Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

October 19, 1929 Motion Picture News 35 Hollywood Talk In Hollywood By Walter R. Greene /^~\NE of the large producing companies ^— ' was filming a picture that called for a sequence in the city room of a daily newspaper. The scenes were few, and the director wanted to get the proper newspaper office atmosphere. He suggested that the studio head use the group of former newspaper men working for the company as scenario and dialogue writers for the particular scene. The boys were agreeable, and the scene was shot with the big priced ■east of former newspaper men working in the scenes as atmosphere. • • * 'I AMES CRUZE destroyed all precedent *-* when he appeared at the Los Angeles premiere of his first talker, "The Great Gabbo," wearing dress clothes and all oj the proper accessories. This is the first time that Hollywood remembers a Cruse appearance without his full fashioned cap, sport coat and unbuttoned neckband of his soft shirt. • • • ¥ T is interesting to note that many former *■ stage dialogue writers and directors who are now attached to the scenario staffs of various producers finally finish their story or dialogue assignments to find a fat part for themselves written into the script. One Hollywood wise-cracker, in pointing out this condition in several recent productions, rose to remark that the boys are protecting themselves both ways — if they should flop as writers, they have at least established themselves as actors for future contracts. • • • ' 1 1 0N STL removing seems to have hit the * M-G-M group of contract stars as a rather happy pastime. Lon Chaney lost his a few weeks ago, and now Ramon Novarro has admitted that his tonsils will join those of Chaney's within the next week. • » » NEARLY 70 radio stations in various parts of the country are tied in with Pathe whereby the broadcasters send out talks and sketches by Pathe stars and featured players each week. The Pathe studio is furnishing short skits, songs and monologues via specially made records each week to the stations, and obtain free publicity for players and productions in return for use of the records. • * • WITH Lillian Gish preparing to start work on "The Swan" for United Artists, it is interesting to note that this star has only made ten pictures during the past ten years. The only pictures Miss Gish has appeared in during the past decade are "Broken Blossoms," "Way Down East," "Orphans of the Storm," "The White Sister," "Romola," "La Boheme," "The Scarlet Letter," "Annie Laurie," "The Enemv" and "The Wind." Paramount Re-Signs Corrigan Lloyd Corrigan, writer, has signed a new contract with Paramount. He recently collaborated with George Marion, Jr., on "Sweetie." Abe Meyer Lines Up Song Writers For T-S Studio Abe Meyer, who recently came on from New York to supervise the musical program for Tiffany-Stahl to be released under its new franchise plan, has lined up considerable talent for this work. Abner Silver, author of "Mary Ann," "C'est Vous," "Say It Again," "Angel Child," "Am I a Passing Fancy," and many others, will compose new songs. He has written two airs for "Painted Faces," starring Joe E. Brown. One is "Bashful Baby," sung by Dorothy Gulliver. Another is "Someone You Like," sung by Lester Cole. Silver and George Waggner have written two songs for Mae Murray in Tiffany-Stahl 's all-talking version of "Peacock Alley." These are to be sung by Miss Murray. One is "In Dreams You Still Belong to Me," and the other, "Everybody's Gal." Thompson New Editor Of "Hollywood" Fan Monthly Paul Thompson is now managing editor of Hollywood Magazine, the only monthly fan magazine published in Hollywood. Up to the present time, the magazine has confined its circulation mainly to the Pacific Coast states, but is understood to be planning a national circulation campaign immediately. Thompson was formerly on the reviewing staff of Motion Picture News, and more recently had charge of the Fox studio photographic department. Vitaphone Varieties In Technicolor, Warner Plan Warners will star Ann Greenway in a series of Technicolor Vitaphone Varieties with a musical background. Warners also plan production of many Vitaphone Varieties in Technicolor during the next three months, as the company has the special color cameras available on a contract signed some time ago. Ames And Harrigan, New Comedy Team On Fox Lot Fox is teaming Robert Ames and William Harrigan in "Nix on the Dames" under direction of Donald Gallagher, former musical comedy star. It is reported that the Fox officials figure on co-featuring the two players in a series of feature talker comedies. Start Carroll Vehicle "Flesh of Eve," tentative title, in which Nancy Carroll will be starred by Paramount is now in production with the following players added to the cast : Gustav Von Seyffertitz, Francis McDonald and George Kotsonaros. Story was suggested by Joseph Conrad's "Victory." The Melody Makers CHARLES WAKEFIELD CADMAN, the composer, has signed a contract with Fox — not to compose musical numbers at this particular time — but to play the part of a concert pianist in "Harmony At Home," which Russell Birdwell will direct. Cadman will play his own famous composition, "Land of the Sky Blue Waters." "W HEN A WOMAN LOVES A MAN" the title of a new song which Fannie Brice sings in "It's a Pleasure," her first talker for United Artists. Billy Rose, song-writing husband of Miss Brice, wrote the number. • * • AL DDBIX and JOE BURKE, Warner songwriters, are now busy composing several original numbers for the Warner Vitaphone production, "Hold Everything." Most of the melodies will be sung by Winnie Lightner in the picture. • • • RAY PERKINS, head of the Warner and First National song-writing departments, has collaborated with Harold Berg on a special musical featurette for Vitaphone Varieties called "A Jazz Rehearsal." • * • EDDIE WARD, former musical conductor for Irene Bordoni, has been teamed with Alfred Bryan at First National and the pair will write the songs for the Vitaphone version of "The Lady in Ermine." • * * GUS EDWARDS finds time in addition to his directing musical films at M-G-M to write original melodies for current produc-^ tions. Edwards composed "Poor But Honest," which Marie Dressier sings in "The Road Show"; and "He's Good Enough for Me" for Blanche Sweet in a sequence in "The Night Hostess." • » • SERENADE," a melody that has become popular as a jazz classic, will shortly be brought to the screen by M-G-M in a short musical. Sammy Lee will direct the picture, which is from the song composed by Louis Alter. 'iTV/TANHATTAN H OWARD JACKSON has been assigned to arrange the musical score for "It's a Pleasure." Fannie Brice's first starring picture for United Artists. Jackson recently completed the synchronized scores for "The Great Gabbo," "Broadway" and "Hearts in Dixie." • • • THERE will be ten songs in the forthcoming M-G-M production, "Take It Big," featuring Van and Schenck. Jaci Yill™ and Milton Ager are the writers. The score includes a wide variety of tunes. • • • HAVING completed the musical scores for the two productions they contracted to do for M-G-M, Jack Yellen and Milton Ager have signed to write the words and music for the Paul Whiteman picture. They are already at this task on the Universal lot, working with John Murray Anderson.