Motion Picture News (Jan - Feb 1926)

February 27 , 19 26 989 Doug's "Black Pirate" to Open at Selwyn PRODUCTION work has been completed on the new Douglas Fairbanks picture, "The Black Pirate" and printing and assembling is now going forward rapidly under the direction of Albert Parker, who also directed the picture. A contract has also been signed for the showing of the picture at the Selwyn Theatre in New York City on March 8th. It is expected Fairbanks will arrive in New York within a couple of weeks to be present at the opening. ''Molasses" in Production at United Studios Production on •'Molasses," M. C. Levee's feature comedy, has been stai'ted at the United Studios in Hollywood under the direction of Al Santell. This adaptation of a Saturday Evening Post storj' is to be the first of a series of three comedy productions to be made by Levee this j-ear. The cast for "Molasses" includes George Sidney and Charlie Murray in the featured roles with Vera Gordon, Kate Price, Jack ,_^ Mulhall and Gaston Glass in support. Ar ^Sj thur Edeson will supervise the lighting and photography. Production of ''Sandy" is Progressing Rapidly With the exception of the court I'oom sequence the interior scenes of "Sandj'," the Elenore Meheiin story which has been published serially in the newspapers throughout the countr}', liave been finished and Harry Beaumont, the director, is now engaged with the exterior shots. Madge Bellamy is playing the name role and Bardson Bard, Harrison Ford and Leslie Fenton are in the cast. "Sandy" is scheduled for release by Fox on April 11. British National Pictures Signs Overbaugh British National Pictures, Ltd. has signed R. Ti'ield Overbaugh to a long tenn contract as photographic supei"\'isor of the new studios now being erected at Elstree, near London. Overbaugh was responsible for the photography on such pictures as "Nell Gwyn," "the White Sister" and "Dr. Jeckvll and Mr. Hvde." Anita Stewart Signs for Fox Feature Fox has signed Anita Stewart, who will be seen for the first time in a picture by that company when she assumes the leading feminine role in "Rustling for Cupid," a Peter B. Kyne story that has just gone into production. George O'Brien has the leading male role opposite the former Vitagraph star and Ir\ing Cummings is directing. Zasu to Pitts Joins "Early Wed" Cast Zasu Pitts hcos been added to the cast of "Early to Wed," a new Fox offering being directed by Frank Borzage. Matt Moore and Kathryn Perry have the leading roles. Scenes from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer release titled "Ibanez' Torrent.' "Mare Nostrum" Opens inN. Y. Brilliant First Night Audience Greets Newest Rex Ingram Production AT one of the most brilliant first nights of the year Rex Ingram's picturization of the famous Blasco Ibanez novel, "ALire Nostrum," witli Alice Ten-y and Antonio Moreno in the leading roles, had its ])remiere at tiie Criterion theatre, New York, Monday evening, February 15. A distinguished fii-st night audience was }iresent. Witli the ojjening of "Mare Nostrum" a new record is established for Broadway presentations. Metro-Goldwyn-Maver now has "The Merry Widow" at 'the Embassy, "The Motion Picture News Booking Guide "Your Booking Guide is the only real index to pictures that we know of and we could not get along without it. We have a complete file of your Motion Picture News for the past three years and should we fail to get a press sheet, or a salesman tries to tell us something that we might doubt — in an instant we look to see what Mr. Elliott has to say and the Guide is the only way to find it." PANAMA THEATRE, Panama City, Florida. Big Parade" at the Astor, "Ben Hur" at the George M. Cohan and "The Auction Block" at the Capitol. Metro-Goldwyn sponsors •'Mare Nostrum," making five pictures playing along the big street and all presented by the same organization. The first night audience at the Criterion last IVfonday contained any number of well known film and stage celebrities. John Gilbert attended and King Vidor was also on hand. Norma Shearer and Eleanor Boardman were other Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer stars who enjoyed the Rex Ingram production. Chester Conklin, Faimie Hurst, Grace (leorge, May Allison, Frances Howard and Peggy Kelly also attended and there were hundreds of others. Ethel Gray Terry has Role in "Hard Boiled" Ethel Gray Terry has been added to the cast of "Hard Boiled," Tom Mix's new production for Fox Films which is being directed by J. G. Blystone at the Fox west coast studios. Helene Chadwick, Phylis Haver, Emily Fitzroy and Charles Conklin are in the cast. Marceline Day Cast for Lead in "Toto" Marceline Day, newest of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer stock players, has been assigned to play the ingenue lead in "Toto" which was written and scenarized by Benjamin Glazer. This Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production, in which Lew Cody and Dorothy Phillips play the leads, will be directed b.v John M. Stahl under the supervision of Irving Thalberg.