Variety (May 1929)

Wednesday/Hay 1, 1929 PICTURES VARIETY immS LOOK BIG iilDBACK ON RELEASES Jjrtra Strong List of Screen . .. Attractions in Sight — " Current Fashions in Films Changing Too Rapidly to Chance Delay in Ezhibi- tion AK ALUSOUND POLICY ' Theatre chain executives are pre- igfai-Ins tor the strongest Uneup of picture attractions of any quarter for any yeeir during the coming aununer. There will be from 16 to 20 -surefire $2 smashes released for the regular houses within the next £our months. With this lineup of tested and proven box office power, wired, pic- ture bouses should have the best summer business of any season to date. With the evident quality of these pictures It Is likely that al- most all wired theatres will have all sound prgorams only, doing away with stage shows and bands as un- necessary both for cost and In slow- ing up the tempo of the quickly . moving talkers. '.' AU-sound policy trials have been jleclded on by one of the largest .ohalns with plana for as many ^ ittOURes as are likely to lend them- ' Beives to an all sound policy being perfected. Talking shorts and dialog comedies will be booked In to re- place stage shows and bands. Though perhaps expensive for smaller theatres the chains stand to make the largest pro&ta on record with their all sound programs, elim- inating all stage show costs and with that also musicians and stage hands over the hot spell. This Is the first time known of Where such a quantity of pictures of the strongest box office calibre have hit the market at approxi- mately the same time. The prac- tically unanimous release Is due to conditions which may never again be paralleled. Distributors are re- leasing generally with little or no ceremony, even the topnotchers be- ing given only a perfunctory stay on Broadway at ti before being sent Into the regular runs. Warner Bros, started releasing )2 talkers after a brief Broadway pre- lim and all other distributors are now proceeding in a similar fashion. If held back for the new season talker tastes may change, or al- ways handicapped in the event that something better along the same lines may be turned loose In the general runs ahead of the special. Releases Heading the list of box office at- tractions are the two outstanding dramatic smashes of the season be- fore last, "Burlesque," and '"Broad- way." "Madame X," M-G-M's latest, topping everything dramatic pro- duced In talkers to date. Is also on the list. "Coconuts," Marx Bros.' comedy talker, will be given a short run on the street as a special, but is also slated for general distribu- tion this summer. Several musical productions, "The Desert Song," "Fox Follies," "Words and Music," "Show Boat," and two or three musical comedies, "Broodway Babies," and "The Broadway Melody," are on the books. Among the others ore "Innocents of Paris,'—"The Trial of Mary Du- gan," "Bulldog Drummond," "The Squall," and "Twin Beds." In the Uneup as above .Paramount has three. First National threcr Metro- ,jQ6ldwyn^Ma^e£_tly^^^ United Ar- *"tl"su"two, "universal two. Pox twoT' Warners one. Radio Pictures will not have any specials on the street until early In the fall, "Rio Rita" being sched- uled to go into production In July. "Syncopation" has been releas- ed. ''Hit the Deck" and "No, No, (Continued on page S2) AUTO OFFOSISH with the advent of some nice weather ajni the removal of the canvas covers from tl^e Henrys an exhlb has figured that the sale of every five gal- lons of gas meant two seats right out of his theatre. It haa been generally con- ceded that the biggest opposlsh to the picture houses is the auto when the weather is right, More so as the number of cars in use Increase over the coun- try. R-K-O Stndios Reopen LiOS Angeles, April 30. After three months devoted to re- construction and preparing for next year's program, RKO studios have resumed production with two units in work. This la beginning of a program for 30 pictures with each produc- tion on a 24-day working schedule for the program type and seven weeks for specials. Studio plans to complete the group by Feb. 8. Radio's Lineup LiOS Angeles, April 30. Radio's present production per- sonnel consists of three associate producers,' five staff writers, five di- rectors, and nine players under con- tract for more than one picture. Associate producers in charge of William LeBaron are Henry Hobart, Luther Reed and Miles Connelly. Staff writers are Eugene Walter, Jane Murfln, Maude Fulton, John Russell and John Brownell. Direc- tors, Mai St. Clalr, Herbert .Bren- non, Wesley Ruggles, William Cow- en and Bert Glennon. Contract play- ers—Bebe Daniels, to star in four pictures, and Olive Borden and Betty Compson, a like number. Three Moore Brothers are under contract for one pibture with option for more while Rod La Rocque will star in three, leaving Sally Blaine and Hugh Trevor under long term contracts to appear as featured players. W. E. Infringement Suit Toledo, April 30. Sllverphone Corp., Maiden-Toledo, Inc., and C. A. Fox, are named de- fendants in two suits filed in fed- eral court here by Western Elec- tric Infringement of patented loud- speaking telephone receivers used In public addresses and talking mo- tion picture equipment is charged. ' OUBEBT'S WESTEBN Los Angeles, April 30. John Gilbert's first under his new M-G contract will be "The Saga," based on the life of "Billy the Kid," which may become the ultimate