Moving Picture World (Mar-May 1927)

May 2, 1927 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 835 Felix Adler Is “Home Again” On Sennett Lot Felix Adler has returned to work for Mack Sennett after an absence of a year and a half. Prior to 1925 Adler had been associated with Sennett for five years in the capacity of title writer and gag man. In the Fall of 1925, Adler joined the two-reel department of the Fox Studios, writing stories, gags, titles, and doing some directing. He has been engaged by Sennett to write and direct for the Pathe series of domestic comedies called “The Jimmy Smiths,” which feature Mary Ann Jackson, Raymond McKee and Ruth Hiatt. Cloud Drama Slated By “U” For A “Thrill” For the fifth of the Aviation Series which A1 Wilson is making at Universal City, Carl Laemmle himself has decided to have him make an airplane version of “Won in the Clouds.” This picture was made by Universal in 1913, with balloons instead of airplanes. Roy Knabenshue, the balloonist, was the star and Frank Lloyd played the heavy. Otis Turner directed it; and in its day it was a sensation and a big money maker. Bruce Mitchell will direct the modern version. Novarr o-Terry Together Again “Lovers?” Ramon Novarro’s new starring vehicle for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, coming into New York with few advance announcements concerning its worth, not only hung up a big record of business at the Capitol Theatre, but was generally lauded by critics as great entertainment and the best of the seven new pictures which opened in New York City for first runs during the week. Directed iby John M. Stahl, “Lovers?” which has a colorful Spanish background, reunites Novarro and Alice Terry, a combination strikingly successful in many of Rex Ingram’s pictures. At F. B. O. Studios The Spring production drive at the F. B. O. Hollywood studios is at its height, Edwin King, vicepresident in charge of production announces. Kirkland Directs David Kirkland is directing “The Gingham Girl,” the F. B. O. feature starring Lois Wilson. George K. Arthur plays opposite Miss Wilson. Educational Comedies Host of Pretty Lists Qirl Leads Estelle Bradley and Lucille Hutton With “Toy” Gallagher, Kathryn McGuire and Muriel Evans, Featured BEAUTIFUL GIRLS will be more prominent than ever before in comedies produced next season at Educational Studios. In addition to the comedy girls who are cast in the leading feminine roles of the big comedy series, Educational will boast of a beauty squad which for a combination of ability, charm and pretty faces will not be exceeded by any comedv-oroducing company. Mad Davidson plays art critic in Columbia’s “Pleasure Before Business.” Pathe Feature Stars Playing In Snow Film Wanda Hawley and Tom Santschi head the cast of “Eyes of the Totem,” a new Pathe feature staged against backgrounds of natural beauty in Alaska and on the slopes of Mt. Tacoma. “Eyes of the Totem” is a drama of the North and West. The demands of the story call for an exceptional cast and Director W. S. Van Dyke assembled an all-star aggregation to enact this H. C. Weaver production. Wanda Hawley and Tom Santschi have the leading roles while the juvenile leads are capably handled by Anne Cornwall and Gareth Hughes. Thomson Returns Fred Thomson, the F. B. O. Western star, has returned from location with his company. He is making “Arizona Nights,” with Lloyd Ingraham directing. Booking Gold Bonds “Mother” and “The Magic Garden,” F. B. O. Gold Bond productions, have been booked by the Garden Theatre, Milwaukee, each for a week’s engagement. Tyler at Work Tom Tyler has taken a company of eighty to Lone Pine, in the high Sierras of California, for exteriors for “Splitting the Breeze,” his forthcoming F. B. O. Western, directed by Robert DeLacy. Estelle Bradley, who will play leading lady roles opposite one or more of the starred comedians, won first prize in the southern division of the Atlantic City Beauty Pageant a few years ago for perfect face and form. Few leading ladies in the pictures equal Miss Bradley for all-round comeliness. Lucille Hutton, with her winsome attractiveness, is also to play principal feminine roles. She has brown hair and brown eyes and is an ideal type, being only 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighing a little over 100 pounds. Kathryn McGuire, described as one of the most exquiste blondes in pictures, probably will appear again as Lupino Lane’s leading lady after completing a part in a feature length production. Miss McGuire is a former Wampas baby star. “Toy” Gallagher, who played leading roles in Cameo Comedies and opposite Lloyd Hamilton this season, again will essay principal feminine leads next season. An Irish beauty of the most fascinating type, she has black hair and gray eyes. She is a little more than five feet tall and weighs slightly more than 100 pounds. Muriel Evans, who until recently was only being used in extra bits, has made such progress that she will be seen more often and in more important roles in the coming season. She is another charming blonde type. Amma Styers, a brunette, is also showing much promise and makes a suitable running mate for Miss Evans. In addition to these outstanding feminine players, many of the comedies call for the use of eight or ten other members of Educational’s beauty squad.