Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16
Flashes From the Screen
News and Comment of the Picture World

shadow personality plus audibl
personality.
Recently was asked the peril
nent question: Does the voice at
feet screen perSonality?' To tina
must answer: Yes and no
There are some screen personal
tiles that have splendidly with
stood the ravages Of audibility
Others have gained strength be-
cause of it, and still others have
suffered by having themSelve!
heard. The talking screen is NJ
longer novelty, but it must still
be handled cautiously and dis
creetly. Certain players in certain
roles will destroy their chances o.
success by permitting their voice:
to be reproduced without sufficient
thought before going over the i'm
portance of the voice character
ization. Others will achieve sue
cess and its attendant popularity
by using their voices in accord
ance with their characterizationS
Then, again, as I have mentioned
with two pictures, there are Ger.
tain stories and characterization!
which should remain untouched
by the almost cruel realism of the
reproduced voice"
y X X x
TT is reported upon good author
ity that exhibitors over the
country are beginning to COM
plain about the flood of back
stage stories being used by the
picture producers. Since the COM
ing of the talkieS the back-Stage
idea has been the principal one in
use. At first these were novelties
but they have been repeated sc
often that they have injured box
Office receipts.
Motion picture stories run in
cycles, as has been mentioned be-
fore in this column. AS soon as a
producer has made a success with
a certain type of production other
producers follow suit. But the
back-stage cycle has been over
done.
CYRIL MAUDE has finally &C.
- copied an offer to make
Grumpy" for the sound pictures
A silent production of the play
was made several years ago with
Theodore Roberts in the leading
role. Maude comes to America
this Summer, and he will go di-
rectly to Hollywood, where
Grumpy" will be made. It also
is planned to ask the English
stage star to play the leading role
in aren't We Alp"
x x X X
MARY LEWIS, opera star, re-
A Gently made an unusual con-
tract to sing for the Pathe stu
dio. Those who are sharks con-
corning such matters claim that
the contract is unique in the his
tory of business agreements. The
obligations of both parties max
ing the contract were recorded on
sound Aim, and no other con-
tracts or written agreements were
made. BY the terms of the queer
contract Miss Lewis will receive
approximately $4,000 for every
minute in which her voice will be
heard in her first picture.
X y **
Short Flashes.
FIVE pictures are in production
this week at the First National
studios. They are Numbered
Mem formerly Gail Break")
Sin Flood" Sweet Mama" "At
Bay" and zone Night at SuSie'S.
In Numbered Men" are such well
known players as Conrad Nagel
Bernice Claire, Raymond Hackett
Ralph Ince, Tully Marshall, George
Cooper and Ivan Linov. In "Sir
Flood" we have Douglas Fair
banks, jr., Dorothy Revier, Noah
Berry, Robert EdeSon and william
Courtenay. Sweet Mama" stars
Alice White, with David Manners
Rita Flynn and Kenneth Thomson
in support. "At Bay" feature:
Loretta Young and Jack Mulhall
with Raymond Hatton, Kathlyr
Williams, Dot Farley and Winter
Hall in the cast. Zone Night al
Susie's" has Billie Dove as the
star, with Douglas Fairbanks, jr.
playing opposite. Helen Ware anc
Tully Marshall are in the support
ing cast.
The same studio announces that
mile. Modesto" the operetta, /:
being prepared for the screen
Other pictures to follow are Heart
of the North" with Loretta
Young; under Western Skies,
with Sidney Blackmer and Lils
Lee; 1.-THE Fortune Teller" "Th'
Girl of the Golden West" anC
Dawn Patrol"
Several stories are under con
sideration as prospective vehicle!
for the Otis Skinner debut II
sound pictures, but no decision
has been reached. Actor SkinneI
goes to Hollywood as soon as hi
present stage tour is completed.
Among the features planned
for the World Fair in Chicago il
1888 is a gigantic movie story O
world progress during the pas
100 years.