Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23

talking pictures from which
one may expect big results,
= especially when consider
ing past work of the B. T. (be-
fore talkie) days. James Cruze,
who manufactured such silent
pictures as 1.-The Covered Wagon"
"Old Ironsides," "Beggar on
Horseback" and others, has now
become a talkie director, and his
first picture will be The Great
Gabbo," suggested by story from
the pen of Ben Hecht. CruZe will
be assisted in the production by
Erich Won Strohein, who will have
the leading role in the picture.
This will be the first time Won
Stroheim has worked for another
director since he took up direc-
ton himself, about Is years ago.
Cruze announces that he has made
his last silent Aim, and that his
work hereafter will be confined
exclusively to the sound pictures.
Won Stroheim, 1t cannot be denied,
is an excellent screen actor; work.
ing with Cruze, he should reach
Stardom without much trouble.
Pauline Starke, little heard Of
during the past year or so, has
been re-discovered and will have
the leading feminine role in THE
Great Gabbo." Others in the cast
include Margie Kane and Don
Douglas, a light opera baritone.
There will be chorus of 800 and
an orchestra Of 125.
&& ~
A SIDE from Equity troubles, the
announcement Of annual pro-
grams and talk about the talkies,
there seems to be little doing in
the production studios this week,
so large part of this writer's col
unn or so can be devoted to
short flashes"
THE talking pictures have devel-
oped a new style of extra girl
out Hollywood way. In the old
days all the extra girl had to do
to earn her daily wage was to look
pretty. Now, the directors are de-
inanding talent. The extra girl
must be able to sing and dance.
Some of the new pictures are
using hundreds Of girls In the en-
sembles.
y -
A LSO the talkies have brought
new work for the directors.
Before a picture is shot" there
are numerous rehearSalS-some-
thing that was unknown in the
old silent" days. In filming the
Fannie Hurst story, "LummoX,"
Herbert Brenon had all his play
erS lille-perfect before they were
finally taken before the camera
and the microphone. The direc-
tor announces that his company
had been drilled to such an extent
that 1t could have placed upon
the stage Of any theater and given
q very creditable performance be-
fore . single scene for the picture
was made.
UATAKING TT TOUGH" is not
AZ the title Of one of the new
crime pictures in vogue today. 1t
Is picture of an educational Aim 4
Just released by the Bureau of
Mines, and 1t visualizes strikingly
the manufacture and uses of alloy
Steels. There Is not a tough boot
logger or gang leader in the entire
picture-and no music.
+ x&
UTOURNEY'S END" the war play
which made such a hit on the
Broadway stage, is reported to
have been purchased by London
picture producer for record
price. Photophone will be used in
the sound version. GainSborougll
Pictures is the purchaser, and
$50, 900 were paid for the screen
rights.
TO you remember that stage
thriller, 1.-The Thirteenth
Chair? # you do, or If you do
not. you will no doubt see some
thing extraordinary when the
screen version comes to town.
Margaret Wycherly, stage actress
who has been placed under con-
tract by Metro Gcldwyn-Mayer,
win have the featured role Of the
Bayard Valley play.
-
EvELYN BRENT has replaced
Mary Eaton in the cast of
sFast Company" the Paramount
,Hersion Of the Ring Lardner play,
rElnaer the Great" Jack Oakie
and "skeets" Gallagher are In
eluded In the cast.
SOPHIE TUCKER, who has been
called 1.-The last of the red-hot
snommas," is reported to have
scored q success in her musical
screen play, "Honky Tonk," but
the same report brings the infor-
nation that the picture brims
over with the "old-time hokum,"
that it has to do with the Pag-
liacci theme of laughing clown
with q breaking heart. From this
one would gain the information
that the plot of "Honky Tonk" is
not new, although Nine. Tucker
draws much applause with her
songs.
HOLLYWOOD reports that Alice
White may leave First Ma
tional Pictures because her salary
demands cannot be met Officials
Of the producing company are at
tempting to sign her at 81 900
week, while Alice claims she is
worth $4,000. From this view
point 1t would seem that the First
National officials were stretching
q point in offering her the thou
sand.
THE Western picture, long a
thriller, but silent except for
the hoof-beats of the trap-drum-
anar In To he nniSU Hnnf Gibson