Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-03
Flashes From the Screen
BY c. e. Nelson.

I marked success during the past
few years. His efforts have not
placed him among the payers OF
| great income taxes, but, according
to C. Graham Baker of the First
National studios, he may have q
better chance with the talking
pictures. There has been deartil
of ideas for the sound pictures, as
the average patron will notice,
and the First National organiza-
ton alone requires 200 stories e
year. Talking pictures have
brought a change in the attitude
OF the producers toward original
stories, and now there is ready
market for the originals. Here are
few words from Mr.. Baker:
During the 1929 season we
bought many stage plays because
they are in the best form for quick
adaptation into movie script. OF
course, the dialogue is there, and
the continuity is similar to that
which we follow in the talking
picture. Such pictures require lit
tie work on the part of the seem
ario staff, and we were in hurry
for stories. There is tremendous
market for original stories. We
cannot find even half of the 200
which we require each year. The
number of New York stage hits
can be counted on the fingers OF
ones hand, and the same holds
true with successful novels. 1t is
but natural, therefore, that First
National and other studios are
looking for good manuscripts.
Buying the right stories is the
biggest problem of motion picture
production. We will take plots
from any place, providing we can
use them for screen stories with
out having to work them over too
much. We are still on the lookout
for stories with plenty of action,
for these, as in silent pictures, arc
the best screen fare. We have
found that stage and screen audi
enceS like the same sort of thing.
If a play makes big hit on the
stage, it usually makes "a bigger
hit as a screen production"
X y ~
THE Indianapolis IndorserS of
Photoplays have failed to put
their stamp of approval on THE
Cock-Eyed World" When inter-
viewed, members of the special
committee which viewed the pic
ture said: 1--WE do not want to in
dorSe pictures with that sort of
low comedy" However, the picture
will have another hearing along
about November S.
PICTURES in the making: Work
has been started on Seven
Keys to Baldpate." Richard Dix is
the star and Miriam Seegar plays
opposite. Others in the cast are
Margaret Livingston, Lucien Lit
tlefield, De Witt Jennings, Crau-
ford Kent, Alan Roscoe and Joseph
Allen.
Clarence Brown. the director,
has started production on the new
Greta Carlo feature, anna
Christie" This perturbation OF
the Eugene O'Neil play will mark
Miss CARLOS first appearance in
the dialogue films. Others In the
cast are Marie Dressler, Charles
Bickford and George Marion.
Billie Dove has completed work
in THE Other Tomorrow" Grant
Withers and Chester Morris have
the leading male roles.
The new Richard Barthelmess
picture, "Son of the Gods" has
been completed. Constance Ben
nett has the leading feminine
role.
After months of preparation and
rehearsalS, the Harry Richman
film for United Artists has started
production under the title of
broadway Vagabond." Joan Ben
nett plays opposite the star. Irv-
ing Berlin wrote the songs which
Richman will sing. Others in the
cast are James Gleason, Richard
Tucker, Lilyan Tashman and
Juliette Compton.
Kathryn Crawford plays oppo-
site Glen Tryon in Paradise
Alley" being made at the Univer-
sal studio.
n II
THE Paramount organization is
planning a New Hollywood"
on Long Island-a complete pro-
duction unit in the East. Two
features are now being produced
in the Long Island studios, 1.-THE
Laughing Lady," starring Ruth
Chatterton, and an untitled Ben
Hecht picture, with Charles Rug
giles, Helen Morgan, Clayton jack
son and others.
This idea of an Eastern studio
simplif1es matters with stage stars
who are engaged on Broadway
They are able to work in the
studios in daylight and on the
stage at nights. They are not
forced to make long trips to Cali