Screen Stars and Films

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 274, 19 November 1927, Page 25

Screen Stars and Films

Ernest Torrence lias been east for a 6U pporting role with John Gilbert in "Tiw Cossacks."

Edward Martindale has a supporting role in Corinne Griffith's "The Garden of Eden," for United Artists.

' Madge Bellamy is to star in "None But the Brave," for Fox Films. Edmund Lowe is to have the leading male role.

Andre de Beranger and. Myrna Loy have been added to the cast of May MeAvoy's production, "If I Were Single."

Lon Chanev's famous "mystery box," the best-appointed make-up case ever devised, will at last be seen on the screen. Chaney has decided to use it in his r °l e as a detective in "The Hypnotist."

Production has been started on "The Dog of War," a starring picture for the talents of "Flash." the new canine discovery. The leading roles in this picture are being played by Ralph Forbes and llarcelute Day.

Despite stiff competition from German, British and American film producers. Winfield R. Sheehan has purchased the story and music of "The Dollar Princess," the Viennese operetta hit, for production by Fox Films.

How the Royal Mounted Police ever catch any criminals, considering the uniforms they wear, is a problem troubling Renee Adoree, who is now working on "Rose Marie," for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. During- most of the scenes, in this.' picture, Miss Adoree wears the heavy coat, belt, boots and revolver holster of the regulation "mountie."

Women who delight in attending the bargain sales will Lave a chance to see themselves 1 as others see them in "Becky," starring Sally O'Neil. Several hundreds of eager shoppers appear in the opening scenes of this picture in which Miss O'Neil appears as a harassed young shop girl. Owen Moore has the leading, male role, and Gertrude Olmsted, Hai?y Crocker and Claude King have prominent roles.

lon Chaney has played many strange roles during Ms screen career, but his latest role, as the Armless Wonder in "The Unknown," a Metro-Goldwyn-Slayfer picture to be released shortly, is without doubt the strangest role that he'has ever played. Joan Crawford and Norman Kerry will also be seen in the picture.

Those two humorists of "What Price Gloiy," Sammy Cohen and Ted McNamara, who contributed such a large amount to the riotous comedy of that film/are being co-fe&tured in "The Gay Betreat," a rollicking romance of the Great War, which Fox Films are now preparing for release. In the cast are also Judy King and Betty Francisco.

Ed Wynn will have a background never used before in a comedy in his first Paramount starring picture, "Rubber Heels." It is Niagara Falls. Outside of news reels and scenic pictures, Niagara Falls have never been seen in a motion picture. Chester Conklin is the crook leiader in "Rubber Heels," and Thelm* Todd is the bewitching princess.

Janet Gaynor, Fox Films star, is trying to prove her versatility as an actress ill 'fTwo Girls Wanted," her first starring vehicle. In this Miss Gaynor is required to swing to the other end of the pendulum of human emotions and become as clever a comedienne as she was tragedienne in "Seventh Heaven," in which, according to the leading critics, she •Cored, a tremendous success. Alfred E. Green is directing the production.

Two new feminine screen personalities have just been signed to appear in Para-nioivit-Christie comedies, in a general .movement to enlarge the roster of, players, directors, and technicians who are now at work on the coming season's programme for Paramount release. Jane Manners and Doris Lawson are the two girls now under contract appear with Bobby Vernon, Billy ®°oley, Jimmie Adams and other Christie comedians.

_With. the completition this week of jDolleeri,". with Madge Bellamy, and "The Secret Studio," with Olive Borden, Fox Films has finished its feature pictures for the current season. "Colleen," Vhiqh will be released this summer, is *• l®ve story, with horse racing and breeding in Ireland and the United States as a background. The supportmg cast includes such good Irish names M J. Farrell Macdonald, Tom Maguire, Ted McNamara, and Charles Morton with Sammy Cohen thrown in to leaven the lump. „ .

Over 2000 Hopi Indian tribesmen took part in n ny of the scenes of Ken Maynard's latest First National release, "The Cevil's Saddle." This is a fine picture of Western life, concerned with the coming the white settlers among the Indians. / colourful sequences dealing with Jndiarf l'f«> those of the Hopi Indian reservation in Arizona, and the Red Rock yanyon in California, are of particular interest. .Maynard, as usual, exhibits remarkable stunting, aided by his beautifid 'White horse, Tarzan, and as the cowboy hero of the production, unolds a series of spectacular riding scenes winch stand out as one of the high v I] ghts of the film.

