Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21
Flashes From the Screen
News and Comment of the Photoplay
Bye E. Nelson.
BY c. E. Nelson.

Ludwig Berger. OF course, there
is a great deal of music, but the
picture moves easily. The star
plays the part of a waiter in a
small cafe in Paris. His troubles
start when he falls heir to 1,000,-
900 francs, and the French come
dian again displays that knack of
taking this audience into his con-
f1dence.
OTIS SKINNER talks:
The art of the cinema has
progressed. Ten years ago I made
a silent picture of 'Kismet.' Now
the mike stings us to madness.
But the cameras are growing
more and more perfect. The re-
cording disc is surer and the new
art of sound mixing has come to
the rescue of voice records that
sounded as if the speaker were
talking into a hogShead. Detail
has been pursued into it's very lair
in the matter of direction, and it
is its great persistence that makes
such plays as 'KiSmet, full of the
flavor of old romance. popular.
There has been distinct reluc-
lance on the part of motion pic
ture producers to present plays of
pure romanticism. The talking
film has removed this difficulty.
But in its most perfect form the
filmed play is but the play of the
regular theater reduced in time.
But, by Allah, may my life be for
felt if I could ever take to my
friendly heart that disc of doom
the mike! True, it was my
phophet--but I was its slave"
THE United States Army is TAX
ing up talking pictures, Ac-
cording to Col. w. E. ProSser, head
of the Signal Corps Photographic
division, definite plans have been
completed for the making of talk
ing pictures by the War Depart
ment. They will be used in the
training and instruction of vari-
Gus branches of the Army. A num-
Der of officers will be given thor
ough schooling in picture produc-
ton in all its phases, after which
the motion picture division of
the Signal Corps will make its
own films. The Warner Brothers
studio in Hollywood will be util-
lied for the training of officers
during the next eight months,
prior to the establishment Of a
Government studio here in Wash
ington. AS an initial step in the
81 We 10
pictures, two officers will be
placed in the Hollywood studio
this month. Silent pictures were
used by the Army for the first
time in 1917, by order Of Gen.
Pershing.
Short Flashes.
"OH, Hector" Columbia Col
lege play, has been awarded
the first prize of $500 by the
Universal company in contest.
The play will be produced with
sound accompaniment.
John Boles and Lupe Velez play
the leading roles in the Edwin Ca
rewe production Of Tolstoy's Res
direction"
Work on the new Richard Bar
thickness picture has been stop
ped. on account of the fact that
an actress for the leading femi-
nine role has not been found.
Several prominent players are I'M
der consideration. The title of
the picture will be announced
later. Barthelmess recently COM
pleted "AdioS."
It is reported that Maurice Che
Waller has broken the world rec
ord for salaries, having been
signed for two weeks by the The
tire Chatelet in Paris at $4,000 per
week.
The Paramount Eastern studio
is making THE Royal Family"
and the cast includes Ruth Chat
terton, Mary Brian, Ina Claire,
Frederic Marsh and Jean Her
sholt. Other players to leave Hol-
lywood for the East soon are Gary
Cooper, Claudette Colbert and
Ginger Rogers. Clara Bow is to
make "Usherette" with a New
York setting.
Ed Wynn, who recently COM
pleted work in Manhattan Mary"
will be starred in a film version
of Simple Simon" the Ziegfeld
show which has not yet completed
its road tour
Kay Francis is to play opposite
George Bancroft in a newspaper
story
Shooting Gallery" is the title
Of Dorothy Mackaill's new pic
ture. She returned few days
ago from stay Of several weeks
in England, going directly to Hol-
lywood.
Dorothy Sebastian plays oppo-
site Bert Lytell in Brothers, "
based on a stage play of the same
name.
R-K-O reports that millions Of
extras" are to be used in the film
ing of the Rex Beach story, THE
Silver Horde" But the extras are
to be Columbia River salmon.
They provide a supporting cast
for Evelyn Brent, Louis Wolheim,
Joel McCrea, Jean Arthur and
Blanche Sweet.
Jack Oakie plays the part of
racketeer in THE Big Shot"
Milton Stills was scheduled to
have started work within few
days in Network" taken from
story by Ernest Pascal His death
will delay the production for some
time.
Three players-Paul MUM, Will