Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

Hollywood High Lights 67 Who says there isn't romance in the movies? Bobby Agnew and Ann Rork became engaged while playing together in "The Prince of Head Waiters. " : Stolen Bride." Winston has the role of a young archduke of Austria, and wears full military regalia. Cleve acts as aide to the villain, played by Armand Kaliz. Billie Dove is the star of the picture. The Call of the Antipodes. Australia is the goal nowadays of stars in quest of new fields to conquer. Australia, it seems, has ambitions to become a film center, and is offering attractive inducements to various American players to come over there. Eva Novak, sister of Jane, is among the number who have migrated, and recently Eddie Burns sailed for the antipodes. Hollywood's Latest Project. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in which everybody in films is interested, was recently launched in Hollywood. The name of this new organization sounds very impressive. It represents a gettogether, for the advancement of art in the movies, of stars, producers, directors, and others concerned in the making of pictures. Filmdom has never had an institution of this character. According to plans, a big building will be erected, and in this will be kept records of achievements in the industry. The names of stars who have led the way in the advance of the movies will be enshrined there, and there will be a library of the famous pictures in which they have appeared from the earliest days on. There will probably also be a sort of school and research department connected with the academy. Douglas Fairbanks is the president, and Mary Pickford, Cecil B. De Mille, Milton Sills, Conrad Nagel, and others are identified with it in official capacities. Nearly all the biggest stars and directors are members. Fully three hundred of them assembled for the initial meeting, which took the form of a banquet. A large amount of money was subscribed as a starter, and many speeches were made. There is a plan to take the fans in on the project by making them corresponding members. That is, those of the public who are really deeply interested in the progress of pictures will be encouraged to write and say what they think the movies need. The academy intends also to issue a bulletin supplying information relative to pictures. The project is altogether a very fascinating one, and gcjs to prove how grown-up the films are becoming. More About Janet Gaynor. We made mention of Janet Gaynor earlier in this chronicle, but neglected to say that we saw her at the Cocoanut Grove shortly after the premiere of "Seventh Heaven," and that she was the belle of the evening. She and Charlie Farrell, who appears opposite her in the film, were introduced to the throng in attendance, and both were applauded and cheered. Janet seemed literally to be floating on air. She was as flushed with excitement as a bride. Hollywood hasn't seen a success like hers in ages. It was so absolutely instantaneous. Charlie Farrell has had a neat way of referring to Janet and himself since the picture opened. He says, "Yes, we are Mr. and Mrs. Chico." There have been rumors of their engagement, but really, their friendship seems more like a brother-and-sister affair. At any rate, it is one of the most charming in Hollywood. Janet, with her slender, childlike figure, in the fluffy dresses that she wears, is a perfect picture of youth. Scared Away. Metro-Goldwyn will probably never make another fire-fighting picture. "The Fire Brigade" has cured them. There is absolutely nothing the matter with the production itself. In fact, it is excellent entertainment, and the spectacular fire scenes are wonderful. But it seems that the "tie-up" was a bad one. The tie-up in this case was that the film was aided and boosted by the fire department wherever it was shown. Parades were held and a lot of fire-fighting apparatus was brought to the theater to attract the public. But, unfortunately, these demonstrations didn't attract the public at all in most places. For when they saw the fire engines in front of the theater, they thought that building was on fire, and decided to spend their evening elsewhere. "The Trail of '98." From all accounts, "The Trail of '98" should be a very big picture. Clarence Brown, who made "Flesh and the Devil," is directing it. Maybe you didn't like the story of "Flesh and the Devil," but you must admit that comparatively few faults could be found with the way the film was directed, outside of some of the overdone love scenes. Brown is really a very capable director, and "The Trail of '98" has only a bigger theme, but also a very much healthier one than "Flesh and the Devil" had. It deals with the Klondike gold rush. We watched Dolores del Rio, who has the feminine lead, doing a few scenes one day, and the picture looks very promising for her. WTien she finishes it, she is to plunge straight into "Ramona." She is not, after all, to be Douglas Fairbanks' leading lady in "The Gaucho." It was decided that it would be better for her to enjoy all the fruits of her success as quickly as possible through stardom, and "Ramona." centering as it does on the personality of the heroine, affords her this opportunity. Ralph Forbes is the hero in "The Trail of '98," and Harry Carey, the heavy. Herbert Moulton makes his screen debut in the film.