Screen Stars and Films

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 192, 15 August 1925, Page 28

Screen Stars and Films

Compromise," a novel by Mrs. Jay Uelzer, is being prepared by E. T. Lowe, &r£ r I l eno 4 Rid J» Louiso Farenda, and Clive Bfbbk. Alan Crosiand will direct.

Lady Windermere's Fan," the Oscar Wilde drama that Ernst Lubitsch will make, is scheduled to start shortly. The script is being prepared by Julian Josephson.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of a beautifully produced volume dealing with Paramount's "Famous Forty" list, also of last month's issue of "The Hollywood Filmograph," the first copy of that paper to be sent to us.

"Tesiie," a "Saturday Evening Post" Story by Sewell Ford, is under production, first scenes being made at Universal. May McAvoy is the star, supported by Myrtle Steadman, Robert Agnew; Lee Morafi, Kate Price, Walter Perry and Gertrude Short.

Marion Harlan is working in "The Helen and Warren" series of pictures that have jtist been started under the direction of Al Ray at the Fox studios. She has just signed a long term contract with William Fox, and this is the first picture under the new arrangement.

Joseph De Grasse, who is directing "The Hidden Way," a story written by Mrs. De GrasSe, has an excellent all■tar cast appearing in the production, headed by Gloria Grey, with the following artists:—Mary Carr, Tom Sant■chi, Arthur Rankin, Ned Sparks, Wilbur Mack, Jane Thomas, William Ryno, Billie Jean Phelps and others. Wilbur McGraugh is assisting Director De Grasse.

The first player selected for the cast of "The Best People/ Sidney Olcott's next production for Paramount, is Kathlyn Williams, according to an announcement by Jesse L. Lasky, first vice-president Of the Famous PlayersLasky corporation, in charge of the production. Miss Williams has just added to her many brilliant portrayals that of the mother in "Tho Wanderer," and her role in ''The Best People" is decidedly in contrast, for she will play an ultra modern mother. The theme of "The Best People," credited as a sensational success on the speaking stage, is the futility of opposing the will of children in their choice of mates, where love is Unquestionably the guiding.force.

A few years ago Mary Astor was struggling through a dramatic school in New York, hoping for fame on the stage or screen as hundreds of girls do. Recently she was again in New York> this time to see the premier of "Don Q, Son of Zoro" Douglas Fairbanks' picture. Mary played the leading role in this picture, and the dream of her school days has come true. Although Bhe is beautiful and talented; Mary owes her big opportunity to luck. When Fairbanks was casting "Don Q," he was seeking a leading lady, stately and fair. Scores fof applicants wlere considered but none seemed to Suit. A friend happened to send Mary Astor's picture to E. J. Vallejo, the producer's second camera- 1 man. He showed the picture to Fairbanks. "Thai's the very girl we want," said he, and Mary landed the role that hundreds sought.

What is believed to be the first map ever made of w The Mysterious Island," the locale of Jules Vetne's famous story of that name, has just been brought to light, according to Mr. J. E. Williamson. It Was'drawn in 1891. Mr. Williamson ia going to produce the Verne story .for the Metro Goldwyn-Mayer , corporation, and is now gathering all available data in hil search. The sketch was discovered recently by John M. Ball erf New York City among the. papers of W. A. Lorenz, his uncle. Mr. Lorenz, a mechanical engineer of Hartford, Conn., was reading the story aloud to hia children, and drew for them a freehand map which is said to be an exact delineation of " Mysterious Island" as Verne described it. Mr. Williamson is very anxious to obtain possession of the map* to see if it conforms with his idea of the "mysterious island." A great deal of the pioture will be filmed under water by the' special Williamson Undersea Process of photography, and will be taken in the Bahamas.

Mr. Beaumont Smith, the Australian picture producer, baa announced that he has decided to make a film entitled, "The" Birth of Australasia." 'tit will be 1 the: biggest thing ever attempted in Australasia," added Mr. Smith, "and will cover the history of the Commonwealth and New Zealand, from the days of earliest exploration. It will not be purely historical, but a typical Australasian story will run throughout." Mr. Smith has been engaged for a considerable time on research work for this production, and will commence work on the film shortly. Scenes will be taken throughout the whole of the Commonwealth, and many people will be required to impersonate many well-knoWn figures in the history of Australia and New Zealand. The production is estimated to cost at least £15,000.

Duke Kahanamdku, Hawaiian champion swimmer, is adding diving arid swimming thrills to a current Hal Boach comedy starring Charley Chase, directed by Leo McCarey. Laguna Beach's surf furnished the environment for most of the water gags in the Chase comedy, in which ten beautiful bathing girls also appeared.

