The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-05-22
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Los ANGELES. May 22.-1f
Harry Pollard has his way, the
leading role-that of Magnolia
lin Universal's film version OF
"Show Boat" will be played by
a young lady who has never been
in pictures. She is zita Johann.
zita has been on the stage, prin-
cipally with the theater guild, for
several years. She is one OF many
who took screen tests for the role
during Director Pollard's recent
New York search. And at present
ii looks as though her test has
secured the job for her. Ilta
seems to possess all the require
ments. including an excellent voice
which ii necessary because OF the
sound accompaniment which the
film ifs to have, unless plans are
changed.
There has been a shake-up in
the routine of directors at FIRST
National. And it looks as though
Bill Setter, Laura La Plante's hus.
band. and Mervyn Leroy the kid
director. who is married to Edna
Murphy. are scheduled to benefit
Nv ii. Setter has created quite a
fiirore since he left Universal and
Reg Denny's comedies to direct
dramatic vehicle with Colleen
Moore. The new line up gives
setter waterfront and Syn.
tl1etic Sin''-tl1e latter with Col
leen. Leroy. whose latest film,
"4arold Teen. is considered
great guns for the box office gets
aChildren OF. the Ritz" with Jack
Mulhall and Dorothy Mackaill, and
.sBluffers, which will star Alice
White. These will follow immedi.
ately after Leroy completes Oh,
Kay! which Is Colleen Moores
next. Alice whites first starring
film will be Show Girl, and Al
Santell will WELD the Megaphone
according to the new plans. lie
Roy is also scheduled to do When
Irish Eyes Are Smiling" which
should be one Of the pictures Col
leen will make under her present
contract prior to the rumored
move over to United Artists.
Mathew Betz. that very villain
Gus screen menace, Is looking for
ward to some busy days. Betz is
cast fl the Warner Brothers film,
Terror which will be vitaphoned
throughout. Terror" ii a mys.
terry drama now playing in Lon.
don, and in its cast will be May
McAvoy, Holmes Herbert, Louise
Fazenda, Alec Francis and Joseph
Gerard. Betz is also the First
- L. In
Kay" in which George Cooper viii
also have part.
When Jack Dempsey gave a
thought to a likely chap to play
opposite him in the fight sequence
Of the Belasco show which he and
Estelle win do this fall, he thought
Of an old-time pug by the name of
Jack Leon. whom he had seen in
Hollywood. Jack set out to give
Leon the job. but found that I'M
der the name of Ivan Linow.
which he was really christened,
the former fighter holds five-year
Fox contract and is one of Winnie
Sheehan's most priced players.
They say the huge Linow is a WOW
in the Red Dancer of Moscow,
and out Out-Maclaglens Maclag.
len in the rough-neck type of role.
incidentally. Dempsey seconded
Linow in his biggest fight. And
years later Linow did the same for
Dempsey.
The best test of self-confidence
Is whether or no star will put his
own money in his pictures. So
give the self-confidence palm to
Johnny Hines, who will sink his
role on 1.-THE Girl Friend"-the pic
ture, of course. 1t is positively to
be made with some talking device.
Musical comedy is Johnny's old
racket, as you may remember If
you recall him as the bellhop COM
edian in Emma Trentini's show,
1.-The FREELY" Present plans in
clude the signing of New York
musical comedy star possessing a
'big name" to play the girl part
in Johnny's picture. It's a bit
early for predictions, but don't
be surprised If you find the Hines
films released by Fox.
Col. Tim Mccoy, back from his
well-publicized service with the
eleventh cavalry. is back IN buck
skin on the Metro lot for Nor
gan's Last Raid" Lest you think
that the Morgan in question is
Len Morgan, the New York
scribe and film critic. let me ex-
plain that this Morgan is a Civil
War gorilla-which they spelled
Guerilla in those days-who
wrought quite some havoc with
the other side during the north
and south fracas. It's awful to
be ignorant, but I can't remem-
ber-or perhaps I never knew
whether Morgan wore the blue or
the grey when he made that last
raid.
thought for a moment that
Harry Rapf had joined the boy
scouts when I came up on the
Metro executive "having his pic
ture took" with the youthful
leader Of that band who came all
the way from Poland, apparently
just for that purpose. The Polish
boys name is George Jelinski,
and they do say he has travelled
&c, 900 miles bearing greetings
from the boy scouts of Poland to
those of other lands.
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