BEHIND THE SCREEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 78, 1 April 1922, Page 22

BEHIND THE SCREEN.

I After playing the part of a young I American girl for a Famous-Lasky picI ture, Kathleen Vaughan appeared in ' the leading part in a "Song Picture." Iv this production she appears as a famous actress of thirty. i By reason of his striking and romantic • bearing, Francis Ford, who returns to the screen in the new Pathc serial, "The Great Reward," has been called the matinee idol of the screen. Tiie deeds of daring he accomplishes in this fascinating episode film warrants the title bestowed upon him by his cinema i admirers, In their report to tho London County Council, the Theatres and Music Halls Committee announces that they have issued a circular to licensees of premises 1 licensed 'by the council for cinematograph displays stating that "The Betrayal of Lord Kitchener" film cannot be i shown without their express sanction.

I A screen adaptation of the novel I "Tempered Steel," by the author of "The Miracle Man" —Frank L. Packard —has just been completed by Fox. Maurice Flynn enacts the star role, while other members of the cast include Ora Carewe ias the feminine lead, and Mylcs McCarthy in a character part.

The new Rex Beach production, based on his most popular book, "The Iron Trail," was made under fie watchful eye of the author himself. The tale itself dramatises the adventures of the fearless builders of the Alaskan railway. Snow and ice, rain and thaw, and the feverish rush to lay the pioneer railway—all these are said to be realistically reproduced.

The fact that Mary Pickford's next English appearance on the screen will be in "Through the Back Door" —an Allied Artists' production due at the picture theatres early next month —reminds one that we shall view in this practically all of the Pickford jewels. These stones, valued at $50,000, are worn in this production by Gertrude Astor, who plays the part of Mary Pickford's motheT.

Tom Mix is the co-author with Lynn F. Reynolds of a new story entitled "Arctic Trails." This will shortly be adapted to the screen by William Fox, and Mix will play the star role. The latest completed Mix picture is "Sky High," which was filmed amidst the picturesque surroundings of the Grand Canyon.

t'Snub" Pollard, the famous Pathe comedian, recently had a scon > spoilt by an interfering fly that settled on his nose while the cameras wore taking close-ups of his features. "Snub," amused at the incident, allowed his woebegone features to relax into a smile, which almost broke the producer's heart. "Snub" has never been known to smile on the screen yet. His mock seriousness is his secret of laugh-ter-making.

Charlie Chaplin's feet are "beautiful." That, according to the New York correspondent of the "Central News," is the view of Mrs. Claire Sheridan, a wellknown British sculptor, who spoke enthusiastically about Charlie's wellknown pedal extremities. "They are bo small and perfectly formed. They are beautiful," said Mrs. Sheridan, on her return from California, where sho made a bust of the film comedian. She explained that she referred to Charlie's feet as they really are.

"Little Lord Fauntleroy" will be released on May 1 by the Artists' Corporation. Mary Pickford has, in the screen version of Francis Hodgson Burnett's immortal tak., greater opportunities for the display of her genius than in any other story she has ever undertaken in the charm of her moments of child acting and her true sense of humour. For the first time since she played "Stella Marls," Mary Pickford is seen in a dual role. In addition to playing Ccdrie, she plays "Dearest," Cedric's mother. •

A British film company has just commenced the preparation of a series of "interest" pictures providing a now attraction for the public. Most people grumble at the hard cash they have to pay out for the public services without having any idea of where or how the money goes. Tho Gaumont Company, Ltd., proposes to inform them by the production of a series of two-reel films dealing with the public services, and the first of these series, "The Romance of Postal Telegraph," has already been completed with the co-operation of the Central Telegraph Office.

After a long period of quiescence a resumption of business has taken place at the Watcombe studios. A strong company of artistes is at present located there, and an important picture from the original scenario entitled "Seas oi Romance," has now been completed. The guidance of the company is in the hands of Mr. Raleigh King, a gentleman well known on the London stage. Fleet Photoplays, Ltd.. have made arrangements for distributing offices at Birmingham, Manchester. Liverpool. Dublin. Glasgow, Newcastle, and Leeds, in addition to their main offices at TorCardiff, and London.

A very hopeful sign of the times, writes Mr. Arthur Weigall in the "Daily Mail," is the fact that men of high standing in artistic circles in England are beginning to take a keen interest in the cinema. M. DiaghilefF, of Russian ballet fame, said the other day: "I know from personal experience that all great artists are attracted to the cinema. It should be a great medium for artistic propadanda." But what surprises him, ho says, is that one should often have "to sit for hours looking at a piece which no theatre manager would dare to product, and listen to music which not even a restaurant manager would have the audacity to offer to his patrons.

Wanda Hawley's first "Realart" picture "Miss Ho'bbs" is quits a sparkling comedy taken from the play written by Jerome K. Jerome. The play is a satire on modern art fads, presenting Miss Hobbs as a super-faddist and an ultramodern girl who does not believe in men and marriage. Mr. Jerome's deft introduction of a particular man and some good old-fashioned love into the life of this shrewish young miss effectively cures her of her modern ideas. The satire on faddists and futurist art provides opportunity for a number of settings of distinctive interest, many 6{ the interiors*being uniejue. Tho cast includes Wanda Hawley as Miss Hobbs, with Helen Jerome Eddy, Julanne Johnstone, Walter Hiers, Jack Mulhall, Harrison Ford, Frances Raymond, Emily Chichester,