Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1927)

12 MOVING PICTURE WORLD November 5, 1927 Paramount “Wings” Enters Twelfth Week in Criterion Percy Marmont and Mae Busch in Gotham’s “Fruit of Divorce” DESPITE unprecedented competition in the shape of twenty-two legitimate shows rated as sell-out hits, “Wings,” on Saturday last, entered the twelfth week of its run at the Criterion still doing better than capacity business. No other $2.00 motion picture, including “The Big Parade,” “The Covered Wagon,” “Beau Geste,” and “The Ten Commandments” was ever confronted with such stern opposition in the early stages of their runs, according to A. Griffith Grey, head of the Paramount road show department. Mr. Grey pointed out that besides fifty-seven stage plays, including a record number of hits, “Wings” is surmounting successfully the opposition of seven other special films, and eight popular price motion picture houses, two of which, the Roxy and Paramount, were not in business at the time the above named road shows were presented. “The fact that ‘Wings’ is playing to standees at each showing is indicative that the public is responding to the tremendous ‘word of mouth’ publicity cam James Murray In “Rose Marie” Because of his exceptional performances in the featured male roles of King Vidor’s twelve reel special, “The Crowd,” and John M. Stahl’s “In Old Kentucky,” James Murray, six months ago an extra boy, has been cast opposite Joan Crawford in the principal role of “Rose Marie,” which Edmund Goulding is directing for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The assignment of Murray to this important role came last week when M-G-M studio executives witnessed a showing of “In Old Kentucky” and “The Crowd.” Beach Story Next “The Michigan Kid,” a Rex Beach story of the Alaskan wilds, will be Norman Kerry’s next starring vehicle at Universal City, directed by Irvin Willat. Peter Milne is adapting the Beach story. New Leading Lady In “Tempest” Dorothy Sebastian has replaced Vera Veronina as John Barrymore’s leading lady in “Tempest,” according to announcement made this week at United Artists’ New York office. M iss Sebastian has been loaned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. paign that has attended the war aviation film since its opening,” said Mr. Grey. “New York is now filled with pleased ‘Wings’ fans who are praising the film to their friends. <i“THE BLOOD SHIP” and -J “Alias the Lone Wolf,” Columbia’s first productions of the season, had their initial showing in San Francisco on the same date — October 15 — at the St. Francis and the Granada, respectively. “The Blood Ship,” originally scheduled for the 29th, was rushed in and substituted for one of the most ballyhooed million dollar specials of a big company which had proved a lemon at the box office of the St. Francis. Both these bookings were engineered by the West Coast Exchanges, Columbia’s branches on the Coast, who also announce two | additional bookings : “The Blood J Ship” at the Metropolitan, Los I Angeles, on October 20 ; and I “Alias the Lone Wolf” at Loew's I State, Los Angeles, on October 28. Closely following to the lines laid down previously in the season, Sam Sax is bringing to each Gotham Production the highest type of talent in all departments of production. Confirmation comes The theatres mentioned above are the best key houses in these cities, and these bookings are considered the most representative business that can be acquired in I the territory. No Definite Plans for Filming Klein Play The announcement from Holly I wood that Warner Bros, have planned to picturize Charles Klein’s old stage success, “The Lion and The Mouse” is premature. Nothing has been definitely decided upon regarding the play. At the New York office of Warners it is said that when a decision is made, the public will be duly appraised. today from the Coast verifying the reports that Percy Marmont and Mae Busch have been definitely placed as starred and featured principals for the next Gotham Production which is entitled “The Fruit of Divorce.” While Mr. Marmont was tentatively scheduled for this production early in the season and before his recent return from Europe, the definite announcement was withheld until the star had an opportunity to scan the completed script, it being a rigid Gotham policy never to place a player in a part unless the player is in accord with same. “In Leon De Costa’s story, ‘The Fruit of Divorce,’ Mr. Sax said, “and with Mr. Marmont and Miss Busch I am positive we will have one of the strongest combinations seen on the screen in many a day. Mr. Marmont has such a distinct personality that it is not always a simple matter to secure the right kind of a vehicle for his talents.” “The Fruit of Divorce” treats on this subject from an entirely new angle. It takes the angle that it is not always the husband who is the cause of the marital split and that even a court decree cannot wipe out sentiment and emotions or memories. While the subject is of a more serious nature than previous works by the author of “Kosher Kitty Kelly,” it still retains a generous amount of j humor. R. William Neill is now in conference with Air. Sax over the supporting cast and production work will begin immediately in order to have the picture for De-| cember release. Pickford Film Premiere In New York Today The world premiere of Mary Pickford’s latest United Artists picture, “My Best Girl,” will take place at the Rialto Theatre, New Y ork, today. “My Best Girl” was written especially for Miss Pickford by Kathleen Norris after Miss Pickford had suggested the theme of the five-and-ten-cent store romance. Charles Rogers, co-star of “Wings,” is Miss Pickford’s leading man. The supporting cast ■ includes Hobart Bosworth, Lucien Littlefield, Garmelita Geraghty, William Courtright, Avonne Taylor and Sunshine Hart. Charles Rosher the cameraman whose new camera lens was employed for the first time in Miss Pickford's picture, is responsible for the photography. Th is is the lovely Leatrice Joy in her role as the cabaret dancer in the DeMille-Pathe feature, “The Angel of Broadway,” which film shared high honors among “the Pathe group” holding forth on “The Big Street” during “Pathe Week on Broadway.” This feature played the Colony. Columbia Gets Important First Run Bookings on the West Coast