Motion Picture News (Jan - Feb 1926)

168 Motion Picture News M-G-M. Arrange NewProductionPlan Executives of Organization Arrange for Making of Forty Pictures During Early Months of 1926 PRODUCTION plans calling for a schedule of forty pictures for the iirst several months of 1926 have been mapped by officials of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The plans were arranged following conferences between Marcus Loew, Nicholas M. Schenck and Louis B. Mayer. They call for a widely varied list of productions and releases Among the New Year releases wil be the Lillian Gish production of "La Boheme" which is now nearing completion under the direction of King Vidor. John Gilbert plays the leading male role opposite Miss Gish in the screen version of the famous opera which was adapted to the screen by Harry Behn. Renee Adoree will be seen in one of the prominent roles. Marion Davies in Cosmopolitan's "Beverly of Graustark" will be on the M-G-M 1926 schedule together with "Ibanez Torrent," another Cosmopolitan production with Ricardo Cortez, Greta Garbo and Gertrude Olmsted. "Bardleys the Magnificent," starring John Gilbert, is another picture to go into early production. This screen version of Rafael Sabatini's story will be done entirely in Technicolor. Claire Windsor will lend her beauty and talent to the leading feminine role. "The Barrier," the Rex Beach story, will be another 1926 release. In it Norman Kerry, Henry B. Walthall and Lionel Barrymore will play the principal roles. It is to be directed by George Hill from a scenario by Harvey Gates. Marceline Day, chosen one of the Baby Stars of 1926, has been cast for the feminine lead. Hobart Henley will direct and offer "The Auction Block," another Rex Beach favorite, as one of his first contributions to the M-G-M 1926 schedule. Charles Ray and Urryi "Wedding March** First For Von Stroheim ^HE WEDDING MARCH," an original story, will be the first Eric Von Stroheim production for Paramount, according to announcement by Jesse L. Lasky. In addition to having written the story himself, Von Stroheim will play a prominent part in it. He expects to start production early in February. Von Stroheim recently signed a contract to produce pictures for Paramount in association with P. A. Powers. Eleanor Boardman head the cast. Lon Chancy in Tod Browning's "The Mocking Bird" will be one of the very first 1926 releases. It is an original story by Browning with continuity by Waldemar Young. Others in the cast include Renee Adoree, Owen Moore and Polly Moran. "The Exquisite Sinner," based on "Escajje" by Alden Brooks, is set for January release. Conrad Nagel, Renee Adoree, Mathew Betz, George K. Arthur, Frank Currier and Ford Sterling are the principal players. Benjamin Christianson's initial production for M-G-M, "The Light Eternal," is also set for January 1926 release. It stars Norma Shearer with a supporting cast that includes Carmel Myers, Claire McDowell, Charles Emmett Mack and John Miljan. "Money Talks," a Rupert Hughes story, will be directed by Archie Mayo with Conrad Nagel and Claire Windsor in the leading roles and is also set for January release. Frederic and Fanny Hatton are responsible for the scenario. Included in the screen material owned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and which plans are being made to produce at the Culver City studios during 1926 are : "Altars of Desire," by Maria Thompson Davies; "The Back Slapper," by Paul Dickey and Mann Page; "Bellamy the Magnificent," by Roy Horniman; "Brown of Harvard," the famous stage play by Rida Johnson Yoimg; "The Charity Ball," based on the David Belasco success; "The Cigarette Maker's Romance," bv F. Marion Crawford; "The College Widow," by George Ade; "Coney Island," by Austin Parker; "The Dead Command," by Vicente Blasco Ibanez; "The Four Stragglers," by Frank L. Packard, author of "The Miracle Man"; "Frisco Sal," by Arthur Alfred Cohn; "The Gambling Chaplain," by Gerald Beaumont; "The Garden of Eden," by Max Brand; "The Hairpin Duchess," by Alice Woods; "The Haven," by Dale Collins; "I Can Do It," by Max Marcin; "In His Arms," by Lynn Starling; "In Praise of James Carabine," by Donn Byrne; "Jason," by Justice Myles Forman. "Lovey Mary," by Alice Hegan Rice; "A Message to Garcia," based on Elbert Hubbard's story; "Monte Carlo," an original story by Carey Wilson; "The Mysterious Island," by Jules Verne; "The Mystery Lady," by Robert W. Chambers; "Nocturne" by Frank Swinnerton ; "The Ordeal," by Dale Collins ; "Paris," by Carey Wilson ; Lillian Gish in "The Scarlet Letter," by Nathaniel Hawthorne; "The Span of Life," by Sutton Vane; "Strange Bedfellows," by Barry Connors; "The Temptress," by Ibanez; "Tongo," by John Balderston; "The Virgin Flame," by Ernest Pascal; "Women and Wives," by Harvey Ferguson; and "You Too," bv Roser Burlingame. Dinner to Marcus Loew and Willinm Randolph Hearst by Louis B. Mayer and studio associates recently. At the speakers' table are:. Marcus Loew in centre; to his right, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Niblo, Hunt Strombet g, Sol Lesser, and at the end of table Mr. and Mrs. Conrad NageL At Mr. Loews left are Mr. and Mrs. Louis B. Mayer, Mr. Hearst, Joseph M. Schenck and Norma Talmadge.