Screen Stars & Films

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 124, 26 May 1923, Page 23

Screen Stars & Films

NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK. THEATRE. PRODUCTION. BRAND . STAR NATIONAL " «tS I?"* 1 ""f'l-f- • Fir.t National .. Richard lUrthdme.. EVERYBODY'S.. Sffiftrl*. .'J SfcSET TIVOLI "Making a Man" ~ ~ Paramount „.., Jack Holt

The Fox production "If Winter Comes" has been completed and released in Amerii-a. Graham Wilcox is preparing for the production of "Chu Chin Chow." the Ecrecii rights of which he recently purchased. An American inventor states that uiihin a few weeks he will perfect a wireless machine which will transmit none pictures, 'flic owner of a broadcasting set "ill be able to sit in his parlour ami enjoy .a liijrh class programme. Mta Naldi says that May McAvoy is ier favourite actress. " That child," Ehe Bays, "has everything — youth, beauty, and an unusual dramatic gift. And, added to that, a sense of delicacy that niake.3 her smallest characterisation lovely!' , Recently Gladys Walton served a three-day term in gaol in Los Angeles for fpeeding. It promised to be a very dreary time until her director told her that immediately she was released she had to start on "Sawdust." her latest photoplay at Universal City. So the three days was passed in fitting and trying on costumes. The warden kindly obliged with a peep-proof front door. J. Warrerr Kerrigan is back at Universal City. In the old days, Kerrigan was Universale first-string star. Now he ctmes back ac co-star with Anna QXileson in an all-star Jewel, which Harry Garson will direct. It is an original story by John H. Blackwood, The title has not been definitely decided upon. Gustav Brock, the famous Danish miniature artist, who recently held an exhibition at the Ehrich Galleries in New York, was engaged to hand-colour the prints of Marion Daviee' latest picture, "Adam and Eve." Sir. Brock is an "Officier" oi the French Academy, and has shown his work in Le Salon dee Artistc3 Francais. His miniatures are famous, and he Las painted many members of European royal families. •A skulking iyena 13 being used a-6 "atmosphere" in several 6cenes of "Human Wreckage," Mrs. Wallace Reid's film against the drug evil. The hyena, which was purchased for use in the picture, is housed at the Thomas H. lnce studios in a typical "Californian bungalow," painted iright blue. In deference to his night Jiebite, he works only after nightfall, and is permitted to sleep all day long. «, The following is a list of a few of the coming attractions to 'be screened at the Strand Theatre:—"The Bond Boy" (Richard Barthelmess), First National; last production of Barthelmess' "Tol'able David." "A Woman's Woman," featuring Hary Alden, United Artists. "Robin Hood" (Douglas Fairbanks), United Artists, big spectacular production, 10,000 ft. "Oliver Twist" (Jackie Coogan) first National special. "Salome" (Oscar Wilde'e version), Nazimova, United Artists. Mac Murray has begun work on "The French. Doll," a Tiffany production, presented by Robert Z. Leonard, to be released by Metro. It will be an elaborate version of the stage success of the same name by A. E. Thomas, adapted by him ■rom a famous French play. As a stage play it had a long run in New jork and on tour. Robert Z. Leonard, director of Mac Murray's Tiffany proTCctions, has surrounded this dazzling star with an exceptionally fine cast, in- ' trading Rod La Rocque, William Loiiis, Orrffle Caldwell, Madame Rose Dione, Bernard Kandall, Paul Cazeneuve, and others. The production will be in the Efme lavish style which has always characterised Mac Murray's pictures. A special Paramount production in which Icatrice Joy and Owen Moore will "Ppear is to be started at tho Lasky KUQio Boon, under the direction of paries Maigne. This is a screen ver«°n of Maximilian Foster's etory, "The b "ent Partner." Leatrice Joy has recently completed work in '"You Can't jool Your Wife." George Melford's proMction nd Owen Moore has been especially engaged for this production. •WSS Joy will have the opportunity of earing sonic handsome gowns, and «» e « a large amount of emotional rang m ] ler ro , Cj while tne tto be mi»j-7 J Owen Moore wiu also Possess dramatic opportunities. rt?A mci . identall y with the taking over of 7p!i lle . tr< y"-°<luct for Australia and New f land, Famous Lasky Film Service «Bo acquired a new and breezy line of ""■reel com edie3. These are what are «E.M a n All ' Star C <"*«lies, and will Dtl - r ftar diaries Murray, Mary *$Tl a " d Ra . vmond McKee: They int IK\ dircctcd b y Gre S ol 7 I* Cava r^ dlst . r ' buted throl, £ h tie American "Sanaation of C. C. Burr. Murray will teri « ered for Ms famoua charac " cotllv J" ,several hundred Sennett *£. V , lar - r Anderi °n a comedienne II X a ™ st of admirers, whilst Raymond Wnm 13 a newcomer, who should soon "some very popular. of^, ma / epictin S tho North-West Wh r V? as emmon as water is in rth Canterbury. Hie greatest of them Wtin f° f T, the first P rod ' J <*d. "The be th' g - an McQrew " is believed to W#°?l" film cf the Canadian it tnmT i ype - Those who remember O.Ltch±,H St , time !t " a3 sWn *» ftehpTt f • declare t)lat ifc was one of story; ■ 'J* ty P e ever Produced. The titled Tf ed °i l the I )0em of the sam e v tiol ?ObGr , t ■ yer ™<:> a "d the proJferthw I• t0 catch the B P irit of the »hn -;" es . t . ln no uncertain way. The p bntVY rl3 \ old one as far as y ears 'aid to h aS been brushed "P. and is one Edmn ? 5°° d as new - The etar ie Woth f *; c Cirand Tl, ° atrc tO r- da - ««rtion «n ar featnre ia a Un "-ersal proCot h ; mv- t0 - Every Woman," with is SKrS W", V lO lead " Th - e et « ""Pported by Rodolph Velentiho.

