DEAF AND DUMB ROLE FOR CHARLIE CHAPLIN
Hollywood, April 29 (UP)
Charlie Chaplin is reported to have selected the role of a deaf and dumb clown for his next picture – a film which will be a talkie, and yet so far as he himself is concerned, silent. The picture has been titled, tentatively, “The Jester.”
GIRL CRAZY STAGE HIT IS AT PARAMOUNT
Musical Comedy Shown as It Appeared on Broadway with Same Star
Oakland Tribune, April 29
A new era in stage entertainment started today at the Paramount theater with the presentation of the complete musical comedy “Girl Crazy” exactly as produced in New York.
The star of the Broadway production, Ginger Rogers, and the original cast of sixty-five, will be seen at its local staging.
This is the first time in Oakland history that a deluxe picture house has added full length New York musical comedy to its screen program, at the same time maintained their regular price schedule.
The “Girl Crazy” engagement is the start of a series of greater stage attractions that will follow its week’s run at the Paramount theater. The next week brings Ted Lewis, in person, at the head of a rousing jubilee show with thirty featured entertainers. Then will be seen revues headed by Mae Murray and Raquel Torres.
George Gershwin wrote the music for “Girl Crazy” among which are such well known tunes as “I Got Rhythm,” “Embraceable You” and “I’m Bidin’ My Time.”
This last named number is sung by the Sequoians, a quartet of cowboy singers, and is said to score one of the hits of the show. Comedy of the most uproarious variety and clever dance routines by an outstanding chorus are some of the other principal features.
The screen feature on the same program features Claudette Colbert in “The Wiser Sex,” the story of a daring society girl who becomes the ally of a member of the half-world in order to save her sweetheart from prison. Melvyn Douglas, new leading man, is seen in her support.
FOX GIVES CONTRACT TO THREE GIRL STARS
Los Angeles, April 29 (UP)
The contracts of three budding motion picture stars with Fox Studios were to be presented to the Superior Court today for approval.
The actresses are June Vlasek and Vivian Reid, 17, and Janet Chandler, 19. The law requires contracts entered into by minors to be submitted to the court. Miss Reid is from Pittsburgh.
From Luella O. Parsons:
Los Angeles, April 29
While George Arliss is enjoying the merry month of May in his dear old England, he will pause to talk story to Darryl Zanuck, Alfred Green and John Adolfi. These Warner Brothers folk, traveling abroad, will discuss with Arliss his next picture, “The Rise and Fall of Rothschild.”
It’s a story that is not unlike “Disraeli,” but it deals with one of the greatest financiers the world has ever seen, and sympathetically, you may be sure, if Arliss plays the lead.
There is a question as to whether Alfred Green or John Adolfi will direct “The Rise and Fall of Rothschild.” Both have directed Arliss pictures in the past and both are acceptable to the English actor, who is a bit of an autocrat on the Warner lot.
I picked up a copy of the book “They Call It Sin” by Alberta Stedman Eagan, and the lurid title caught my eye. Maybe it caught the eye of Warner Brothers, for they are producing it with Loretta Young and George Brent in the leading roles.
These two youngsters ought to do well together. But, oh dear, the title – can’t we change it? It sounds so sort or movie-fied. Thornton Freedland, who is now on the Warners lot, will direct it. Perhaps he will have a suggestion for a better title.
A special delivery letter sent James Cagney by Warner Brothers carried his official suspension yesterday. In plain English, the bad boy of Warner Brothers who twice has run out on his contract, was notified that each day that he is absent from the studio that time will be added to his contract if he returns.
He will be unable to work for any other company so long as his contract with Warners is unfinished. And, since only a year or so ago he was reported as getting $250 a week in the movies and he is now being paid $1400 a week. It would seem to a mere reporter that he’d better think twice before he juggles with his movie fate. He must take into consideration that Warners have given him every chance in the matter of good movies.
A group of motion picture enthusiasts were talking a few weeks ago about various actresses. Ann Dvorak, in the opinion of several, was considered the best emotional bet of the year. I admit at first I was a little bit loathe to accept her among our headliners. Then I saw her in several really exacting parts and I decided that my friends were right. She has now been put into “Revolt” opposite Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and from all I can hear she is going to get the best femme parts there at Warners.
