The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

796 MOVING PICTURE WORLD Deceml)er 26, 1925 Reorganize Paramount's Western Studios FINAL steps in the recent reorganization at Paramount's Hollywood studio were taken recently with the announcement by Jesse L. Lasky, first vice-president of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation in charge of production, of the assignment of producing units to work under Hector Turnbull and B. P. Schulberg, asociate producers. Under the new alignment Mr. TurnbuU will have direct charge of all productions of the follwing directors: Clarence Badger, Malcolm St. Clair, Edward Sutherland and George B. Seitz. The starring pictures of Raymond Griffith and Bebe Daniels will also come under Turnbull's jurisdiction. In addition he will produce "The Rough Riders," Paramount's super-epic of Theodore Roosevelt and the picturization of Zane Grey's best sellers. Also, Turnbull is handling all production details of Raoul Walsh, who is completing "The Golden Journey." Mr. Schulberg will act as producer for Paramount of all pictures of James Cruze, .•\llan Dwan, Dimitri Buchow'etzki, Victor hleming and William Wellman. The production of the starring pictures of Pola Negri, Adolphe Menjou and Betty Bronson made on the West Coast will also be under his guidance. In addition, Mr. Schulberg will attend to the production of all stories writen for Paramount by Ernest Vajda, the Hungarian playwright, who is now in Hollywood iJreparing an original screen story for Pola Negri which Buchow-ctzki will direct. Assisting Turnbull and Schulberg in the West Coast production work are Lucien Hubbard, Walter Woods, Garnett Weston and Kenneth Hawks, production supervisors. Turnbull and Schulberg also each have a personal asistant who works directly with the associate producer, not being designed to any particular unit. William Griffith occupies this position with Turnbull, while Sam Jafee is Schulberg's assistant. "The First Year "About Ready for Screening ^^rr^HE FIRST YEAR," the uproarious I comedy produced .so successfully on Broadway by John Golden and directed for Fox I-'ilms by none other than Frank Borzagc, is due to come out of the cutting room almost any day. Matt Moore, who plays the part of Tommy fucker, has given one of the best performances of his career. In fact, many who watched the picture in the making declare that the situations and the treatment would make the picture even better than the play. Kathryn Perry, who plays opposite him. is ideally cast in the part. She makes a very wilful little sweetheart and a most appealing little bride. .K new and dusky discovery, Carolynne Snowden. provides most of the laughs at the end of the comedy, with her characterization of Hattie, the maid, who "serves," bui "washes best." Frank Currier as the kindly old bachelor uncle who enginers the romance and then straightens out the kinks at the end of "The First Year," adds another lovable character to his list. The rest of the all star cast consists of Margaret Livingston, J. Farrell MacDonald — who appears clean shaven and in business clothes — Frank Cooley, John Patrick and Virginia Madiso-n. Frank Borzage directed the production, putting in every little individual touch of comedy he could in a true Borzage-like fashion. G. Howe Black Appears in Four Chadwick Pictures G. Howe Black, the sensational colored comedian, who was heralded by critics of the trade and daily press as the comedy find of the season in Chadwick Pictures Corporation's "The Wizard of Oz," has appeared in four pictures for that company this season. The first was "The Wizard of Oz," in which Larry Semon was featured as The Scarecrow, the part made famous on the stage by Fred Stone. Following his success in this first production, he was chosen by Director Scott Dunlop for an important part as George Walsh's valet in "Blue Blood," which is released this month. Black will also be seen with Walsh in "The Prince of Broadway," a romance of the prize ring, w'hich was directed by John Gorman with a supporting cast of more than twenty champion and ex-champion fighters. Black's fourth picture of the season is "The Perfect Clown," another of Chadwick's December releases, in which Larry Semon is starred. Playing opposite Semon throughout the picture. Black is said to have the best role of his career in this production. John Meredith in "Blue Blood" Joan Meredith, 1925 Wampas Baby Star, who has been signed to a long term contract in "Blue Blood," the star's second modern, by Chadwick Pictures Corporation, plays a prominent role in support of George Walsh action romance of the season for that company. "American Pluck" was the first of the series. To Direct Betty Bronson The "Youth Unit" was announced by B. P. Schulberg, associate Paramount producer at the Lasky studio in Hollywood. The phrase means that William Wellman, youngest director of regognized ability, will direct youthful Betty Bronson in her next Paramount production. Miss Bronson is scheduled to return to Hollywood in a few days for the new picture, which is as yet untitled.