Another foreign-made picture, starring Pola Negri, is being prepared for release by Goldwyn. It is to bo called "Mad Love." Anita Stewart haa signed a contract with the Cosmopolitan Productions. For the last few years Miss Stewart lias been appearing under the management of Louis B. Mayer. Corinne Griffith was unhesitatingly chosen by Keysa McMein to number among the six most beautiful women of the screen. It was the contour of Miss Griffith's face in particular which merited the artistic appreciation. Rupert Julian, who has finished the picture "Merry Go Round," that yon Stroheim started at Universal, intends to make a picture of Cyrano de Bergerac and to play the title Vole himself. Laurette Taylor, having just " iven the title role in "Peg O' My Heart" to the screen, is entitled to the place which Miss McMein gives her among the screen's six beauties. Although Miss Taylor has won. hosts of admirers as Peg. she is extremely well-known through her stage portrayals. And this season ehe is masking her charm under the make-up of the mother characterisation she gives in the stuge version of "Humoresque." In place of " Fire and Ashes," the original story intended for Priscilla Dean, the famous Jewel star will play the tig role in " The Acquittal," whieti will go into production as soon as it can be put into scenario form. " The Acquittal" had a long run as a play on Broadway. Thus "Motion Picture Magazine":—li you know Will Rogers, and are a blushing bridegroom or bride, stay away from the "Follies"; he i≤ prone to offer his felicitations in front of half of Xew York; not that he isn't fond of you, but lie wants everyone else to know just how fond he is. Anyway, Walter Hiers and his new bride admitted that had Will taken them to some nice, quiet spot back-stage and murmured his congratulations in their ears, they would have had a little more faith in his absolute sincerity, because he made tli.-m stand up in front of the audience and listen to him charge them to live happily ever afterward. Rupert Hughes can put more into a motion picture than many authors can put into a book. Here are some of the titles from "Gimme,"' the picture written in collaboration with his wife, which will soon be released: —"Tho chief problem of a woman at work ia to make ■her employer like her but not too well." "There is something bo diabolical about a diamond that it ought to be spelled ] 'd —r-d.'" "Only so much footage is allowable to kissage even when they are engaged," and here comes the censor. "The first request for money is a3 bitter to a bride's lips as the first olive. It becomes an easy habit lator but it's mighty hard to say tho first 'Gimme. , " ''There's many a rhinostone face above a diamond brooch." "Women's favourite indoor sport is swatting other women with insults disguised as compliments.' "A wife's extravagance saved her husband a lot of money —for once! (It can never happen again.)" Some women rent safe deposit boxes for their love letters, 6ome men use them for guarding home-brew recipes, others keep bonds in them, but Mao Murray Metro star, uses a vault for keeping her gown designs. (Miss Murray spends hours with a sheet of paper and a pencil, or. coloured crayons if they are available, designing gowns. She designs all the gowns sho wears in her screen productions. Her histrionic success h.13 been augmented considerably by the fact that ehe does not confine her activities merely to the time she is before the camera. While others are out golfing or attending social gatcrings she emulates the busy little bee in improving each shining hour. No prime minister ever guarded secrets of state more closely than Mac Hurray guards the secrets of her new gowns. She does not want them to be seen by anyone until they are flashed on the screen in her picture. Twenty-four separate interior sets were constructed on two floors of the immense Now York studios for the production of "Perjury," the William Fox special presenting William Farnum in an intensely emotional role. The sets include a spacious court-room, in which the murder trial scenes were made. Marked contrasts are shown in the sots for the palatial residence of. John Gibson, the wealthy yet lonely manufacturer, and the humble but happy hope of Robert Moore, the factory manager. Some of the sets are for scenes of twenty years ago while others are modern. Among them are offices, halls, entrances, prison cells hotel suites and law offices. They were constructed under the direction of Frederick L. Robitsch, technical director for Fox. "Perjury , is an intense human interest photodrama, and made a great sensation during its run in a prominent Broadway, New York, theatre. "Monte Cristo" is the most recent big William Fox production and based on the famous romantic tale by Alexandra Dumas. The Dumas etory is deeply absorbing and its dramatio material furnishes a basis for one of the finest screen dramas ever shown. The plot deals with the stirring adventures of a young French sailor, Edmond Dante, who, on the eve of his marriage, is arrested and thrown into prison on false charges. He stays there for 20 years and finally makes his escape. A fortune comes to him from a former fellow prisoner. Hβ then seeks revenge, and how he succeeds without actually shedding any blood by his own hands makes this a story and screen drama of uncommon worth. The production was directed by Emmett J. Flynn and the character parts are •kilfuily handled by an all-star eaat beaded by Jekn Gilbert.

