The Washington times., 1928-05-23

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Copyright. 1923, king Features
Syndicate. Incl
LOS ANGELES, Cal, May 22.--
Far be II from me to intimate
that the .build-up' system used
to ba1lyhoo battles Of the
century Is also utilized in the
movie business. But, despite the
varid publicity which has been
handed out regarding the selection
OF ..gnagonlia for Universals
big special. Show Boat have
always felt that after the tumult
and the shouting died, Mary
Ph4lbin would be selected for the
role. Mary is Universal con-
tract player. She is the type for
the role, and she has proven
her worthiness for it In several
recent pictures. So why should
Universal look further? Except
Of course. to give the publicity
department q helping hand. In
any event zita Johann Is OUT
for the asserted reason that she
cannot break her present stage
contract. And, am creditably
informed that q wire from Sarl
LaemneIe. himself, cinches the
coveted role for Mary Philbin.
Now that Lily Damita has
arrived, and has been paraded
before the eyes Of Hollywood at
one Of Samuel GOIdwyn's ire
mendous parties. everything seems
set for her and Ronald Coleman
rather be right than be Presi-
dent, I il IS something of
satisfaction to tell you that the
first film Brenon viii direct them
IN win be- based On Joseph
Conrad's story The Rescue,
rather than The Tale Of Two
Cities. : In sticking to The
Rescue despite assertions from
the Goldwyn office that The
Tale Of Two Cities would be
the picture, was influenced by
my knowledge that Director
Herbert Brenon has just
purchased yacht. What more
natural, then. than that he
should make q sea pictured
Wheels of Chance, originally
called sRoulette. was previewed
last night It calls for con-
ordinations to Richard Barthel-
mess. as the film Is acclaimed
the finest that First National has
ever made. Dick now begins
work on Out or The Ruins.
You'll be pleasantly surprised to-
morrow upon learning the
identity Of Richards leading lady.
Esther Ralston win begin her
climb to Class Al stardOm imme-
nediately upon her return from
Hawaiian vacation. Esther viii
be gone another month, and will
then play the lead In thigh so
ciety. IS She has just completed
.Sawdust Paradise Mr.. Lasky
must have had Esther among
those in mind when he declared
that Paramount will bring q new
type OF s.itfulIness into prom
inence by playing up girls possess
sing stately dignity and q patrician
appearance.
If vou want. 10 scare the baby
into behavior Just take 1t to see
..Beggars OF Life. z Then you can
threaten that one Of the char
acters Twill get you if you don't
watch out. There is surely
fine collection of menace" in
the film. Thus far Wallace
Berry, Jim TulIy, Blue Washing
ton, the gigantic negro, and
George Kotsonaros, the wrestler,
have been selected, Just one
closeup Of those four faces and
Peck Bad Boy, will be a
Little Lord Fauntleroy.
Do YOU remember the good old
Corse PaytOn .sMeIIers. !" In which
the Northumberland dress-suited,
cigarette smoking villain would
hiss: 1.-THE Bridge at Midnight!
Well, those very words form the
title Of the Movietone number
Mary Duncan will make for Fox
lust as soon as she completes her
role in 1.-The River. Z The only
uuestion i'm my mind is whether
the Kisses will turn into lisps
when reproduced on the sound
device.
It seems that plans to film La
Tosca in sunny Italy have been
abandoned. for George Fitzmaur-
Ice is making all arrangements
10 produce it in Hollywood, with
Billie Dove in the title role. After
.HTosca ii completed, Fitzmaufice
plans to direct pictured based
on Don Ryrne's story, Change.
ling. The title will be changed
before release