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Fragmented Pieces: Writing the History of the Lost Hollywood Films 113
for Name the Man, he offers a number of critical remarks in early June, as does
Monte M. Katterjohn in mid-June. The shooting started on 23 June and lasted for
a month. The male lead had been written for John Gilbert; Eva von Berne, who
had just been imported to Hollywood by Irving Thalberg, and thus made her
American debut, was engaged for the female lead. According to the Daily Production
Report, there seems to have been some hesitation concerning this role.
The Daily Production Report from the shooting thus reports in the column
“Reason For Delay” on July 2: “Mr. Seastrom in conference with Mr. Thalberg
deciding whether the part is to be played by Miss Page or Miss von Berne.
Decided to shoot with Miss von Berne, Sent to wardrobe for her dress and
touching up her hair.” 44 However, the decision still seems to have been preliminary,
as the “Reason For Delay” the next day reads: “Looked at Rushes with
Mr. Thalberg at 8-15 to decide on part of Virginia. Decided on Miss Berne.
Started with dissolve at fireplace at 9-20.” 45
In this connection, it is also interesting to note that there were few retakes; the
last report states that the number of retakes during the whole process of shooting
was only 42. 46 Instead, there are frequent mentions of rehearsals in the
morning, followed by the shooting of the scenes in the afternoon. On 2 July,
however, in connection with the decision on the female lead, there were no less
than thirteen retakes. Thus, it is clear that, as a rule, retakes weren’t made, with
the exception of mishaps or exceptional circumstances, such as the hiring of a
completely new actress within the Hollywood system. This also testifies to the
efficiency of the system – to the benefit of production, but less so for the individual
director, who – together with the cutter – had no possibility to choose
among takes in the end. This, indeed, is a film factory. (FIG. 21)
On 26 July, the report states: “Company closed last night. Will lay off until
Miss von Bern [sic] is able to work.” There also exists a report from 27 July,
which only states “Production closed as of July 25, 1928”, and “Days To Finish
(3)”. However, there are additional production reports from no less than ten
more days in August, where completing scenes with von Berne and one or two
other actors who had to be present in the scene were shot, and the number of
“Days To Finish” vary from one to two, whereas the number of “Days Behind”
are summed up to six in all. 47
The story is about a Viennese baron, Reiner (John Gilbert), who spends his
life pursing beautiful women, and one day falls in love with his best friend’s
fiancée, Virginia. His former mistress, as she learns of this, kills herself in despair.
Her husband then tries to kill Reiner but is, instead, himself killed by accident.
Reiner confesses to his friend who also tries to kill him, but in the end, he
is saved, and wins the heart of the girl.