Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

60 Hollywood High Lights The most interesting bits of the news from the town where the movies are made. By Edwin and Elza Schallert ERNST LUBITSCH has finally embarked on his supreme effort. He has turned his back on light and frivolous comedy and is now in the throes of directing the deep heart-interest story of "Old Heidelberg." It needs no long-bearded prophet to venture an opinion that this will be one of the great pictures of 1927. The film brings together Ramon Novarro and Norma Shearer. It is the first in which they have jointly appeared, and their roles of Prince Karl and Kathie are most sympathetic. Jean Hersholt will be seen as Doctor Juttner, and Chester Conklin is playing Lute, the valet. The cast is as thrilled a group of actors as have ever been assembled, particularly Norma, who was highly excited over this new big opportunity. We saw the filming of some of the earlier scenes, which portray the boyhood of the Prince. Little Philippe de Lacey, the Belgian war orphan, was playing the role of the boy, a youngster at the mercy of the cruel discipline of court life. Philippe was required to cry pitifully in several of the scenes. At times getting him in the proper mood entailed a certain amount of difficulty, even though he is a very dependable little actor. His foster mother had a secret recipe for inducing the tears, but nobody could discover what it was, and one day she was absent. Philippe simply couldn't become properly tearful, hard though he tried. Lubitsch was wringing his hands in his anxiety to get on with the shooting". "Is it not possible," he exclaimed, "to do something to make the boy cry again?" "I'll try," responded the assistant director. There was a whispered talk between the man and the boy, and Philippe's face suddenly grew cloudy. He burst into tears which were almost impossible to stop, even after the shooting was over. "My goodness! What on earth did you tell him?" asked Lubitsch. "Just a little story," replied the assistant. "I told him about a little girl who had a beautiful Christmas tree, all gorgeously decorated with a lot of dolls and toys and tinsel and lighted candles. She was terribly happy and excited over them, and clapped her hands and danced about, and then, just when she was going to pick the wonderful sleeping doll from the tree — she was struck blind!" After which nobody can accuse film children of lacking susceptibility. Pola and Rudy. Every one expected Pola Negri to buy the full Joseph Schildkraut is stumped — and by his own wife. Elise Bartlett outwits her husband at chess, between his scenes in "The King of Kings." length painting of Rudolph Valentino that was sold at the auction of the star's effects, but Pola didn't do it. Instead, she filed a claim for $15,000 against the Valentino estate, an amount she asserted she had lent Rudy when he was building his home, Falcon Lair. No one had been aware of this debt of Rudy's to the woman to whom he was reported engaged. Pola still gives evidences of deeply mourning the death of Rudy. Tom Forsakes the Briny Deep. Tom Mix is going to quit being a seaman. He has just about decided to dispose of his yacht, the Mixit, and purchase instead a big tract of land which he means to develop into a gentleman's ranch. The Mix yacht and the Mix establishment at Catalina Island have long been familiar in filmland, and the light trim craft will be much missed at the. famous California pleasure resort. Tom has kept the boat primarily for the enjoyment of his wife and little daughter, particularly during the summer. Now, however, Tom says little Thomasina is old enough sufficiently to enjoy other forms of adventure, and he feels that ranch life should be the next step in her young career. So he's going to have a great big place where she may roam and ride to her heart's content, or at least as far as her parents may judiciously permit her to roam and ride. In any event, the Southern California real-estate agents have been hot on the trail of the famous cowboy star, trying to interest him in all kinds of available ranches. Festive but Dignified. The second Mayfair Club party, the new and very exclusive dinner-dance club, was a great success. It was held on New Year's Eve, and was one of the most dignified affairs ever held in the film colony on so festive an evening. Many of the most prominent film stars were present, and particularly noticeable was the fact that all the belles were attended by their favorite beaus. Constance T a 1 m a d g e danced very frequently with Buster Collier. We predict that they will wed yet. Adolphe Menjou and Kathryn Hill were together, although they have both denied any engagement. Miss Hill is the wife of a prominent New York photographer, but divorce proceedings are under way. Norma Shearer was escorted by Irving Thalberg. and May McAvoy by Bobby Agnew. Joan Crawford looked very radiant with James Hall, who played the lead in "Hotel Imperial," as her partner.