Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

200 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 15, 1927 Paramount Appoints Two New Chief Scenario Editors E. Lloyd Sheldon Handles Road Show and Long Run Specials, with Daniels’ Unit; Lighton Has Remainder IX A REALIGNMENT MOVE which provides a most comprehensive recognition of the supreme importance of story values, B. P. Schulberg, Paramount associate producer, announces a reorganization and strengthening of the executive personnel of the West Coast scenario department of Famous Players-Lasky. Under the new alignment, two editors-in-chief have been established, each assigned to a definite type of duty. E. Lloyd Sheldon, who has heretofore been in sole charge of the editorial work, will in the future confine himself to roadshow productions and long run specials and the Bebe Daniels unit. Louis D. Lighton, for seven years teamed with his wife, Hope Loring, in the screen writing combination of Loring and Lighton, has been promoted to the other executive editorial post and will be in charge of all other feature productions, with the exception of the Bebe Daniels’ pictures, which Sheldon will retain because of his long and successful connection with that unit. Fanny Franks, present head of the reading department, will become business manager for both editors-in-chief. Want Good Stories “A motion picture producing organization can never be stronger than its story department,” Mr. Schulberg explained. “A good story may sometimes be told badly on the screen, but a poor story can never be made into a successful picture, no matter how excellent the facilities for production. “Paramount has given recognition of this fact within the past several months, during which it has organized the largest and most brilliant writing staff in the history of motion pictures. We have more than fifty scenarist and fiction writers from all parts of the world, including many of the best authors living today, under contract. “The step we have just taken in strengthening the executive personnel of the editorial department is in direct line with the assembling of that staff. It will mean better coordination and better story product. With a heavy production schedule ahead and an extraordinarily large writing staff, it is a humanly impossibility for one person to do justice to the editorial requirements that will insure every production contemplated will have a good story.” The promotion of Lighton indicates the permanent severance of the noted Loring and Lighton scenario team, which has made a brilliant record during the seven years of its existence. Miss Loring is now working on her first assignment alone, the screen adaptation of Pola Negri’s as yet unnamed picture, adapted from one of Ernest Vajda’s plays. May Robson in De Mille Opus Playing the Mother of the Bad Thief at the foot of the Cross, Slay Robson has won one of the most coveted parts in Cecil B. De Mille's production, “The King of Kings.” Miss Robson, for years the beloved stage star of “The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary,” and many other productions of equal fame, joined the Cecil De Mille film stock company six months ago. She has played in “Pals in Paradise” and “Rubber Tires,” but her part in the Biblical story written by Jeanie Macpherson is her greatest so far for the screen. She’s a Star Now May McAvoy soon to star in “Matinee Ladies” for Warner Bros. May McAvoy Signs Up As Warner Star May McAvoy, one of the biggest box office stars in the industry, has been signed to a long term contract by Warner Bros. Her first picture will be “Matinee Ladies,” which is already in course of production at the Hollywood studios of the company. Miss McAvoy came into prominence through her interpretation of Grizel in “Sentimental Tommy,” and appeared in two Warner Pros, pictures before joining the organization permanently. They were “Three Women” and “Lady Windermere’s Fan,” both directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Star Trio in Sterling Film, “Red Signals” Sterling Productions, Inc., has engaged for the three leads in its screen version of William Wallace Cook’s novel of railroad adventure, “Red Signals,” three of the most popular leading players of the day. Eva Novak, who appeared with Herbert Rawlinson in another Sterling release, “The Millionaire Policeman,” has the feminine lead. There are two men’s roles of almost equal importance. They will be acted by Wallace MacDonald, who had the lead in “The Checkered Flag,” one of Sterling’s last season’s pictures, and Earle Williams, who has been featured and starred in many important productions. John P. McGowan will direct “Red Signals,” which will be put into work as soon as the remaining roles have been cast. Anzacs Want Newest Beery Comedy Film “We’re in the Navy Now,” the Paramount comedy classic which has just completed an extended engagement at the Rialto Theatre in New York, promises to duplicate its enormous popularity throughout the world, if reports received by E. E. Shauer, general manager of the foreign department of Famous PlayersLasky Corporation, are any criterion. The Paramount Australasian organization, one of the first to complete its plans for a great sales and exploitation campaign, has reported through Managing Director John W. Hicks, Jr., that it has completed arrangements to release the picture day and date in thirteen prominent cities in Australia and New Zealand in March. Final “Shots” on “The Rough Riders” The picturization of “The Rough Riders” ended this week when the camera ground out the final shots. The picture has a distinguished cast to carry out the absorbing drama with Frank Hopper portraying "Tedd.” Charles Farrell and Charles Emmett Mack are the leading men opposite Mary Astor. The important character roles are held by Noah Beery, George Bancroft, Fred Kohler and Col. Fred Lindsay. The film was made under the direct supervision of B. P. Schulberg. Seen From the Observation Car Sam Spring, Mrs. Rowland, Richard Rowland, Ruth Barr and Ned Marin of First National, with Hollywood the prospective goal