Universal Weekly (1920, 1923-27)

VOL. 26, No. 18 Universal Weekly 29 Lewis Stone to Star Profoundly Moved Wyler and Bessie Love In “Freedom of Press” By “Les Miserables” Return to “U” City LEWIS STONE has been selected for the leading role in “The Freedom of the Press” which George Melford will direct for Universal. Marceline Day will play an important role. Donald Keith and Robert Emmett O’Connor are also members of the cast. Other players will be selected in a few days. The picture is now in production. “The Freedom of the Press” is an original story by Peter B. Kyne. It is described as a tribute to the independent attitude of editors throughout the country and is based upon a theme of great topical interest. The press associations and daily papers have expressed their willingness to co-operate in the production of this picture. Universal Leads Off In New Movie Book <4T) REARING into the Movies,” a new book just on the stands, edited by Charles Reed Jones, leads off with Universal in a chapter by Laura La Plante on “Breaking in as an Extra.” The Laemmle organization also is represented in the book by a chapter written by Reginald Denny on “Taking the Breaks” and by a chapter ,on “Children in Pictures” by L. D. McKeen, father of Snookums, the Stern Brothers baby star of “The Newlyweds and Their Baby” series. “Breaking Into the Movies” is a symposium of expert information on the motion picture industry by recognized actors, actresses, directors, cameramen, technicians, scenarists, executives and others, and is said to be the most complete compendium of screen information now on the market in handy form. It is a book of 215 pages, bound in regulation cloth binding, with an attractive cover. It was published by the Unicord Press. “L‘ ES MISERABLES” is the sort of picture that elicits spontaneous letters of appreciation from patrons of theatres all over the country. The following letter was sent to Frank L. Browne, manager of the Criterion Theatre in Los Angeles, California : “I cannot let this day go by without telling you how much we enjoyed the showing of Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Miserables’ last night. . “I have rarely had an experience which moved me more. That is partly due to the fact that the book, ‘Les Miserables,’ was the book which I read oftenest in my youth and with which I have the deepest and profoundest associations, and partly due to the complete sincerity and artistic skill with which the parts were taken. I have never seen a better actress than the child Cosette. I wish I could hope that multitudes of people could have the privilege of seeing your great picture and I shall be glad to have you quote me to that effect.” — Ernest C. Moore, Los Angeles, Calif. W ILLY WYLER, director, and Bessie Love, co-star of the Universal picture “Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?” arrived at Universal City following two weeks in New York making exterior scenes of prominent places and the police force. Here they were joined by Tom Moore, who will play the elusive role of Kelly, and commenced at once upon interiors. The Cozine brothers, Arthur and Ray, have completed additional general scenes of the Police department and New York City and have despatched the film to the Coast. “Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?” is an adaptation of a story by Leigh Jacobson. Kelly is a doughboy who joined the New York Police force following the war. Paul Leni’s Genius Praised in Toledo O MOTION PICTURE EDITION W. Russell Goes To “U” City WARD RUSSELL, author of “The Worm Turns,” a popular novel of college life recently purchased by the Universal Pictures Corporation, has left for Universal City to confer with Fred Newmeyer on the production of the story. Finders Keepers {losers weepers) by Paul Corbel l ^Merton H. dories : \jP.> \jo2i : ■ 11 Laura La Plante, the star in Universal’s “Finders Keepers” has inspired the song by the same name which is published by Villa Moret, San Francisco. NCE again the directorial genius of Paul Leni receives comment of the sort that few megaphone experts in this or any other country can claim. This time the Toledo News Bee voices its approval as follows: “Chiefly responsible for the sensational success scored by Universal’s silversheet version of the famous mystery thriller, ‘The Cat and the Canary,’ coming to the Vito-Temple screen Saturday, is the directorial genius of Paul Leni. A European megaphone wielder of great renown abroad, Leni makes his bow as an American producer with this picture. “Leni first entered the directorial limelight with his production of ‘The Three Wax Works,’ which he made for UFA. When exhibited in the United States this picture provoked excited comment on every hand. The praise that has been heaped upon his first American production marks him as a highly valuable acquisition. “The melodramatic values of John Willard’s spookey play have been heightened through Leni’s use of Continental technique in the employment of novel camera angles and manipulation of light and shadow. “Laura La Plante is starred in the film, her support including such veteran players as Flora Finch, Tully Marshall, George Siegmann, Gertrude Astor, Forrest Stanley, Arthur Edmund Carew and Martha Mattox.”