Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 66

TAT POTT THE DETROIT fRRR PRESS TTNrAV, WAY S. r9? innovations In the film business than even the famous "Birth of a Nation," may be the first picture to be redramatized for the stage. Lionel Barrymore Wins Success As Director of Talking Pictures Favorite Song Entertainer Who Enters the Talkies 'LUMMOX' ROLE FINALLY FILLED When Dorothy Dances She Is "Being Herself" It May Interest You to Know That- A piAno, two cases of sheet mjsic, ten cures of canned coflee and an electric percolator were acme of the Ingredients that went lntc the making of the latest drama of the South Seas. "The Pagan," the Ramon No-varro singing romance now at the Capitol. Profiting by his experiences in the tropics while making "White Shadows in the South Sf-as," V.

S. Van Dyke, the director, took along American coffee so that the com "Dick" Dix Is Real Trouper; Talkers Don't Worry Him Richard Dix had his first tryout when he was 17, before ri less critical an ear than that r' 'y H. Sothern. Sothern's agent seen and heard the young man a dramatic school production "Richelieu" and sent for the to test his voice for a job "reader." 1 Before he was 21 Dlx's voire rar rled himo Broadway with Willis Faversham in "The Hawk." in fact, rendered triple service ivj Dix played two characters the fith's "Friends," with Mary Pick-ford and Henry B. Walthall.

Barrymore was pleased with the results, and after the stage production of "Laugh, Clown, Laugh." he returned permanently to Hollywood. His pictures include "The Barrier," "The Thirteenth Hour," "The Loin and the Mouse." "Sadie Thompson" and "Alias Jimmy Valentine." But Lionel's ambition, often expressed to friends, was to direct pictures. Sporadic pleas to coast executives brought the response that he was too valuable an actor to waste his time amid the perils of directorial work. Finally he "Responsibility resting on the screen player Is greater than on a stage actor," says Lionel Earry-more. "Motion picture actors haven't the advantage of being able to develop that facility and finesse which comes with the continued presentation of a charcater role on the stage.

They must gather all their resources together for one major initial effort. One little mistake throws everything off balance. Of course it's possible to make retakes, but they're trying and costly, and it's not so easy to recapture the spirit of the scene once the tempo has been shattered." Lionel, like his brother John and sister Ethel, was an actor predestined for the stage. But, after appearing In such Broadway stage successes as "Peter Ibbetson," "The Copperhead. "The Jest" and "The Claw," he became Increasingly interested in the new.

pictorial medium that was then just being developed by D. W. Griffith and other pioneers. In 1909 he first stepped on a picture set to work In Grif U2 'Talkies' Acting Is Like Playing Two Games of Chess Blindfolded was given "confession," a two-reel talking subject, to direct. When Wlllard Mack was assigned the screen preparation of "Madame Biyrymore was made director.

After finishing this piece, he was hurried over to another set and told to handle the all-talking production of Ben Hecht "The Green Ghost" Work is now in progress on tnis picture. cameras, with the brightness and shadows of a battery of lights. He had to talk over the telephone and to a dozen persons; had to sit and stand up: walk to the door and back to his desk and In all take 11 different exact positions to which he wis followed by the camera. He had to be careful, also, of the tilt of his face, In order that his words might be sent most effectively to the microphones, and had to express a wide range of emotions, joy, worry, indifference, excitement, perplexity, dominance, futility and a few others. Through it all he had to remember his lines, speak them convincingly and carry out his action naturally.

All this took place In 237 feet of film, less than three minutes of showing time. new friends at tha Michigan! Acting In tha talking picture Is simple for the expert. Even In Its most exacting scenes, it probably does not require much more lucidity of mind than playing a couple of chess games simultaneously, blindfolded. An instance In point concerns Walter Huston, the stage star, whose resourcefulness set the ex perienced actors of the company gasping with admiration. Huston has the featured role of Wick Snell, newsnaper reporter, in the film version of "Gentlemen of the Press." One scene shows Snell at the office, trying to get away to the hospital where his daughter Is ill, at the mo ment that a sensational news story is breaking.

