BEHIND THE SCREEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1922, Page 18

BEHIND THE SCREEN.

Priscilla Dean is to appear in a screen adaptation of William Hurlbut's stage drama, "Trimmed in Scarlet.''

Lawson Butt, who played importatit parts in "Earthbound" and "The Miracle Man." is the brother of Madam Clara Butt.

Miss Mac Murray, the charming young movie star, 'had a brilliant musical comedy career before she came to the films, and was a favourite dancer of the Ziegfeld Follies of 191.5.

Previous to her work in "Watch Your Step," a Goldwyn- picture, in which she plays opposite Cullen Landis, Patsy Ruth Miller, whom the critics say is an exceedingly promising actress, has appeared in only one picture, Nazimova's "Camille."'

"Ivanhou" is to be made into a serial film some time in the near future by Universal. This Sir Walter Scott classic was one of the first "feature" pictures over produced, when Universal first offered it as a four-xeclcr, starring King! Bag-got, eight years ago.

A CaUifornian tannery works has leaped into sudden fame as tho source of the leather for 1000 pair 3of shoes, to ibe used iby the actors in Douglaß Fairbanks' forthcoming spectacular romance. "Rabin Hood." The same tannery made the leather for the ample footiwear usod by Fairbanks In his "The Three Musketeers."

Earl Metcalfe, stage and screen actor, who has appeared in many notable productions, has .been engaged as the "heavy"' iv "The Bitterness of Sweets," which Rupert Hughes is personally directing at the Goldwyn studios. Francis McDonald has been signed to play an Italian baker in the tame picture.

When Charlie Chaplin announced that his next production would be "Vanity Fair," ho received scores of letters imploring him not to do Thackeray, when he is such a wonderful comedian. Tho picture is now ready for release under tbe title of "Tlie Idle Class,"' an.l lias nothing to do with the classic or the popular magazine of the same name.

"Kartirbound" opens a new era in him productions. It deals with problems that always interest and always baffle humanity. It is a story of the unseen world, off iie struggle of a man's spirit to pass in peace from tho earth. rV the soul swept from the earth the moment. it i* freed from the Ibody? Or does itcTirfcWbouml—still share the violent emotions which the living must endure?

First National has received a lettcij from Annetto Kellerman, now in Now Zealand, who was the star of the First. National release "What Women Love," in which she commends "Tho Sentimental Bloke" in tho highest terms. The previews of "The Sentimental Bloke" will be given both in New York and Los Angeles, some of the Australian actors and actresses bsiing in the Fast and some on the West Coast.

Ijast season Wesley Barry created the title role of "Ponrod" on the Los Angeles stage, and in his heart there burned a great desire to bring Penrod to tiie screen. So it was with reluctance that he left the cast for a. role in "The Lotus Katers," which was filmed in the Fast. However, his desire is now to bo gratified, for Marshall Neilan is producing the famous Booth Tarkington story for the screen, and Wesley will characterise Penrod. Tbe long looked for "Kismet" will soon be here. It is one of the most gorgeous film productions ever screened. The play was first introduced as a great theatrical spectacle by Oscar Ascbo in Ho brought it to New Zealand some years ago. and it enjoyed the same popularity here as in England. The .Waldorf Company of America has put it ou the. screen, and Otis Skinner, who made such a success of Hajj, tho beggar, in the legitimate drama in New York, was specially engaged for his original rohj in the film production.

Barbara LaMarr, who in Rex Ingram's screen version for Metro, of "'The Prisoner of Zenda," is the arch adventuress, experienced a thrill recently near Hollywood which was not called for by any scenario. After her work in this photoplay, founded upon Edward Rose's stage version of Anthony Hope's novel, Miss LaMarr took unto herself a vacation, spending much of her time driving about the hills in her car. At one twisting curve, with a precipice on the right, her automobile skidded on the wet road and turned entirely around. Not until she had got control of it and turned it again in the direction of first intent, did she realise what an escape she bad bad. Just around the curve there was a washout of the roadbed. To have run into it would have meant certain disaster. "Adventures," said Miss LaMarr, in relating of this one, "are undoubtedly to tbe adventuress."

Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin. Donp.las Fairbanks, and D. VV. Griffith, already organised as the United Artists' Corporation, for tho distribution of their pictures, announce the formation of a new company called ''Allied Corporation," which will undertake immediately the distribution of independent productions other than their own. Its board 8F directors is identical with that of United Artists. The announcement states that Allied Corporation is to carry out the "open market" principle so successfully demonstrated by L T nited Artists during its three years of existence, and to give motion picture theatres another source of supply "of high grade independent productions. Hiram Abrams, president of I'nited Artists, is also president of Allied Corporation. Producers who arc to release through tbe new company will be announced before long.