Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

June JO, 1 D 27 2275 Pathe-P.D.C. Announce Program Ten De Mille Specials, Four Roadshows and 26 Releases from P. D. C; Pathe Lists Features and Short Reels ANNOl'NCKMKXT wiis made this week by the iiicigod Producers' Uisti-il)iitiiif? ('orporiition and Patlie Exchange, Inc., of the attractions comprising the conqjlete screen programs for the season 1927-28. P. 1). ('. announces a feature schedule headed l)y ten De Mille Studio Specials, four roadshows, and 2G releases ami Pathe lists a line-up of 40 or more features in addition to a number of all varieties of short length productions, embracing news films, magazine reels, serials and novelties. The ten De Mille specials include the following : "The Fighting Eagle," starring Rod LaRocque — a story of France in the days of the Napoleonic wars, based on Sir A. Conan Doyle's "Brigadier Gerard." Directed by Donald Crisp. Adapted by Douglas Z. Doty, supervised by C. Gardner Sullivan. "The Blue Danube," starring Leatrice Joy, with Victor \'arconi — a drama written about the haunting Strauss melody. "The Westpointer, " starring William Boyd, story of West Point produced with the cooperation of the United States Military authorities. Directed bj' Donald Crisp, continuity by Douglas Z. Doty, supervised by C. Gardner Sullivan. "The Forbidden Woman," staiTing Jetta Goudal, with Joseph Schildkraut and Victor Varconi — a story of love and intrigue with a background of war in Morocco. "Chicago," an all-star special with Phyllis Haver, Victor Varconi, Robert Edeson, Julia Faye, Louis Natheaux and May Robson — a screen version of the stage play of the same name by Maurine Watkins. "Hold 'Em Yale!" starring Rod LaRocque — a college picture based on a story by Owen Davis. "Power," starring William Boyd, a story of the mastery of man over the forces of nature, with a beautiful love story and a conflict between love and dutv. Bv William C. De Mille. "The Wreck of the Hesperus," a grim melodrama of the sea; based on Longfellow's famous poem. Directed by Elmer Clifton. "Rip Van Winkle," with Rudolph Schildkraut, a screen version of Washington Irving 's century old classic. "Craig's Wife," with Victor Varconi, a domestic drama without the usual triangle, written by George Kelly. Following is the list of the twenty-six DeMille releases, with stars and featured players. Detailed announcement of the directors is not available at this time. "The New Yorker," starring Rod LaRoeque, a story of smart modern society. ''The Angel of Broadway," starring Leatrice Joy, a dramatic story of a clean living night club entertainer who dons the uniform of a Salvation Army girl for an act and who actually becomes the real thing. Story by Leonore Coffey. "The Rush Hour," starring Marie Prevost, a comedy based on the story, "The Azure Shore," New Faces Join Roster of Christie Plaxers JANK M.VNNKRS and Doris I.awson, two new feminine screen personalities, have just been sif^ned to appear in raramount-Christie Comedies. The two girls will appear with Bobby Vernon, Billy Dooley, Jimmie -Adams, and other Christie comedian.s. The first two Paramount-Christie comedies to be released this fall by Paramount will be "Short Socks," starring Bobby Vernon, and "Row. Sailor, Row!" starring Billy Dooley. These pictures are now in production at the Christie studio, the facilities of which have been enlarged to handle the production schedule for the new season. written by Frederick and Fanny llixtUm. Directed by E. Mason Hopper, continuity by Zelda Sears and Fred Stanley. Supervised by F. McGrew Willis. "The Skyscraper," starring William Boyd, a romance of the modern skyscraper. Story by Dudley Murphv, supervised by Walter Woods. "Beautiful But Dumb," starring Vera Reynolds, a comedy drama based on Richard Harding Davis' story, "The Bar Sinister," bv Clara Beranger. "He's My Man," with Phyllis Haver, written by Peter B. Kyne. "The Leopard's Lady," starring Jetta Goudal, a picture of circus life and of a girl who as a lion tamer is the central figure. Written by Clara