Evening star., 1928-02-26
FLASHES

NidA 1dNUlltC, ilIS kJd1 VASAA~A NsF ',
of acting making an appear
which was altogether dii1erent
from that of other film players:
Young Ray was at the neignt Oh
his career when he decided 10 60
into the movie game for himSei1.
He was weary OF Sharlng pig
profits with producers. So why
not organize his own company.
stage his own pictures and reap
the dollars?
It may have been that Ray
listened to the advice of others.
but the decision was made. and
he prepared to stage his first pic
ture-a screen version of the
story of Miles StandiSh.
Hundreds of thousands of dol
lars were spent on the produc-
ton. Big things were predicted
for it. It was expected that young
Rays personality would carry it,
even if the picture did not have
the really big punch" The
actor-producer turned his own
bank account into the venture,
and then he borrowed some more
cash. and finally the completed
picture was turned over to the
distributors.
Miles StandiSh" was what is
known in photoplay circles as a
flop" It did not draw enough
money at the box Office windows
to pay the extra people. Charles
Ray lost a fortune, and ne has
never tried to produce another
picture. He went back to the
ranks of the employed, but since
that time he has never been the
popular actor that he was before
Miles StandiSh." One hears very
little of him now.
But another screen player has
arrived to take the place of Ray.
He is William HaineS. an actor
who, in many instances, reminds
one of the early favorite. HaineS
is not better screen actor than
Ray. however. But he has touched
the popula, sAncy, and. most i'm
portant, h. n drawing the cash
at the be. Office window. It
would seen. that he has literally
stepped INTO the shoes Of Ray.
His last picture, West Point"
ranks with his best.
* X
THERE are several reasons why
= the Charlie Chaplin photo
plays should be claSsed among
the big money-makers of the
screen world. Aside from the fact
that the star is the biggest draw
ing card in moviedom, the pic
lures themselves are not eXpen-
sive productions. The casts are
never large; they are not made
up of stars; there is nothing re-
markaple about the photography
itself, and they are not screened
In an elaborate manner. The
Chaplin film is intended for a
money maker. It answers that
purpcae, and it certainly proves
that She elaborate, expensive pro-
ouctitnS are not always bargains
for the producers. the Chaplin
pictures are always record-break-
erS. So much time passes between
them that the public does not tire
OF the little comedian and his
antics. --.--~
'.Ine Circus" upho.ds the stand
ard Of the Chaplin pictures. It
Will continue 70 preaK records ali
over the globe, for chariic is just
about as popular in other coun-
tries as he Is in America.
BROADWAY is being treated 10
- another of the outstanding
German pictureS-a photo drama
said to rank with Variety" The
Last Laugh" and THE Cabinet of
DR.. Caligari." The latest product
of the Ufa Studio Is called THE
Trial of Donald Westhof." and Il
follows somewhat along the lines
Of Theodore Dreiser's novel, The
american Tragedy"
Street Angel" is the title of the
new Janet Gaynor Charles Farrci
picture, which opens in New York
with a world premiere March S.
The story was first titled Lady
Christilinda," and it mas Nea-
politan setting. Direction by
Frank BorZage
"A Girl in Every Port" the
new Victor McLaglen picture, has
opened at the Roxy, in New York.
sx -
IRON the diary OF a movie fan:
l. AT the Columbia few after
moons ago the rather heavy lady.
wearing the long jet eardrops,
said: You know, my dear. just
love Emil Jannirgs. / think he
suffers so wonderfully"
Have you noticed that, al
though Norma Talmadge is just
as beautiful as ever. the pictures
are always diffused when a close
uo is made OF her face? Could it.
be possible that Norma has a
crows foot or two around her
eyes"
Many years ago my first movie
hero was Francis X. Eushman,
Those were the days before he
played opposite Beverly Bayne.
Saw him in that technicolor film
last week, where he took the part
Of George Washington-and ] am
certain he LIS just as handsome as
he was Is years ago. And Francis
has grown son playing movie
leads now"
IRON Hollywood come several
J. items of interest, For in
stance, the engagement OF Nils
Asther and Vivian Duncan Is re-
ported broken.
Buster Keaton's illness has re-
suited in his being ordered 10 the
mountains by his physician,
Jackie Coogan vii! sail early IN
June for England. where he WILL
take part In a series Of pictures
j. is said that James CruZe VIII
produce the pictures indepeno