Screen Stars and Films

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 226, 24 September 1927, Page 25

Screen Stars and Films

William Powell is getting funnier. Having completed a comedy part in •NSenorUa," Bebe Daniels' next picture for Paramount, he was cast as the comedy heavy in Raymond Griffith's new comedy "Time to Love." Buster Ken ton's second feature length production, "College," is already completed. According to New York critics Buster has. excelled his previous efforts. ••College" tells a story of a boy desiring famr, end Keaton's antics in such a role tr« readily visualised. Chester Conklin and his walrus moustache have drawn another big part at the Paramount studios. B. P. Schulberg, associate producer in charga, announced that the versatile Chester has been cast to play in the Edward Sutherland production "Fireman, Save My Child," ■tarring Wallace Beery and Raymond Htftton. Previews —the ehowing of new pictures in order to get audience reaction '—are best when held tinadvcrtised in a small city, according to Frank Tuttle, who completed the direction of Raymond Griffith's Paramount comedy, "Time to Jx>vc." Audiences in rural and industrial communities are not representative enough, tlie director contends. Why is Harold Lloyd the idol of youth all over the world? They like him in England, France, Japan, Australia, Chile, Alaska and other far corners of the world, as well as the United States. In tlvo words of a well-known observer of the cinemas, it's 'because "Lloyd's pictures are always morally clean!" There'* a whole lot in that sirort sentence. Lloyd knows at least fifty per cent of his audiences are composed of children, and he's aiming to please them.

James Hall and Louise Brooks, two of the most popular featured players in the Paramount organisation, are cast in the leading roles of "Rolled Stockings." Hall started work in this immediately after be, had finished as leading man for Bebe Daniels in "Senorita." Gary Cooper has discarded the brace of •ix••hooters and has taken up a rapier in preparation for his new role in "Beau Babreur." His role in "Nevada," the new Zane Grey story for Paramount, is that •fa'formidable young gunman in the South-west cattle country. Thelma Todd Ways opposite him and William Powell Iβ the heavy. In "Beau Sabreur," comT*iion picture to "Beau Geste," Cooper T'L M? in comt under the direction of yojui Waters, who directed "Nevada." . ■ . v> Corihne Griffith, the beautiful star %ho has already commenced work on *«Jnt. United Artists production, has «ej«n Douglas Fairbanks, jun., for the Hiding male role. The picture is "The uaMen of Eden," and Doug will be seen ■ the part of Richard Lament, wealthy 7 ?™*£ lobe trotter » who accidentally ■•«• Toni Le Brun, the captivating «aneing girl. Corinne herself plays Toni fa "IVGarden of Eden," which, strange I? !f y ' **" not ' ound r °om for an Adam »the cast.

J£? f &£ * nd • I*''** hour-glaee ■get* which were the prevailing fashions Jrquerter of a century ago were the ivquireinenta for the feminine members •L-T*™ 0 * Bewy'e new Paramount ■wing comedy, "Casey at the Bat." Means* the etory takes place early in «W, no woman was allowed to take PMt in the photoplay unless her waist WWttrraient was less than twenty »«*• •«! she possessed long hair. «ong tiie women who fulfilled all of SLS ,I T , * ~1 * were Zftzu «**•» Ann »««eM, Lotus Thompson, Iris Stuart, SSr B iS?' Dorie Hill > *"* Rosalind who eu PP°rt Beery in SutftS^ Foid sterUng and kt£L. Wh ° work in motion picture ■wkuos are not actors and actresses. A remit census revealed, for instance, that I.? *'! n,o,re then 150 different trades na professions represented on the list "Ptnnanent- studios employees con*«"ed in some w»y with production of SSS 0,,,1 Griffith's Paramount starring •wwdj, "Time to Love." Contributors Wii ft 1 "' * CCO «Hng to the census, 222! *S?™s u *y* n ' »«««•. «*<>oi wig-makers, sculptors, tailors, interpreters, painters, J™"", paperhangers, carpenters, •jwtrteians, accountants, janitors, street weaiiers, gardeners, plumbers, blacknuths, gunsmith, firemen, artists, hair"WH«M, chefs, linotype operators, radio «perts, chemists, steam-fitters, pottery ■««•, and scores of other professional and tradesmen.

Owtlng for li» Paramount comedy, "ewt Ciuhioni," Douglas Mac Lean inwww«d several hundred capable acton Vitb on* common quality—unusual face*. "Soft Cuddon,," written for the screen "7 the late George Randolph Chester, is •HJiKra-modern tale with an ancient Wiental setting. Its modernity requires «pmble acting; Us Oriental complexion requires unusual character types. MacJew tigned Frank Leigh and Russell Jtowell to play the extremes of lean and fat; Richard Carte, well-known stage •M Musical comedy star, plays a fussy eld slave dealer; Nigel de Brulier will »• a talkative official; Wade Boteler wae cast in the character of one-eyed, graftWf politician; and Harvey Clark, Fred JMlsey and Harry Jones for other disttactive lesser roles. The lone feminine n>lt in «Boft Cushions" is played by Sue Carol, the girl who won a five-year contraet with Mac Lean on toe strength of Mr first screen test.

Richard Arlen broke into pictures by his ability to swim under water. He had his great oj.jtortuuity in films by going to the other extreme, when Paramount made him leading man in "Wings," iii which he is an aviator. Gustav von Seyffertitz has been cast for the "heavy" role of The Neighbour in "Barbed Wire," Pola Negri's next starring vehicle for Paramount. Announcement to this effect was made recently by B. P. Schu'berg, associate producer in charge of the Paramount West Coast production activities. "Actors and actresses like to get into the movies because picture people can live in one place long enough to have a real home," according to Esthr Ralston. She comes from a family of show people and travelled all over the country a-s a girl. Miss Ralston is the star of "Ten Modern Commandments." John Waters, director of outdoor features, who was signed to a new contract by Paramount, worked fourteen years at various positions in the movies before he was made a director. His first picture was Zane Grey's "Born to the West." His new Paramount directorial effort is "Arizona Bound," starring Gary Cooper.

"Steamboat Bill," dealing with life on the Mississippi River, will be Buster Keaton's next story for United Artists. The plot will allow for both amusing and exciting incidents, and those who have had an insight into the possibilities of the story declare that it will be one of the finest things the frozen-faced comedian has done.

Jules Cowles, one of the cleverest character actors in 'pictures, is to play o famous cartoon character, "Dinty Moore," in the motion picture version of "jji'iuging Up Father." Others announced to piay leading roles in this film are Grant Withers, Gertrude Olmstead, as the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dinty Moore, J. Farrell MacDonaid as Jiggs, and Polly Moran and Marie Dressier, the starring comedy team, to play the roles of Mrs. ; Jiggs and Mrs. Dinty Moore respectively.

"The Rough Riders," Paramount'a spectacular production, showing the adventure, hardship and patriotism of Colonel Thepdore Boose velt and his band of cowboys, college boys, clubmen and clerks in the war with Spain, had its gala premiere in New York City recently. In historical authenticity, thrilling spectacle and gallant human interest, "The Rough Riders" is regarded by Jesse L. Lasky as one. of the. supreme achievements in Paramount history. The heroic.charge up San Juan Hill, the war spirit which spread with the news that the Maine had sunk in Havana Harbour, the stirring action of Roosevelt in recruiting his outfit of amateur fighting men, and the glorious triumph against hostile Spanish troops and yellow fever, Were produced faithfully under the direction of Victor Fleming. Frank Hopper as Roosevelt, George Bancroft, Noah Beery, Charles Farrell, Charles Emmett Mack, and Mary Astor head the stellar cast.