Screen Stars and Films

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 5 (Supplement)

Screen Stars and Films

fierce O'Brien has begun work on if oirl Downstairs." Lois Moran is furred with O'Brien, and the supportincludes Noah Young, Tom v g J; William Demarest, Nancy CarTand Joseph Swickard. O'Brien the role of a sailor in the story, and JiM Moran as a dancer m Morocco.

Directors now shooting at Fox Fdms rvpst Coast studios include Frank Borw Arthur Rosson, Alfred E. Green, Sard Rosson, Eugene Forde, Lew Sta Clyde Carruth, and Frank O'Con„r Others scheduled to start soon are Albert Ray, Howard Hawks, James tinling, J. G - Blystone, and Eaoul rt'llsh.

The success of "Mademoiselle From Armentieres" has made picture-goers' ,'cquest that she be supplied with further •dventures, and it has been decided to IwVfl a new picture entitled "Mademoiselle From Armentieres, 0.8. E." rstclle Brody, Mademoiselle, John Stuart, John, and Alf Goddard Bed the principal players in the first production, have been signed for leading rofes.

Probably no picture in the history of the cinema art has exerted such a pulling power over painters, sculptors, architects, illustrators, and artists of every type as has "Sunrise," the masterpiece which F. W. Murnau recently completed for Fox Film Corporation, and which is now enjoying a phenomenal success at the Times Square Theatre, in New York. It has been called a "photographic poem," a "song in pictures," "a vision of beauty," and other superlatives by everyone who has seen it.

Gertrude Ederle, the first girl who swam the English Channel, and was recently signed on a motion picture contract with Paramount, has put (Vhhpl swimming out of her mind. This was the statement she made upon embarking upon her screen career with Bebe Daniels in that star's latest comedy "Swim, Girl, Swim." The location of the production was only a short distance from where George Young ended his remarkable crossing of the Catalina Channel.

lie* Cody had to work twice as fast in'Mb latest picture—he had a dual role. "All I had. to do after playing my own part," Bays Cody, "was to play the other fellow's," which is only Lew's way of saying that he had to play himself and his twin-brother in "Adam and Evil." Lew Cody is one of the best-known performers on the screen. Under his contact with Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer he has developed into an interpreter of whimsicil'coinedy, and has been playing featured male roles with many of the feminine stars. "Adam and Evil" is an ideal picture for the talents of the CodyPringle co-starring team. It ia full of fast and furious fun, and has Roy WArcy, Gwen Lee, Hedda Hopper and Gertrude Short in the cast.

:Ben Lyon, First National star, is to make the Parisian sequences for "French Dreieing," Robert Kane's next production, in Paris. This ia a lively comiedydrama, with Lois Wilson in the role of a modern- up-to-the minute girl, who incidentally wears some elaborate frocks. Tju fine cast also includes that fine actor; H. B. Warner, Clive Brook, and Lttyaa Tashman, who can always be relied upon to do come outstanding work. This AHi Dwas production is marked by rapid-fire comedy scenes filmed in the famous French city, and also supplies dramatic , action %t high-tension. The settings are particularly fine, and the general .variety, sprightliness, and drama of the film is sufficient to commend it to all picture-goers who have a soft spot in their hearts for these daring, farces.

"Mother Machree" is the next big picture which Fox. Films are releasing. 'As indicated, by the title, the story is writtep around the world-famous ballad of the same title, and also the novel by Rida Johnson Young. Belle Bennett has the title role, and gives a poignant performance., * Victor McLaglen, the humane Captain Flagg (of "What Price Glory," is seen in the role of the Giant of Kilkenny, while others in the cast include Neil Hamilton, Constance Howard, Ted McNairiara, Phillippe de Lacy, and Ethel Clayton, All the exterior scenes were taken in, Ireland, and the wonderful 'atmospheric beauties of the "Green Isle" serve as a fine background for the earlier part of the picture. The heroism *d sacrifice of Irish women make the «to*y of "Mother Machree" supremely hcantifoL V ?

It is not the producers who control the future of pictures, but the patrons of if the public itself, and whether a picture is a success or a fail* i* decided by the movie-goers themwives, who attend the cinema entertainment. In order to arrive at a defimte standard by which to judge the progress of the motion picture industry, • widely-read magazine, "Photoplay," inaugurated an annual award in the j or ®. a special medal which is pre- : ■ Wnted to the company whose picture ' . the honour in public votes. For ye»r 1927 the "Photoplay" gold medal was awarded to Paramount Pic'.mfv 01 " Beau Geste " This film is Tv u "fng enjoyed by the audiences mroughout Australia and New Zealand and some theatres have shown "Beau u" 6 « ®any as three times. This iii „i » Beventh annual award of a "Photom «dal and the third occasion n which the honour has fallen to Paraujount.

June charming New York actress who was sent to the West Coast studios by Fox Films executives following her success in "East Side, West Side," has just completed the leading feminine role in "Grandmother Bernie Learns Her Letters."- John Ford directed.