Huston had to be mindful always of four microphones and three eign prince with a heayv accent and the juvenile with a boyish int r.a- iiuii arm, wnen me snow went on tour, Faversham made him his understudy, which made it neeespv for him to pattern his voice the star of the production. Dix became a real trouper st. pearing in "The Song of Sor.i- Cinderella Man," "The Litu, Brother" and "First Is Last." had previously played stock ja Pittsburgh, St. Paul and Texas "Nothing But the Truth" at tha Michigan is Dix's first talker. Mystery Yarn Brings Boyd to Talkies' Role William Boyd, the Sergeant Quirt of "What Price Glory" when L'uu Wolheim was Its Captain Flagg on the stage, becomes a talking ture actor in "The Locked Door 100 per cent dialogue film.

Barbara Stanwyck, ne of the stars of Burlesque" on the staee, and Rod La Rocque, screen star, who played opposite Alice Braly Mary Nash and Francine Lain' more on the stage, are In the cast. Boyd acted in a sketch caiu-i "One of the Finest," at a Lambs' Gambol several years ago which sketch became "Nightstick" on tha stage and "Alibi" on the screen Week! And tha golden voice of A n-l tirat on t(w sni "iwn it you al tha Capitol today! 6 jmo parly I Doom opto at 11 a. ab Helen Kane, although widely known as a sinner of popular songs and a stage entertainer, is taking her first step into the realm of the talking picture this week at the Michigan with Richard Dix In "Nothing But the Truth." Helen sings, talks and does one of her most amusing stage numbers In the picture. She and her partner, Wynne Gibson, are a real part of the action of the story. They impersonate a vaudeville sister act doing a turn In a night club.

As a result of her success in the Dlx farce comedy, Miss Kane has gone to Hollywood to make other pictures. Vlrglna Chauvenet, who was with Jeanne Kagels in "Her Cardboard Lover" has Joined the company with which Miss Eagels is making "Jealousy" as a talking picture. New Voices at Kunsky Theatres This The voice of Richard Dix is making him thousands of Ramon' Novarro as he sing hit seductive South Sea love songs at tha Capitol there's romance for you 1 Under no circumstances miss "Tha Divine Lady" at the Fisher. This lavish super-production by Yitaphone is a long run special, forced in for a single week's engagement because of tha record runs of "Broadway Melody" and "Weary River." OAOlty NtAH OUCkSk HEAR th golJtn SINGING VOICE of No varro NOVARRO RAMON Hear him ting th "Pagan Lov Song" Moonlit lagoontl Whitptring pal mi! Lov untamed, unathamed A romanc of South Sta lov and molodyl pany would not have to drink the fried coffee" or the Islands. They were several months filming the drama, the story of which was adapted from John Russell's novel.

The piano and music were taken along by Novarro to continue his operatic practice while on the tropic location. Novarro sings in this vivid drama In which he plays the title role. The many beautiful, elaborate costumes worn by Connne Griffith as Lady Hamilton In "The Divine Lad" the romantic spectacle based on E. Barrington'a novel of Lord NelBon's romance current at the Fisher, were designed by Max Ree, art director of First National Pictures. Howard Greer and Alice O'Neill.

They cover three distinct periods the Gainsborough period of floppy leghorn hats, tight-fitting waists and wide, full skirts worn during Emma's girlhood days; the Louis XVI period of high, powdered wigs, enormous hoopskirta of gorgeous brocade, and wide trains, and the Napoleonic era when long, slender, tight-fitting gowns, with very high waists and very narrow trains were the vogue. All the gowns worn by Miss Griffith and her cast are authentic, many of them having been copied from famous paintings and old etchings and prints of the periods. The gowns worn by Miss Griffith herself In several instances are copies of those In Komney's paintings of Lady Hamilton. Several much-discussed forms of police procedure which have hitherto remained mysteries to the average citizen figure prominently in the action of "Alibi," the all-talking play of gang life current at United Artists. Among these are the "third degree," and the famous "line up" at New York police headquartersan every morning ceremony in which the prisoners are paraded before the cn'lre detective force, the members nt which hide their Identities behind black masks.

