Motion Picture News (Jan - Mar 1927)

t' c b r i( a r \ 11. 19 2 7 477 "Big Bill" Tilden To Have Role in New Vidor Film William T. Tilden, 'ind, tennis champion, Avill render a characterization in King Vidor 's new production, as yet untitled, which the director is now making with Eleanor Boardman and James Murray in the featured leads. "Big Bill" has announced that if this, his first serious attempt in film work, is successful, he will take up motion picture acting as a career. Tilden Avill not retire from active court competition at present. He plans to remain at the iletro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio for about three months when he will then go abroad to represent America in the hard court matches at St. Cloud, France. In May he will be one of the contestants in the Wimbleton tournament for the grass court championship before returning to Hollywood. Donald Reed Male Lead in ''Naughty But Nice" Donald Reed, 24-year-old leading man under contract with First National, Avill play the male role in support of Colleen Moore in her next picture, "Naughty But Nice." Following a series of screen tests. Reed was given the part. He was on the stage for more than a year, and has been in pictures two years and a half. He is six feet tall, of Spanish parentage, accounting for his dark brown hair and eyes. He is the only supporting j^layer assigned to date. Production is expected to get under way during the early part of February. Miss Moore's latest i)icture, '•Orchids and Ermine," is now being titled by Ralph Spence. H. Kaufman, General Salss Manager Canadian "U" Harry Kaufman, Tuiunlo, a veteran ol the film exchange business in Canada and former head of Premier Films, Limited, Toronto, has been appointed general sales manager of Canadian Universal Films, with jurisdiction over the six offices of Universal in the Dominion. C'lair Hague, Toronto, continues as general manager for Canada, a position which he has held for more than 10 years. Dr. Rudolph Lothar Member of First Nat'l Writing Staff Dr. Rudolph Lothar, talented Kuropean authcn" and dramatist, has been engaged by First National to write several origiiuil stories for production in the near future. Dr. Lothar, a resident of Vienna for thirty years, has visited nearly all of P^urope. His dramatic works include twenty-five stage plays, all of which, it nuiy be said, have been produced in practically all languages. Belle Bennett in "The Man Who Forgot God" BELLE BENNETT will play in Emil Jannings' support in his first American-made production, "The Man Who Forgot God," which Victor Fleming, director of "The Rough Riders," is to direct for Paramount. Warner Bros. Prepare to Screen "Black Ivory" THE Warner Bros, are preparing for the production of "Black Ivory," their next extended run production, which will follow "Noah's Ark" at the Warner studio. Monte Blue has been decided upon for the leading role of Jean Lafitte, a figure in American history, who is the center of Polan Banks' romantic story of New Orleans' old Creole days. The director and the leading lady have not yet been chosen as the Warners say that it will take some time to whip the preliminaries into shape as the picture is to be in every sense a superproduction. "Black Ivory" is now in its sixth edition from Harper Bros, press. A live advertising and publicity campaign will precede the release of the picture. United Artists Will NotRoadShow Its Productions Concurring with United Artists' policy of giving exhibitors United Artists pictures promptly and without any delay for roadshowing pui-jioses, the two new United Artists' films, "The Beloved Rogue" and "Resurrection," will be issued to showmen while they are fresh in the public mind. To use the words of Joseph ^L Schenck, ' ' our new volunxe distribution plan provides that exhibitors be given L^nited Artists pictures promi)tly. United Artists will concentrate on pre-release and first run houses for premieres." The sales directors of United Artists agreed with ^Ir. Schenck 's statement after discussing the advisability of road showing the company's product. "The Beloved Rogue" took six months to produce and represents an outlay of nearly oiu' million dollars. Its New York premiere will take i)lace at the .Mark Strand in ]\Iarch. "Resui'rection" also recjuired a half year to make and was nu^de on a huge scale. Chas. GriffithTechnical Chief "Two Arabian Knights" Unit Charles Griffith, technical director of "What Price Grlory," has been signed to act in the same capacity for "Two Arabian Knights," which entered into production this week umler the fiirection of Lewis Milestone at the United Artists' studio. The only thing holding up camera work is the selection of a leading lady, as the sets are in readiness and practically all of the staff' has l)een chosen. A dozen actresses of pronunence have been given screen tests in the search to find the one who Avill play opposite William Boyd. Louis Wolheim has an-ived in Hollywood from New York to create the role of a hard-boiled soldier. First National Acquires FootBall Story, "The Substitute" First Natioiuil, through John McCormick, general manager of production at the Burbank studio, announces the purchase of "The Substitute," a football story which goes into production in the near future. Meehan Renews Directorial Contract With F.B.O. J. Leo Meehan, who lias been directing for F.B.O. for the past few years, has renewed his contract which is about to expire. The new contract with F.B.O. calls for a period of three years, starting February 1st. Under his present contract Meehan has made five pictures for F.B.O. Four of them Avere stories by his late mother-in-law, Gene Sti-atton-Porter. The fifth story was "Mother," adapted from the Kathleen Norris tale of the same name. Mr. Meehan 's wife, formerly Miss Jeanette StrattonPorter, is well known as an adaptor of stories for screening purposes. Mr. ^leehau has to his credit the distinction of being the only director who owns and actively manages a newspajjer. Before becoming a motion picture director, Mr. Meehan founded the Pasadena "^lorning Sun," a California daily. "The Wreck," Columbia's First Release for Feb. On February 5 "The "Wreck," co-featuring Shirley Mason and Malcolm McGregor, will be released by Columbia Pictures. The story of this crook melodrama was written by Dorothy Howell. For the supporting cast Director William Craft has chosen Frances Raymond, Francis. MacDonald, James Bradbury. Jr., and Barbara Tennant. The production marks the second appearance of i\[iss ^lason on the Columbia schedule, her first portrayal having been the title role of "Sweet Rosie O'Gradv."' "Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath" Before "Gorilla" The producing firm of Asher, Small and Rogers is after suitable screen material for the production schedule outliued by E. M. Asher and Edward Snuill. The former is now in New York primarilv in the interests of First National's " :\IcFadden's Flats," but he is also on the lookout for screen stories and plays. Small is now on the West Coast where he is preparing the Avery llopwood farce, " Ladies' Night in a Turkish Hath" which is to be followed by the screen version of "The Gorilla." Lee Games, Ingram's Cameraman, Arrives in France Lee (iarnes, first cameraman for Rex Ingram's directorial vehicle. "The Garden of Allah," has arrived at the director's studio at Nice, France. Shooting began two weeks ago on the picture, and this month the company goes to Africa to shoot exteriors in the Sahara Desert. Heading the cast are Alice Ten-v and Ivan Petrovich. "The Love of Sunya" to Open The Roxy SL. ROTHAFEL (Roxy) announced last Tuesday night that * he had chosen "The Love of Sunya," Gloria Swanson's first independent production for United Artists, for the opening program of his new Roxy Theatre. Mr. Rothafel said that he would open the Roxy the first week in March.