Master Pictures' latest All-British screen triumph, "Blighty," is a powerful story with drama and romance cleverly interwoven. Superimposed, as it were, upon the background of war—war without a battle scene—are two ' love romances. Lilian Hall Davis, Ellaline Terriss, and Jameson Thomas are in the principal roles, and their interpretations of parts are excellent. When "Blighty" was previewed by head office officials at the censorship office they pronounced it greater than "Mademoiselle from Armentieres." It is a sincere attempt to add to the progressive movement in British pictures, and will achieve undoubted success throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Tom Wilson, former heavyweight boxer and trainer of Bob Fitzsimmons for his famous fight with James Jeffries, is in Fred Thomson's second Paramount picture, "A Pioneer Scout." He is six feet two inches tall, and weighs 230 pounds.

Richard Bartlielmess and Molly O'Day have scored an unprecedented success in "The Patent Leather Kid," First National's fine study of an East Side pugilist and a little dancing girl. "The Patent Leather Kid" embodies a very human story, with a thrilling background of war and the prize ring. Richard Barthelmess has never been seen in a characterisation that is so clever and individual, and his interpretation is something that will long be remembered. His boxing bouts are the last word in realism, while his adventures in the Tank Corps are recounted with a grimness and'virility that is remarkably convincing. Molly O'Day, a type one hardly associates with such powerful drama, is a complete surprise as the Golden Dancer, so sincere and so earnest is she. One New York critic commends "The Patent Leather Kid" thus: "This is a really great picture; perhaps the only war production yet filmed which has so big a story behind it —a delightful i romance. The comedy is very fine, and | titles are the most laugh-provoking and generally well-written, we've read." Nothing bigger than the scenes showing the tanks in action has ever been filmed, and the thrilling sequences provide more than one surprising denouement that keep the spectator continually interested.

Alice Terry, beautiful Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer star, who has appeared in many well-known successful screen productions, amongst which have been "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," "Scaramouche," and "Mare Nostrum," will shortly be seen in "The Garden of Allah," from the novel by Robert Hichens, and also directed by Rex Ingram, her talented husband. "The Garden of Allah" was produced on the original locations in Africa, London, Algiers, Bisra, Bou Bqu Saada, all locations of unsurpassed beauty, which were used in producing this film classic.

"The reign of the happy ending, without which no motion picture in the past has been considered complete, is about to be disturbed," said Jesse L. Lasky, vice-president of Paramount. "A new contender for the throne of, popularity has appeared. The public, having tasted the unhappy ending for a change, finds it highly palatable, and a new path thereby is opened for the artistry of producers." In proof of his contention, Mr. Lasky pointed to the record kept on a huge signboard in the Paramount studio grounds, the Honour Roll, on which every month the ten current releases of the company scoring greatest theatre success are si lwn with their records. This roll is exclusive of the super productions, such as "Wing ß ?" •"Old Ironsides" and "The Rough Riders," which receive special classification. Leading the honour roll as the outstanding sensation of the year is "Underworld," the picture of gangster life ini a great city, which ends in a note of high drama. In third place is Emil Janning's picture, "The Way of All Flesh," which closes with a tear.- A little farther down the list is "Children of Divorce," with Clara Bow and Esther Ralston, which hap its final sequence in gripping tragedy.

Fritz Feld has* signed for "The Last Command," the new Emil Janning's picture, for Paramount.

The new Paramount ranch, California, opened on November 21 for production activities. It is planned to make almost all exterior scenes for Paramount pictures at the new location.

"Two Girls Wanted," the film version of the Broadway stage success, is to be screened in Auckland shortly. This is Janet Gaynor's first starring picture. It is said that the little Fox star establishes herself as a comedienne as well as a tragedienne in the picture, which is a story of the struggle for existence of two American girls.

The film "Wings," which recently arrived in Sydney, opens up a new angle of motion picture entertainment. The entire story in this picture, which was produced by Paramount, is devoted to the activities of air pilots during the Great War, and many air battles which took place in Flanders were restaged for this film. The actual fighting in midair was "caught" by automatic cameras fastened to the wings of the planes themselves.

The picturisation of the brilliant comedy of the famous beauty of mythology by Prof. John Erskine, "The Private Life of Helen of Troy," will conform to no motion picture standard at present in vogue, it is stated. It will, naturally, be unusual, bizarre, and fantastic in design and movement, and humorous, satirical, and whimsical in treatment. "Unconventionality will be the keynote of the picture from the greatest detail to the smallest, said Producer Carey Wilson. Production on the "Private Life of Helen of Troy is under way, with Maria Corda and Lewis Stone in the featured rolea.

William Farnum, one of the most picturesque and colourful figures in motion pictures, who deserted the screen, at the height of his popularity four years ago, has been persuaded to return from his self-imposed retirement. He has been signed by Wmfield Sheehan, vice-president of Fox Film Corporation, to appear in a forthcoming Fox feature, "Hangman's House," by Donn Byrne. Farnum will play the role of The Citizen," an outstanding character of Byrne's great story. The production will be directed by John Ford, with June Collyer as the feminine lead, Charles Morton as the boy, and fcarle Foxe in the heavy role.

