Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

Ju 10. 19 2281 Maujiham Story Bought by Swanson AFTKK lonjj neRotiations the screen riRhts to Somerset MauRham's niaKazine story, "Sadie Thompson," have been acquired by Gloria Swanson as her next production for Ignited Artists release. The announcement came from Miss Swanson in Los Aneeles that "The Woman and the Puppet," the Pierre Louis story, which was to have been Miss Swanson's second independent production, is now postponed to follow the Maugham story. Through the courtesy of Winfield R. Sheehan, of Fox Films, the star has signed Raoul Walsh to direct "Sadie Thompson." The film will be made in the actual locales of the story, including San Francisco and the South Sea Islands. Production will be begun in June in California and the film will be released in November bv United Artists. New Dog Star in "The Harvester" A setter dog, discovered by F. B. 0. in Alamoda County, California, and which has been under training for several months by Professor Hermany, German animal trainer, who formerly appeared in vaudeville throughout the United States Avith a troupe of performing dogs, will enact the part of Belshazzar, the canine in the Gene Stratton-Porter story, which is about to be produced in the exact locale described in the book. Ilermany, who has studied the action mentioned in the story, has re-named the dog so that it now answers readily to the name of Belshazzar. Everything has been done to make the dog feci at home in his studio environment. Joan Crawford in "Spring Fever," Haines Vehicle On completing her role opposite John Gilbert in "Twelve Miles Out," Joan Crawford will be given the feminine lead in William Haines' initial M-G-M starring film, "Spring Fever." Another addition made last week to the cast of "Spring Fever," was George K. Arthur. Janet Gaynor Cast for "Two Girls Wanted" Janet Gaynor, Fox Films feature player, is making active preparations for her appearance in "2 Girls Wanted," an Alfred E. Green production which will be launched at the West Coast Studios in the immediate future. This play, by Gladys Unger, is now enjoying its ninth month in New York. Walter Lang Signed to Direct for Columbia Harry Cohn, vice president in charge of production for Columbia Pictures, this week signed Walter Lang to a contract to direct six of the company's 1927-28 productions. Lang's latest production before joining Columbia was "The Satin Woman" with Mrs. Wallace Reid. Sennett and Uoacii Tarces on Pathc Shorts Program ,M;i('k ScTiiictt's ''Cured in llic Ivxcitc ment" and Hal Roach's " Lr)vc 'Em and Weep" are (he two princi]>al conwily releases (HI Pathe's group of sh<»rts for the week of .June 12. Madeline lluriock and Billy Bevan are featured in the Seniu'tt film and were directed by Earl Rodney under the supervision of .T. A. Waldnm from a story by Carl TIarbaugh and JelTers<m iVfoffitt. In the Roach offering are Mae Busch, starred, Stan Laurel, .Timmy Finlayson, Oliver Hardy, Charlotte Mineau and Vivien Oakland. They were directed by Fred L. Guiol under the supervision of P. Richard Jones. Also on the schedule for June 12 are "Flving Feet," a Grantland Rice Sportlight; "Hard Cider," an .T^.sop's Film Fable, the concluding chapter of "Melting ^Millions," Topics of the Day, Number 24, Pnthe Review, Number 24, and Numbers m and 51 of the Pathe News. The Pathe Review issue offers "Bits of Nature," "Before the Footlights Flash" and "Enchantment." First National Buys "The Noose," Unpublished Play Richard A. Rowland, general and production manager for First, National, has just closed a contract for the screening rights to "The Noose," an unpublished stage play by Willard Mack and M. M. Van Loan, which had an all-season run on Broadway and which is now playing in Chicago. Whitman Bennett Begins Work on Executive History Whitman Bennett, active for many years in the film industry, but now retired, though not permanently, announces that he has finally begun working on The Executive History of the American Film Industry. The book will cover the business side of the indnstrv. Two Universal Exch. Heads Win Trip WJ. HEINEMAN of the Salt Lake City exchange and • Morris Joseph of the New Haven office are the winners in the Western and Eastern divisions, respectively, of the sales contest between various exchanges during the fifteen week period ending May 7. As the result of their fine showings they will be awarded a free trip to Europe with Carl Laemmle, sailing from New York about June 29. Competition proved so keen among contestants of the Southern division that a single winner did not emerge victorious from the spirited race. For fifteen weeks the Charlotte and Oklahoma branches ran point for point, ending in a dead heat. Because of this, E. F. Dardine and W. P. .Moran, respective managers of the Charlotte and Oklahoma offices, will split the cash value of the trip to Europe. Jl. SCHNITZEK, senior vice-president . of F. B. O., has returned to the home office in New York following the close of the tri-city F. B. 0. convention in Los Angeles. Mr. Schnitzer visited St. Louis, Louisville, Indianapolis and Chicago on his return trip. Lee Marcus, general sales manager, is expected in New York about the end of ^he week. MRS PAUL LI-:.NI, wife of tiic Cnivtrbal director, sailed for Europe several days ago on the S. S. Albert Ballin fur (icrmany where siie will spend cigiit weeks with her mother before returning to America. Lcni's work on a Universal film prevents bun from accompanying his wife to Europe. Italian Premier Approves Intern'lNewS-M-G-MPlan Li an audience granted by Premier Benito Mussolini to E. B. Hatrick, in charge of all of William Randolph Hearst's motion picture interests, Edward Getlin, European manager of International News reel, and C. F. Curione, representing the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer interests, the arrangement between the Luce Film Company, the official Italian Government organization, and the Hearst interests, was personally approved by the Premier, a report from John P. Burke, Universal Service staff correspondent at Rome, states. The agreement provides for the publication of photographs taken by the Luce and the exhibition of films produced by the Italian National Institute and for the exchange and diffusion of films educational in character as well as news events that occur in Italy. Pathe Presents Wales and Hutchinson Films June 12 Two feature attractions will be offered by Pathe on June 12 in "The ileddlin' Stranger," starring Wally Wales, and "The Trunk ^Mystery," a mystery story in which Charles Hutchinson and Alice Calhoun have the leading roles. In the Wales vehicle, made by Lester F. Scott, Jr., are Nola Luxford, feminine lead, Charles K. French, Bob Flejning, Mabel Van Buren, James Marcus and Doris Karlofif. "The Trunk Mystery" was produced by Productions, Incorporated, and it has Ford Sterling in a comedy role. Others in the cast are Otto Lederer, Lila Leslie and Ben Walker. Frank M. Crane directed and Frederic Chapin prepared the scenario from a story by Forest Sheldon. Vita's Abraham Lincoln Number at Roxy Theatre During the present week, Memorial week, fifty odd theatres around the country are using the Lincoln Caswell impersonation of Abraham Lincoln on the Vitaphone during which Caswell delivers the Gettysburg Address. The Roxy Theatre in New York is one of the houses offering the Caswell number.