Screen Stars & Films

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 106, 5 May 1923, Page 22

Screen Stars & Films

Again tins week the Hippodrome Theatre lias a programme of high merit t> offer its many patrons. William Rusprll, a warm favourite with all pictureporrs, is tin , star in the William Fox picture, "Man's Pize," which opened yesterday. It is a virile story of the. outdoors, and should not be missed by those patrons in search of a film of this rla-is. The comedy element is well entered for in "Out of Place," which features Al. yt. John. There are other good secondary films, and delightful music by the Distinctive Orchestra, under the baton of Mr. 11. G. Avcrv.

The Broadway Theatre. Kewmarket, is a favourite linuse of entertainment witli its many patrons, and the selected propranime t>l pictures screened there has drawn capacity houses of late. The. programme which will screen finally this evening is an excellent Paramount double etnr bill, with varied supports. On Monday next "Kismet' , will be installed as the leading attraction, for the one. night only. The companion picture to '"The, Better 'Ole," entitled "Alfa Button." a rollicking comedy, and "Wolf Lnw," a, stirring Western drama, starring Frank M;u-o, will lye shown on tuesday anil Wednesday. For Thursday. Friday and Saturday," "The Crimson Challenge" will be the headline! , . This is a particularly fino Paramount film, with Dorothy Dalton iv the leading role. The second picture will he one in which Shirley Mason is featured, "Youth Must Have Love."' Excellent musical offerings are given by the Broadway Orchestra.

William Hainos, who was selected by the Goldwyn casting director out of 1000 applicants in the Goldwyn "new face" contest, and given a long term contract. is getting his first real opportunity in " Souls for Sale." He has the part of the assistant director in this Rupert l Jhichps story of motion picture life. Haines had no previous experience when he came to the studio less than a year ago. But in this short time he has been undersoing a thorough training in motion picture acting.

.Another big film producing company is active in Los Angeles to-day, due to the fact that releasing contracts have just been signed at the PickfordFairbanks Studios by Frank K. Wooas, president of (lie Associated Authors, and Hiram Ahranie. president of the United Artists Corporation and Allied Producers and Distributors.

Associated Authors, made up of Frank Woods, Either Harris and Thompson Buehannn. is one of the newest concerns to be established in the picture industry, and promises to be one of the most active, judging by plans now under consideration.

"Formed for the purpose of promoting a closer association of authors with regard to the production of pictures," sp.id Frank Woods, "the Associated Authors will devote themselves to the, developing of special features of the very highest type. Our first offering will be Sir Walter Scotfs 'The Talisman,' and Wallace Berry, who won distinction in the role of Richard the Lionheart in 'Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood,' will be featured in this same role in the Sir Walter Scott classic:" Chet Withey is directing, and work has. already started.

The pictures turned out by the Associated Authors will be released through the Allied Producers and Distributors Corporation, a subsidiary of the United Artists, owned ami controlled by Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and D. W. Griffith.

Jn the affiliating of this new organisation with that owned by the four big stars and producers there is a great deal of sentiment. It is the story of dreams come true. For many years it has been the hope of Miss Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Chaplin, and Griffith that some day an organisation headed by FranK Woods would become associated with that owned by the stars. The close association of Mr. Woods with these celebrities in the past has made that a thing to look forward to. All of them are pioneers in the business. Together D. W. Griffith and Frank Woods prepared "The Birth of a Nation," and they were given joint credit for the photo-play. The first fourteen pictures made by Fairbanks were supervised by Mr. Woods, and during the reisn of Mary Pickford with Famous Players - Lasky Corporation Frank Woods was her chief counsellor. All this, therefore, makes the new affiliation a most desirable connection.

The production plan of the Associated Authors is unique in that they will produce in rotation instead of attempting simultaneous operations. The present plan As for Mr. Woods to do "The Talisman" as the first offering, and when photography is complete Elmer Harris will put a picture into work. As soon as all scenes for this aye taken Thompson Buchanan will then start a production.] This, it is believed, will insure a steady putput, and will enable the authors to advise with each other to best advantage, and to concentrate upon one picture at a time, thus assuring the very highest trpe of product that can be issued.

Tn addition to_ being producers, each of the throe authors is an officer in the now concern. Efcner Harris and Thompson Buchanan are both vice-presidents, while Frank Woods holds the portfolio of president, with Clarke Thomas acting as general manager.

A mneteen-ycarold lad managed to engage attention in New York for a whole day Ho looks like Rodolph Valen-™-I n £ IB Or b tun £ te Y' llc to Bololrf, a * r ? tbcri y relationship with 7?-"i ,o Valentino. Hia Bo e doffila^a> rt W afte? representation: had Covered the mi S:

'• And now comes the first feature photo-Iplny in rmtural colours, " The Glorious Adventure,' a tale of seventeenth century glamours, with Lady Diana Manners in the role of heroine. To the picture patron the greatest interest in this dratmi is in the colourful representation of the gay and ruthless life of the period, with its dashing duelling gentlemen in their scarlet doublets nnd sweeping hats and its dainty graceful ladies in the exuberant finery of tnat romantic day. There is the great fire of London done with a shuddering desperate reality at the climax of adventurous doings on land and sea. And, of course, there is the love triumph in the end. A rather topical interest, second only to the element of colour, is the first screen appearance of Lady Diana -Manners, acclaimed by the critics of the pen and brush as England's greatest beauty. She is the perfect English beauty."—" Photoplay Jlagazine."

This picture is now the stellar attraction at the Strand Theatre, where there is also being- screened the usual weekly English Gazette, and a rollicking comedy by the Mack Sonnett studios, "Be Seasonable." A particularly line prologue to " The Glorious Adventure " is presented by Mr. Tom Harris. The Strand Orchestra, under the leadership of Mrs. Bentley. is to be hoard in some choice incidental music. For a capital evening's entertainment the [Strand is hard to beat this week.