Although Percy Marmont 1b to do ." Lord Jim," a Joseph Conrad story of admirable opportunities, instead of "A Kiss for Cinderella," the Barrie phantasy, as at first planned by Paramount, by order's of the studio he was measured for the Barrie role- just before he left New York. And, according to orders issued there, the whimsical British character's uniform is now being made for Marmont in London just the same. Marmont was chosen by Barrie as an ideal personality to express the delightful English bobby's delicate romanticism and humour. But through a change of studio plans Tom Moore is to do the role while Marmont chooses to do the Conrad story in California.

The future activities- of Larry Semon as a star comedian seem to be about settled at'the present time, for it- is said that Larry, upon the completion, of one more picture, which will be "The Count of Luxemburg," has affiliated himself with Pathe, Incorporated, and will make seven features for them, the first to be "The Wreck," while the next will-he and Listen," another well-known, stage play. The success of "The Wizard of Oz'' seems to have brought on this new arrangement, which will place Larry Semon absolutely in a class by himself, for Harold Lloyd,. Harry Langdoh, Buster Keaton, Monty Banks and others are not going in for Such plays, but are sticking to the Out and out original comedies, in Which they are appearing from time to time. Semon has. been coming to the front more rapidly in the past year than at any time in his career, and there is no telling as to what the future has in store for him. At present- he is working on a comedy at "the Charles Ray studio and expects to-finish almost any day. After a brief rest he will get under way on another feature.

John Gilbert has been awarded the coveted role of the artist "Rudolpho," with Lilian Gish in "La Boheme," her first starring picture for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Gilbert has just finished work in his first starring picture "The Big Parade," Which Kfcig Vlidor directed. The release of this picture and "The Merry Widow," In which he plays Prince Danllo opposite Mac Murray, should establish him on the top of the ladder of popularity (says a review.) "La Boheme" is a story of life in the French Latin Quarter between 1830 and 1850. Though not a modern picture, the story contains no historical characters, every one being purely fictitious. It i« being adapted to the screen by Madame Fred De Gresao from Henry Eurger's classic, "Life in the Latin Quarter." The direction of the picture has been assigned to King Vidor. Production will start as soon as he has finished cutting and editing "The Big Parade," and the other members of the cast of "La Boheme" are selected.

Maurice Tourneur has finished "Sporting Life," running well ahead of schedule. Bert Lytell is starred, supported by Marion Nixon, George Seigman, and a strong cast. Assistants are Cowl, Bertin and Edward Dodds. Cameraman, Arthur Todd.

Arrangements are now well in hand for Paramount's fifth annual Paramount Week, which will take place between August 31 and September 5. A norel feature in the celebration* wilt be the offering of the leading prize in the shape of a Paramount Week Shield, valued at lOOgns. All theatres will be open to the competition, and it is anticipated that this year will be a very enthusiastic affair.

SLOW TRAINS AHD FILM COMPANIES. : Train services play an important part in all manners of, life —commercial or otherwise. A ruptured train schedule may mean disorganisation in one hundred different ways. Just what effect the slowness of the trains between Los Angeles and New York city meant ..to a picture company is told in the following clipping from the "Hollywood Filmograph," of last month: —

Amazing figures' compiled under ths supervision of Al Rockett, assistant general manager of First National Pictures, were revealed when the film executive placed in conservative figures the sum of 500,000 dollars as the loss Sustained every year by the First National organisation due -to the -present schedule of train service between Los Angeles and New York city; "It Was'riot Until we sat down with' pencil'and paper and determined the' amount of money actually wasted each year due to the slow Service that the amazing results were obtained," said Rockett.' "First; National' Productions produce pictures in New York and Hollywood. Our companies are always exchanging players and stars. In many cases, entire companies, with directors, assistants, technical men, arid chiefs' of the staffs attendant to picture making,' go as a Single unit to and from New York. The salaries of the people, many of them commanding several thousands Weekly, total into a mighty sum and when one subtracts the time lost en-route that could easily be saved, it becomes a most serious problem," continued Rockett. "there is hardly a day but that several First National players, or executives, are on board the trains going East or coming West. Despite the In- , ability to work, the salaries go on as usual. Half a million dollars is a large sum to place as an annual loss, and this is for one organisation only," said Rockett. "If," he continued, "all companies were added together in this loss, the total would Soar into millions of dollars each year. Last Week one unit of First National's organisation was moved from New York • io ; 'Hollywood; This was the Corinne-Griffith unit. The company had in~ New York filming a picture iitl'ed 'Classified.' - Adding' the salaries of the Starrer featured pl&yers, the director, assistants, business manager, cameramen, y kMi .others In* ■the, party, and then obtaining the amount of money lost that could be saved with quicker service, I find it amounts to over 5000 dollars. And this is but one unit of the many constantly en-route." The huge amount of money lost by film concerns each year, could easily be placed to advantage in the production of photoplays. ' ,