FIRST RELEASES IN AUCKLAND

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 5 (Supplement)

FIRST RELEASES IN AUCKLAND

—- ••' nwvnximiu. WEEK COMMENCING JUNE 27. Feature. • SUr. m*. * _ Hitjirncalii." n *j . u , »la*e. Distributors. lli «* BrWfet Helm. U.FA r- a_» c-i •The Showdown. Georro R. nrrn ( f „ • Cinema Art Films. Charlie."- Johnny Hines. Paramount. Paramount. "Blood Will Tell." Buck Jon.T £ lr,t National. First National. -Lot. Hungry." Loi. M ' I°*' F °*- "That Certain Thing." Viola Dana. u? X * » Fox"Body and SouL" Lionel Barrymore M **.. Australasian Films. \ o - Goldwyn - Mayer. Metro . Goldwyn - Mayer.

Mrs. Noah is coming into her own with (fee Announcement that Dolores Costello will have the leading role in "Noah's Ark." Edward Laemmle, who hag just completed "The Michigan Kid," and Julius Bernheim, supervisor of " The Cohens tnd Kellys in Paris" and " Give and Take," are planning trips to Europe. . i Esther Tialston and her company, at present making "Half a Bride," are making quite a lot of the scenes aboard a yacht, which has been chartered. The ttoiy tells of a couple M'ho are shipwrecked and of their experiences.

First National has given its youngest •ontract player, Loretta Young, the feminine lead in the film now being made from Harry Leon Wilson's novel, "The of Little Arcady," in which Charlie Hurray is featured. Miss Toung is entered by First National as a claimant for the title of the world's youngest aenen leading woma... She has made a Marvellous record in her year in pictures, fib* was recently loaned to Metro-Gold-wyn to play opposite Lon Chaney in •laugh, Clown, Laugh." Sylvia Ashton and Martha Mattox have been added to the cast of this film. They play the roles of two village gossips. Donald Reed, Boris Dawson, Lucien Littlefleld and Lury Kent are others in the cast.

Ken Maynard's famous white horse, T&rzan, is given an opportunity in First National's newest Ken Maynard picture, "The Ujland Kider." So much of the attention is given to the horse and so much Of the story depends upon him, that it almost seems as though he should be co-starred wkh the versatile Maynard. Anyone with any fondness for horses, whose pulses are stirred in the competition of thoroughbreds in exciting •vents, will sit enthralled as "The Upland Rider" is unfolded. Tarzan's periormancc gives him rank second to none among the equine actors of the screen, while Maynard himself does some of the most dare-devil riding of his career, in a photo-play whicfl has, as an additional attraction, a love romance of exceptionally appealing quality. Bull-fighting must be set down as one of the cihief amusements of Spain. It is said that the science of bull-fighting boasts a high antiquity and when performed in the proper manner presents a spectacle second to none in the realm of sport. In the Fox production, "Loves of Carmen," made under the direction of Raoul Walsh, maker of "What Price • Glory," with Victor McLaglen, Dolores Del Rio and Don Alvarado in the leading roles, the art of combat in the arena is well visualised.. Ail scenes pertaining to this phase of the spectacular film drama were made under the observation of Senor F. More de La Torre, noted Spanish sculptor, whose close association with the Spanish national .sport made him a valued technical adviser. Nancy Nash, Ralph Sipperly, Mathilde Comont <and Jack Bastian are cast in other important roles.

Wings, the famous air picture from Paramount has opened at the Regent Theatre, Sydney. The presentation and the picture has made a profound impression on the packed house. Richard Dix had just completed his present picture for Paramount, "Warming Up," when he was stricken with appendicitis, and was hastily re .oved to the Roosevelt Hospital, Los Angeles, where he was operated on. The illness robbed him of a vacation he had planned to# spend .in New York, but now he will start on a new picture as soon as lie is well. "Warming Up" is a baseball story, and the leading lady is a "find." Her name is Jean Arthur.

