Screen Stars and Films

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 212, 6 September 1924, Page 23

Screen Stars and Films

■ Another interesting series of comedies j s being released by Universal. They grß called "Sweet Sixteen Comedies." ■Arthur Lake is featured, and Olive gasbrouk is the girl. "The Night Cap," the play by Max Jjaroin and Guy Bolton, -which Herbert Blanche has been turning into a moving picture, has been completed. James Kirkwooa and Madge Bellamy have the rtar roles. Edward Laemmle, having finished "The Flower of Napoli," with Herbert Rawlinson and Madge Bellamy, has left XJniversal City for Quebec to film scenes at the ehrine of St. Ann. de Beaupre for Clarence Buddington Kelland's "Ladies' Home Journal" serial, "Miracle." George Barr McCutcheon's story. "The Husbands of Edith," which stars Reginald Denny, has been completed, and changed in title to "The Lightning J.over." Report has it that William Scitcr has made an extremely entertaining comedy-drama, and the presence of La Plante and Ethel Grey Terry in the-cast promises heauty as well as fun and drama. ' "A Society Scandal," featuring Gloria Sffanson, will be here soon. Those who remember the star's portrayal in "Zaza" and "The Humming Bird," are promised in' "A Society Scandal," a combination of talents as seen in both these screen successes. Miss Swanson is Tesplendeht in gorgeous frocks and' dazzling evening gowns, and with all the trappings of a smart woman of 1924. "The supporting cast of the picture includes Rod La Rogue, Richard Cortez, and a number of other notables. "Harry Pollard has ensured the interest of all of the thousands who have read Barry Leon Wilson's story, "Oh, Doctor," by picking out a cast of exceptional character playere for the various roles. Beginald Denny plays ■ Rufus Biltup, junr.; Mary Astor, the nurse, Dolores Hicks; and Mike Donlin, the demon rhanffeur. Buzz Titus. "Death Watch," Man- Schultz, is played by Martha Mattox, while the conspiring trio of financiers, Messrs. Clinch, Mclntosh and Peck, are portrayed "by Otis . Harlan, William Mong, and Tom Bicketts.

,: Thomas . Meighan's next '. picture, "Tongues of Flame," will be made in Njew'York, and will be directed by Joseph Henabery. , - ' i-Elmer Davis' story, "Til Show You tie, Town," has been purchased by< Universal. "I'll Show You the Town" was tfa ' first run serially in - Magazine, and' was later 'published by Mcßride in book form. The- novel appeared year. -The atbry will undoubtedly be used for Reginald Dennyj who is now: busily engaged upon Harry Leon Wilson's story "Oh, Doctor." T :ln all. the realm of detective -and romant : -> drama there is no more famous or well-known 'name than "Raffles." Jfyrle Bellew played it for a year. It made him 5 a great star. The role mysteriously wove itself into the imagination of young and old alike, until it . Wame a synonym of the daring gentlemanly, desperado who always kept just '■ineide the law and out of the clutches b{ the law's guardians. "Eaffles" was -to the underworld what Sherlock Holmes '•was to the world of crimolbgis'ts. This famous role will be revived by-Universal I with Honse Peters in the chief part. From aide-de-camp to toe GovernorGeneral of the Union of South Africa and Jirivate secretary to the Governor , of Victoria, Australia, to a position as » minor player in motion pictures, is the step taken by Gerald Grove, eldest «on of Sir Walter Grove, Baronet, and Lady Grove. He is now appearing in H "Open All Night," Paul Bern's first pic- '■ tare, a Paramount production, featuring Viola Dana, Jetta Gpudal, Adolphe Menjou, Rayniomna , Griffith, Maurice B. Flynn and Gale IJenry. Before the war he was, A.D.C. to Lord Buxton, then ' Governor-General of South "Africa. During the war he fought in German' East Africa as an officer in the King's African Rifles, a native regiment. Invalided out of the army, he became private •eeretary to the Earl of Stradbroke, Governor of Victoria, and now he is in Hollywood. Rex IngTam, who recently returned from abroad, is of the opinion that "■any foreism players will enter the American field. p "It is surprising to mc," said Ingram, "that a so-called "invasion , of foreign players, in any appreciable numbers, aae not occurred before. I do. not refer m> the single cases of European stars, out to the rank and file of player's. Eventually any foreign star who holds *n appeal .for American audiences is wrand to become a fixture of the American film scene. This is sufficiently *ell known, but I may say that the ealy European star who ;has made good *ith American audiences is Pola' Negri. "Undoubtedly there are other Pola Segris in the making throughout furope, but their work is buried under Adequate continental methods of production, such as are obtained in France - «d Italy. There is, of course, this .-set to consider: As a freneral thrng, continental types of beauty in France, Germany and Italy do not appeal to Americans. "The result of a large appearance in «ub country of foreign film players is problematical. It might be- an artistic Messing, but undoubtedly it would in,flict a certain amount of hardship on satire players, until the foreisn players Idle their Sdentity as suchind become Permanently established in th« American ; movie armament. But such an occurrence *Hld «anw 90 eurjpier to gmf , ■[■ .1

