The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-19
Lasky Is
forStage
Players
Man in Charge of Movie
Production Makes
Statement.

,TOMPLETE justification of the
" policy of drawing on the
Broadway stage for casts that can
talk is seen by Jesse L. LaSky, first
vice president in charge of produc-
ton of the Paramount Famous
Lasky Corporation, who yesterday
expressed enthusiastic approval of
the all-talking pictures made at the
reopened Long Island studio and
told of extensive plans for future
productions in the east.
Mr.. Lasky during recent weeks
has been closely in touch with the
eastern studio, personally watching
the work and comforting with execu-
tives as to policies to be pursued.
1.-THE two first all-talking feature
pictures made at the studio, The
Letter and The Hole in the WALL
have completely justified the policy
of drawing upon the Broadway stage
for casts which can talk" said Mr..
LaSky.
These two pictures, showing the
widest variety in type and subject
matter, should be recognized as set
ing new standards of excellence. So
rapid is the advancement, mechan-
ically and technically, in this new
field that believe these latest pro-
auctions will be able to surprise and
delight the public. To my judg-
ment they seemed to be superb
achievements. I have also viewed
about twenty short features pro-
duced at the Long Island studio, and
I am delighted at their high quail
ity.
1.-THE Letter. which is to have
its premiere at the Criterion theater
in a few weeks, is an outstanding
example of fine stage play being
provided with a great cast and
adapted for the films with taste,
skill and fidelity. Jeanne Eagles,
the star. has turned in a perform
ance of which any actress on either
stage or screen might be proud The
supporting cast includes o. P. Heg-
gle, Reginald Owen and Herbert
Marshall, all of them established
names on the speaking stage. 1t
was directed by Jean de Linur,
under the supervision of Monta
Bell, the studio production execu-
tive.
1.-The Hole in the Wall was de-
signed to be a spectacular thriller
with varied range of sound and
lavish pictorial quality. 1t was
directed by Rot ert Florey, an expert
in novel angles and striking shadows
effects. I found it high-pressure
exciting entertainment. The cast:
Claudette Colbert, one of the most
sought-after young leading women
on the stage; Edward G. Robinson.
greatest of modern character stars;
David Newell, juvenile lead OF
great promise, and the established
favorite, Louise Closer Hale.
Following the successful COM
pletion of these features, the studio
now has embarked upon the pro-
duction of two big pictures of the
1lASlACSO IdA1OC. IOAO1IcL0 LILA,
our great star of the silent screen,
who has right legitimate back
ground, is making that fine stage
farce, Nothing but the Truth And
Walter Huston, stage star of The
Barker and Elmer the Great
heads the cast of the successful
newspaper drama, Gentlemen of the
Press
ION Feb. l we expect to begin our
first big musical comedy in talking
films, The Cocoanuts, starring the
greatest comedy attraction of the
stage, the Four Marx Brothers.
George S. kaufman, author of the
books for the stage production of
The Cocoanuts,' is advising us.
Irving Berlin, composer of the
original music, is writing new
score.
In March we plan to start
another big starring drama for
Jeanne Eagles. 1t will have a cast
and be produced on scale as great
as The Letter
Production of short features at