Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-01


while, attempted to make allow
ances for laughs in filming a pic
ture, much as is done on the
stage. But this slowed up the
picture, and all audiences do not
| laugh at the same comedy stunts
A Sure-flre mirth-producer with
some audiences failed to get a rip
pie from others. The screen player
was made to lcok foolish if he
stood waiting for the laugh which
did not materialize.
Nov we find that audiences
have almost solved their own
problem. Patrons have become so
accustomed to the talkies that the
laughter is controlled in order to
hear the following dialogue"
~
WHILE producers are watching
the box Office results CT the
silent picture, "City Lights.
starring Charlie Chaplin, there is
no reason, in my opinion, to judge
the popularity of silent and talkie
by this particular picture. Any
new picture with Chaplin as the
star Is almost certain to become
a success. The fact that the film
has no dialogue cannot mean that
silent pictures are more popular
than the newer talkieS. The sue
cess CT the picture will come with
the fact that Chaplin is its star.
If there was dialogue, its success
would be assured just the same.
X 4 X
HOLLYWOOD reports some diff
Guilty with the newest Greta
Carlo picture. The star, who pays
particular attention to her dia-
logue, fatty refused to recite the
Smugly smart lines of her part.
Another author was called in and
other dialogue written. Greta
seems to know what she is capable
of, and she intends to use special
care in the selection of her words.
Ann Harding is another actress
who gives careful attention to her
dialogue, and a great deal of her
Bound" and Girl of the Golden
West" may be laid to this fact.
Short Flashes.
NORMA TALMADGE is trying
the stage, and her play, ''The
Greeks Have Word for It." is
scheduled to open on the West
Coast.
One of the screens popular
comedy trioS is to be broken up
temporarily. For the next go
days Bert Wheeler, Robert Wool
sey and Dorothy Lee will be funny
q -
leading role in TOO Many Cooks"
which will be directed by Wesley
RuggleS of "Cimarron" fame.
Woolsey is to be starred in his own
picture, with no title selected, and
Dorothy Lee will have the leading
role in a story Of college life. The
three will be featured together in
four pictures later in the year.
Warner Brothers make the off,
cial announcement that william
Powell has signed a long-term
contract with their organization.
They cite his splendid work with
the Paramount company and say
that he will be starred in a num-
Der of good films.
Roland Pertwee, English nov
eliSt, goes to work for Warner
Brothers, sailing from England
within a few days. For the stage
he wrote Interference, and his
novels include Rivers to Cross"
and Gentlemen March,"
Frank Fay'S starring picture,
once called "The Devil Was Sick"
has been changed to Gods Gift
to Women" Laura La Plante
plays the leading feminine role,
and others in the cast are Louise
Brooks, Charles Winninger, YoIa
d'Avril and Margaret Livingston.
An air Of secrecy hovers around
the doors Of First National studio,
where Richard Barthelmess is
engaged in filming THE Finger
Points" Fay Wray has the leading
feminine role, and others in the
cast are Reggie Toomey, Robert
Elliott, Clark Gable and Noel
Madison. The story was written
especially for the star by John
Monk Saunders and w. R. Bur-
nett. The latter turns out the
novel Little Caesar"
Twenty distinct sets are used in
making Party Husband" the
Dorothy Mackaill picture. It is
described as a comedy-drama.
Constance Bennett is to be
starred in "JackdawS Strut"
George JesseN is going to the
West Coast in March to help write
the next starring vehicle for
Eddie Cantor. United Artists will
produce the film.
The Columbia producing COM
pany has purchased the Lenore
Uric play, Pagan Lady," for the
screen.
Cecil B. De Mile is starting pro-
duction of THE Squaw Man" for
Metro oldwyn-Mayer. The cast
includes Warner Baxter borrowed
from the Fox company, Lupe
VeleZ, Eleanor Boardman, Charles
Bickford, Mitchell Lewis, Raymond
Hatton, j. Farrell Macdonald,
Roland Young, Victor Potel, Julia
Faye and C. Aubrey Smith.
The first scenes of the new
Gloria Swanson picture, "Obey
That Impulse" have been filmed.
Florence Roberts, character ac-
tresS, has featured role in
Bachelor Apartment" along with
Mae Murray, Irene Dunno, Nor
man Kerry and Claudia Bell.
Glenn Tryon has been added to
the cast Of the Ramon Novarro
picture, "Daybreak."
Jack Holt and Tom Moore are
the featured players Of the gang
land film, 1.-THE Last Parade"
Jackie COOQan is under contract
to make a series of pictures for
Paramount.