Screen Stars and Films

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 78, 3 April 1926, Page 28

Screen Stars and Films

Alice Terry and Lewis Stone, who have hot played together since they scored their triumph in "Scaramouche," are united as the royal couple in "Confessions of a Queen," Victor Seastrom's picture. Modern married life is compared with Borne Biblical examples in "So this is Marriage," featuring Eleanor Boardman, Conrad Nagel and Lew Cody. The Biblical scenes are photographed in colour. The Stoll Film Company showed their latest production, "One Colombo Night," privately to the trade recently, writes the film critic of the "Daily Mail." Both Mr. Godfrey Tearle and Miss Marjorie Hume, as hero and heroine, underwent the most scandalous treatment at the hands of an elderly villain, who gave the hero unlucky Stock Exchange tips, steamed his letters, circulated false reports of his death, and pursued the heroine even to the very gates of a Sinhalese convent. There is rathr too much plot in the film; so much, in fact, and so many journeys between Australia, Ceyloq, and England that there is no time for making the story plausible or the action very thrilling. Miss Norah Swinburne, in a small part, was the artist whose personality made itself most felt in this rather disappointing picture. This clever young actress has already shown so much talent for screen work that it seems a pity she should not be given better opportunities. Mr. Ivor Novello, the versatile young actor, film star, playwright, and song writer, has just signed a contract to appear in a series of British films for Gainsborough Pictures, Ltd. Very tempting offers of film work have recently been made to this actor by American film companies, in whose eyes he is the "Latin lover" type so popular on the screen, though there is a sensitiveness in his acting distinct from the caveman technique of Valentino. Mr. Novello, however, prefers to remain in England, particular as he rsconfident that the much-desired revival of British films has actually htegun. The first film of the series he will begin making is "The Lodger," a imurdermystery full of action and character, from the novel by Mrs. Belloc Lowndes. This film, like others to be produced toy the enterprising Gainsborough Pictures, Ltd., ia already sold to America.

Two vivid characters, opposites, hold the centre of the stage in "Eve's" Lover," a Warner Brothers' classic of the screen, with Irene Rich, Bert Lyttel, Clara Bow and Willard Louis. "The Denial," a forthcoming picture with Claire Windsor and Bert Boach, deals with the relationship between parents and children, and tackles some interesting problems. Claire Windsor appears as a girl of eighteen, and as a mother, 45 years old. The period of the film is during the Spanish War. Miss Vilma Banky, -who has appeared ■with conspicuous success in "One Night," and "The Eagle" enjoys the distinction of being the only Hungarian who has attained prominence in American pictures. Pola Negri represents the Poles; Victor Seastrom, the Swedes; Valentino, the Italians; Emil Jannings, the Germans; Jetta Goudal, the French; Antonio Moreno, the Danish, but Miss Banky is the first to arrive from Buda Pest. The actress comes from a non-theatrical family, her father being a public official in Hungary. Samuel Goldwyn, the American producer, saw a picture of her in a photographer's window on a recent visit to Buda Pest, and was so impressed that he sought an interview, and signed her for a long term contract.

"After Six Days," a picture based on the stories in the Old Testament, is to be shown in Auckland soon. It is described as a magnificent visualisation of the world's greatest story and is presented by Weiss Brothers' Artclass Pictures Corporation.

the star in "The Dark Swan."

The British film "Xell Gwyn," has been presented with notable success at thp Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New York. Mr. George T. Eaton, chairman of British National Pictures, Ltd., cabled that this film, directed by Herbert Wilcox anil starring Dorothy Gish, created so much interest at its first New York presentation that two showings of the picture had to be given to crowded audiences. These included representatives of the American film industry, theatrical profession, and Press. This is an event of real importance in the history of British motion pictures, since it is the first occasion on which an all-British picture has been so enthusiastically acclaimed in America. As a result Dorothy Gish has agreed to do three more films under the direction of Herbert Wilcox for British National Pictures, Ltd. This marks the first real step in the restoration of film making in Britain. British National Pictures, Ltd., are meantime building the world's biggest and most up-to-date studios at Elstree, but in order to permit Herbert Wilcox to begin production immediately on his return -from America they have leased the Beaconsfield Studios from March onwards.

• Harold Lloyd will be seen in Auckland shortly in his latest and most amusing film, "Hot Water." In "The Navigator," Buster Keaton's latest comedy, the frozen-faced comedian is seen as a sailor who does not know port from starboard. He and his girl are left alone on an ocean liner, a situation which "affords, ample opportunity for humour. Buster Keaton and Kathryn McGuire make the most of this opportunity. Wallace Beery has signed a new twoyear contract with Paramount. Announcement was made at the came time by Hector Turnbull and B. P. Schulberg, Mr. Lasky's associate producers in Hollywood, that Beery has been cast- for three of the outstanding roles of the year. One lis in "Old Ironsides," 1 the James Cruze production dealing with the most glorious chapter in the history of the American navy. Probably an even greater role will be that of the picturesque and beloved showman, P. T. Barnum, in "The Greatest Show on Earth," which Paramount will produce after the completion of "Old Ironsides." Beery is at present preparing for a great role in "Beau Geste " P. C Wrens powerful story of the Foreign Legion in Algeria, which Herbert Brenon has come West especially to direct.