In "Alibi," for the first time, the process of finger printing a prisoner at the morning lineup shown to an audience. The masked detectives it in a darkened auditorium, while the prisoner is walked across a lighted stage to a table at which experts take his finger prints. A fleeting Rlimpse of the huge switchboard at police headquarters with Its operators broadcasting the description of much-wsnted "killer," is another of the unusual scenes In this remarkable picture, "Broadway Melody," the smashing all singing dancing motion picture romance current at the Adanw, responsible for more EUCLID ALL WEEK BEG. TODAY Better attend a Matinee today for prompt seats! Dm In hU first ALL-TALKING Comedy Roma net I R.ICHABD NOTHING BUT THE- TRUTH" You'll shout with laughter as you hear Dix telling the absolute truth for 24 hours, pU.BL.lX SHOV- AL EVANS" in "BURBLING OVER" BOYD SENTER A Faun and a hovt ot Publix favontriT NOW HE JIB! iwWia Hear Helen Kane Famous Radio and Record Girl, Singing "Do Something" CtiUATtf Wrnr Symphony Arthur tiutnw With Ft rX 1 it The big success of this musical drama as a screen production has caused more than one Broadway producer to consider the possibility ol transplanting it from the screen tc the stage. If this Is done It will be the first time that the stage has borrowed a vehicle from the screen.

It has always been the thing for movie producers to grab stage suc cesses and turn them into screen plays. The onmlng of the talking pictures resulted in several stage successes "The Letter," "On Trial and others4- being made into screen plays with dialogue. And now there is the first musical eomedy to be taken bodily from the stage, music, dialogue and all "The Desert Song." But no stage producer has ever taken a screen play for the stage, much less a musical show, Few stars bave appeared In the leading roles of so many films as has Richard Dlx, tall, brown-eyed youth who graduated from the legitimate stage to the silversheet after persistently sticking to his ambition of dramatic achievement. After many heartbreaks on the stsge Dlx was given an opportunity to appear In several films and later given a contract by Jesse L. Lasky, executive vice-president of the Par amount organization.

Since that time Dlx has appeared In 30 pic tures of the silent type. His first all talking picture, "Nothing But the Truth," now at the Michigan, was adapted from a stage farce which served several years ago as a stage-starring vehicle for William Collier, Sr. This former well known stage personality, now living In Hollywood, assisted in the staging of the picture and directed the dialogue. Marian Nixon, who has a fea tured role In "The Red Sword," at the Oriental, is a Minneapolis girl who gained her first step on the film ladder through a trick of fate that Btranded a show In which she was playing at the very doors of the studios in Hollywood. Marian's pretty face and figure Immediately won her a place in Mack Sennett's comedies, and from bennett Marian went to Fox and was fairly well landed when she was given the feminine lead opposite Buck Jones in a western called Big Dan.

Marian won the role because she It a splendid horsewoman. She played in several other westerns and then went Into society dramas and recently reached the ranks of stardom, having been co-starred with Buddy Rogers in "Red Lips." Her nr.it talking picture, Ueral dine," was made by Paths. Al Jolson's value as a talking picture star has made him almost prohibitive as a possible stage star of the future. Two years ago Jolson was headlining musical comedies which drew as much as Jfi.60 a seat, but he has renounced the stage because he can make far more money and with less effort as a cinema star for Warner Brothers. "The Jazz Singer," Jolson's first Vitaphone picture, was a big clean-up throughout the country, and now "The Singing Fool," which 4091 FREE PARKING The (treat A ll-Sinfing and AlUTalkini Picture Thm WU-Knwn CaanaaYiaws ItVrnnrtl Kollor ma I I I i i I I 1 I Winifred Westover Hart I Chosen; Fannie Hurst It Now in Hollywood.