William Fairbanks, who has played for a number of years in outdoor productions, has been assigned the role of "Buffalo Bill" Cody in "Wyoming," Tim McCoy's new starring picture.

"Starting at the bottom" is a timeworn formula for success, but that is exactly what Mary Pickford is doing in her latest production, "My Best Girl," now being filmed. Most of the action takes place in the basement, of a bargain store, and "the world's sweetheart" is both literally and figuratively "at the bottom" in the various scenes.

"Mother Machree." the Fox screen version of novelette of the same title by Rida Johnson Young, also author of the words <.f the appealing ballad," is the story of mother love and sacrifice, woven into a film of dramatic depth and universal appeal. Belle Bennett is in the title role, and presents one of her greatest characterisations, and is abfy supported by a big cast.

Norma Shearer has the leading role in "After Midnight," a delightful romance of city life in which Miss Shearer has the finest part of her career. The story of the picture is woven around the little world of men and women who wake up when other folks retire. It is founded on fact, and presents a little known side of city life with all its splendour and tragedy. Gwen Leo and Lawrence Gray are in support of the star. The picture will be released shortly.

Since taking' newspaper critics and public by storm with her work in "Seventh Heaven," Miss Gaynor has added another great role to her achievements with the world premiere in New York of "Sunrise," directed by the German director, F. W. Murnau.

"Very Confidential," a screen story written by the former New York newspaper columnist, James K. McGuinness, has been started at the Fox Hollywood studios, under the direction of James Tinling. Besides Madge Bellamy, starring in the pictures, there are two other beauties, Marjorie Beebe and Mary Duncan, who scored on the stage in "The Shanghai Gesture," and were recently given a contract with Fox Films.

- David Butler, character actor for many years, is now directing. His initial effort is titled "The High School Hero." It is a Fox film production from an original script on which Butler collaborated Vith William Conselman, once a newspaper comic strip artist. Nick Stuart and Sally Phipps, two youngsters being developed by the Fox Company, have the leading roles. Harry Simpson, William N. Bailey, Wade Boteler, Brandon Hurst, and David Rollins have character roles.

"Lonesome Ladies," starring Anna Q. Nilsson and Lewis Stone, is a First National drama of domestic life with many unique comedy twista, and lively and unusual action. The requirements of the good plot call for several attractive young women to figure prominently round the central figure of the hero. Stone gives a fine and subtle characterisation, while Miss Nilsson is charming and intelligent as the wife, who pondered while hubby wandered, to some purpose. Jane Winton enacts one of the siren roles, and "Vamps" with great distinction, while the feminine pulchritude of the other plotters who also try to steal the bewildered husband, would surely overpower any man. Nevertheless; the couple are eventually reunited, and all ends as it should for the purpose of the exciting and entertaining plot.

The night life of Budapest, always known as one of Europe's gayest cities, has been brought to the screen by the noted director, Alexander Korda, in Billie Dove's latest starring medium for First National, "The Stolen Bride." Miss Dove is cast as a. beautiful Hungarian Countess, whose aristocratic father would force her into marriage with a dissolute scion of the nobility, although she is in love with a liandsorae peasant. Some gorgeous settings are a feature, i and vLloyd Hughes, as the American-; educated commoner, .the lover of the beautiful Countess Sari, has a colourful role that affords him a fine opportunity for dramatic portrayal. Incidentally, a whole Hungarian village, complete in every detail, down to railway station, post* office—everything was specially built for "The Stolen Bride."

Camilla Horn, European actress, who is Emil Janning's leading lady in "Faust," has been signed to appear in a United Artists production. Miss Horn will make her American film debut as John Barrymore's leading lady in the Barrymore picture to follow "Tempest," which is now being made with Vera Veronino as Barrymore's leading lady.

Joan Crawford had a narrow escape when a motor car in which she and William Haines were riding was struck by an ice truck. Several stitches were put in Miss Crawford's scalp. She is now quite recovered, and has resumed her role in 'West Point." the new picture of military cadet life with William Haines in the starring role.

