Movie Age (1927)

PAGE 10 MOVIE AGE Metro-Goldwyn and DeMille are mak¬ ing pictures with a West Point theme and each has the name “West Point” in the title. M-G-M had registered the name with the Hays organization, and DeMille had progressed so far in the picture under the title of “The West Pointer” that a change was not desired. An agreement was reached by which De Mille will release the picture first. * * * Sex pictures advertised as hygiene ed¬ ucational films are being attacked by the M. P. T. 0. A. The organization claims that such pictures hurt the ex¬ hibitor in his locality and are injurious to the industry in general. English producing companies are re¬ ported to be going after American names in a drive for increased production. London film men believe that American stars in their pictures will mean greater success for the features. * * * An International News Reel shot of a motorcyclist speeding 80 miles an hour over a cliff with the idea of descending into a cavern safely with a parachute was used in the inquest of the man’s death which resulted from the failure of the parachute to function. The film proved that the verdict of accidental death was correct. The venture was made in San Diego. * * * V. Tourjansky has replaced Frank Lloyd as director of John Barrymore in “Tempest.” Tourjansky is known for his work as director of “Michael Strogoff”. The new Barrymore picture will go into production September 14 at the United Artists Studio, Hollywood. * * * At the present time Paramount busi¬ ness is running twenty-five per cent ahead of the corresponding period last year, according to the Wall Street Jour¬ nal which further states that the five major features which are first on the Paramount schedule for 1927-1928 will gross between $10,000 and $16,000. * * * A museum of the best pictures of each year is being planned by Harvard University. Ten pictures will be select¬ ed each year as being outstanding, and these will be filed away for future gen¬ erations. A committee of research on the subject will delve back as far as 1916 for the initial records. “Les Miserables,” the Universal spe¬ cial made in France, had its premiere Monday night of last week at the Cen¬ tral Theatre, New York City, and at the matinee performance the following af¬ ternoon. it was necessary to hang out the SRO sign. This picture was orig¬ inally made in twenty-two reels, but was cut to eleven reels. Its production was conducted by French artists and tech¬ nicians and the actors and actresses are French. * * * “The Garden of Allah,” Rex Ingram’s latest for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, will open at the Embassy, New York, for an extended run on September 2. The ex¬ teriors of the production were filmed in northern Africa. The interiors were made in Nice, France. With the excep¬ tion of Ingram’s wife, Alice Terry, the entire cast is made up of European players. * * * The tremendous amount of research work necessary for the filming of “The Pioneer Woman,” has made it neces¬ sary for James Cruze to defer pro¬ duction on this big special, and he announces that “On to Reno” will be his first personally directed feature under his new contract with DeMille. “The Pioneer Woman” will not be hind¬ ered through Cruze’s decision to direct “On to Reno” first. Continued research wall be in progress until such time as ac¬ tual production will begin. * * * Advance sales on tickets for “Wings” broke all records on Broadway, accord¬ ing to A. Griffith Grey, head of Para¬ mount’s roadshow department. Sales reached $8,600 before the premiere. * * * There is a rumor that John Murray Anderson, famous for his Publix stage shows, will direct pictures for Para¬ mount next year. * * * After a long period of association, Buck Jones, western star, is leaving Fox. * * * Educational claims a new booking re¬ cord. Bookings over the Loew New York circuit show 696 days of solid play¬ ing time between August 11 and Sept¬ ember 11. Lloyd Hamilton’s latest, “At East,” is booked to play 164 days, which is said to be a new high record for any two-reel comedy. Fifteen screen players have been signed by the Keith-Albee circuit for temporary vaudeville engagements for this season. Milton Sills, Priscilla Dean, Lois Moran, James Kirkwood, Lila Lee, Norman Kerry, Wallace Beery, Buster Collier, Eugene O’Brien, William Farnum, Alma Rubens, Johnny Downs and George Walsh will be seen in sketches on the “two-a-day.” “Our Gang” will be taken to Broadway in a special car for a brief engagement and Conway Tearle will appear in a monologue on pictures and Shakespearian recitations. * * * Net earnings of First National for the six months ending June 30, 1927 were about equal to the corresponding period in 1926 when they aggregated $675,667. According to The Wall Street News the second six months of the year have started auspiciously and it is ex¬ pected that this period will bring great¬ er returns to First National than the same period last year. * * * David Bershon has been named spe¬ cial sales representative for United Ar¬ tists Corporation by A1 Lichtman, vicepresident and general manager of dis¬ tribution in the United States and Can¬ ada. Mr. Bershon has been selling and buying motion pictures for sixteen years and has known Mr. Lichtman for that length of time. Western division manager for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was Mr. Bershon’s official title for the two and a half years previous to the posiiton with United Articles which he has just accepted. * * * Moving pictures are being made at the Misouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis, Mo. of plants growing, blossom¬ ing, and dying. Miscroscopes that mag¬ nify plant life from 100,000 to 150,000 times are being used in the work. Pro¬ cesses that take a week to record were exhibited in a few seconds to experts at¬ tending the Plant Science Seminary at the botanical gardens. The pictures be¬ ing made are said to surpass anything heretofore made. * * * The maximum rate of pay for Austri¬ an picture stars is between $70 and $80 per day. Ordinary members of the cast receive about $15 for each working day.