Motion Picture News (Jan - Mar 1927)

r cbrnar \ IS . 192 7 58! Production of Pathecomedies in Full Swing "Love's Languid Lure," a new Mack Sennett Pathecomedy starring Ben Turpin, has been completed under the direction of Lige Conley. It is now in the final editing and titling stage. Alf Goulding is busily engaged in the direction of "Smith's Cook," a new comedy of the trials and tribulations of "those Smiths." The principals, Raymond McKee, Ruth Hiatt and Mary Ann Jackson, are aided in the funmaking by Polly Moran, George Grey, Vernon Dent, Irving Bacon and Omai", the huge canine actor. Vernon Walter and Sam Moran are taking care of the photography. The comedy team of Madeline Hurlock and Eddie Quillan is hard at work on a new farce woven about the recent Catalina Channel swim. Among othei-s. Earl Rodney is directing Alma Bennett, Andy Clyde, and Barney Helium. William Williams and Lee Davis are grinding the cameras. Jeff Moffitt and Phil Whitman are preparing for a feature-length comedy, an adaptation of Johnny Burke's vaudeville soldier monologue, "Dirty Work." Harry Edwards is collaborating on the script with the two scenarists. Johnny Burke's vaiideville work won the praise of Mack Sennett and a long term movie contract. He will be starred in a screen version of his act. ■ New "Jane" Comedies in Work at Sterns' Studio The "What Happened to Jane" series of two-reel comedies which the Stern Brothers are producing for Universal release during the current season, has been resumed at the Hollyw-ood studio of the Sterns. The eighth has just gone into production with Scott Penibrock directing. Thelma Daniels is the featured player, replacing Wanda Wiley, the former "Jane." In the cast of the new comedy are Charles King, "Max Asher, Lillian Worth and Frank Whitson. American Cinema Acquires Rights to Eight Stories The American Cinema Association through A. J. Moeller. its president, has acquired rights to eight more stories for ACA, including "Be Yourself," an original by a new Avriter, Edna Neff, which is soon to make its appearance in a well-known magazine. The other stories are "The New Pathway," "Female Help Wanted," "Detour," "Shock Proof," "Wholesale Onlv," "The Golden Bubble" and "The Luminous Dial." "Old Tin Sides," Standard Comedy, in Production F.B.O.'s standard comedy due for release on March 7 will be known bv the title of "Old Tin Sides." Gil Pratt, director, is now in the midst of production on this one. In it are the fat men trio. Fatty Alexander, Fat Carr and Kewpie Ross. Pathe's Feb. 20 Line-Up Includes Roach and Sennett Two-Reel Comedies; Diversified Novelties and News Subjects HEADING the list of Pathe releases for February 20th are two two-reel comedies, one a Hal Roach and the other a Mack Sennett production; other short features are "Weatherproof," a Grantland Rice Spotlight, the fourth chapter of ' ' On Guard, ' ' the current Patheserial, "Topics of the Dav, No. 48," "The Mail Pilot," an "Aesop's Fable," "Pathe Review No. 48" and two issues of Pathe News. "Why Girls Say No" is the title of the Roach production which co-features Marjorie Daw and Creighton Hale with a supjiorting cast including Max Davidson, Anne Brody, and Spec O'Donnell. Leo McCarey directed under the supervision of F. Richard Jones. It is another serio-comic tale of the Irish and the Jews. "Peaches and Plumbers" is the Mack Sennett offering with Madeline Hurlock and Billy Bevans in the leading roles supported by Thelma Hill and Stanley Blystone with Eddie ('line directing under the supervision of J. A. Waldron. The story concerns the love affairs of a plumber and an heiress though the plumber is married. "Weatherproof" is a Grantland Rice rlVC :reiit Every Subject Exclusive. -I L. T T T JT SHORT SHOTS EVEcVoTUER WEEK.-^ "TME WOLDDS WONDEIi I2EEL' BECAUSE ITS AUDIENCE APPEAL 15 ALWAYS H00% CASril SHORT SUBJECTS ARE AN ASSET TO YOUIi PROGRAM A~L-W-/\ Y S 729 7? Ave NEW YORK BBTBIBCIOKS tVlRYI^llIRE 1 picture in which indoor games of winter are featured — volley-ball, basketball, gymnastics, squash and bowling. It takes in a group of sports in which hundreds of thousands are now participating. "On Guard," the current Patheserial, reaches its fourth chapter with the episode entitled "The Sinister Warning." CuUen Landis is the star of this serial with a cast including Muriel Kingston, Louise DuPre, Walter P. Lewis, Tom Blake, Edward Bmms, Hal Forde, Gus de Wilde and Tom Poland. Topics of the Day, No. 8, presents choice bits of wit and humor compiled from the international press. "The Mail Pilot" is the week's olfering of the Aesop's Film Fables Series of animated cartoon comedies. Pathe Review No. 8 presents: "Fighting Fashions": The Japanese love celebrations and this unit shows the Samurai warriors clad in quaint fighting togs doing their symbolical dances; "The Bulwarks of Havana": A Pathecolor unit shows the ancient fortifications protecting Cuba's capital; "The Somersault Slicker," an acrobatic novelty in which a juvenile gymnast shows the old boys some new tricks. This feature, presenting Robert Coleman, nine-year-old acrobat, was made with the new process-camera invented by Alvin V. Kneehtel. The program is completed by two issues of Pathe News, Nos. 18 and 19, j)resenting last minute happenings from the four corners of the earth. Gilstrom to Direct **Cash and Carry" for Christie Al Christie, comedy producer for Educational, has signed Arvid Gilstrom to direct the next Educational-Christie opus, "Cash and Carry," featuring Neal Burns, with Edna Marion portraying the chief feminine part. The team of Burns and Marion has been featured in several Christies this season, among them "The DaftV Dill" and "Dodging Trouble." Gilstrom will augment the Christie staff of directors, M-hich now includes Harold Beaudine, William Watson, Walter Graham and Robert Kerr. << Somebody's Fault," Hamilton's Next Educational Educational's new comedy offering featuring Lloyd Hamilton will "see the rotund comedian cast as a rookie electrician. The comedy has been named "Somebody's Fault" and it is destined for March release. Norman Taurog, who wrote the story for this laugh picture, is the author of the new comedy and again was at the megaphone as is usual with Hamilton comedies. Appearing opposite Hamilton is Estelle Bradley, who has been alternating l)etween feminine roles in Mermaids. Boblvortman and Al Thompson have supporting roles.