title. Wlllard Mack Is making a dialog adaptation of the story, taken from the play of some years back. Pro- duction scheduled for July 1. STABBING POWELL Los Angeles, April 30. As a result of clicking In dialog pictures, William Powell has been elevated to stardom by Paramount. He will top his next release, "The Greene Murder Case." Is now com- pleted. DOLOBES' SONGS Los Angeles, April 30. Dolores Del Rio will sing three times In "Evangeline." Premiere is slated for the last week in May. New Orleans has asked for the premiere of this no- dlalog feature. ——GBrnett'r Stunting— Los Angeles, April 30. Tay Qarnett, directing Pathe's "The Plying Fool," did his own stunt flying in the picture. Oarnett was an instructor In the naval air force during the War and had his . license renewed a month ago; $300 Home Talker lor Standard FOm Machines A. Pam Bluntenthal, bead of the Home Talkie Machine Corp., will shortly announce the production .of a home talker with a larger base which will accommodate full sized records. Idea is that any Yitaphone or Movietone production can be shown If - a projector handling standard film is used. With the completion of' produc- tion-and distribution plans for this new base for home talkers, Blumen- thal will line up production of fea- ture length talking pictures to be shown in homes exclusively, either through the 16 mm or full size ma- chines. Portable home talker capable of playing full size 'Vltaphone attrac- tions, with incidental equipment, wlU probably cost In the neighbor- hood of $300. Production of aborts and feature length talkers will like- ly be made at the RCA studios here. In the extensive use of Its port- able souna device now well launch- ed Stanley Advertising, industrial film producers, also headed by Blumenthal, Is making Industrials with sound. Lineup of industrial users of Stanley's new productions Includes Consolidated Gas, Phila- delphia Savings Ba^k, American Car and Foundry, Oorham's Bowery and East River Bank, Canada Dry, Namm Departmental store and others. Paramount'* 16 Los Angeles, April 30. With 16 pictures under way, all departments at Paramount studios ore worldng night and day In an effort to get productions out on re- lease schedule dates. Seven pictures are now being filmed, three are In final prepara- tion, and six are In the cutting room. JUNE CONVENTIONS New York and June mark the time and place for most of the film con- ventions this year. Time has been set by Hays so as to give all com- panies a chance to unload product together In view of the changes made by the Introduction of sound'. Warners Is the latest to fall In line, starting its conclave here-June 16. SOT JANIS BEPLACES LUPE Los Angeles, April 30. Dorothy Janlo will play the part originally assigned to Lupe Velez In "Lummox." Latter rebelled against the type of character she was to do in the picture. Miss Janls came to U A from M-G-M, where she played opposite Ramon Novarro In "The Pagan." nNALLT ACCEPTED Los Angeles. April SO. . Fox has finally accepted for pro- duction Sonya Levlne's adaptation of "Behind That Curtain." Story was adapted by half a dozen writers previously. It Is now much changed about with Irving Cummlngs to direct 82 CLOSE-UPS Los Angeles, April 30. In "Dr. Fu Manchu," a mystery picture. Paramount made 82 close- ups of players, besides a number of others of Inanimate objects. These will average about 16 to a reel. Erie "Menacing" Again Los Angeles, April 30. Eric 'Von Strohelm has been sign- ed as the heavy for "The Great Gabbo," to be directed by James Cruze. Title has been changed from "The Road Show." Takes Government Job Los Angeles, April 30. Prank Murray, on the Fox studio publicity staff for six years, has re ilgneiT'to go"'to" WalTiTngfoliriJr'C:' He will be in the government de- partment of public relations. Lake's .Destination Los Angeles, April 30, Arthur Lake's five-year contract with Universal expires in July. He may go with Fox or First National, ANGELS By J. C Nugent The first thing we learned on the speaking stage was that the man row. and the man In the last seat right. In the front row, and all be- tween them, should be able to see the play. Thus the director Instilled Into the beginner the consciousness of an Imaginary line running from the middle of the stage at the foot- lights straight back to the scenery, flat or drop, as the case might be, and this'Imaginary line was called the center. Another imaginary line ran from the left proscenium to the end of the center line at the back, and a similar one from the right proscenium edge to Join It and the center line at the extreme back. This formed a V-shaped angle within which only could the action be seen. Necessarily much action had to take j>lace in the upper Comers as in the cose of groups and grouping, but some action in the center had to make intelligible to those who could not actually see what was gcolng on in those corners. In the old tedinlque of the speak- ing stage s man right of center kept his left toot and left hand preferably in advance, thus throw- ing bis front partially toward the audience. The man on the left of center advanced his right foot and hand, preferably likewise. Of course when the sense of the text called for a departure from this arbitrary general principal, the sense was re- garded first. For Instance, in hand shaking, no one went so far as to have the man on the left use hie right hand and