Movie Age (1927)

PAGE 10 MOVIE AGE N-EW S B-R-I-E-F-S A representative of a British produc¬ Monta Bell has decided that Jeanne Eagels is too difficult to handle. Miss Eagels has been working opposite John Gilbert in “Fires of Youth” but owing to her temperament, she has been let out. Laurence Stallings and Maxwell An¬ derson, authors of “What Price Glory” are preparing a sequel to the story, “The Cock-Eyed World”. Fox will make the picture with the same cast which ap¬ peared in the predecessor. The same characters will be cast in a story deal¬ ing with the soldiers’ return to civil life. Robert Kane has signed Allan Dwan to direct five pictures for First Na¬ tional. Ben Hecht will write the first story while Elinor Glyn will prepare the second. The comic strip “Harold Teen” will be the basis for the third produc¬ tion. Charlie Chaplin again has pitched the tents at the Hollywood studios and has begun work on “The Circus.” It is the comedian’s first production since “The Gold Rush.” It will be released in March, 1928. A1 Jolson, in a personal appearance, brought $57,286.40 to the Metropoli¬ tan Theatre, Los Angeles, last week. This amount tops the house record by $12,000. Harold Lloyd has signed Babe Ruth to appear in his new comedy now being produced in New York. The Stanley Co. of America has in¬ sured the life of its new president, John J. McGuirk, for $1,000,000. In event of Mr. McGuirk’s death, the amount will be paid to the company. The Stan¬ ley organization had insured the late Jules Mastbaum’s for the same amount, and was paid by the insurance com¬ panies following his death. Jack Holt has been placed under con¬ tract by Columbia for a picture opposite Dorothy Revere. Paramount has decided to place Wal¬ lace Beery and Raymond Hatton in a picture called “The Big Game Hunt.” The feature originally planned was “We’re in Society Now.” Joe Brandt, president of Columbia Pictures, is now in Europe with ambi¬ tious plans to extend his company’s dis¬ tribution in every key city in England and on the Continent. Mr. Brandt’s itinerary covers most of the important countries of Europe, with prolonged stops in the following cities: London, Hague, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Christiana. The United States shipped 1,420 pro¬ jectors to foreign countries during the first six months of the current year. The total valuation was $285,251. Dur¬ ing the same period for 1926 there were 947 projectors exported, a gain of 446 for 1927. Japan was the best buyer, purchasing 284 machines; Canada was second and Great Britain was third. The tour of Snookums, the star of the Universal comedy series, has re¬ sulted in a sudden demand for the com¬ edies, according to a report from Uni¬ versal. It is estimated that the Newly¬ weds will be placed in more than 3,000 theatres immediately. A1 Jolson’s vehicle, “The Jazz Sing¬ er”, Warner Brothers latest production, will have its world premiere at the War¬ ner Theatre, New York, on October 6 at a top admission price of $5. It will be the first time that Vitaphone will be used as a part of the story. During the picture A1 Jolson sings six times. The resignation of John J. McGuirk as president of First National will not affect the McGuirk sales drive. Ned Depinet, sales manager, has instructed managers to continue with the usual McGuirk Month plans. Owing to a crash in the desert, Leo, the M-G-M lion who was making an air¬ plane trip from Los Angeles to New York, had to be transported to the east by train. Leo, in a cage, was being taken to New York by Martin Jenson when the airplane fell after it had been in the air about five hours. “Leatherface,” the forthcoming Unit¬ ed Artists film starring Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky, has been re-titled “The Flower of Spain.” ing company is in Hollywood signing up a number of prominent adaptors, writ¬ ers, scenarists, and gag men for Eng¬ lish pictures. He is offering a year’s contract at a salary double the present amount received by the writers, with an option extending the contract. The Saturday Evening Post will pub¬ lish a serial article soon on the life of Adolph Zukor. One of the largest sets ever built for a motion picture was constructed for Fox’s “Sunrise” which Fred Murnau has directed. The set is a city square a mile and a half in length. It has street cars, large buildings, paved streets, and has all the appearances of a modern metrop¬ olis. “The Big Parade” ended its 96-weeks run at the Astor, New York, last week. It was followed by “The Student Prince”. The war picture has opened at the Capitol for a popular-price showing. Denmark has banned all pictures deal¬ ing with the World War. The authori¬ ties gave as a reason for the move the desire not to arouse enmity between na¬ tions. Europe is building 160 thoatres, com¬ prising an approximate seating capa¬ city of 200,000. Great Britain and Germany are leading the building field. Helene Costello has been borrowed by Metro-Goldwyn from Warner Brothers for the feminine lead in “In Old Ken¬ tucky.” George Nichols, veteran character ac¬ tor of the screen, died of heart trouble in Los Angeles last week. Nichols had played many prominent parts in charac¬ ter roles. He was 62 years old. “The Better ’Ole,” Warner Brothers’ comedy of the World War, starring Syd Chaplin, was booked by four steamships carrying the American Legion dele¬ gates to the convention in Paris. The boats playing the picture were the Pres¬ ident Roosevelt, President Harding, Leviathan, and Republic.