The Washington times., 1929-05-08
Won STR0HEIM
IS BACK AT
ACTING
By DOROTHY HERZOG
1929. Premier Syndicate)

tCODyFeEnt, lSSSs freHier SyHuAcAUoI
HOLLYWOOD, Calf, May s.
A News item, directionally eluci-
dating: In 1917, 80 Long Lefty"
starring Charlotte Greenwood, mer-
ried in a Philadelphia Theater.
Hal Skelly was the comik lead.
Eddie Sutherland, the Juvenile
ditto. May Boley, the soubrette.
Amos Goodell, stage electrician.
In 1929 the group came together
again, capacities slightly altered.
Hal Skelly, starring in Famous
screen version of "Burlesque." Ed.
die Sutherland, co-directing, with
John Cromwell May Boley, the
hi-shouter. Amos Goodell, an
electrician. Being merely matter
of IL years.
Speaking Of "Burlesque," Fa.
nous has decided to change the
title. Reason: 'Tis declared that
folks confuse said title with the
real article. Amt we dumb?
New DOingS
In a small studio on Sunset
Boulevard, q lad named Jimmy
Cruze is getting set for big do
ings.
Jimmy has his own flick outfit
and it looks the INT. Next
week sees him begin grinding
"The Great Gabbo," with Erich
Won Stroheim the big shot. Won
is popped over the part. When 1t
was read to him, he commented,
simply: That's Won Stroheim.
So he returns to the grease
paint.
1t wouldn't be surprising If he
returned to direction under the
Cruze banner, or in collaboration
with another megaphoner. That
may listen absurd, particularly
in view of Queen Kelly" his
current $750,00O effort being on
the Pathe shelf. But it isn't. Won
borders on the genius line. His
greatest enemy Is a mind prone
to overstress the sewerage side
of life.
, Cruze is a business man and a
box office director with fine
sense of balance. II these ele-
ments can be absorbed by Won
Stroheim, he'll step out the big
gest director in the field. Wait
and see if this flick bureau is
far from wrong.
Another prophecy, If you "an
stand it. I'll offer two to one
odds as high as IS bet @ that
Charlie Chaplin becomes affilia.
ted with the Independent Cruze
group. Charlie was enthusiastic
over the role Won Stroheim is
going to play in THE Great
Gabbo." And not only because
he was offered a million dollars
for. two reasons, His own offer
ing, "City Lights" will be all
silent. 1t will not be released be-
fore Cruces cinema. 1t will ap-
proximate an expenditure of $780,
600. If he had made talkie, it
might have jeopardiZed his comedy
and its financial investment. Fur
thermore, by the time he paid his
income tax on a million-dollar
salary he'd have enough left-with
a bit of luck-to purchase an Tee
cream soda at bargain rates.
Chaplin has been heard to say
he is disinterested in the pros
pective merging or United Artists
with Warner Brothers. That
when this transpires he will con-
slider himself a free agent.
What more logical, than to "inde'
pendize" with than Jimmy Grouse!
Cruze, in his way, is lone.
wolf. He works best when he
isn't interfered with. Months
ago, he headed his own outfit. 1t
failed because of an involved
mechanism known as organiza-
ton. Cruze benefited by what he
learned. His present outfit is
motion pictures: Enthusiasm and
team work.
He has selected a happy time to
launch his new company. With
the other organizations immersed
in mergers and 'tbig business"
Cruze is concentrating on actual
production. 1t is generally ad.
mitted in the colony that the only
studio with an outstanding pro-
gram of sterling pictures in M.
G. M. Take a look: broadway
Melody" "The Trial of Mary
Dugan, Madame X" etc. Quality,
not quantity.
The celluloid industry is top
heavy with mergers. Cruze and
others like him, camps on firmer
ground. Same gadget as the gold