Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1927)

MOVING PICTURE WORLD HOLLYWOOD OFFICE December 17, 1927 Production Activities In West Coast Studios DeMille Universal Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer First National De Mille LEATRICE JOY has completed “The Blue Danube,” which is | now in the cutting room. Jack Clymer is responsible for the adaptation of Leigh Jacobson’s original story of Irish flavor. \\T ILLIAM BOYD, popular De VV Mille star, has started production on his latest picture, “The Skyscraper.” All told, there are three companies "shooting" on the Culver City lot. As his leading lady, Boyd has Sue Carol, who played her first lead not so many months ago with Douglas MacLean in “Soft Cushions.” Since then she has been in constant demand for leading roles. Howard Higgin is directing from an adaptation by Tay Garnett and Elliott Clawson of Dudley Murphy’s original story. Alan Hale and Alberta Vaughn have the other two featured roles in support of the star. The story deals with two riveters, Boyd and Hale, between whom there exists an intense rivalry despite the fact that underneath the vest they both harbor a deep feeling for each other. \XT ILLIAM K. HOWARD is di* * recting Rudolph Schildkraut in “His Country.” Louise Dresser is co-featured with Schildkraut. Milton Holmes, Linda Lindi, Fritz Feld, Lucien Littlefield, Robert Edeson and Louis Natheaux are also in the cast. It is an original story by Julien Josephson and has to do with two immigrants that develop a deeprooted love for their adopted country. Josephson collaborated with Sonya Levien on the scenario. Universal A N AIR of activity is in evidence TV at the Universal studio, where seven companies are busy in production. Laura La Plante is moving along rapidly on her latest starring comedy, “Home, James,” with Charles O ENRY McRAE is directing Rex, the wild horse, in “Plunging Hoofs.” Jack Perrin and Ethlyne Clair play the two leads. “'T'HE MAN WHO LAUGHS,” starring Conrad Veidt, and “Honeymoon Flats,” with George Lewis and Dorothy Gulliver, comprise the companies now in produc CEC1L B. DEMILLE, producer-director, seated opposite his crack scenarist, Lenore J. Coffee, and surrounded by the entire cast that appeared in the screen version of Maurine Natlan’s stage success, “Chicago.” Miss Coffee, who wrote the silversheet conception of this opus, did such an excellent job of it that Mr. De Mille rewarded her* with a vacation trip to Honolulu. Marie prevost is finishing “A Blonde For a Night,” directed by E. Mason Hopper. This was covered in a recent issue of Moving Picture World. Harrison Ford, Franklin Pangborn, T. Roy Barnes. BEAUTIFUL HELEN FERGUSON, film star, has returned to Hollywood to decide whether pictures or the stage is most desirable. Miss Ferguson has been playing with the Duffy Stark Co., on the Pacific Coast. Delaney playing the male lead. Arthur Hoyt, Aileen Manning and Joan Standing have the other important roles. William Beaudine is directing. Morton Blumenstock adapted the screen play from the' stage success by Gladys Jackson. A RTHUR SOMERS ROCHE’S magazine serial, “Fallen Angels,” is being transferred to the screen with Edward Laemmle directing. The adaptation was by Charles Logue. It is a semi-underworld story with Norman Kerry and Pauline Starke co-starred. Ward Crane, Kenneth Harlan and Marion Nixon round out a strong cast of players. DETER B. ICYNE’S story of * newspaper life, “Freedom of the Press,” finds Lewis Stone in the starring role and George Melford directing. J. Grubb Alexander did the screen version. Marceline Day, Malcolm MacGregor and Hayden Stevenson are others in the cast. npOM MOORE and Bessie Love A have the featured roles in “Anybody Here Seen Kelly.” Tom O’Brien, Kate Price and Bruce Gordon are supporting players and William Wyler the director. tion. Paul Leni is directing the former and Millard Webb the latter. M-G-M Metro-goldwyn-may ER’S two box-office comedy stars, Karl Dane and George K. Arthur, have started on their latest costarring picture, “Circus Rookies.” It is a yarn of circus life, replete with humorous situations. Edward Sedgwick wrote the original story and is also directing. Lew Lipton collaborated with Sedgwick on the screen treatment and scenario. Louise Lorraine plays the feminine lead. “T AUGH. CLOWN, LAUGH” is about ready to go into production with Lon Chaney in the starring role. Elizabeth Meehan adapted the screen version of the stage play. Herbert Brenon has been assigned the directorial reins. , I ' HE other six pictures in produc1 tion were covered previously in this section of Moving Picture IV arid. Greta Garbo in “The Divine Woman;” John Gilbert in “The Cossack;” William Haines in “The Smart Set;” Norma Shearer in “Cloaks and Suits;” Tim McCoy in “Riders of the Dark,” and “Rose Marie” with an all-star cast. First National D OBERT Kane has started his A latest production for First National, “The Mad Hour.” Joseph C. Boyle is directing, from an adaptation by Louis Stevens. Sally O’Neil, who reached stardom with M-G-M, is making her first appearance before a camera on a “lot” other than her alma mater in “The Mad Hour.” She has the starring role, with Donald Reed as her leading man. Larry Kent and Alice White have the other two featured parts. Miss White recently completed the role of Dorothy in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and is now very much in demand for flapper roles. t-I ARRY LANGDON continues to keep busy on the closing scenes of “The Chaser,” his latest starring vehicle. Gladys McConnell again has the feminine lead opposite Langdon. “LA O IT AGAIN” is well into production with Lloyd Hughes and Mary Astor co-featured. The tanbark of the circus offers the background for the story, which Marshall Neilan is directing. Star Recovers Vera Voronina, Russian star, remembered as the lovely blonde who played opposite Raymond Griffith in “Time to Love,” has returned to the Paramount studios, fully recovered from her recent illness. A BENEDICT NOW — Hal Willis, popular publicity director for Warner Bros, on the Coast, and his bride, Louise Fazenda, screen comedy star. They were recently married following a romance that bad it inception a few years ago in Studioland.