Gloria Swanson will go abroad to make pictures. She will sail this month for Para, and her first foreign production will be the screen version of the old stage play "Madame Sana Gene." It is proposed to produce this picture in the very scenes where the story is laid,_ and it will probably be ready for public exhibition early next year. Bringing to the screen something' entirely new in the -way of comedy, "Our Hospitality," a Metro picture, features Buster Keaton. It is a clever satire on the antiquated methods of our forefathers, relating many of the humorous associates with the Victorian dress, etiquette, modes of transport, and social conduct. "Wanderer of the Wasteland," Zane Grey's story, is at present in the course of construction at the Paramount studios. It is interesting to note that great pains are being taken in this picture to make it a colour feature, Flesh tint, hair and eye colours, are all shown exactly as they are in daily life. Among the players wfc© appear in the picture are Jack Holt, Katherine Williams, and Noah Beery. _ "Men," is Pola Negri's newest production. It is claimed that in this picture the popular continental star absolutely returns to the kind of role she had in "Passion." The picture, is a powerful story of Paris, lavishly produced. Although the entire picture was made in Hollywood, the sets of the French capital are remarkable reproductions, and the atmosphere of the Parisienne cafes are carried out in every detail. Robert Frazer and Robert Edeson are in the supporting cast. Dp American pictures face a foreign invasion of film players, on a scale as important as the famous "invasion" of foreign-made productions a few years ago? Executives close to the production end of the industry have freely predicted the possibility that a considerable European talent in the picture field is shortly to make its appearance over here. This opinion is based on the number of players who appeared this year, and are to be seen this coming season in American productions partly or entirely filmed abroad.

The "English' east is finished with it* work,., the "Burbadoea" cast ia well through with its scenes and now the "high cc&«" cast ia being selected. Doris Kenyon has been signed by First National Pictures to a long-time contract. Few women of stage or screen have had a career such as DorU Kenyon. Possesed of a -wonderfully beautiful voice, Miss Kenyon has had numerous opportunities to enter the concert field; several volumes of verse have been published from her pen; one haa appeared with considerable succese upon the legitimate stage, and her work In motion- pictures 'has, been exceptional. Miss Kenyon is now on the Pacific Coast, working with Richard Barthtlmesa in "If I Marry Again." One of the surprises of the season was the announcement that D. W. Griffith, with the consent of. the directors of his own company, D. W. Griffith, Incorporated,;a'*ad given up independent producing, and had . signed with Famous Playere-Laaky to direct a series of picture! for them. For many yean Griffith has been an independent producer, and has released through United Artiste, which includes Mary Pickf ord, Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks. What his -new vienture will mean to United Artists is being widely discussed in film circles. • ■■■■ Mystery, combined with a fast-moving western story, is the baeir of "The Lightning Rider," Harry Carey's latest picture. : The mystery surrounds . a personage known as the "Black Mask," who is the terror of a Email border town. ' Carey has" a dual role/in this picture; in which he does some of his best work. During the day he is a deputy sheriff regarded as lazy and stupid, but at night he is a man of energy and action. . ; "The Next' Corner," a Paramount i picture, brings to the screen a new star in Dorothy Mackaill, who plays the role of , a young American wife, honeymooning in Paris, meets a young Spanish grandee, Don Arturo, who captivates the young wife by his winsome ways. One of the marked scenes is that of the carnival night in wild celebration in Spain, and the' picturesque Argentine. The transformation of ■ the • young wife from a sweet home girl into the painted sophisticated woman of • the world, brings to the screen a drama full of thrills arid romances. The supporting cast includes Conway Tearle in the role of the husband, 'with Ricardo Crotex, Lon Chancy, and. Lousie Dresser.

