The Moving picture world (November 1924-December 1924)

652 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 13. 1924 Julias and Abe Stern Pick Four Century Comedy Stars WITH the recent acquisition of Eddie Gordon, star comedian, Century Comedies now have four big stars on their roster. The others are Wanda Wiley, Edna Marian and Al Alt. In addition to these stars there are the well known and justly famous Century Follies Girls, Hilliard Karr, the celebrated comedian with the wide girth, and a score or more of featured players who specialize in character delineations. Wanda Wiley is Julius Stern's "find" of last spring. She is winning host of followers in every section of the country, and exhibitors are rapidly booking her special series of two-reelers, being made by Century from stories by the noted French humorist, Georges Fouret. Edna Marian has had a very successful career in motion pictures. She has been starred and featured in a number of comedies and has played many featured roles in feature productions. She enters the Century studios prepared for the exacting demands of stardom in Century Comedies. Miss Marian has just completed a special production known as "The Doll Baby" in which she portrays the very difficult role of a doll in a toy store. Her work in this picture is said by those who have seen the picture to be marvelous. She poses in a box for several minutes without moving a muscle. This picture will be a special release on the Century program for Christmas week. Favorite on Century Program Al Alt has long been a favorite star on the Century program. His work is well known to comedy lovers all over the country. Alt has been starred in a number of Century Comedies, and has supported many of the feminine stars of that organization. He is working in support of Wanda Wiley in her latest production. Eddie Gordon comes to Century after several years' experience on both the stage and screen as a comedian. He is noted for a style of comedy that is distinctly his own. Being small and wiry, Gordon can do many laugh provoking stunts that other comedians would find impossible. His first work at Century is in support of Edna Marian in her series of rural life comedies. Later, Gordon will be starred in a special series. It is planned by Julius and Abe Stern, head of the Century organization, to produce four series of comedies, using each one of the four stars. In several of these pictures the Century Follies Girls will be featured in addition to being featured in a series of all star comedies. "The Sporting Venus" Cast Ed. Martindale and Kate Price have been added to the cast of "The Sporting Venus," the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production which Marshall Neilan is directing from the Gerald Beaumont story with Blanche Sweet, Ronald Colman and Lew Cody in the featured roles. This completes the cast, which also includes George Fawcett, Arthur Hoyt and Josephine Crowell. Diana Miller in Fox's "Flames of Desire." Eight New Harry Carey9 s For Producers Dist. Corp. JOHN C. FLINN, vice-president of Producers Distribution Corporation, who has just returned to New York from Los Angeles, announces the signing of a new contract with Hunt Stromberg for the release of eight big Western subjects starring Harry Carey, during 1925. Both Well Pleased Mr. Flinn says that both Stromberg and Producers Distributing Corporation are so well pleased with the series of Harry Carey subjects thus far released that the new contract was signed after discussions only on the matter of still further improving the production quality of the new pictures. "Stromberg has made works of art of the Carey pictures," said Mr. Flinn, "without losing any of the fast action and melodramatic elements of the western drama and the result of this improvement in this type of story elevated the series to a prominent first run position." Carey Delighted Carey is also delighted with his association with Stromberg and the closest harmony exists between them. It is expected that Sol Polito who is directly responsible for the artistic photograph of the current Carey subjects will continue to supervise the camera work on the new series. Two Warner Pictures Listed 1 ■ , W. Ward Marsh, of Cleveland Plain Dealer, Picks Seven Best Films In selecting the seven best pictures presented in two months W. Ward Marsh, the critic, picks two of Warner Brothers' Screen Classics in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and pays a high tribute to Ernst Lubitsch, who is under contract to Warner Brothers. Mr. Marsh heads his list with Ernst Lubitsch's "Three Women," with Pauline Frederick, May McAvoy, Marie Prevost and Lew Cody and gives third place to Harry Beaumont's "The Lover of Camille" with Blue and Marie Prevost. Speaking of "Three Women," Mr. Marsh says: "Distasteful subject was done in excellent taste and without false moves. That is Lubitsch's habit as well as his forte. He has ability of glossing over the somewhat sordid sex tale with a fine veneer of charm and delicacy and to some degree respectability. No other director, save possibly Chaplin, can make the serpent wear a jeweled crown so becomingly." Hunt Stromberg presents Harry Carey in "The Flaming Forties." Released by Producers Distributing Corporation. Comedy Breaks Records Buster Keaton's feature comedy, "Our Hospitality," has broken all records at the Madeleine Theatre in Paris. This information has just been received by Arthur Loew, manager of the foreign department of MetroGoldwyn Distributing Corporation, which releases the Joseph M. Schenck-presented Keaton comedies. On Armistice Day "Our Hospitality" drew 11,500 francs to the Madeleine, a new "high" for the Paris theatre, and the week showed 24,400 francs.