Moving Picture World (Mar-Apr 1926)

34 Moving Picture World March 6, 1926 Pathe Program for Week of March 7 PATHE announces a short feature program of unusual diversity for release on March 7th. Mack Sennett offers two two-reel comedies. “Circus Today” with an all-star cast and “Meet My Girl,” with Ralph Graves. Hal Roach presents “The Hug Bug,” with Glenn Tryon, a two-reeler. “Songs of Scotland” the second of the “Famous Melody Series” is ready for release, as is also a new Sportlight, entitled “Leaps and Bounds.” Other Pathe releases of the week are the fourth chapter of the Patheserial “Casey of the Coast Guard,” Topics of the Day, Pathe Review, Aesop’s Film Fables and two issues of Pathe News. “Circus Today” is a rollicking Mack Sennett two-reel comedy of the tented show with all the well known circus types. Billy Clyde is his brother Slim. Kewpie Morgan is the rotound circus owner, who wears a mustache to keep his teeth from getting sunburned. And beautiful Madeline Hurlock is the charming Madame Stella, the bare-back queen who keeps her costumes in the elephant’s trunk. Hal Roach Comedy “The Hug Bug” is an ideal starring vehicle for Glenn Tryon, produced by Hal Roach. Glenn shines in this romantic and comic story of a boy who wore his heart on his sleeve but whose girl thought it was an onion. Katherine Grant is seen as the girl in the case. Other favorite players in the cast are Jackie Hanes, Charlotte Mineau Charles Sellon, Sue O’Neil, Lincoln Steadman and Nancy McKee. Fred L. Guiol directed. “Meet My Girl,” featuring Ralph Graves, is a Mack Sennett two-reeler. Ralph is a young inventor head over heals in love with Thelma Lane, played by Thelma Parr. The young lady has several things on her mind in addition to her boyish bob so Ralph has some opposition. His heaviest rival is Felix Butterworth, played by stout Marvin Lobach. Lloyd Bacon directed. “Leaps and Bounds” is an especially interesting Grantland Rice Sportlight revealing the part played by the jumpers in the big field of sports. The reel shows the leaps of man and beast — the sprinter — broad-jumper and the steeplechaser on horseback and many other phases of lively sport. “Songs of Scotland” “Songs of Scotland,” marks the second release of the “Famous Melody Series,” of single reel pictures with special musical accompaniment. James FitzPatrick produced his picture in Scotland with Peggy Shaw appearing in the leading feminine role. Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld arranged the special orchestrations which embody national and folk music. The initial subject of the series, “Songs of Ireland” was released last month. “Under Suspicion,” is the title of the fourth chapter of the current Patheserial “Casey of the Coast Guard,” featuring Helen Ferguson and George O’Hara. This chapter reveals the further traps of the smugglers, the exploits of the fearless Casey and what befalls him and his sweetheart. Lewis Allen Browne and William Burt wrote the story and Will Nigh directed. Pathe Review No. 10 presents three subjects: “Superfine Glass,” How the Government makes lenses and prisms ; “The Island of Guadeloupe,” Pathecolor views of a French possession in the West Indies; “Plundering the Sea,” the camera record of the Arcturus Oceanographic Expedition. “Spanish Love,” is the release of Aesop’s Film Fables. Other releases of the week of March 7th include Topics of the Day and two issues of Pathe News. Stern Bros. Sign Ring Lardner For “You Know Me Al” Series Rights to Famous Stories by Noted American Humorist Obtained by the Producers of Buster Brown Comedies; Twelve or More Two-Reelers to Be Made for 1926-1927 THE STERN BROTHERS, makers of two-reel comedies for Universal release, have just signed up with the noted American humorist, Ring Lardner, for the screen rights to his popular “You Know Me, Al” stories. This is the biggest deal ever consummated by the Sterns and presages a comedy series of the highest type. The “You Know Me, Al” stories will be adapted as a series cf twelve or more two-reelers, for release during 1926-192 7. With the Buster Brown Comedies, they will probably form the peak of the Stern Brothers’ output for the new year. This acquisition on the part of the Stern Brothers, made at an exceptionally high price for comedy material, marks another great step in the new production policy of the two comedy producers, Julius and Abe Stern. It is the fifth high class series plan LOOK! “ Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?” BOOK! For Week of March 14th St. Patrick’s Day Special One cf Max Fleischer’s Great Ko-Ko Song Car-Tunes Hand Colored by Brock 729 7th Ave., N. Y. C. DISTRIBUTORS ned to make up the new season’s comedy product. The ones previously announced are the new Buster Brown Comedies, a projected series adapted from the famous newspaper cartoons, “The Newlyweds and Their Baby,” by George McManus; a Wanda Wiley series, “What Happened to Jane”; and “The Excuse Maker” series, being made with Charles King, from stories by William Anthony, well known screen comedy writer. This new production policy of the Stern Brothers, which contemplates comedy series of the highest type, resulted from the surprising success of the Buster Brown Comedies, the first venture of the Sterns into high class series pictures. The Buster Brown Comedies have carried the Stern banner onto the screen of almost every big first run theatre in the country. Five different Broadway theatres, for instance, have shown these popular two-reelers. Wheeler Dry den Signs With Fitzpatrick For “Melodies” Wheeler Drvden has signed with James A. Fitzpatrick to appear in the "Famous Melody” series of short subjects that follow the “Music Master” production. Both have won great box office popularity and are among the finest two-reelers available. Dryden, son of the well-known British actor, and a descendant of the famous poet, has been for many years a familiar figure on both stage and screen here and abroad. His last role on the speaking stage was with “White Cargo” and his most recent part in "Famous Melodies” is a rich character role in “Songs of France," the fifth picture of the series. His portrayal of this interesting part (that of a hunchback violinist! rivals in excellence his work as Verdi, the Italian composer, in one of the “Music Master" films.