Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

420 MOVING PICTURE WORLD HOLLYWOOD OFFICE February 5, 1927 First National Startles the Coast With “The Miracle” General Belief Was That Great Spectacle Would Be Produced by United Artists, But Rowland and Gest Reach An Agreement FIRST NATIONAL comes through with one of the biggest surprises of the year in Hollywood film circles with the announced purchase by Richard A. Rowland, general manager, of the screen rights to “The Miracle.” Rowland’s announcement of First National’s move proved a bombshell as it was generally believed that if the mammoth spectacle did find its way to the screen it would be under the United Artists trademark. On his arrival in Los Angeles a few weeks ago, to arrange for the stage presentation of “The Miracle,’’ Morris Gest, producer and manager, was quoted as expressing keen doubt as to his production being screened, temporarily at least, due to previous litigation over the rights. However, Moving Picture World on a check-up at the First National Studio at Burbank following the Rowland announcement, found little apprehension there as to the development of possible litigation. According to First National officials the matter was gone into thoroughly relative to possible legal difficulties before Rowland closed the deal with A1 H. Woods, New York theatrical producer, for the picture rights to “The Miracle” at a purchase price reported to be approximately $150,000. Gest was reticent when it came to making a public statement on being apprised of the deal between Woods and Rowland other than to declare that he had “certain rights and had not negotiated with anyone.” Rowland naturally must have had clear conception of the validity of Woods’ claim before turning over a small fortune for privilege of transferring the stupendous stage production to the celluloid, it was obvious here. Enthusiasm became rampant at the Burbank studio with the official announcement that the great miracle play would be produced under the First National banner. Already ambitious directors and screen stars are coming to the front seeking an opportunity to appear in the mammoth picturization of “The Miracle.” According to Rowland, it will be at least six months before the story goes into production. It will take this long to prepare it for the screen. No director has been decided upon and the selection of the nun and the Madonna will be made only after Harry Cohn, of Columbia, has made Dorothy Howell a director. She is the second on the lots of Hollywood. a careful consideration of available talent. Rowland declared that prior to the deal he had gone over the whole situation with a fine comb to satisfy himself that Woods’ claim was valid before entering into negotiations. “We believe our attorneys will be able to straighten out any legal entanglements that may come to the surface,” declared Rowland. Woods’ claim to the screen rights was based upon a purchase from Joseph Menchen of Vienna back in 1913, according to Rowland. The clear rights have been tied up in various court actions ever since, a number of others laying claim to partial screen rights. Details of the picture will be in the hands of John McCormick, general manager of First National’s West Coast studio. “I consider it a very great honor to be allowed the privilege of making the picture,” McCormick declared, “and consider it the greatest opportunity of my career. I look for “The Miracle” to take its rank as one of the greatest pictures of all time. Berlin Concern Sues Pola Negri for Cash Pola Negri has other production troubles, these days. She has just been named defendant for a suit for $1C, 005.00, tiled in the Superior Court by Margraf & Co. of Berlin, 'Germany. It ife alleged by the plaintiff that the suit is brought in an effort to collect sums from the screen actress on bank drafts drawn on the Harrinian National Bank of New York. The German Arm claims that the drafts were issued by Miss Negri in payment for jewelry purchased while the latter was in Berlin last year. The actress'’ tttomey branded the suit as “without merit” and charges the jewelry firm with misrepresentation on the amount of customs duty which she would have to pay on the jewelry in question when she entered this country. 3,000 Extras Are Now Ready For “The Trail of ’98” One of the largest scenes in "The Trail of ’98” will be filmed near Corona, Colorado. It was learned at the MetroGoldwjmMayer lot that Clarence Brown will have under his direction at that time about three thousand people. It was originally reported that this sequence would be shot in the Klondike but transportation facilities and other maters have resulted in the decision to use the Colorado location instead of the Klondike. It is expected, however, that a sequence not requiring such a large cast, will be shot later in the Yukon. Sheehan Silent? The presence of Winfield Sheehan, general-manager of the Fox Company, in Hollywood will result shortly in the announcement of many important plans relative to production. The Fox official, on his recent arrival here from New York, shut himself up in his private office to mull over the situation before making any official statements. Marion Takes Rest Marion Davies is now enjoying a rest of three weeks having just completed work on her latest production titled “Tillie The Toiler.” At the end of her little vacation she will return to the ' Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lot to bring to the screen “Qualitv Street.” ‘‘The Miracle’’ Will Cost $ Hollywood All Ready To Greet “Art That Arts” Now that it has been definitely decided to move the Vitaphone to Hollywood* we can look forward to an avalanche of artists from the musical world and the legitimate stage treking to the West Coast. Present plans call for the construction of a new studio here for the manufacture of these records. With production activities of Warner Brothers centralized on the coast it was deemed advisable to transport the mechanical apparatus for the making of the records from New York to Hollywood where the pictures are produced thus assuring a more complete syncronization of effort. Before leaving here for New York, Jack Warner declared that his trip had nothing to do with the moving of the Vitaphone here but essentially was for the purpose of purchasing new stories. He’s All Wet George Young, conqueror of the Catalina Channel swim, will temporarily at least, postpone his debut as a screen actor. FamousPlayers-Lasky had Young at the studio shortly after his channel triumph for a screen test. But judging from current reports of the tests along the boulevards we are led to believe that George’s emotional ability in front of a camera registered negative. The studio officials say they may use him “next May” if he is available. Viola Richards is a Hal Roach find who has a five year contract. 1 5 0, 0 0 0