based upon the theme of youth. The insurance companies, Y.M.C.A., etc., have distributed millions of pamphlets containing Dodge's story. Beatrice Burton's "Little Yellow House" will be released along with the publication of the book by Doran. and the conclusion of the serial in McCall's Magazine. This same scheme, by the way, of contemporaneous picture and magazine serial publication will be used by Mary Pickford in her next picture. Colliers will carry the story in advance of picture release under the title of "Cash and Carrv." Other 1'. H. (). specials are: "The (iinghani (iirl" with Lois Wilson, and also v\ itii (icorgc K. Arthur who has scored so well in "Rookies." The Red Cirange special, with a ncKable cast, including Jolnna Ralston, Trixie Friganza, Walter Hiers and others. Two Gene Stratton Porter pictures, "The Harvester" and "IVeckles." The recent release "The Magic Garden" ran two weeks here at the Figueroa. The Porter pictures have made money for the first runs. Leo Meehan's picture of the Kentucky Mountains "Down Our Way" with Virginia X^ailli, Frankie Darrow and Orville (Caldwell of "The Miracle"; "a gem of a picture" Edwin King calls this. "Clancy's Kosher Wedding" with George Sidney. Charlie Murray was also slated for this, but in lieu of himself suggested William Armstrong as "The only man I'm afraid of on the screen." A good deal is expected of "The Great Mail Robbery." It is modern mail robbery picture with the Marines and radio as safeguards. F. B. O. will go in strong for Westerns this year. Particular attention will be paid to the Tyler series; and I judge that the object is to groom Tom Tyler for the popularity of Fred Thomson who now goes under the Paramount banner. Robert Bradbury has been put at the head of the Western production units and has just returned from a trip to British Columbia with a report more important than his mission after locations and story material ; an interesting announcement from F. B. O. in this connection may come later on. MH. HOFFMAN, who was here on pro• duction matters tells me that Tiffany has perfected a national organization; distribution now covers the United States with twenty-eight exchanges. There are four in Canada and twelve more distributing offices will handle the product in Europe and Cuba. Seven of these offices are in Great Britain. The Tiffany announcement of twcntv fca I