One of the questions facing the motion picture colony at present is the so called foreign invasion, says the San Francisco "Bulletin." The completed cast for B. P. Schulberg's "Breath of Scandal" includes Lou Tellegen, Betty Blythe, Jack Mulhall, Patsy Ruth "Miller, Phyllis Haver, Myrtle Stedman and Forrest Stanley. Vitagraph is now casting its third set of actors for the Eafael Sabatini romance, "Captain Blood." As written, the scenes take place in sequence in England, Barbadoe3, on the high seas, Tortuga, Pirate Island, Maracaibo and Port Eoyalj Jamaica. With the exception of J. Warren Kerrigan, Jean Paige and James Morrison, none of the artists appear in more than one locale. The result has been one of remarkable efficiency in production, as artists are engaged for certain scenes only, and not until needed. Lloyd Whitlock is playing opposite Mildred Harris in a film version of "Unmarried Wives." Now that "Barbara Fritchie" has been completed, Thomas H. Ince has put two more screen plays into production, "Dr. Nye," with Percy Marmount in the title role, and "Christine of the Hungry Heart," starring Florence Vidor, who played the title part in "Barbara Fritchie." More than 300 different types were engaged among the extras to eupplj atmosphere for the scenes in "The Shadow of the East," including Hindus, Mohammedans, Filipinos, Egyptians and Assyrians. Near the hotel is an exact duplicate of the Thomas Cook and Son building, a bank, a haberdashery, a chemist, and Bundry curio shope catering to the interests of the many tourists. First Film Actor: "Hallo, old man, I thought I saw the notice of your death in the papers." =• Second Film Actor: "Yes, old chap, but I'm not dead. That was the only way I could manage a little publicity. EYRICITIB. A poet who wished to escape from a creditor, Applied to, a newspaper's managing editor, Who threw all his poetry into the sewer, And made him the paper's dramatte reviewer. But rhymes fight Before they're slain. These ran at night ' Through the poet's brain: Fay Bainter, Ethel Barrymore, Eleanor Painter, Francine Larrimore, Arnold Daly, Tyrone Power, Barnum and Bailey, <. Margaret Mower, i Blossom Seeley, Leatrice Joy, Janet Velie, Gloria Foy, John Drew, i - Sam White, Augustus Piton, Percival Knight, Marc Connelly, Rachel Crothers, Dorothy Donnelly, The Four Marx Brother*. Fred Stone, i Ted Shawn, Madame Simone, Hazel Dawn. These lyrical strains Gave the poet the bluesj ■ i So he blew out. his brains, And stuck to reviews. ARTHUR KOBER, in "Theatre Chat*." AHT IS HOLLYWOOD. When the scenario writer found that he needed a sub-title, he wrote down: "That Night." "What does that guy know about artl" muttered the scenario editor, witherin-gly, as he scratched out the title and wrote: "Came the Evening." "That won't do," said the film editor. "It's too matter-of-fact for the greatest production that Super-Diamond MasterPictures, Inc., have ever made." He changed it to: "Came the Shadow* of Eventide." But the president of * Super-Diamend Master-Pictures, Inc., caught at the arm of the man neit to him m the much-changed title flashed upon his eye in the projection room. "Here, Morris,- , is where we knock 'em dead!" he shouted excitedly. "I just thought of » beautiful'line of poetry I read in the Exhibitor's Weekly which will fit right in here: "When Night Had Folded Down its Sable Winge* !" Next day Will H. Hays characterised the motion pictures as "a combination of all the arts," and greater than any one of them."—"Life." THE BRIDGE TOUXL ifCVEB CROSS. ifs what you think that makes the world Seem sad or gay ,to yon; Tour mind may colour all things «ray Or make them radiant hue. Be glad to-day, be true and wise. Distinguish gold from dross; waste neither time nor thought about The bridge.you'll never cross. There's useful work for you to do, For hand and brain and heart; There's. urgent human service, too, in which to take your part. Make every opportunity A worth-while gain, not lose; The best is yours, so do not fear The bridge you'll never cross. If life seems drub and difficult. Just face it with a will; Tou ao not have to work alone Since God Is with you still. ■ / Press on with courage toward , the coal. With Truth your shield emboss: Be strong, look up and just ignore The bridge you'll never cross. GRENVIIiIiB KLEISER.