Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1927)

i6 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 31, 1927 Fox Plans Set for five Years on S 100, 000, 000 Prod. Program Definite plans for a five year production program that will entail the expenditure of approximately $100,000,000 are rapidly being completed by officials of Fox Film Corp., according to an official announcement. This total sum will include the cost of plays, novels, short stories and original screen material, talent, directorial salaries and all production expenditures at the Hollywood, Fox Hills and New York studios from now until 1932. Many attractions of “road show” calibre which are listed in this unprecedented budget already have been completed and numerous others are about to go into production at the Fox West Coast studios under the personal supervision of Winfield Sheehan, vice president and general manager of the Fox Corporation. Among the finished attractions, all of which will be shown in “legitimate” theatres in New York City' in the near future and which will have pre-release presentations in the larger theatres throughout the country this winter and spring, are “The Street Angel,” Frank Borzage’s pictorial adaptation of Monckton Hoffe’s story “Lad}' Cristilinda “Four Sons,” directed by John Ford, from the story by Miss I. A. R. Wylie, and “Mother Machree,” the celebrated song and story. In “The Street Angel.” Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell are co-featured : in John Ford’s story of afterwar days, James Hall, Earle Foxe, Margaret Mann, Francis X. Bushman, Jr., George Meeker, Charles Morton and June Collyer have the more important roles. The principal players in “Mother Machree,” include Belle Bennett in the title role, Victor McLaglen, Neil Hamilton, Ted McNamara, Ethel Clayton and Constance Howard. Al Tuchman Fox Accessories Head James R. Grainger, general sales manager of Fox Films, has appointed Al Tuchman to promote advertising accessories sales. Tuchman is now on a tour of the principal Fox exchanges to stimulate the more effective use of posters, and other accessories. This weeks he is in St. Louis. Tuchman is a veteran in the advertising accessories field. Previously he had served with First National. Universal and FBO. He is expected to return from his present tour after the first of the year. Much of his time will be spent on the road. Columbia Signs Estelle Taylor Columbia Pictures contracted this week for the services of Estelle Taylor to appear in the title role of “Lady Raffles.” The production has been placed under the supervision of Earl Hudson.. Estelle Taylor, who has signed to do the title role in Columbia’s “Lady Raffles.” U. A. Gets Outlet in Mpls. , St. Paul St. Paul — The Metropolitan theatre has closed a contract with United Artists to show that company’s pictures in weeks when no legitimate show^ are booked. This action is said to be due to the fact that United Artists was unable to get first run showings for its productions in F & R theatres in St. Paul. In Minneapolis Lnited Artists have arranged with Pantages to show first run pici tures. SEVEN FILMS ON M-G-MJAN. RELEASE LIST M-G-M starts the new year with a group of January releases headed by two Broadway “legit” attractions, “Love” and “The Student Prince.” “Love,” John Gilbert-Greta Garbo co-starring picture playing at the Embassy Theatre, New York, at $2 top, is scheduled for general release on January 2. “The Student Prince,” which has just completed a S2 top four-months run on Broadway, gives way to Lillian Gish’s “The Enemy,” which co-stars Ramon Novarro and Norma Shearer and was directed by Ernst Lubitsch. It is scheduled for release on Jan. 30. Other releases in the group bring William Haines in “West Point,” made with the co-operation of government officials ; Greta Garbo in “The Divine Woman;” Karl Dane and George K. Arthur in “Baby Mine;” Norma Shearer in “Pullman Partners,” and Tim McCoy in “The Law of the Range.” “Love” and Chaney Film on Honor List “Love” and “London After Midnight,” both M-G-M pictures, have been selected for the Photoplay Guide of popular entertainment films, and marked with asterisks as photoplays of special distinction. Rex Lease (featured juvenile) “The Texas Ranger”. . . M-G-M “Moulders of Men” FBO “Vigilantes” M-G-M “Not for Publication” FBO “Red Riders of Canada” FBO "Clancy's Kosher Wedding” FBO