The Motion Picture Director (1926)

19 26 THE MOTION PICTURE DIRECTOR 33 Metropolitan Studios The majority of interest at Metropolitan Studios is centered in “The Last Frontier,” a picturization of Courtney Ryley Cooper’s widely-read novel of the pioneer West. This is undoubtedly the most ambitious production to come from the Metropolitan plant. The direction is by George B. Seitz and the cast includes William Boyd, Marguerite De La Motte, Jack Hoxie, J. Farrell MacDonald, Gladys Brockwell, Mitchell Lewis, Junior Coghlan, Sally Rand and Frank Lackteen. Will M. Ritchey, who adapted the story to the screen, also supervised the production. Promptly upon her return to Hollywood from a belated honeymoon trip to New York, Mary Prevost faced the cameras for “For Wives Only,” under the direction of Victor Heerman. Anthony Coldewey adapted this story to the screen from the Hungarian stage success, “The Critical Year,” by Rudolph Lothar and Hans Bachwitz. The supporting cast includes Victor Varconi, Claude Gillingwater, Arthur Hoyt, Josephine Crowell, William Courtright, Charles Gerrard and Dorothy Cummings. F. McGrew Willis is supervising this production. Marguerite De La Motte and John Bowers are appearing together for the first time since they were signed by Metropolitan in “Pals in Paradise,” first of a series of Peter B. Kyne stories to be produced by this organization. George B. Seitz, who signed a longterm contract to direct for Metropolitan as the result of his splendid handling of “The Last Frontier,” will direct “Pals in Paradise.” Will M. Ritchey, who adapted the story, is also supervising this picture. Red Grange and Mary McAllister in “The Halfback.” (F. B. 0.). man is producing for First National. Associated Studios Someone criticized Douglas MacLean’s last picture, “That’s My Baby,” as being slow in getting started, so Douglas got mad and says that the first two reels of “Ladies First,” the tentative title of his new picture now being made at the Associated Studios, will be so speedy that it will be difficult to read the titles. The story opens in New York, dashes madly to Cherbourg, Gibraltar, Naples and winds up in the African veldt where the lions are plentiful and unusually hungry. More gags — all advance 1927 models — will be introduc After a brief rest following the completion of “West of Broadway,” Priscilla Dean has started work on “Jewels of Desire,” an original screen story by Agnes Parsons. Paul Powell makes his debut under a newly signed Metropolitan contract as the director of this feature, which Jack Cunningham is supervising. Arnold Gray, new Metropolitan “find” is again Miss Dean’s leading man. The Metropolitan Studio is also the scene of production for “Just Off Broadway,” Corinne Griffith’s new starring feature for First National, Harold Lloyd’s latest comedy for Paramount, and “Forever After,” which B. P. Fine Alberta Vaughn and Donald Keith in Miss Vaughn’s first starring vehicle for F. B. O., “The Collegiate.” Constance Howard, Douglas McLean and George Pearce in “Ladies First” directed by William Beaudine.