Five thousand uniforms of the Zouaves, the French army and Sahara desert tribesmen were required for the fi ™ in S of Paramount's spectacular ® eau Sabreur," the companion to Beau Geste." It took a staff of 300 wardrobe makers 20 days to turn out the garments necessary in the picture, At was a; long and tedious task, and every uniform had to have the approval of Louis Van den Ecker, technical advisor to director John Waters. Van den Ecker was for seven years a member ot the Foreign Legion stationed at various points on the Sahara. A total of 125 men was engaged for the picture, and that number worked in the various sequences throughout, changing from one costume to another during the filming. Gary Cooper is in the title role of "Beau Sabreur," and in the cast are Evelyn Brent, Noah Beery, William Powell, Mitchell Lewis, Roscoe Karns, Arnold Kent, and Frank Reicher.

That remarkable production, "The Exploits of the Emden," which is to be released in New Zealand through First National, has been termed "a naval epic." Made under the aegis of the German Admiralty, the film has been very favourably reviewed in the English papers. The "Daily Express" has this to say: "'The Exploits of the Emden is a naval 'Beau Geste.' The producers make no effort to minimise the terrible punishment which fell on the Emden. . All the acting is excellent, and the cumulative effect of the Emden s punishment is terrific. ... It is a superb sea drama, remarkable for its thrills as well as truth." The "Daily Guardian also publishes very favourable comments: "A picture to see, because it records very brilliantly the amazing adventures of the German raider and German sailor, Captain Karl von Muller. 'The Exploits of the Emden* contains nothing which British audiences should resent."

As a result of his work in "Sunrise,' the first picture made in America by F. W. Murnau for William Fox, George O'Brien will no longer be seen as the hero of "Pollyanna" films, according to an announcement just made by Fox Films. Ever since O'Brien earned a place as a film staT he has been unable to get away from his own personality. Whether as a featured player in a: picture like "Blue Eagle," or in a more j pretentious special like "The Iron Horse," he haß always been the up-and-coming hero. r - Never had he had the chance, up to the time he went to work in "Sunrise," to show any versatility. As the husband in "Sunrise," however, | he gives what it for him an entirely I new performance. The part is that of a peasant, stooped 'with toil, heavy-. footed, slow-witted —a man with murder in his heart, but jet with a conscience. I Sucli a part naturally called for great power of characterisation, and the fact that Mr. Murnau and the executive of Fox Films are thoroughly satisfied with the manner in which O'Brien carried off the role means that "Smiling George" will henceforth' be allowed to conquer new worlds. Mr. Murnau, who had made a careful study of American films before he went to the United States under contract to William Fox, had O'Brien ip mind as the lead for "Sunrise" before he arrived there.

Madge Bellamy has completed* "Very Confidential," a delightful comedy of a girl who masquerades as a famous sportswoman, only to be found out, and to be forced to'ride in a motor car race to win the man she loves. Her next film "Silk Legs," a story which concerns the sale of silk hosiery, and in which Miss Bellamy is seen at her best.

"Speedy" is the title of Harold Lloyd's new picture which he has recently completed in New York. Out of the mass of nearly 10,000 names suggested by fans and personal friends all over the world, Lloyd picked this title as most ideally suited to the story and his own characterisation of his role. It was suggested by S. R. Kent, general manager of Paramount Pictures. The work of going over the mass of letters and picking out a title for the unchristened picture was completed during the comedian's recent bad cold, which confined him to his bed and stopped work for eight days. Picking it in advance of the completion of the picture upset a precedent of Lloyd's, in that it is virtually his first picture named so early in production. "Speedy" is a nickname for Lloyd which his friends have frequently used in addressing him. It was fixed on him years ago when he was making one-reel comedies so fast that he was always ahead of the production schedule. The new picture shows Lloyd as a breezy Manhattan lad who at various times appears as a taxicab driver and as pilot of that vanished institution —the old-time horse car.

"The Gorily," First National's wonderful mystery-thriller lrom the famous ] stage play now being staged in Australia, has been hailed as the mysterymelodrama of the decade, revolving round the most sinister killer that ever came out of the underworld. Laughs, however, follow screams, so .well is the coiL.edy element provided by Charlie Murray and Fred Kelsey as the two dumb detectives who endeavour to solve the tantalising mystery of the mankilling, mystery-demon gorilla. Charlie Murray, of course, is responsible for much hilarity as Garrity, and the great comedy situations and laughable twists in the eccentric plot get the fullest exposition from the remarkable work of the leading players. Until the mystery is solved, the principals are involved in sequences that are both hair-raising and humorous. In the search for the killer, doors open and shut, persons suddenly vanish, strange noises are heard, and lights go on and out, without warning. Garrity is always looking for Mulligan, and Mulligan is always looking for Gar- ] rity, and when the gorilla is eventually found on the premises, things are just beginning to move. How this terrible nine-foot beast drags Garrity through a high window and suspends him from the ledge, ultimately precipitating him into the solution of the mystery, constitutes a story that is the very last word in spine-tickling, spooky thrills.