Motion Picture News (Mar - Apr 1926)

March 27 , 19 26 1415 Production at High Pitch at Sennett Studios Ben Turpin has just completed his first two-reel comedy for Mack Sennett following his retirement, and the fun-film is being cut and titled. Supporting Turpin are Madeline Hurlock, Sunshine Hart, Dave Morris, Blanche Payson, Herbert Sherw 1 and Bud Jameson. Eddie Cline wielded the megaphone. No title has as yet been chosen. Director Gil Pratt has shot the last scenes on another of "The Smith Family" series, featuring Raymond McKee and Ruth Hiatt. This two-reeler has also gone to the cutting room. Title will be announced soon. Sup porting are Carmelita Geraghty, Mary Ann Jackson, Barney Helium and Irving Bacon. Another Sennett comedy now in the cutting room is one in which Billy Bevan is featured. The last scenes on this one wenshot last week by Director Del Lord. In the cast supporting Bevan are Thelma Hill, Vernon Dent and Leonora Summers. Alice Day is now in the midst of a country comedy, which is being directed by Lloyd Bacon and Earle Rodney. In the cast are Eddie Quillan, Danny O'Shea, Joseph Young and Thelma Parr. Another comedy in production on the Sennett lot is one featuring Ralph Graves, in which he is supported by Ruth Taylor, Patsy O'Byrne, Dale Fuller and Marvin Lobaeh. Chas. Lamont is directing. All Units Busy at Roach Studios in Hollywood Within the week production activities on new Pathe comedy releases will be at high pitch at the Hal Roach studios. Glenn Tryon is working now on a new comedy directed by Fred Guiol and Charlie Chase is at work on a mythical kingdom comedy directed by Leo McCarey, with Martha Sleeper, Fred Malatesta, Max Davidson and Babe Hardy in the cast. Ethel Clayton is being starred with the support of Tyler Brooks, Jimmie Finlayson and others, directed by Richard Wallace in collaboration with Stan Laurel, in a short comedy feature. The return to the studios this week of Warren Doane, general manager, Robert McGowan, director of "Our Gang," and Fred Jackman, director of the pictures starring Rex, king of wild horses, will initiate immediate preparations for the starting of an "Our Gang" comedy and, later, a new Rex feature. Joe Rock to Supervise New Bray Comedy Series J. R. Bray, President of Bray Productions, Inc. has arranged with Joe Rock, comedy producer, to supervise the two series of short-length comedies that Bray Productions are to produce on the Coast. New Buster Brown Comedy is Released "Buster's Hunting Party," a new Buster Brown Production, made by the Stern Brothers for Universal release, reached the screen this week. It is the seventh in the series of Buster Brown Comedies. Scenes from the current "Our Gang" comedy "Monkey Business" released by Pathe. Pathe Lists March 28 Releases First Lionel Barrymore Two-Reel FunFilm Highlight of Week's Schedule CLTT7IFE TAMERS," the first twoV/V/' Y('g\ comedy in which Lionel * ' Barrymore appears with Clyde • link in support is an outstanding release on the Pathe program for the week of March 28. Other releases for the week are "Wandering Willies," "Casey of the Coasl Guard"; "Do Your Duty", "Fly Time", Pathe Review No. 13, Topics of the Day and two issues of Pathe News. "Wife Tamers" was made by Hal Roach. Clyde Cook is the principal supporting comedian and the cast also includes Gertrude Astor, Vivian Oakland and Jimmy Finlayson. The plot reveals the misadventures of a misunderstood husband (played by Barrymure) who finds thatwifey means well after all. James W. Home directed. "Wandering Willies'' is a Mack Sennett brand two-reel comedy with an all-star cast. The story tells what happens to two merry knights of the road who have nothing to do hut spend their leisure amid the surroundings of a beautiful park. Billy Bevan and Andy Clvde head the cast which also include Ruth Hiatt and Kewpie Morgan. Del Lord directed. "Do Your Duty" is a Hal Roach single reeler starring Harry "Snub" Pollard with Marie Mosquini in support. R. C. Ceder directed. "Contraband Channels" is the seventh chapter of the Pathe serial "Casey of the Coast Guard." This chapter finds the hero and heroine, portrayed by George O'Hara and Helen Ferguson, the subjects of fu.ther plottings by the smuggling ring, of which two underworld crooks posing as a Count and Countess are the leaders. Much of the action take place on a schooner on which the heroine is held captive. AVill Nigh directed this Pathe serial. Pathe Review No. 13 brings a novel style show to the screen wherein Irene Castle, High Priestess of "What the Weil-Dressed Woman Will Wen" gives some advance information. Other features of the release are "The Life Stream" a microscopic study of the blood circulation produced bv Louis H. Tolhurst and "The Glory That Was Greece," views in Pathecolor. "Fly Time" is a novel Paul Terry creation of the Aesop's Film Fables series. Top cs of the Day and two issues of Pathe News complete the March 28th short Eea schedule of Pathe. Mabel Normand to Star in Roach Two-Reeler Mabel Normand has been signed by Hal Roach to star in one short comedy feature for his series of released through Pathe. Richard Wallace will handle the production under the supervision of Director-general F. Richard Jones. Storv and production details are being prepared and the supporting cast will be announced later.