Hollywood, May 4. (Special to The Free Press.) Fannie Hurst, world famous novelist and short stroy writer, has arrived in Hollywood from New York to be present during the filming of her best seller, "Lummox," to be made into all- talking production by Herbert Brenon. Rehearsals preparatory to the actual start of camera and microphone work on "Lummox" are scheduled to start soon, with Winifred Westover, the former Mrs. William S. Hart, playing the title role.

Think Miss Westover Ideally Cast "Discovering 'Lummox' was perhaps the most difficult problem in all my experience as a director," Brenon declared. "Indeed, the quest was a harder one than when I was searching for a 'Peter Pan' and finally found Betty Bronson. Miss Westover might have stopped right out of the pages of the book. "She has the spirituality so vital to the character, the sex quality, the naivete, and the racial background. She is the mother of a young son Bill Hart, and only an actress who is a mother could give a faithful Interpretation of Miss Hurst's heroine.

Miss West-over's voice also fits the character of "Lummox' Ideally." "Sally'Author Writes Operetta For the Screen The first original operetta written especially for the vocal picture screen will be directed by Ernst Lubitsch and is to have a libretto by Guy Bolton, author of "Sally." This Binging, talking and dancing operetta is to be produced on a lavish scale at the studios in Hollywood and within a fortnight re hearsals of the pretentious chorus numDers will start and famous Broadway musical stars will be selected for the Important roles. Bolton, who agreed to do the operetta while on the high seas America-bound, wrote "Sally," one of Florenz Ziegfeld's most notable productions of a few years ago; "Polly Preferred." "Hit the Trail," "Polly with a Past," "Adam and Eva" and "The Cave Girl," the latter three in collaboration with George Middleton. For the last several months he has been in Europe vacationing between his New York successes. Three-Dimension Camera Films Musical Comedy An experiment In filming part of a musical comedy has been made by means of a new and what is described as a three-dimensional camera. In addition to four regular sound recording devices and a new type of microphone.

According to the inventor or the new camera the machine has 13 optical members that give the illu sion of depth to tne mm. rne Image Is to be projected on a screen filling the entire proscenium arch of the theater. The film-picture Itself is of different dimensions to the ordinary, measuring two and one-half Inches high. Regular 35 millimeter film measures one inch by three-fourths of an inch. PAYS AUTHOR $50,000 THEN BURIES STORY Hollywood, May 4.

'Special to The Free J. Locke has left for England; so has $50,000 of Joseph M. Schenck's money. They left together, as had been planned. But, as hadn't been planned, Norma Talmadge Is still without a story for her next picture.

Locke was brought over from England by Schenck and installed in Hollywood with his family, with the agreement that he was to write one story, to be used as Miss Talmadge's next motion picture and for which he was to receive $50,000. Locke wrote the story, probably a very g.iod story, If you Judge by his long list of popular novels and Schenck paid him the $50,000. Then the producing geniuses took Locke's story and sunk It In the deepest depths of the United Artists' manuscript vault. No camera has ground on it and none ever will, it is said. at Jny 1tfm4 ftrtind River it prion Sntjnd "Why 4uMd" with i ollfn anil Nell Hum I lion Hnry in "Rurihuttn" Vifphon Act COLONIAL Vitaphnn TVkinc Tl tn May Mr.Wuy tfiH (nnmsj KI In mifhf In th Tag" r.kitic S'Trt-n A'-td ontimiou 1 3m to 11 p.

Aiiuiia 2fK Joe FERRY FIELD Gran4 Ptlvf at Hnnlar4 Mhv Mr. I.nnlo FmrntJ and Air I'rattrU In "I'll Trrr' Vol an'! HMr Hrv hj.ru- tr in h1 Oht. ll-'lU'r Vitai'hon A tp 'A II A'1'iH riii.ilrrn 15c GLADWIN I Watrarrka Krfinuld nny In a Talkinr frrir 'K( Hot m-m" KtttA A Tinmr 'mrljr, Th ham." Vitaphuttc Acta and MwWr-tcn SVwi KUNSKY ALHAM3RA "'TlsM John lilhfi. rnrt TrrMtc. Mary Nlun In -lNrf MeIiU" -im hn-n nf.1 aiMl Vnjm! A' Vitai-hnp A- mtrnt l-l-t On if-Mr ami Jtwi Milja KUNSKY DELUXE ftr-htTal al Parkview lifar a i nhVn Moor la -uh nr.