. -^ n annnal event of much importance in the film world of New Zealand and Australia is Paramount Week. This festive season at the movies is celebrated throughout the world, and in our own °. un ' r / sees September, bring the eighth week. Paramount promises some big surprises for the picturegoers of New Zealand and Australia for features for the eighth annual Paramount Week. Paramount pictures are released and shown in >7 different countries, and in September of each year each c the countries celebrates Paramount Week.

"Love in a Cottage" is an old theme in both written and pictured romance, but Mary Pickford has a new theme that might be called "Love in a Packing Box.". In "My Best Girl," the noted star's latest film, one of the romantic scenes centres around a huge packing case in the basement of an American bargain store. Miss Pickford, who plays the role of a hardworking little message girl in the establishment, has the empty case fitted up as a nook, with flowers, pictures and even a clock. Here she spends her scanty leisure moments. In this tiny retreat, she and the son of the millionaire owner (Charles Rogers) have their lunches together, and romance ensues.

When "Ramona" ie screened in Auckland, those who have followed the career of Dolores Del Rio, will admit that her portrayal of the little Mexican maid whose life is constantly clouded with bitter grief and wiho rises to the heights in emotional acting in the character of "Ramona," has given the best effort in her career. "Ramona" is a simple story, simply told, and Edwin Care we carried out the thoughts and mannerisms of Helen Hunt Jackson, its author, when he produced the story for the screen. No deviations have been made. As in the Tolstoy story, "Resurrection," Oafrewe has abided by the original story and has remained within the bounds prescribed by the author whose heart and soul were wrapped up in her mission of bringing the trials and tribulations of the mission Indians before public notice. In selecting the cast for Miss Del Rio's support, the director assigned the role of Allessandro, the romantic . Indian lover of Ramona, to Warner Baxter, a capable actor, and a most popular leading man, but the part was not given Mr. Baxter until a series of screen tests was made with the actor I in the Indian make-up.

"Hangman's House," Fox Films' screen version of Donn Byrne's great novel, is Coming shortly to Auckland. Victor McLaglen repeats his histrionic triumphs of "What Price Glory" and' "Mother llachree." In fact, he surpasses the roles that made him famous, with his character'mation of citizen Hogan, the avenging soldier of the Foreign Legion, in this gripping romance of Ireland. June Collycr, Larry Kent, Earle Foxe and Hobart Bos worth give good performances.

Rudall Hayward's first modern film, "The Biinh Cinderella," now being made in Auckland, is beginning to take shape. It will be a truly representative picture of tlie New Zealand of the moment, with a suggestion of old colonial days added. It has the advantage of a plot both dramatic and whimsical, and variety of characters all tributary to .it. Tlio types for these part# have been carefully chosen. Besides the star part there will be one or two finished drawings. Little pin pricks and bothers are all in the day's work. They may be caused by weather or policemen, circumstances over which a producer has no control—unless lie owns the street in Hollywood. • One day the company bad to "move on" in the midst of a really good street shot. The director liimsel. had made an unobtrusive arrangement and kept to the law and the pavement, but the inevitable crowd which gathers blocked the thoropghfare. An Auckland policeman, sedulous in Juty and not aa ready to enter into the fun of the people as a Paris gendarme, ordered the proceedings to cease. Weather spoils more arrangements for shots than anything else.

" The Boss of Little Arcady," the most elaborate production in which Charles Murray has been featured to date, has just been launched at First National studios. Murray has an entirely new type of .comedy characterisation in this picture. As Potts, the small-town ne'er-do-well title character of " The Boss of Little Arcady," lie has a delightfully whimsical and humorous characterisation. Murray has played in many important pictures to date, but until now has never departed from the burlesque type of comedy characterisation. " Vamping Venus," already completed, is aflotlier richly humorous Murray vehicle, wherein the popular star is supported by Louise Fazenda. This latter film is on the eve of being released in New Zealand.

