Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1927)

MOVING PICTURE WORLD HOLLYWOOD OFFICE December 17, 1927 A brilliant future has been predicted for Dorothy Sebastian, enrolled as a featured player in M-G-M’s stock company. Dorothy is seldom permitted to be idle. When M-G-M plans give her a few moments’ rest, other producers “borrow” her. Dorothy is in great demand. Bennet Starts Pathe Serial Spencer Bennett has started direction on Pathe’s 10-Episode se•ial, “The Yellow Cameo.” A pary of forty persons, including players and technical aides are now 3n location. Allene Ray is starred. The supporting roles are filled by Edward C. Hearn, Noble Johnson, Tom London and Maurice Klein. During the filming of “The Yelow Cameo,” this Patheserial unit will celebrate its second anniversary in California, having arrived on January 5, 1926. Since then, and ncluding the current picture, the rnit has produced eight 10-Episode (serials. George Arthur Gray wrote he original for the present serial. Paramount Medical Advisor At Studios Dr. Emanuel Stern, medical advisor of the Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation, and head of the :ompany’s welfare work, arrived in Hollywood this week from the Paramount home office in New York, on his annual visit to the studio. While here, Dr. Stern will confer with studio executives and the officials in charge of the welfare effort it the film plant concerning that iphase of the studio’s activities. Dr. Stern is credited with being responsible for the development of studio and intra-organization medical service and welfare work for employes for Paramount, which is declared to be the model of the film industry in this respect. He will spend a week in Hollywood. WL . “Helen” Premiere In West; Globe Opening Follows “The Private Life of Helen of Troy/’ which opened at the Million Dollar Theatre in Los Angeles last Thursday, is the first First National picture to have its world premiere on the Coast in the past four years. It opened its Eastern run at the Globe, in New York, the following day. An extensive local advertising campaign was launched here by George Landy with the picture. Newspapers have been kindly inclined toward the company in the matter of layouts and pre-release stories. The radio, football games and other entertainment programs have been used to publicize the production in which Maria Corda makes her first appearance in an American film. Stars Sign With Warner Bros.; “Vacation” Starts WARNER BROTHERS, on the eve of the forthcoming studio vacation, come out with a broadcast of players, directors and writers who have been re-signed. This announcement comes with the information that Alan Crosland, for the past two years a Warner director, would no longer be with that organization. At present he is not tied up with any company his contract with Warners’ having just expired. May McAvoy, demure star, has signed a new long term contract with Warners, as have Leila Hyams and Myrna Loy. Among the writers, options were taken up on the contracts of Charles Condon, Harvey Gates, E. T. Lowe, Jr., and Anthony Coldewav. Joseph Jackson, who has been free lancing as a writer, was also put under contract. Howard Bretherton, director, MACK SENNETT supervising all Pathe comedies and Monte Banks returning to Pathe with most of his former authority as a unit producer eliminated, are reports circulating in Hollywood this week. At the Mack Sennett studio it was said that Mr. Sennett had nothing to say about the rumor regarding himself. Neither a denial nor confirmation could be secured. It was admitted in one source on the Sennett “lot” that Sennett’s assuming such a supervisorial capacity is quite likely and that if he did it would in no way change his status as an independent producer. Ignorance of the Sennett report was also expressed at the Pathe studio headquarters on the Metropolitan lot. At the same time it was gathered also signified his intention of remaining in the Warner fold by springling the ink on the dotted line. Duryea In Lead George Duryea, New York stage player, has been signed by Cecil B. De Mille for the male lead in “The Godless Girl,” De Mille’s next personally supervised picture. He was chosen for the role after exhaustive screen tests of Hollywood’s various leading men. Lina Basquette has the leading girl part and Eddie Quillan will lend the comedy relief. Duryea is a newcomer to the screen and is making his initial appearance before a camera in “The Godless Girl,” by Jeanie Macpherson. that Banks, who was released by Pathe because of accredited heavy overhead on several of his recent pictures for that company, may be back in the Pathe fold the first of the year. If this happens, Moving Picture World gathered, Banks will no longer boast the independence which he had before the break, and his company, according to word on the Lot, would come directly under the supervision of Pathe. Dix In “Oxford” Richard Dix’ new Paramount picture will be “Oxford” from the story of John Saunders and James Saxon Childers. Saunders, who wrote “Wings,” is a former Rhodes scholar at the British University. Gregory LaCava will be the director. Ruth Harriett Louise photographed Marceline Day, the charming M-G-M player, as you see her here. Marceline, sister of Alice Day, has achieved fame opposite Ramon Novarro and other M-G-M stars. FORD STERLING RESUMES WORK Ford Sterling has recovered entirely from his recent injuries and is back in the Paramount company making “The Traveling Salesman,” which stars Richard Dix. Sterling was disabled by the explosion of a furnace in his home, and it was thought for a time that the serious injuries he suffered would interfere with his work for a long time. Arrangements were made to have his part in the Dix picture taken by Lige Conley. That substitution now will not be necessary and Sterling is hard at work. Score Is — Two All! Sam Taylor, who is directing John Barrymore in “The Tempest” for United Artists, found time to pass around cigars to the members of the company last week. The generous gesture on the part of Sam attended the announcement that his wife had presented him with another girl at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. The Taylors, who live at 804 Foothill Road, Beverly Hills, now have two boys and two girls. Buffalo Bill Jr.’s Next “The Ballyhoo Buster” is the latest Pathe Western in which Buffalo Bill, Jr., is starred. The story is written around an old-time medicine show. Buffalo Bill, the cowboy, becomes “Wild Cat Pete” in the medicine show ballyhoo and the fight he stages in each town attracts the mob and when the old medicine show doctor has the crowd where he wants them then he proceeds to sell his medicine. Sennett Reported Supervising All i Pathe Comedies; Banks’ Mugs Clipped