Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1928 - Feb 1929)

Hollywood High Lights 59 charming star, if past records of the master of aquatic improvisations are considered. Off To Dixieland. King Vidor, another of the big-league directors, has set forth on an odd expedition. He is going to photograph the colored folk of the South in a story dealing solely with their lives, apart from the white people. The probabilities are, in fact, that there will not be a single white person in the cast, and the plan as Vidor described it to us prior to his departure, is most interesting. Meanwhile, Eleanor Boardman is in Hollywood, finishing a starring role in "She Goes to War." It is the first good break she has had in a long time. "I would have to come in on the tag end of war films," she told us, "but we are all hoping that this one is going to be absolutely different. Anyway, I wear boy's clothes and that's a novelty — for me at least." The Stone Separation. After many months of rumors, the separation of Lewis S. Stone and his wife, Florence Oakley, finally matured. It had been bruited about, at intervals, that there was marital discord, but nothing was admitted until the news came out that Miss Oakley, who wedded Stone while they were both acting on the stage, signified her intention of returning to professional life. Even yet the causes for the separation are uncertain, because no divorce proceedings have been filed. And Stone has long been noted for his reticence on all matters pertaining to his private life. In fact, the average interviewer has found him to be about as communicative as the Sphinx. Stone has recently renewed his .prominence on the screen by virtue of his performance in "The Patriot." These Plumaged Opuses. Believe it or not, a bird fancier did actually wander into the Paramount studio and offer to supply nice German warblers, while "The Canary Murder Case" was under way. Next thing we'll be hearing, is that somebody is trying to drum up trade for an ostrich farm on the strength of "Four Feathers," which is the name of another feature. An Unlucky Seafarer. As a mariner, Chester Conklin is a most excellent comedian — literally ! He started out on a little cruise in his launch not long ago, and landed on the breakwater at Los Angeles Harbor. The engine went dead first, and then a large vessel came along and the swells from it hoisted Conklin's boat up on the stone harbor structure, where it perched. After frantic waving of signals, he was finally towed off by another craft. "My boat is now for sale to the highest bidder," said Chester. "I am convinced that I am not a navigator. The worst of it is I had to take my director along with me on that trip, which naturally added doubly to my embarrassment." Norman Kerry Returns. In case you've been wondering what's happened to Norman Kerry, Winifred Bryson and Warner Baxter have Alice Joyce as their playmate at the beach between scenes of "Adoration," in which Miss Bryson i returns to the screen after a long absence. yff. it may be just as well to mention that he is back from a four-month trip to Europe. While he was away, he played in "The Bondman" for British National Pictures, and met Hall Caine, the author of the story, while on location on the Isle of Man. Louise May Go Abroad. There is talk that Louise Brooks may go abroad to do a picture with Ufa. She has completed her contract with Paramount. Anent Gilbert's Future. Nothing; very definite seems to have been decided about Jack Gilbert's future plans. His engagement with Metro-Goldwyn expires in May, and reports indicate he may join United Artists, with Doug, Mary, and Chaplin. We saw Jack right after his return from New York, where he went to discuss new business arrangements, but he was blithely noncommittal about his plans. Which . generally means that his plans aren't very definite. Altering Times Perplex. Every star we talk to is more or less perplexed about the future, nowadays. If the talkies become as popular, permanently, as the present rage for them forecasts, there will be no end of shiftings and changings. Even the biggest men in the movies don't know just whither they are heading, and nearly everybody is inclined, at present, to live from day to day. Practically all resistance to sound pictures is dying down, even on the part of those stars who professed themselves strongly opposed to them in the beginning. If the public wants them to talk, they'll talk as best they can, and let the lisps lisp, and the "s's" sizzle as they will. Just the same, we rather surmise that deep down in their hearts most of the older silent players feel that fate has played them a grotesque trick, after an era of comparative joy and peace fulness. Charlie Chooses Blonde. Charlie Chaplin's new leading woman is a blonde, and her name is Virginia Cherrill. She will be seen in "City Lights," his new picture, now under way. This completes a cycle for Charlie. In Georgia Hale, who appeared in "The Gold Rush," he chose a brunette, and in Merna Kennedy, his lead in "The Circus," an auburn-haired girl. Skipping Lita Grey, who never was actually seen in one of his comedies, though she played a considerable part in his personal life, this makes a one-two-three rotation, as regards the types he has selected. [Continued on page 94]