the man on the right use his left hand. The angle of vision narrowed as It went up-stage. In the moving picture technique, this is reversed. From a given opening the angle of vision becomes wider instead of narrower, from the single, central eye. of the main camera. Through an opening no larger than a double door, for Instance, you can see 20 miles In the background a width of countless miles. A distance of sea as wide as could be seen through any such opening in nature. That distance is limited only by the curve of the earth, a matter of sqpie three or four miles, I believe. If .there are mountains or promentories, we can see to Helena, Mont,, and gone. Starting from Scratch I am too vague on particulars out here as yet to talk more about moving pictures. It takes a long time to get one's outlines. My im- pression so far is that it is like a dress rehearsal of the Day of Judgment. You meet friends you never knew you had and ac- quaintances you had long forgotten. The beautiful part of it is that they all start fr-m scratch, as in Barrle's play, "The Admirable Crelghton." You remember he was with a group who were ship-wrecked on an island where each had to make good regardless of former grandeur or condition of servitude. Being a Lady's servant in England, he be- came the Lady's master on the Island because he could oook and chop wood and the Lady couldn't. All that the Lady could do in England was about as useless as the knowledge the limited New York actor brings to Hollywood. However, the Lady learned to chop wood and cook and a few things, and, the first meehanlcal requisites having been supplied, and more artistic ones having gradually be- come necessary, she, having the more artistic brain, might have again be- come his superior. As It happened, the ship from England came too soon and eoch returned to his proper sphere. Of course some ladles never would ha.vo learned and some servants never would have been capable of learning. The battle Is always to the strong. Well, let's see. I have been here five days. I met Guthrie McClIntlc. I am here to write, act and direct. rh5pe i^sers-«haHe5-t5'aire?!t~M(r^ Cllntlc. He has directed me. I would teach him how to take a Joke. On the trftJn was Fannie Hurst, the ra.dlant lady of literature. She has a fine-looklhg, interefstlng hus- band, damn Itl Around the hotel lobby X met In turn Charlie King, he of "Broadway Melody"; Anita Pftge of same, and others; Fred Nlblo, a friend of yore and deservedly a high man here; had a glimpse of Jolson In a tuxedo, looking younger than ever; of WllUe Collier, Chuck Relsner, Sam Woods, Gladys Unger, and, oh, yes, one who was, and I think still is, the greatest of true broad Irish comedians. Tom Na'wn. Joe Keaton, the famous Buster whom I last luew as a Idd and remember particularly l>ecause, as a vaudeville child, he was always quiet and polite. I remember bis tipping his hat when calUng me "Mister Nugent." No wonder he has been very successful. I have always noticed politeness In young actors and performers. Sammy Lee, also out here prominently, always had, to me, that quality and a oool, unpretentious poise which gets young professionals farther in Amerloa tlian any other one quallfl- cation that I know ot. I have had pleasant chats with Clifford Brooks, Gus Edwards, Jimmy Forbes, WUIard Mack and many. friends of olden days. Of course, the big Itick was to see Elliott, boy of my heart, on the Metro-Ooldwyn-Mayer lot, and feel the Joy of seeing btm shot Retaining Only 2 Cohan Tunes for ''Johnny Jonej^" ^ Los Angeles, April 80. First National will retain but two original George Cohan tunes in "Lit- tle Johnny Jones," which this stn- dlo will do as a musical comedy. "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy" will be used. Herman Ruby and M. K. Jerome have been assigned to wYlte addl- tlonal music. This Is the Eddie Buzzell picture. Fairbanks' "If Los Angeles, April 80. Douglas Fairbanks intends fol* lowing "Taming of the Shrew" with 'If I Were King," Rights to the play, adapted from the novel, are owned by Fairbanks Actor-producer estimates the Shakespearean, picture will require six weeks, carrying him to the end of July. This will enable him to finish Ills own picture during the present year. 42 Sun Arcs Los Angeles, April 80. An interior-exterior set for Para- mount's "Magnolia" carries' the. heaviest electrical load of carbon lamps ever assembled on a stage for a dialog picture. Of the 22,000 amperes pulling on the set, 16,500 were from carbon lamps, 42 of which were sun arcs. BOBINSON'S DUAL DUTY Los Angeles, April 30. Casey Robinson, until recently a film editor and. scenarist for First National, has been placed under contract by M-Q-M to write and direct his own dialog story. Title Is "The Masquerader. Robinson Is 28, and the youngest of the megaphone wlelders in Holly- wood at present. HABTHA FBANKLIN DIES Los Angeles, April 30. Martha Franklin, 60, screen act* rcBS, died of a heart attack in Hol- lywood April 19. Her last picture was "Younger Generation." She is survived by her brother, Sydney Franklin, actor. Barbara. Leonard Opposite Los Anselcs, April 30. Barbara Leonard will api>ear op- posite Charlie Ciiase in the Roach talker.—It-wlll"bo-reloasod"through-' .Metro. Haines' Track Story Los Angclcs, April 30. Byron Morgan Is writing an origi- nal on race track life for M-G-M called "Speedway," William Haines Is to be starred.