Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1925)

2794 Motion Picture N ic s Comedy stars of Universal releases, left to right, top row: Al Alt, Century Star, Wanda Wiley, Century Star, Edna Marion, Century Star and Arthur Trimble with Petey, Century Stars; bottom row. Charles Puffy. Universal Comedian, Eddie Gordon, Century Star, Charles King, Century Star and Arthur Lake, Universal Star. Laemmle Says ''Pliantom'' is ''U s Greatest UXIVERSAL'S gi'eatest contribution to the screen world during the comin<? year will be "The Phantom of the Opera,'' a super spectacle made with Lon Chaney in the chief role, and with Mary Philbin and Norman Kerry in featured parts. Directed by Rupert Julian at great expense and representing the ultimate in studio and technical progi-ess, it is regarded by Carl Laemmle, president of the Universal Pictures Corporation as the gi'eatest achievement of his carerer. "The superlatives have all been exbausted," said Mr. Laemmle, "and all of the high and mighty boasts that can be made as to the greatness of a picture have been pretty well used up. So I'll ju.st let you glance over these simple figures and facts about the production of the 'Phantom,' and you can draw your own conchisions. "Here they are : " 'The Pliantom of the Opera' is the biggest picture Universal has ever made, sur passing in every sen.se The Hunchback of Notre Dame. '"Fifty principals and five thousand people in the cast. Lon Chaney, Mar\ Philbin, Norman Ken-y. Gibson Gowland, Arthur Edmund Carew head the cast. "Start" of one hundred and fifty technical experts assisted the director. They include architects, mining engineers, camera men, artists, musicians, ballet trainers, animal trainers, illusionists, electrical, chemical, optical, mechanical engineers, etc. Three hundred stage hands and electricians coiitimially employed during prmluction. ••Eleven sculptors spent six weeks making frescoes, statues, etc., for Paris Opera House settings. ■'Seven bhjcks of Paris streets built in complete detail. ■'Construction of exact reproduction of famous Paris Opera HoiLse marks the ultimate in motion picture settinjjs. "No studio in the world large enough to hold this setting; a s]>ecial building had to be put up for it. The completed -.etting could easily contain the two largest stages in Hollywood. "Interior of the Opera House (<ver one luindred feet high, contains five tiers of balconies, and seats 3,000 people. For the great opera scenes the house is packe<i to capacity. •"Stage of opera house is one hundred feet wide and 7.5 feet high, exactly the dimensions of the original. ""Ihe gi-and staircase, one hundred feet high, with six levels, was built in exact size. In this setting are exact reproductions of the famous sculptors and decorations of the original. '"Opera scenes, grand masquerade ball scenes in foyer, taken entirely in color. "The great l)ox-office feature of 'The Phantom,' however, is the strength and suspense of its gripping story. It moves with a tempo and dramatic crescendo rarely seen e ther on stage or screen and is resjarded as a perfect example of an audience picture." Prominent players in Universal oroductions. left to right, top row : Joe Bonomo, Serial Star, William Desmond, Serial Star, Art Acord, Western Star, and Jack Hoxie, Western Star; bottom row: Edmund Cobb, Western Star, Margaret Quimby, Wes.ern Star. Pee Wee Holmes, Western Cowboy, Josie Sedgwick. Western Star and Ben Corbett, Western Star.