Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1927)

December 17, 1927 MOVING PICTURE WORLD HOLLYWOOD OFFICE JOHN BARRYMORE has finally and definitely settled on his leading lady in “The Tempest,” his current starring product:on for LTnited Artists. Carnila Horn, German actress, who s:gned a long term contract with U. A. six months ago, is bushy engaged with Barrymore screen appearance. Miss Horn is the third leading woman to be cast opposite Barrymore in “The Tempest.” The first was Vera Veronina, who, due to illness, was forced to relinquish the role. Then Dorothy Sebastian was borrowed from M-G-M for the lead, only to be succeeded by the German actress. Directors were also changed, Sam Taylor succeeding Slav Tourjansky. With the shifting of leading women and directors, radical changes were made in the original story by Barrymore and John W. Considine, Jr., supervisor of the production. in making her first American Changing directors and leading women after nearly three months’ camera work on “The Tempest” has necessitated the unit's working day and night to catch up with the original schedule. Filming will probably run well into next year, as every sequence in which the chief feminine character has appeared, will be re-made and many more sets are to be constructed as the result of additions to the story. Barrymore's supporting cast includes Louis Wolheim, George Fawcett, Ulrich Flaupt, Boris de Fas, Lena Malena and Albert Conti. 4T ITS FINAL West Coast preview, FBO’s Gold Bond Spe/V cial, “Legionnaires in Paris,” shaped up not only as one of the company’s biggest box office attractions for the year, but also as one of the most attractive pictures of its kind seen by preview audiences in Hollywood during the past six months. The special practically lifts A1 Cooke and Kit Guard from the short subject-series field and makes them one of the film colony’s most convincingly entertaining teams of comedians. While the picture is essentially based upon comedy, yet stirring instances now and then give a dramatic touch which adds zest to audience interest and provides a well sustained suspense throughout. In no part of the production does the action drag. As edited for general release, it is nothing short of a compact box-office gem. The theme for the story, we hear, first entered the fertile brain of William Le Baron, studio chieftain. It is especially timely in that it burlesques to a certain extent the recent convention of the American Legion in Paris. The story opens with A1 Cooke and Kit Guard as buddies just about to return to the United States, offending a huge Paris cop and making their escape to the street. Efforts to befriend a corpse which they mistake for a fellow drunkard, result in their returning to the United States fearing they will be the victims of circumstantial evidence. In their home town CAMILLA HORN IN BARRYMORE FILM LOIS WILSON — who is reaching new high levels in he screen artistry, shown, on the Californ‘a beaches what the well-dressed bathing beauty will wear in FB As “C ->ney Island,’ one of the Grand February Jubilee Spec's* up~n wh-'-h F B O will lavish exploitation. 1 FRANKIE DARRO — The Diminutive FB 3 star, has won the gratitude of thousands of little patients in hospitals to whom he sent the 150 “Frankie Darro Motion Picture Still Shows.” in Pratts Falls, they are elected to represent the local Legion post at the Paris convention. Back in gay Paree, the action becomes staccato when they evade police at the pier who are there to decorate them with medals for saving a French general during the war. Louise Lorraine and Virginia Sale, as the daughters of the general, assist in complicating matters. The huge cop, played most effectively by that giant actor, John Aasen, having been especially assigned to find the heroes, is lead a merry chase through Parisian streets. Director Arvid E. Gillstrom, who deserves special commendation for his work, terminates the picture satisfactorily with the two legionnaires being accompanied back to Pratts Falls by the General’s daughters. A1 Cooke (left) and Kit Guard FBO comedians, heretofore scintillating stars in short comedies, have scored a success in “Legionnaires In Paris,” previewed this weew in Hollywood. With them is seen John Aasen, who is more than 8 feet tall, and who has a major role in this feature-length comedy. Hollywood Preview “Legionnaires In Paris” (FBO Pictures Corporation)