Most New York importations for the screen are handsome leading men or petite ingénues. Here comes a heavy, brought out here by Radio, by name of Leslie Banks. He played in the New York stage production “Springtime for Henry,” and is brought to Hollywood for “The Most Dangerous Game,” featuring Joel McCrea and Margaret Perry.
Herbert Brenon is being mentioned as the director for “The Bitter Tea of General Yen” at Columbia.
Cedric Gibbons, art director and husband of the lovely Dolores Del Rio, has left Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, so we hear. His contract expired and he did not renew it.
Snapshots of Hollywood collected at random:
Mrs. Clark Gable, in bright blue ensemble and hat to match, guest of honor at a luncheon given her at the Ambassador by Minna Wallis. Seated next to Mrs. Gable was Norma Shearer, looking exceedingly well in a navy blue dress with white organdy collar.
Bebe Daniels, in a pale gray, fox-trimmed ensemble with gray shoes, leaving early to keep a business engagement. Mrs. Jack Warner, in becoming spring attire. Mrs. Harry Beaumont, ditto.
Seena Owen, in pale blue, glimpsed at the Warner Brothers opening of “The Crowd Roars.” Also, her sister, Lily Hayward, a Warner Brothers writer, all of the Warners executives, Marian Marsh, who has just left the company, and scores of others.
Zasu Pitts buying sports clothes at the Madge Evans shop. Thelma Todd and Zasu leaving for Santa Cruz for a holiday.
Last Minute Rialto News –
By Chester B. Bahn
I hear that –
Clara Bow's husband, Rex Bell, may be opposite her in the projected Fox comeback talkie. It’s Clara’s idea.
M-G-M denies that Marie Dressler’s illness is serious; following the completion of “Prosperity” she will spend a four-weeks’ vacation in the East, later returning to star in “The Old Gal” by Frances Marion.
Marian Marsh has walked the plank at Warner Brothers. Evalyn Knapp has secured her release at the same studio. Others dropped by Warners recently include Mae Madison, Vivienne Osborne, Adrienne Dore and Ruth Hall. Chic Sales also leaves Warners after one more talkie.
M-G-M has given a term contract to Louise Closser Hale.
Paramount is also flirting with Colleen Moore.
Warner Oland turns German in Elissa Landi’s “Burnt Offering.”
Norma Shearer will make “Smilin’ Through” as her next talkie. Sidney Franklin directing.
Ann Dvorak will be opposite Junior Fairbanks in “Revolt.” Doug sports his first mustache in it.
Bob Montgomery will be teamed with Marion Davies in “Good Time Girl.”
Marguerite Churchill will have a role in “Forgotten Commandments” for Paramount.
Franklyn Farnum, once a western star, will support Tom Mix in “The Good Bad Man.”
William Gargan will have the romantic lead opposite Joan Crawford in “Rain.” Then he goes to Radio for “The Animal Kingdom.”
Una Merkel will be in “The Red Headed Woman” supporting Jean Harlow.
Margaret Perry goes to Radio for “The Most Dangerous Game,” courtesy of M-G-M.
Barbara Stanwyck and her husband, Frank Fay, have no children - yet. But they say they intend to have two before long, and the names are already selected. They are Kathleen and Michael. Barbara is the star of “So Big,” based on Edna Ferber’s novel.
Roberti, the famous European circus clown, is the father of Lyda Roberti, blonde dancer who is making her screen debut in “Dancers in the Dark.”
Miss Roberti was born in Warsaw, Poland, and obtained all her education while traveling with different circuses which featured her father, in Russia, France, Hungary, Germany, Egypt and the Orient.
Paramount discovered her in a musical show in Chicago after she followed a married sister to the United States.
Tiffany has set 18 of the pictures it will have for next season, with the complete program to include about 26 pictures. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A Study in Scarlet,” Rider Haggard’s “She” and “The Last Mile” are among the leaders, while others will include: “Those We Love,” “The Death Kiss,” “Badge of Shame,” “Summer Widows,” “The Unpardonable Sin,” “Gentlemen of the Jury” and “Thirteen Men.”
Anita Page, for whom scenarists and casting directors invariably dictate and impending “blessed event,” usually under tragic circumstances, finally attains the dignity of cinematic motherhood in “Night Court.”
