Moving Picture World (May-Jun 1925)

MOVING PICTURE WORLD 573 May 30, 1925 Plans for Warners f Forty At Sales Convention Revealed in Los Angeles WITH complete plans for forty pictures in the 1925-26 season tucked away in their pockets, Harry M. Warner, Abe Warner, Sam E. Morris, Meyer Lesser and Herman Starr, of Warner Bros., arrived home Monday, May 18, from the Warner convention in Los Angeles where a sales meeting of the Vitagraph Exchanges and Warner officials was held four days last week. The convention was the first get-together of the Warner executives and the Vitagraph sales managers since the recent purchase of the Vitagraph company. The business sessions were held in the Ambassador Hotel. Full plans for the coming season were discussed, and production plans outlined. On the return of the home executives, it was announced that the Warner Forty for next season would consist of : Two by Ernst Lubitsch; two with John Barrymore; two with “Syd” Chaplin ; four with Marie Prevost; four with Monte Blue; four with Irene Rich; two with Lowell Sherman; four with Matt Moore and Dorothy Devore; four with Kenneth Harlan and Patsy Ruth Miller; four with Rin-Tin-Tin and eight with All Star casts. The titles of the stories, principal players, directors and scenarists of all the fort^ — :*h the exception of the all-star cast pictures, which will be selected within a few days, follow : John Barrymore in “Captain Alvarez’ by H. F. Sheldon, directed by Millard Webb, scenario by Bess Meredith, who has just completed “Ben Hur.” A colorful and romantic story of the life of' Maximillian, Emperor of Mexico, during the reign of Napoleon III. Catherine Brody’s “Why Girls Go Back Home,” sensational sequel to “Why Girls Leave Home” with Marie Prevost. The cast includes: Willard Louis, John Roche, Gayne Whitman, Clyde Brook. Directed by Harry Beaumont. “His Majesty, Bunker Bean,” by Harry Leon Wilson, another great comedy story for Matt Moore and Dorothy Devore. The cast includes : Willard Louis, Louise Fazenda, John Patrick, and directed by Roy Del Ruth. An Ernst Lubitsch Production, “The Third Degree,” from the all-powerful story by Charles Klein. Directed by Ernst Lubitsch. “The Limited Mail,” greatest of all railroad thrillers by E. E. Vance, with Monte Blue. The cast includes : Willard Louis, Vera Reynolds, Torn Gallery, Eddie Gribbon, Jackie Huff, John Roche, Otis Harlan. Directed by George Hill. “The Pleasure Buyers,” a thrilling mystery novel by Arthur Somers Roche, with Irene Rich. The cast includes : Clive Brook, Gayne Whitman, Don Alvarado, Charles Conklin, Wanta Hall, June Marlowe, Frank Campeau, Frank Leigh. Directed by Chester Withey. The story sensation of the year, “Bobbed Hair,” by twenty celebrated authors, starring Marie Prevost. The cast includes : Louise Fazenda, Kenneth Harlan, John Roche, Walter Long, Emily Fitzroy, Pat Hartigan. Directed by Alan Crosland. Rin-Tin-Tin in “Below the Line,” by Charles Logue. The cast includes: John Harron, June Harlowe, Pat Hartigan, Charles Conklin and Victor Potel. Directed by Herman Raymaker. “The Love Toy,” author anonymous, with Lowell Sherman and a tremendous all-star 'supporting cast. Directed by Alan Crosland. “The Man on the Box,” by Harold McGrath, starring the screen’s greatest comedian, Syd Chaplin, hero of “Charlie’s Aunt.” The cast includes : Alice Calhoun, Charles Reisner, David Butler, Charles Gerard, Kathleen Calhoun, Charles Conklin. Directed by Fred Newmeyer. “The Golden Cocoon,” by Ruth Cross, with Helene Chadwick, Huntly Gordon, Richard Tucker, Margaret Seddon, Frank Campbell. Directed by Millard Webb. “The Climbers,” by Clyde Fitch, with Irene Rich, Huntly Gordon and a typical Warner cast. A second big Ernst Lubitsch Production of a famous international stage success. “Three Weeks in Paris,” by Gregory Rogers with the screen’s greatest comedy pair, Matt Moore and Dorothy Devore. The cast includes : Louise Fazenda, Willard Louis, Helen