Motion Picture Classic (Jan-Jun 1929)

il^^%^«ti9! ^^^ X K ICHARD Dix has been in town deciding U which is to be an all-talkie. He is hesitating between filming "Bull Dog Drummond" and "Nothing But the Truth," with the odds on the Bull. THE Tavern Knight," from the novel by Rafael Sabatini, has been chosen for John Barrymore's first vehicle for Warners. It is a costume drama, and production will start the first of the year. RVYMOND Griffith has been signed on a long-term contract for musical comedies with sound and dialogue by Hal Roach. UNivERS.\L has started work on a scenario for a production based on Paul Whiteman's life. LILLIAN Gish is to do a picture ji on the Coast under the direction of Max Reinhardt, which will be his initial work on pictures. ALICE Terry has left the Conj\. tinent for a visit to Hollywood. She has just completed "Three Passions." AURA \^k Plante's next picture for Universal will be called "The Haunted Lady," from a story by Adela Rogers St. John. It is to be directed by Wesley Ruggles. CLARA Bow has been approached with an offer to play Dixie Dugan in Ziegfeld's musical version of "Show Girl." The cagey Miss Bow has not committed herself yet, however. LOWELL Sherman has been added to the J cast of "Mrs. Cheney." ZASU in "■ASU Pitts will have an important part "The Dummy." It will be her first dialogue role, although she has had much experience on the legitimate stage. A" ILAN Crosland will direct Irving Berlin's "Say It With Music," as a talking opus. Harry Richmond is to be the star, and Claudette Colbert of the stage will probably play leading lady. THF sic IE silent and talking versions of "The Trial of Mary Dugan" will be entirely separate and independent pictures, with only the same name and plot. The talking version will follow the stage play closely; the silent one will have the usual film qualities. Becky Gardner is preparing both continuities. Lila Lee has started work on J "The Black Pearl," a mystery film, at the Sennett studios. It has eight principals and no extras. Victor McLaglen's next picture for Fox has had the title changed from "The Baggage Smasher" to "Strong Boy." Leatrice Joy plays opposite. Robert Florey, the director, and Aileen . Dee, a non-professional, were married recently at The Little Church Around the Corner. Xv good work in "White Shadows of the South Seas," will have a leading role in the next Tim McCoy western. The company has just gone on location in the Mojave Desert. J Louise Wreathed in smiles: GwenLee provides an additional decoration to the traditional decorations for the holiday season. BETTY CoMPSON "\N-< has started work on i'eary River" opposite Richard Barthelmess. William Holden has been added to the cast. Conrad Nagel has Norma Shearer in Cheney." the the lead opposite "Last of Mrs. Tilltu HE title of Norma Shearer's next pichas been changed to "Lady of Chance. WRA La Plante will start production on "The Compromise" for Universal E after the first of the year. Mitchell Lewis is to play in "Leathernecks." HiLDs — Fifth Avenue" will be the le and locale of Vilma Banky's CHILI tit next picture for Samuel Goldwyn. CLAIRE Windsor has just received a final degree of divorce from Bert Lytell. INA Claire is reported to have made a contract with Pathe for some talking pictures. KEN M.\YNARD has Started work on "The California Mail" for First National. W.XLLACE Beery has just passed his final test flight for a government license as aviation transport pilot. VILMA Banky has taken out her first papers for United States citizenship. She wants Uncle Sam for a genuine relative, not as an in-law acquired through her marriage to Rod La Rocque. TOM Mix is considering a ten-months' vaudeville tour of Europe after he finishes his six-picture contract with F.B.O. ANET Gaynor and Charlie Parrel 1 are to do a picture of modern American life written for them by Tristam Tupper. Frank Borzage will start direction after the first of the year. RUTH Chatterton has joined the . cast of "The Dummy" to play opposite Frederick March, who is reported to be a talking "find." John Boles has the leading singing r61e in "The Desert Song,", which , is an adaptation of the musical comedy of the same name. Von Stroheim has started work on "Queen Kelley," Gloria Swanson's next picture. The scene of the story is laid in Germany in 1912. Thelma Todd has the leading r61e in "Seven Footprints to Satan." VICTOR Schertzinger is reported to be the director just chosen for Maurice Chevalier in "Innocents of Paris." M at illines. aurice Stiller, the well-known Swedish director, succumbed to pleurisy a hospital in Stockhom, after a month's THE Changling" has been retitled "Stranded in Paradise." to signed William Powell 'and Evelyn Brent on new contracts. CORiNNE Griffith's next picture is to be "Prisoners," by Franz Molnar, and will be directed by William Seiter. ROD La Rocque is to play opposite Billie , Dove in her new picture, "The Man and the Moment." ARViD E. GiLLSTROM is Selecting an all . colored cast for "The Melanchoh Dame," from an Octavus Roy Cohen story