Screen Stars and Films

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 96, 24 April 1926, Page 28

Screen Stars and Films

A cable advice received at Paramount head office announces that Esther RalsI ton, one of the most popular leading / women of the screen, has been advanced I to stardom.

The story of a husband with young ideas, who thought that he could bend the wedding ring a hit, without breaking it, offers entertainment possibilities in "Exchange Wives," a forthcoming film. Eleanor Boardman, Lew Cody, William HaineS and Rene Adoree are the leading players in this film version of Cosmo Hamilton's amusing drama.

Not only will Erich yon Stroheim direct Joseph M. Schenck's next Constance Talmadge picture for First National release, and act a leading part therein; he will also prepare the continuity—is, in fact, now hard at work on it at Catalina Island, whither he retired to devote his entire time and attention to the script. The picture is to be a screened version of George Barr McCutchebn's new GraUstark story, "East of the Setting Sun."

"At last Great Britain has proved to the world that in the making of motion pictures she is not a back number," says an American critic. "Sir Martin Harvey in the 'Only Way,' the latest film by Herbert Wilcox, Britain's leading director, gives to the world a film which Britain has full reason to be proud of. Rarely, if ever, has any film been produced which will enthrall its audiences as this great British achievement." It will shortly be released in New Zealand.

Harry Langdon famous screen comedian, for whose services the biggest companies in the film world have been bidding vigorously for months, has affixed his signature to a contract with First National Pictures. First National, which launched Charlie Chaplin on his first great screen successes a number cii years ago, plans, according to an announcement- just made, to give Langdon every opportunity to develop as the new comedy king of the movies. The contract, covering a period of years, provides for full length feature comedies, which will be made under the persona* supervision of Langdon. The first serif.' Consists of four pictures and it is esti •mated they will consume 16 months in the making. ,

Hugh McNail Kahler is the author of f the "Saturday Evening Post" story, "Once a Peddler," from which was adapted Glen Hunters starring vehicle "The Little. Giant," a Universal production. Hunter is supported by a wellknown cast of players including David Higgins, Edna Murphy, Jim Bradbury, junr., Thomas McGuire, aud many others. William Ndgh' directed the picture. ■ The annual jubilee of the Western cowboy have proven the foils by which Hoot Gibson, famous motion picture star, first rose to prominence. In 1912 he won the. alhround-championship at Pendleton, Oregon. Thirteen later the Calgary stampede gave him the opportunity for making the-'most pretentious picture in his career. It was named "The Calgary Stampede," and is announced, for early release. The combined names of Seastroni-Shearer-Chancy would be a guarantee of film entertainment of a high standard. These three are connected with "The Tower of Lies," Seastrom being the director, and Norma Shearer and Lon Chancy the leading players. In addition, this story won the Nobel Prize as the best novel of the year, tt tells skilfully the story of a girl who goes to a city in search of adventure, her disrilusionments, and her -strange romance. Never before has a film swept America as "The Fool" has done, according to critics. Seven hundred clergymen have made it a theme in their sermons. Every social type is portrayed, the coal owner, the good woman, the wanton, the idler, the labour agitator, the cripple, and the fooL- The' fool in this story is.a curate, who sacrificed his own happiness to practise the creed he taught. Auckland clergymen who saw this picture were much impressed by it, and the Rev. Stanley Morrison,, the Congrej gational minister who is going to hold Sunday evening picture services, has secured it for his inaugural service.

Another Somerset Maugham ,play> "The Circle," has been jrhned, and is said to-be as powerful as "Rain." It is a frank presentation of tangled romances in society's strongholds.

Monty Bank's first big starring comedy, "Racing Luck," has placed Mm in the front rank of film comedians. The big feature of the story is an exciting and adventurous motor race.

In his inimitable Way, Harold Lloyd plays the part of. a confirmed bachelor in "Hot Water," until the most •charming girl the world appears upon the scene. Wedding bells soon ring, and everything is wonderful,'until family relations make their appearance.