Beranger. "Such Is Fame," with Rudolph Schildkraut, a screen romance, written by Richard Connell. "Stand And Deliver," starring Rod LaRocque, a war story with Greece as its locale. "Self Defense," starring Leatrice Joy, a story of a young married couple who live beyond their means and who get into difiTiculties. From Wallace Irwin's "All Front and No Back." "The Girl In The Pullman," starring Marie Prevost, a farce, made from Wilson Collison's farce, "The Girl in Upper C." "Walking Back," starring Vera Reynolds, a story of a flapper and her boy friend who are mixed up with a band of crooks. From George Kibbe Turner's story, "A Ride in the Country." "The Wise Wife," with Phyllis Haver, a comedy based on Arthur Somers Roche's Cosmopolitan serial. "Midnight Madness," starring Jetta Goudal, a love story involving a girl and two men in the jungles of Africa. "My Country," with Joseph and Rudolph Schildkraut. Story by Julieu Josephson. "What Holds ]Men," starring Leatrice Jov. Story by Margaretta Tuttle. "In Bad With Sinbad," with Franklin Pangborn, The stor) of an Englishman's adventures with hijackers, waterfront bullies, taxi bandits; story by P. G. Wodehouse. "Let 'Er Go, Gallagher," with Junior Coghlan, a screen version of Richard Harding Davis' story of newspaper life. "Free iVnd Easy," starring Marie Prevost, story based on "The Shock Absorber," by Frederick and Fannie Ilatton. "The Heart Of Katie O'Doone, " starring Vera Reynolds, >tory by Leroy Scott. "Woman Of The Night," starring Jetta (loiulal, a mystery drama by Max Marcin. "On To Reno," starring Marie Prevost, "•tory written by Joe Jackson. "The Main Event," starring Vera Reynolds, love draiiui of the prize ring. "My Friend From India," with Franklin Pangborn, a screen version of the; stage larce. "A Blonde For The Night," starring Marie Prevost, a comedy by Wilson CoUison. The sujiporting casts in each of the pictures alluded to in the foregoing, will be selected not only from Mr. DeMille 's stock company, but also from the best available talent wherever found. It is planned to release the foregoing pictures as follows: Five in September, four in October, four in November, and three in December, 1927, and four in January, four in March, four in April, three in May and two in June, 1928. The four DeMille road shows include Cecil B. DeMille 's "The King of Kings," "The Pioneer Woman," "The Army Mule" and another Cecil B. DeMille personally directed picture with a cast including Joseph Schildkraut. Jacqueline Logan, Robert Edeson, Julia Faye and Louis Natheaux, the title of which is not announced. The Pathe feature program offers a wide diversity of multiple-reel entertainment. Harold Lloyd will be presented in a reissue of his feature-comedy, "Grandma's Boy," in which h(! was supported by Mildred Davis. Charles Chaplin will be offered in a reissue of his "Sunnyside, " and, in addition to the subjects mentioned above, there will be a series of three Monty Banks feature comedies and five series of outdoor westerns totalling 40 pictures. Monty Banks' first release of the new season will be "A Perfect Gentleman," in which Ruth D^vyer appears opposite. Leo Maloney, is aided by his trained horse, Monte Cristo, and his dog, Bullet. "Border Blackbirds" will be one of his first releases for this season and "The Devil's Twin" will probably follow. Lester Scott, Jr., will offer his trio of Western stars in twenty-four out-door features. Buffalo Bill, Jr., will appear in "Pals In Peril," "The Interferin' Gent" and others, making up the eight of the series. Buddy Roosevelt has just finished "Code Of The Cow Country" and is now making "The Phantom Buster," which are typical of the eight in his series. Wally AVales has just completed "Skedaddle Gold" as the first of his eight pictures. George Walsh will appear in a series of melodramas being produced by Pathe. They will probably number six, the initial vehicle featuring Walsh, supported by Claire Adams and Gladys Hulettc. Eight other features embracing comedy and melodrama will be placed on the scliedule. {Continued on page 2276)