Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1927 - Feb 1928)

48 Hollywood High Lights Christ that is the subject of litigation, but the Mary Magdalene episode in the film. One suit brought against DeMille by Valeska Suratt asks for $1,000,000 because of alleged infringement on a book called "Mary Magdalene" to which she owns the movie rights, while another suit was brought by the author of a book called "The Wooing of Mary Magdalene." Somewhat similar legal suits developed over DeMille's "The Ten Commandments," but nothing was gained by them. A False Alarm. "Pretty movie star attempts suicide because of futuristic settings !" That would make a nice newspaper headline. For a day or so there was a report that seemed to involve Vera Reynolds in some such sensational disaster, but there was nothing to it. The futuristic sets were used in "The Main Event," and after looking at them we don't blame Vera for getting into a nervous state during which she was thought to have taken poison by mistake. The police were called and reported an "attempted suicide." But Vera subsequently denied the implication vehemently, and said that she had merely been suffering from ptomaine. This was borne out by the medical examination that was given her. Mrs. Ona Brown, former wife of the director, returned temporarily to Hollywood, following a trip to Paris. She means from now on to make her permanent home in the gay French capital. While in Hollywood she stayed on the ranch where, as she told us, "Clarence and I lived before he gained fame and fortune." Recent Weddings. Arthur Stone, the comedian, who appears in a prominent part in "The Patent Leather Kid," has married Dorothy Westmore, of the costume department of the First National studio. 'And Cullen Landis has married Loca Hearne, a childhood sweetheart. Landis, by the way, has been having all sorts of tribulations over alimony payments to his first wife, Mignon le Brun Landis, from whom he was divorced about a year ago. He was hailed into court not long ago. They Believe in Looking Before They Leap. Can it be that long engagements are to become the vogue in the film colony ? Consider Pauline Starke and Jack White, who were intermittently engaged for fully five 3'ears before their recent marriage. And Anna Q. Nilsson, in making known that she would wed E. G. Krause, declared that the event would not occur for a long while, because neither she nor Krause believes in a hasty plunge into matrimony — which seems discreet, considering that Anna has experienced two unsuccessful matrimonial ventures. Miss Starke and Jack White broke off their first engagement several years ago, and later, Pauline was reported engaged to Donald Freeman, a magazine editor, but she evidently decided that the old love was best. She and Jack were married very quietly in San Francisco, which was the scene of their first meeting. Anna Q.'s fiance is an investment broker in Beverly Hills, and that's not just a polite name for real-estate agent, either. The pair have been going together for nearly a year. Another Romance. In case you haven't heard about it, Clarence Brown, the director, and Dorothy Sebastian have announced their engagement. It had already been rumored for some time. Yes, we are collegiate! These are the only two college boys that First National decided to keep, out of the ten to whom they recently gave a chance in the movies. Thev are John Westwood of Princeton, and John Stambaugh of the University of Chicago. The Troubles of Von Stroheim. From Von Stroheim to Von Sternberg — that is the progress of "The Wedding March." In other words, Josef von Sternberg, who directed "The Salvation Hunters," has been cutting the cinema opus an which the redoubtable Erich worked for so many months. There was a row, of course, incident to Von Stroheim's severance of his connection with the picture. P. A. Powers, its producer, is said to have quarreled with the director over the excessive cost of the production. Von Stroheim has not brought to full completion any picture that he has made since "Foolish Wives." The final work on both "Greed" and "The Merry Widow" was done by other people. It may be said that Von Sternberg was able to approach "The Wedding March" with a more svmpathetic viewpoint than nearly any other person who might have been employed to reduce the film to the necessary footage. There is a chance, therefore, that it will not turn out to be the flop that "Greed" was. A Possible Plum for Blanche SweetHow do you like the thought of Blanche Sweet as Iris March in "The Green Hat?" It has been forecast_ that she may get this role, and thus become almost as highly envied as she was when she won the part of Anna Christie. Blanche seems to obtain a really big opportunity about every four years, and at that, she may be considered lucky. There are comparatively few screen players who can claim a better average of really good roles. And Blanche always makes the very most of her infrequent chances. She was, by the way, operated on for some minor ailment not long ago, but her health outside of that