The Moving picture world (May 1926-June 1926)

320 Moving Picture World Mav 22. 1926 Compson and Lytell Head Big List of Stars for Columbia Firm Negotiating for Other Prominent Players WITH the signing of a contract for Betty Compson and Bert Lytell to appear in Columbia Pictures, comes the announcement by Harry Cohn, vice-president of that company, that he is now negotiating with several other stars whose names have boxoffice value. To Paint Portraits Of Fox Players Louis Usabal of Valencia, Spain, renowned as a painter of European theatrical stars, has arrived at the Fox Films West Coast Studios to make portraits of thirty cinema celebrities. Among these are Tom Mix, Alma Rubens, Buck Jones, Margaret Livingston, J. Farrell MacDonald, Madge Bellamy, George O'Brien, Olive Borden, Lou Tellegen, Gladys McConnell, Edmund Lowe, Kathryn Perry, Leslie Fenton, Janet Gaynor, Richard Walling, Reata Hoyt, Barry Ncrton and Charles Farrell. Harry Cohn, upon being interviewed, said : "The producing end of Columbia will back up the publicity and advertising campaign that the New York office now has under way, by making pictures of superior quality in every sense of the word. "I have engaged only those directors who have box-office successes to their credit and casts for each picture will include the names of artists familiar to the public. "I am now negotiating for the services of several stars and expect to be able to disclose their names within a few weeks. At present I have signed up to appear in Columbia Pictures, Bobby Agnew, Mary Carr, Ann Pennington, Johnnie Harron. Lionel Rarrymore, Forrest Stanley, Priscilla Bonner, Ralph Lewis, Tom Ricketts, {Catherine MacDonald, George Fawcett, Arthur Hoyt and Georgie O'Hara. Our contract with Dorothy Revier continues for a considerable period. "Our directors, at the present moment, are Frank Strayer, who successfully directed "Steppin' Out" and several other successes : Ralph Ince and Frank O'Connor, who have innumerable box office hits to their credit, and that masterful director, Phil Rosen, of Abraham Lincoln fame "Considering the high calibre of the stories we have bought, the experience of the di rectors and the publicity value of the stars engaged, and the standard of quality of production I am determined to turn out, Columbia Pictures will be among the outstanding attractions of the coming season." Final Work on Titling New Hines Film Completed THIS week saw the completion of all work on "The Brown Derby." Johnny Hines' latest comedy for First National. The picture has been titled, edited and cut. under the direct supervision of the comedian. Jack McGowan, well-known as a song writer, vaudeville writer and the author of two Broadway plays, "Be Yourself" and "Mama Loves Papa." was engaged by C. C. Burr to write the comedy subtitles. Exhibitors are assured of a fast-moving comedy in "The Brown Derby," as officials of the organization, and those who have seen the picture state it is the best comedy Johnny Hines has made to date. In addition there is a splendid cast supporting the comedian, including such names as Diana Kane, star, Ruth Dwver and Edmund Breese. Add Five Players to "Meet the Prince'* Cast Five additional players have been placed in the cast of "Meet the Prince." which Joseph Henabery is directing for Metropolitan. Marjorie Prevost, Michael Dark, Earl Crane, May Foster and Leon Holmes are the players who will augment the featured cast which includes Joseph Schildkraut, Marguerite De La Motte, David Butler, Julia Faye, Vera Steadman and Helen Dunbar. "Meet the Prince'' is an adaptation of "The American Sex," which Frank R. Adams wrote and which appeared in Munsey's Magazine. Anthony Coldewey Signs With Metropolitan Anthony Coldewey, whose efforts in the past year have made many in the industry sit up and take particular notice, has been assigned to the scenario staff at Metropolitan Studios, stated William Sistrom, General Manager. Coldewey comes to Metropolitan following his work with Lasky and Sebastian. With a veritable storehouse of knowledge sceured while employed as a newspaper writer, Coldewey entered the motion picture industry with Universal in 1913 and has since served on the scenario staff in practically every large studio in Los Angeles. Alice Joyce Picked for Big Role in "So's Your Old Man" Alice Joyce has been selected for an important role in W. C. Fields' second starring picture for Paramount, "So's Your Old Man," according to William LeEaron, associate producer in charge at the Long Island studio. The story of "So's Your Old Man" is based on Julian Street's prize story. "Mr. Bisbee's Princess." Production will start the first week in June. Thomas J. Geraghty is making the screen adaptation.