Lynch, John Patrick, Gayne Whitman, Frank Bond. Directed by Roy Del Ruth. Rin-Tin-Tin in “Clash of the Wolves,” by Charles Logue. The cast includes : Dolores Costello, Don Alvarado, June Marlowe. Directed by Herman Raymaker. John Barrymore, in his second big Warner picture, “The Social Highwayman,” by Elizabeth Phipps Train. Directed by Harry Beaumont, scenario by' Bess Meredith. “Red Hot Tires,” by Gregory Rogers, with Monte Blue, Patsy Ruth Miller, Lincoln Steadman, William Lowry, Charles Conklin, Fred E. Smelton. Directed by Earle Kenton. One of the biggest of the season’s stage dramas, “Hell Bent Fer Heaven,” by Thatcher Hughes, with Monte Blue. The cast includes: June Marlowe, Gayne Whitman, John Harron. Directed by William Beaudine. “The Passionate Quest,” E. Phillips Oppenheim’s greatest novel, with Marie Prevost, Huntly Gordon, John Roche. Directed by James Flood. “Satan in Sables,” by Bradley King with Lowell Sherman, John Harron, June Marlowe. Directed by James Flood. “The Fighting Edge,” by McLeod Raine, with Kenneth Harlan and Patsy Ruth Miller. “The College Widow,” by George Ade, outstanding stage success for a whole decade, starring Syd Chaplin. Directed by Charles Reisner, who has just finished co-directing Charlie Chaplin in “The Goldrush.” Rin-Tin-Tin in “A Flower of the North,” by James Oliver Curwood. The cast includes: John Harron, Gayne Whitman, Plelen Costello. Directed by Herman Raymaker. “Compromise,” by Jay Gelzer with Irene Rich. The cast includes : Huntly Gordon, John; Patribk, ijohn Harron-, Alice Calhoun, Directed by Chester Withey. “The Vengeance of Durand,” by Rex Beach, with Irene Rich and Clyde Brook and a sterling supporting cast. “Wild Youth,” by Sir Gilbert Parker, with (Continued on following page) “ Captain Alvarez” Picked by Warners for John Barrymore s First Picture JOHN BARRYMORE has a new ambition. He confided to Warner Bros, this week his yearning to make an outdoor thrill picture, and the Warners obliged by handing him the scenario of the colorful play, “Captain Alvarez.” “This’ll do!” exclaimed Mr. Barrymore when he had finished reading. “It’s the very thing I’ve been looking for. “You see,” he continued, “hardly anybody believes I can do a thrill picture. I like to do the unexpected. Every play different, every leading role different, that’s my idea of the way to keep the public interested. I have just finished the great classic, ‘Hamlet.’ What finer stunt for me now than to chase a whale like ‘Down to the Sea in Ships,’ or something else on that order? “I’m tired of the ‘Miss Nancy’ roles,” he went on, glancing at a portrait of himself in the finery of Beau Brummel. “I want to get out in the open and do a red-blooded part — something different. And I think that’s what the public wants. 'Just to prove that my theory is correct let me remind you that I’ve played only about seven really great roles, but each one was so individual and so different from the others that it seems as though I’ve done about seventy.” So, just to make Mr. Barrymore happy, Warner Bros, selected “Captain Alvarez,” which, as a play, was staged by Sanger & Jordan in 1914, with Paul Gilmore in the leading role. It concerns the hero of a South American revolution who is kept busy enough to satisfy even Mr. Barrymore, and is full of dash and action. “Captain Alvarez” was the work of Harry S. Sheldon, -author also of “The Havoc” and other stage successes. As a four-act play it made a hit and there is general agreement that it is admirably suited for screen translation. Everything will be in readiness for Mr. Barrymore to start work on the production when he reaches the West Coast, June 1. Though definite information is lacking at the moment, there is talk that Harry Beaumont, well-known Warner Bros.’ director, will wield the megaphone in the production of this first starring vehicle for Mr. Barrymore. In spite of reports, the selection of the leading woman is yet to be announced.