Some of the American papers are suggesting that the Ohaplin-Negri romance is being cleverly used as an advertising medium. Mrs. Monte Blue has filed suit for divorce from her actor husband. Their married life, it seems, has been short and quite hectic, and Mrs. Blue thinks everything would be better if they wore both free. Pauline Starke—it was the high cheekbones •of Pauline Starke which pleased Miss McMein and attracted her interest when she was making her difficult selection. And frequently people have said I that Miss Starke's cheekbones were her I handicap. . . . ! "And Norma— yes, she belongs with the screen's most beautiful six." announced Miss McMein decidedly. "Norma is beautiful with the beauty of full womanhood, despite elender years. Her beauty has the fragrance of maturity." RraiiVy Kini*. who has just completed the novel "Tlie Devil's Own," in collaboration with Tarboi Mnndy, noted British novelist, is now at work on an adaptation of "The Just and the Unjust," the popular Vaughan Kester novel for which Thomna H. Inre Ims purchased screen rights. "The Devil's Own" has been adapted for the screen under the title "Her Reputation." May MoAvoy is starred in the production, which was directed by John Griffith Wray. An interesting page in the latest number of the "Motion Picture Magazine" gives a list of the six most beautiful women of tho screen, chosen by Nuysa McMein. Magazine rovers painted* by Neysa McMein, pictured at the top d the facing page, decorate numerous publications on the news stands every month. Miss McMein quite recently chose the twelve whom she believes ti be the most beautiful women she hue ever known. Newspapers featured her selpi-tions of beauty. According to the McMein ratings Mary Pickford is not only the most beautiful woman of the screen, but quite the most beautiful woman known to the discriminating Neysa. And this statement was made after Maiy hud eat lor hours posing for a portrait.

"A lovely face," that waa the w»y Mistress Neysa, acclaimed a wise judge of pulchritude, described Florence Vidor. Ivathryn iMcGuire is another of the Mack iSennett comedy girls to graduate to dramatic stardom. She will have tho lcadiug role in "Scarlet Shadows." Eoscoe Arbuckle has started work in a new two-reel comedy. His " come back" lias been staged with the financial I assistance of San Francisco men and Gavin McNab, the attorney who defended him in his three trials. Holly Malone. who used to appear opposite the rotund comedian, will play with him in his return picture, which will require six weeks to film and will cost 75,000 dollars. There was a time when the mere thought of performing in a motion picture theatre would have sent celebrated artists of the piano, the voice, and the violin into hysterics. But just the other day, Percy Orainger, a pianist of renl renown, ended a week's encjaijement at the Capitol Theatre in Now York City, as a featured part of the programme. Then Saschn. .lacobsen, the violinist, played ji week in the temple of mot inn pictures on Broadway. It was S. h. KotliaplVFs idea. And if he keeps it up, he will earn the right to drop a letter from his hist name. He spells it Rotbafel now. Mr. Bruntnell, Minister for Education. in opening tho third annual conference of the Teachers' Federation in Sydney recently, stated that (he rural dfimocI rnoy of that country demanded their ! best attention, but was not receiving it. ', He considered that the correspondence '■ system was ineffective, unless parents j themselves could assist, nnd lie also ! erged earnest consideration of the new I visual instruction, remarking (hat film I makers and picture show proprietors should be consulted about the matter, i "There were very few subjects," said Mr. Bruntnell, "that could not be better taught by moving pictures. This system I of education had n great fascination for ] children, and the lesson taught was j never forgotten." He added that he eincrrely hoped in future there would be a special education week, when proper publicity would bo afforded the der-.rtment's achievements.