1lr th kin Tn A-la KUNSKY STRAND Fnart'enta) "Hlin oRf a Sou p. I with Grrtji arh a4 Lt FMona Ta kirg V-n A-t I 1 I CADflpV rtt." JpUa lo-ie-tr. Vium. a-u PMh -m m. Sunt REGENT CoinS ftalevr4 IfcHtcU FsliMfik.

lUlle Krnnrtl an4 Utmt i ml iii "lhe Iron Mfc" tirvi. j. II Vlu'u av un TUXED3 allM Hit 4 mn4 TaseS ftilM'4 Mi U-4 Hl a N- y. ii. i ANNtA IIIIIPU mtasniml rrM(j aivrt at ir-conr SMER Vitaphone's Great Super-Production The Romance That Wat the Scandal of the World! Corinne When you see Dorothy Mackaill as the cabaret dancer in the Madi son's talking picture, "His Captive woman," you may be sure there Is no "double" doing the dancing for her.

Dorothy Is a former Follies' girl and has had extensive experience In stage dancing. She was born in Hull, England, and was educated there and In London. Her stage career started In the chorus of the London Hippodrome and from there she came to America with the express purpose of breaking Into the Follies and that's Just what this determined young lady did. Marshall Neilan, the director, saw her in the show and gave her a start as an extra In pictures and In a short time Bhe was playing stellar roles. Is having its second Detroit show ing at the Hollywood, Grand Riviera and Ramona, has proved that Jolson is the biggest drawing card on the screen today.

In "The Sing ing Fool, Jolson Is supported by little Davey Lee, whose work made him a star In his own right. One of the interesting scenes In The Leatherneck," at the Uptown, Is a marriage ceremony performed according to the ritual of the Russian Orthodox church. William Boyd, as an American marine, sta tioned in Russia, marries a Russian girl, portrayed by Diane Ellis. Nichols Koblianskl, formerly of St. Petersburg and now a motion pictur actor and technical director in Hollywood, supervised the set ting for the church scene, which, it is claimed.

Is correct in every de tail. a a Many moving picture" stars are frank enough to admit that the 'talkies are worrying them, for screen stars can no longer Just look beautiful, but must know how to speak. Dorothy Revler, however, is one of the stars who Is not wor rying, for although her role of Jean Rankin in the all-dialogue picture, "The Donovan Affair," at the Fox, represents her Initial ven ture Into the field of the talking picture, she thoroughly enjoyed the experience. "I expected to he terri fied. Miss Revler said.

From all I had heard, I thought my first talkie' would be quite an ordeal. But I found It to be a fascinating experience. Oddly enough, a talking picture must be made much more quietly than a silent one. You work on a small set which Is lined with heavy matting and sound- deadening wool material. The eam-cia is inclosed In a small booth and shoots through a small hole so that the clicking will not be heard.

Microphones are hung directly over that part of the set on which the players are standing. Kleig lights aren't used because they are noisy and their sputter would be heard when the film was reproduced. If a scene is interrupted it must be dune over again from the begin ning, for the screen dialogue is continuous as it Is on the stage." "The Hula dancers I've seen In picture studios," Dorothy Mackaill, who with Milton Sills is co-starred lr. "His Captive Woman," now at the Madison, "have a great deal more skill, it seems to me, than those I saw In Hawaii, when we were there for scenes. Probably it is because those we see here are trained for stnge or other public appearances.

They are more graceful and well less objectionable. Of course, the dance I suppose is or was originally more or les a religious ceremony. But I prefer the more polished variety." Jopper's theater and cafe, once a noted music hall of Chicago, is brought to life again in "Show Boat. at the State. Jopper's was a notorious underworld hangout In 1905, with cheap vaudeville turns for those who sipped liquor seated at tables occupying the space now taken up by rows of seats.

