Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

October 19, 1929 Motion Picture News HOLLYWO OD WALTER R. GREENE Weslern Representative Hollywood Office: Mezzanine Floor, Hotel Roosevelt Phone Granite 2145 Warners Slowing Down Production To correct unverified rumors that Warner Studios would cease all production activity until after the first of the year, Jack Warner states that no less than five feature productions are currently in work, with three more slated to go into production between now and Jan. 1. Warner admitted that there was the customary slackening of feature production by his organization at this time of the year, but pointed out that the Warners studio would produce an average of five Vitaphone Varieties of one and two reels every week for the next several months. Active feature production will be resumed by Warners in January, with schedules calling for heavy production to start at that time. Coldeway Switched Over To Vitaphone Varieties Anthony Coldeway, executive scenario editor with Warners for several years, has been assigned to the post of supervising scenario editor of Vitaphone Varieties, dramatic playlets of one and two reels. Coldeway will have charge of the dramatic sketches during the semi-idle period of Warner Vitaphone feature production, and it is understood that he will return to his position of production supervisor of feature units shortly after the first of the year. Howard And Rogers Teamed "By the Way, Bill" has been definitely set as the title of Will Rogers' next talker comedy for Fox. Ben Ames Williams wrote the original story, and William K. Howard has been assigned to direct. Plans for "A Connecticut Yankee" have been temporarily sidetracked. Dressier Wins Dramatic Role Having played comedy roles on both stage and screen for many years, Marie Dressier was classified as a comedienne and found it impossible to be considered for a dramatic part. But Clarence Brown has decided that Miss Dressier should play a serious role, selecting her for a prominent spot in "Anna Christie," which he will direct as his next for M-G-M with Greta Garbo starred. Plan Marine Sequel Fox has delayed production on the sequel to "Cock-Eyed World," which Raoul Walsh will direct; and Walsh has started on "Hot for Paris." with Victor McLaglen starred. Walsh is expected to produce the sequel to "Cock-Eyed World" early next year. Pathe Prepares Musical Revue Pathe is busily preparing for immediate production of the "International Television Revue," the company's first musical in the revue field. The picture will include various numbers from different countries throughout the world, presented on the screen as having been brought to the studio via television. William Sistrom, general manager in charge of Pathe production, plans to make special editions of various numbers in t lie native tongue of the nations which will have specialties in the revue. The production will be made prior to production of "Greenwich Village Follies," which will also be made at the Pathe studio. Second Moran And Mack Moran and Mack, radio and vaudeville comedians, will be starred by Paramount in "The Two Black Crows" as their second talker for that company. Lupino Lane Freelancing Lupino Lane has finished his series of two-reel comedies for Educational, and will free lance in the feature field the rest of the year. Daumery Now A Director Another assistant director was promoted by Jack Warner, when John Daumery was assigned to direct "Rough Waters," the next Rin Tin Tin talker. Daumery has been an assistant with Warners for the past three years. Tibbett To Do Another Upon completion of "The Rogue's Song" for M-G-M, Lawrence Tibbett left for the East to prepare for the opera season. Tibbett will make his first appearance of the new season on the opera stage in Puccini's opera, "The Girl of the Golden West," and will likely return to M-G-M for another production in the late Spring. Paramount Busy On '30-31 Films With all stories definitely set for the balance of the 1929-30 schedule with only three exceptions, Paramount West Coast Studios are in better shape from a story material standpoint than at any time in the history of the company. In addition to having all specials and starring productions of 1929-30 definitely selected for the scenario and dialogue assignments, it is known that nearly 50 per cent of the story material for the 1930-31 season has been definitely set by the studio executives. By laying out definite story assignments far in advance, Paramount is enabled to have more careful preparatory work done on the dialogue and scripts, which is acknowledged a most important factor in the production of talkers. Make Talker Series On Popular Superstitions A series of short talkers dealing with popular superstitions are being produced by Superstition Pictures under direction of Ray Nazarro. The first will be the ' ' Third Light," presenting a humorous story around the third cigarette that is lighted from the one match. The black cat, broken mirror, and ladder gags will each form the layout for individual films, and when the producers run out of ideas, they can easily obtain more from the thousands of former stage actors now working in talking pictures. Halperins Launch Talker Series For Tiffany-Stahl Victor Halperin will personally direct "Dangerous Business," the first of a series of feature talkers that the Halperins will produce for release through Tiffany-Stahl. The picture is scheduled to go into production next week. Pearson In Hollywood George Pearson, of Welsh-Pearson-Elder, Ltd., English producing organization, is in Hollywood to supervise the filming of "Journey's End," which Tiffany will produce late this month. Tiffany is producing the picture in association with WelshPearson-Elder and Gainsborough, both British producing firms.