Paramount announces a number of very big attractions for the year 1826. The biggest picture to be released will be "The Wanderer," the Biblical story of the Prodigal Son. Zaiie Grey's story "The Vanishing American" comes to the screen under the title of "The Vanishing Race." This is a story of the American Indian, of the time that, he was in. his zenith and his present day decline. There will also be several important offerings from Douglas McLean and Harold Lloyd through Paramount. The names of Gloria Swanson, Pola Negri, Richard Dix, Raymond Griffith, Thomas Meighan, Betty Compson and Jack Holt loom largely in the coming offerings. 7 -

When announcement was made, tliat Colleen Moore would use 60 of Hollywood's most shapely and beautiful girls in "Irene," the studio was swamped with feminine loveliness and - charm. Daughters of wealthy pride and joy of social were all on" hand—all clamouring for an opportunity to appear before the clicking cameras. "I have always boosted for Hollywood's pretty girls," said June Mathis, editorial director for "Irene," and noted scenarist, "but where have all these luscious creatures been all this time ?" And when Alfred Green, director of "Irene," looked at the long line-up, he shaded his eyes with his hands, turned away, - and told the ithers to do the choosing. They were too beautiful for him. "Irene," is to *->c an important picture, one of the big pictures for First National during the coming' season. ,

• "California Straight Ahead" is said to be . one of- the most highly entertaining comedies of the year, in which Reginald Denny pilots a specially built bungalow on wheels, goes through storms, a circus runaway, an elopement and an automobile race. William Russell who is featured in "Before Midnight," to be released in New Zealand by Universal, is perhaps one of the most versatile stars before the public. In his long association with the screen art he has played * hundreds of different characters. His Weatefn characterisations were the talk of the industry in the" days when <• Westerns were popular. / For clever and original treatment, it would be difficult to find a 'film to equal "The Unhoty Three, featuring Lon Chancy, Mac Busch and Matt Moore. In this story, Caianey has forsaken the gruesome, and is delightful in clever character impersonations. -It" is a story of the underworll,, told with truth and humour, and is said to be finer than "The Miracle Man." Inasmuch as "The Goose Woman," has a very intricate crime complexe, Universal engaged Charles Furthman, former assistant District Attorney of Chicago, to confer with Melville Brown,, scenarist and Clarence Brown, director, in \ the preparation of the screen story. Mr. Brown himself worked' with a Los Angeles newspaper for some weeks to obtain first hand''local colour. ,- At least one girl can say she turned, down the offer of a motion picture director to play in the movies. She is a dance hall queen of the slums of Los Angeles, who r when approached by Mont'a Bell to appear in the dance hall" scene of his picture, • "Lady of the Night," refused absolutely. The reason was that she did not want to lose her prestige in the dance hall by appearing as an extra in the fihnß. Thus was a potential movie crown refused.

Arrangements are now being made for 'the screening of "Stella Dallas" at the Majestic Theatre, Auckland, at an early date. The story of "Stella Dallas" centre around the love-life of a girl untutored in the finer things of home and society. Ruled by her heart, she sets her cap to marry someone, in a higher social sphere. Her romance, her marriage,;her harmless flirtations, .her, devotion to- her child, her conflict with the conventions of society and her heroic maternal sacrifices, are the high points of the story that reveals with romantic realism the tumultous urge, and dramatic climaxes oi her Career at the ages of 18, 25 and 35. In' the selection of the case, seventy-two candidates of both stage and screen Were tried and tested for the leading role before Belle Bennett, a comparative unknown, was awarded this "big screen; plum, she being the seventy-third applicant. - This exceptional care was; exercised because the role of "Stella Dallas" called for portrayals at widely varying ages. Lois Moran, the "unsophisticated' and unmodernised child wonder" was chosen to play Laurel, the daughter, and according to Mrs. Prouty, the author of the novel, Lois Moran perfectly meets all the requirements of that strange and beautiful child. Rbhald Qolmah, the magnetic lover of the screen, Alice Joyce, Jean Hersholt, Well known character actors, and Douglas Fairbanks, junr., complete the balance of the all-star cast.

After a '-search for story material that .extended over a period of several months, <* Douglas McLean selected "Seven Keys to Baldpate" as his first starring comedy for Paramount. The ttory is one that is known to everyone and needs no retelling. For the past decade "Seven Keys to Baldpate" has been a, stage favourite of audiences the world over, and has, in addition to its New York triumph, a record of performances by stock companies in every city in the United States, aside from being presented by road companies in every towndarge enough! to support a theatre. In bringing the Cohan story to the screen McLean has stuck to the original faithfully, only adding to it what additional material screen comedy technique demanded. . Fred Newmeyer, who made all the recent Harold Lloyd comedies, directed "Seven Keys." Edith Roberts, leading woman, heads the cast, playing in support of the star. ' .