Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

Hollywood High Lights 67 more money. So Haines is to be starred in a comedy called "Spring Fever," dealing with the golf mania. The film is adapted from a stage play that failed in New York, but that is not regarded as a drawback. Foor stage plays often transmute themselves into very good pictures. This may be because the scenarist doesn't have to be too literal in his adaptation and can throw some of his own pet ideas into the picture version. Emil Jannings on the Set. The German Emil Jannings is being photographed in his first American picture by a Chinese camera man, which combination may or may not help to make a better picture. Jannings on the set is easily one of filmdom's most unique personalities — just as he is off the set, for that matter. Much of his work is very spontaneous. In a certain scene he was making with Belle Bennett this was especially evident. It was an episode in which a number of children took part. They were supposed to be the ample family of the two players, and the entire group was seated around the dinner table. Several of the children had misbehaved, and Miss Bennett was scolding them in the vigorous language of an irate mother. Jannings was protesting, swinging his arms, and trying vainly to find words in English with which to express himself. Failing, he at last burst forth with, "Du bist verriickt, du Kuckuck !" Chaney, the Armless. Lon Chaney is never satisfied unless he looks grotesque. His latest role is perhaps his weirdest impersonation. The picture is called "The Unknown," and is an adaptation of an original story by Director Tod Browning which was previously called "Alonzo the Armless." If you recall "The Unholy Three," you can figure that it should be a noveltv, because Browning also directed that film. Chaney had to wear his arms tightly strapped to his sides for the role, and was clothed in a loose blouse to help earn out the illusion that he is minus those members. In the story he appears as a human freak in a side show. One of the stunts that he performs is throwing knives with his feet, and since Joan Crawford is his target, it is needless to say that Chaney practiced the trick until he had it sufficiently perfected to insure the young lady's life. Of course, the more dangerous knife throwing was done with doubles. An ironical note in the picture is that Miss Crawford, as the girl, falls in love with Chaney simply because he is the first man she has met who has not attempted to demonstrate any affection for her, and this has been due, of course, chiefly to physical handicap. The Swim from Catalina Island. Only one film girl entered the Catalina Island swim in which George Young was the victor. We can't believe that her attempt was made for any other purpose than publicity, though we are assured that it positively and absolutely was not. Anyway, the girl was Miss Vallery Schramm, a bathing girl of the Sennett studios, and here, by the way, is one of the few instances of a Sennett bathing girl actually being able to swim. Miss Schramm stayed in the water for about five miles, or for one fifth of the distance, and then was forced to retire by an attack of cramps. She is a very attractive dark-haired girl, who is to have leads shortly in Sennett comedies. Sennett, by the way, has made a picture surrounding this sea marathon, so you will be able to view the funny side of what was said to be one of the most unusual athletic events ever held in this country. Young, who won, was given a number of screen tests immediately after the victor}-, but the general consensus of opinion seems to be that he does not possess a film personality. The colony made him a great hero by the applause that they lavished on him at a banquet given in honor of Carl Laemmle, president of Universal. At this affair, Douglas Fairbanks, Man Pickford, Will Hays, Samuel Goldwyn, Marcus Loew, and various other prominent film people, were among the guests of honor, and it was attended by virtually even picture celebrity. Young was the only chap in the vast assemblage who did not appear in a tuxedo, but that didn't seem to embarrass him, and of course it was a very judicious move on the part of Sid Grauman, who was responsible for his introduction, as it made the boy an even more heroic and sympathetic figure than he was already. Young struck us as being a very simple and unassuming chap when we met him at this gathering. We wondered then, and have often wondered since, what the boy's emotions were during that short, victorious hour. A lad lifted from total obscurity into the realms of the famous, all within the short span of a few hours. And not only meeting, but feeling the warm handclasps, and listening to the glowing and encouraging words of some of the most celebrated people in the world. Charlie Ray and Marie Prevost have a little fun between scenes of "Getting Gertie's Garter," and with the aid of grandfather's clock show what to do in a shipwreck. Love's Young Dream. Jobyna Ralston and Richard Arlen have embarked very gayly and exuberantly on their marital adventure, with all the roseate dreams of the future that all young couples have. But they are a very practical pair, considering how desperately in love they are. And one of the first things they did, to prove it, was to rent a house, rather than an apartment, and to make a firm resolution to live on Arlen's salan-. which is much smaller than Jobyna's as yet. Whatever Job makes is going to be put in the bank.