William Fox is specialising in nig productions lately. His latest super picture is "My Friend the Devil," which is now at the National, a picture that stands alone in its theme and its intense dramatic qualities. The east is exceptionally good; Charles Kichman, Barbara Castleton, William 'looker, and Peggy Shaw are among the artists. One critic, who witnessed the showing of "My Friend the Devil" in Kew York, declared": "To Charles Richman must go the honour of contributing to screen literature one of the finest, most powerful, dramatic portrayals in the history of the motion picture industry. As Dr. George Dryden in this very excellent film adaption of Georges Ohnet's novel, Mr. Kichman gives to the silent art a characterisation of surpassing excellence."

Charles Ray's production of "The Courtship of Miles Standish" will be one of the most amazing mechanical productions yet offered on the screen. The majority of the sequence on board, the "Mayflower" during its 102-day voyage across the stormy Atlantic is being filmed in the studio. The Mayflower and a good sized occean have been built, the ship resting on a tremendous steel ball-and-socket arrangement, which gives it the necessary motion. Also, smaller sections have been built with the same construction. One American writer says: "I saw a scfne filmed the other day, where John Alden rescues a servant who has fallen overboard, and though it tnkes considerable to thrill mc on a motion picture set, the kick was so great that tears ran down my face. The reproduction of a storm, with great propellers making a hurricane on the waterwashed decks, four tanks of eight tons of water each being dashed on the cement and being thrown over the sides of the little vessel make giant waves. The crash of rain from overhead pipes and the wallowing decks that tipped from side to side were so realistic that your heart stood still as you watched Ray struggling over the sides with a man on his Back."

The Hippodrome management announce the release at the end of next month of the third series of William Fox productions. First came the "Queen of Sheba," then, only recentl3 r , "The Fast Mail," and now the next is to be "The Lights of New York." This is said to be something quite now in pictures, and was directed by Charles J. Beabin. Next week's release will be Buck Jones in "The Footlight Ranger."

Whenever soraeonp does something that helps to advance the art of the motion picture, that person deserves credit. Therefore when J. Stuart Blaektion determined to use the Prizma colour process for his feature, "The Glorious Adventure," it proved he was anxious to experiment, and, if possible, place the picture on a higher plane. This marks the first time that a full-length feature has been photographed in colours, and the Strand has the privilege of being the first theatre in the to screen such a picture. The Strand has been a pioneer in many innovations and the coloured feature 'film can now be added to that list.

A story is told that a stout lady paused in front of a theatre sign which read, "To-day — Oentcel Melodrama." "A Gentile melodrama!'' she snorted, "I vouldn't go in."

Royalty has been to see " Robin Hood." The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York have just attended the evening performance of Douglas Fairbanks in •' Robin Hood " at the London Pavilion, according to the "Westminster Gazette."' " Robin Hood" will shortly be seen at the Strand.

An experienced diamond-cutter was employed at the Thoinns 11. Ince studios during the filming of "A Man of Action, ,, a, clever mystery comedy soon to be released. A half-million dollar diamond robbery is a feature of the pictures and for some of the scones, world-famous diamonds worn duplicated. "The Kohinoor," "OrlnfT," "Polar Star."

"Pasha," "Grout Mogul, ,, "Regent. ,, "Indian Table Stone" and '"Saucy" diamonds, all of which have left a t mi] of blood through the ages, worn among t lip. fine stones which were duplicated for use in the picture in which Douglas MacLean, Raymond Hatton and Marguerite do la Motto play the leading, roles. When the collection of artificial diamonds was completed, it was declared to be one of the liiiest of its kind in the country. It is hoin<r kept in a vault at the Ince studios for use in sppcial product ions.

NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK. THEATRE. PRODUCTION. BRAND. STAR. STRAND ... "The Glorious Adventure" .. Pinnacle ~„• Lady Diana Manners NATIONAL .. "My Friend, the Devil" .. William Fox .. All Star HIFFODROME .. "Man's Size" .. William Fox .. William Russell BROADWAY ..,., "Bought and Paid For" .. Paramount ~*., Agnes Ayres, co. star, Jack Holt TIVOLI . . "Everything For Sale" . . Paramount ~ ~ May McAvoy "The Man Who Saw To-morrow" . . Paramount . . Thomas Meighan

Some supet-productione are ehortly to be seen at the National Theatre. They include Mac Murray and Rodolph Valentino in "The Delicious Little Devil," the latest Richard Talmage picture, "Watcu His etep," and on Juno 1 the big Fox eupcr-sperial all-star cast production, "Monte Cristo." The latter is spoken of as one of the pictures of the year. It has been adapted from the book of tlio same name by that famous writer, Alexandra Dumas. Kmmett J. Flynn directed the picture.

Have you heard the real secret of Doug, and Mary's proposed trip round the world? No doubt you read of their plans to take i>o of their chosen friends upon a chartered steamer for a cruise of pijjht months. It seems that an emissary of Doug, visited a. Japanese steamship company with the proposition of borrowing a, steamer in return for the publicity and honour of moving the Fairbankses and their friends. To be brief, an ocean liner gratis. The Japs, didn't see it that way—and now all is silence about the trip.

Baby Peggy will he directed by Harry Edwards in her first 1923 picture. Edwards was given this chance as a reward for his excellent work directing Buddy Messenger. The film, which has not been named yet, shows Peggy swinging in her favourite swing. The rope breaks and she is hurled into a wagon filled with orphans, which is passing by. She in taken to the orphan asylum against her ■"•ill, and only escapes by impersonating a French doll and fretting sold.