From sketches and photographs. Dan Hall, Universale art director, was able to make a replica of this rendezvous of sporting and theatrical personages, and not a small part of his Information came from men and women who had visited Jopper's in Its hey day. Especially in supplying the furniture and atmosphere "props" was this Information valuable. The stage was built out Into the main room, which was closely packed with tables; a balcony extended i (around three sides, while built overj the floor was a mezzanine. The i p.

are, about the size of a theater. was entirelv below the level of the I sidewalk. The director of "Show Boat" obtained many extra players wno were oiu-iimers in me tneaTri- ral game and many of whom had played in Jopper's. It Is in Jop-. per that I aura I Jl Plante as Magnolia first sings the Negro spiritual (Which later bring her fame.

In the version of Edna Ferber's novel, now running serially in The Free Press. is the soldleromposer' of that pop- I 'a lei Vous." and another univrr-al favorite, of which he is the rom-ipoppr. is "near Old Ial of Mine." makes his stage appcar-'Anrewith the. Royal Northwest who prrve a a rhnral accompaniment for his fine voice. Robert Elliott, who for four years rlayed opposite Jennne Esgels in the original cast of the tae play Rain" has ben signed for a tole in 'Thunderbolt," Georce Bancroft's (second talking picture.

He is to the prison chaplain in this Josef i von Sternberg directed film. Rich-' ard Arlen and Fay ray head the! supporting; cast and James Sontts- u. r.uKrniv nnerer. rea rvon- ler and Richard Carle art also In the cast. A trained rooster walking the tiiht mpe and doinir someieaults on the trapeze In addition In counting and is the amaztr.g fowl ho mill be featured in 'The Midway," a Tiffany-Stahl Dorothy Jan SHOW publix 'FOOTLIGHTS' Melody and Mirth in dealing setting Dorii Rorhe, noted singer; Lapann a Btdo, Follfra atari Jo A Willi H.I..

Watarr and Andra, Capitol Ballet CAPITOL MMPIHINY Rmil Hullandrr Don Miller HEAR the GLAMOROUS MUSICAL, PROLOGUE Tne cream of Flo HELEN WJT" MNf.r.K Olat Girl; EDNA PL0 URJFFITH with VICTOR VARCONI H. B. WARNER Beautiful Corinne as the girl who made kings her playthings! The fate of nations hung on her kissesl Hear the love song "Lady Divine!" iS -nil SENSATIONAL WEEK! Woman Compel Any Man to Her? Here is the screen's most battle of woman's wiles and sense of honor! SECOND WEEK! Joseph Sehildhravt will thrill voa I FERBER'S BOOK! ZIEGFELD'J Vitaphona I TV GEORGE a bonr rTfo SYMPHONY A love-nett murder! A tenaational i eck! Then Broadway's mot al-lurin( woman alone on a jungle isle with the man sworn lo came her death! rXTRA! Laurel A Hardjr Consvdf 2nd Can Any Love sensational man's TALKING LAURA LA PLANTE Joaeph Schildkraut All the glitter and grandeur of Edna Ferber's sensational book! A love story that took the world by storm. Remarkable talking and tinging cast! Universal triumph! DOROTHY MACKAILL George Fawcett 8 -THE SIM.IM; FOOL' iimiiiiiiiiimiiimiiiiiimiimiiiij k-k-o VAur viLia iiimimmmmniimiiiiimiimit Chas. BENNINGTON v.

luuturtf 'DMmi Ilnrnionlcn Hand The Dw-Dite-Due HILL i W'' Feeeette Singing CmWif Marshall THE THREE TAKETAS Jo Kins Acrobat Extraordinary THE KEYSTONkTsERENADERS IRELAND KEVUE DANCING GIRLS MERLE CLARK mi ui -r; tftsfiifficaflwj' ia a Ptnm t'ath acua4.