Dorothy Sebastian has been loaned to Tiffany productions by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to play one ot the leading roles in "The Ghost Ship," adapted from the Jack London story, "White and Yellow." Miss Sebastian has just completed the leading feminine role in "Wyoming." She has also been selected to play opposite Ramon Novarro in his next big production.

Betty Jewel, featured Paramount player, entered the movies on a dare. Her first screen work was with D. W. Griffith in "Orphans of the Storm," in which she played three distinct roles, winning thereby the sobriquet of "Third Orphan." Miss Jewel plays a captivating role in Gary Cooper's starring Paramount picture, "The Last Outlaw," soon to be released in New Zealand.

"The Circus Ace," starring Tom Mix, has just been completed at the Fox studios. As its name implies, the picture has most of its settings in circus life. One of the big thrills in the production is a parachute leap, in which Tom Mix and his leading lady, Natalie Joyce, make the jump. Ben Stoloff directed the offering with a cast that included Jack Baston, Duke Lee, James Bradbury, Stanley Blystone, Dudley Smith and Buster Gardner. In addition to Tom Mix's renowned horse, Tony, there is an added starter—a kangaroo, which furnishes much of the comedy element in the picture.

For the second time within the last few months, Kate Price is running a film boarding-house with Sally O'Neil as a boarder. Miss Price, who plays the part of a boardlnghouse keeper in "Becky," featuring Miss O'Neil, is to be the owner of the boardinghousc in Miss O'Neil'B new picture, based on the Beatrice Fairfax story of advice to those in love, "Lovelorn." The new picture features Sally O'Neil and Molly O'Day, two real sisters, who also have the roles of sisters on the screen. Larry Kent has the leading male role, and Allan Forrest has been placed in the "heavy" part—that of the villain.

Johnny Hines' latest starring mediufh for First National, "White Pants Willie," deals with the plight of a young mechanic who sports white pants in the face of home town ridicule. He works in a garage, and incidentally has an invention up his sleeve, a gadget called a magnetic bumper that magnetises tacks and nails and prevents tyre trouble. Willie gets a chance to inigrate to Cold Springs, a fashionable resort, and meets a society girl and her father, who mistakes him for a famous polo player. Johnny's subsequent adventures form the nucleus of the hilarious plot, that swings along to a splendid and exciting climax. Leila Hyams plays the feminine lead. The sub-titles are j particularly clever.

In his latest First National feature, "Hard-Boiled Haggerty," Milton Sills is presented in the characterisation of a Flying Ace. Molly O'Day plays opposite the star in the role of a French girl of mystery, with whom the adventurous air force hero, Haggerty, falls in love. The picture is filled* with colour, romance and thrilling action, with some liberal touches of comedy. This production affords the rugged Sills with his strongest role since "The Sea Hawk." He is a thoroughly rough casehardened ace, heroic in action, but humorously insubordinate and frolicsome in Parisian carousals behind the lines, and the letters, A.W.O.L. are as often applied to him as his own intitials. Arthur Stone, as his army "buddy," is humorous and dramatic by turns, while Mitchell Lewis has a big dramatic part as an air service major. The war scenes provide some spine -tickling thrills early in the picture, and the very exotic atmosphere of the Parisian sequences which follow is very well maintained. It is said to be one of the best Milton Sills features yet produced.

Mae Busch, cast as a harem girl in "Bride of the Night," a Howard Hawks production for Fox Films, was born in Melbourne, Australia, and was the first girl in the motion picture industry to bob her hair. Miss Busch, who was picked by Mack Sennett as one of the most attractive "bathing beauties in America," began her theatrical career at the age of seventeen. She toured the United States and Canada with Eddie Foy and his amusing family, then signed a contract with Edward Belasco. She was featured by Belasco in.road shows, and then won the interest of Irene Castle. She appeared with Miss Castle in many of the larger cities of America. After entering motion picture work, Miss Busch was. featured in numerous productions by Sennett and other producers. She won high praise from critics as a result of her characterisations in "The Devil's Passkey," "Foolish Wives," and "The Christian." Miss Busch,-one of, the best swimmers in the motion picture industry, lives near Santa Monica, and spends much of her spare hours in the surf. Her favourite outdoor sport is motor-boating and surf-board riding. Her pet hobby is poctrj, and she turns out much blank vers •. In "Bride of the Nit."at," Miss Busch appears with Charles Farrell and Greta N'S3e7\