The heroine of Lon Chaney's first success on the screen, and his leading lady in one of his latest pictures, play together with him in "The Big City." They are Betty Conipson, who first won fame with him in "The Miracle Man," and Marceline Day, who was his heroine in "London After Midnight." Miss Compson, who has never played with Chaney since the time both won fame in "The Miracle Man," plays the accomplice of the gangster chief, portrayed by Chaney in the new production, and Miss Day the heroine as a shopgirl, innocently enmeshed ill their- plots. James Murray plays the shop girl's sweetheart. The play is a romance of New York night life and the underworld. A sensational hold-up in a fashionable night club, a police battle, and other thrilling details | surround the romance of the shop girl and the two men.

Lupe Velez, the young Mexican girl who plays opposite Douglas Fairbanks in "The Gaucho," shortly to be released in Auckland, pronounces her name Valeth.

For the first time in her starring vivacious red-haired Clara Bow is playing in straight powerful drama. The picture w ch makes this change is "Ladies of the Mob," a story of the woman's side in the underworld. William Wellman, young director of "Wings," is at the r~ ipi ie.

That great screen classic " Tol'able David " has been reborn under the touch of Richard Barthelmess, who once again has created a barefoot boy in First National's " The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come," the idyllic picturisation of the famous and beautiful novel. As Chad, the mountain boy, Barthelmess has added another entirely lovable and brilliant portrait to his gallery of screen characterisations, etching the delicate character with an uncanny precision. The Kentucky mountain scenery, and the freshness of the picturesque locale and customs of this secluded portion of the world have been very finely and faithfully reproduced. Molly O'Day gives another splendid portrayal opposite Barthelmess, and the cast also includes Doris Dawson, who is responsible for j some colourful interludes.

"Lilac Time," Colleen Moore's great First National special is a very virile romance, introducing the Great War, and revolving round the love of Jeanne, a wistful little French peasant girl, for a dare-devil British flyer who, enlisting as a private, attains the rank of lieutenant. He is reported dead after making an unusually risky mission, but returns unexpectedly after the armistice. The story, which features a wonderfully touching climax, furnishes the piquant Colleen with a splendid opportunity to prove just how well she can interpret an extremely difficult role.

Edward Sloman, who has just finished "We Americans," left Universal City this week for a vacation in Hawaii. When he returns he will start work on " The Girl on the Barge," by Rupert Hughes. A Cossack village, covering six acres, and complete with church, tavern, and dwelling houses, so practical that several hundred Russian extras in the picture made it their home, was the principal setting in "The Cossacks," John Gilbert's spectacular new picture. Renee' Adoree plays the heroine in the new picture.

"A Girl in Every Port." The name itself should be enough to explain this unusual story about this first mate of a tramp schooner. "A Girl in Every Port," is one of the most thrilling pictures of the Seas ever screened. Victor McLaglen, the .Captain Flagg of "What Price Glory," is featured as "Spike" Madden, the mate. The story deals with the romantic adventures of a burly first mate in the various ports of the world which his ship touches. It takes the audience through the twisted streets and the queer cafes haunted by the sailors when they go ashore in the ports of call. In each port there is a girl whose name is carefully noted in "Spike" Madden's note book.

One of the world's simplest, and most appealing love stories has required one of the most elaborate settings ever built to transfer it to the screen. This is the paradox of "The Student Prince," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's screen version of the famous old play, in which Ramon Novarro and Norma Shearer were directed by Ernest Lubitsch. A cast of thirtyfive famous players and several thousand extras was necessary to reproduce the famous old story. Whole towns were built; great castles in Germany reproduced, and the University of Heidelberg recreated for the huge production. In one scene, showing the welcome of the townspeople to the young prince (played by Novarro), two thousand villagers, guardsmen, police and other characters appear in a gigantic setting depicting a public square; and covering ten acres. The coronation ceremonies required hundreds of soldiers in the brilliant uniforms of the imperial guard, diplomats and nobles. Five hundred gaily attired students revelled in the Heidelberg garden scenes.

Universal officials are impatiently awaiting the arrival in New York of "We Americans. All pre-view reports from Hollywood proclaim the production a " wow," to use the parlance of the movie. Louis Wolheim has turned from his villainous roles to become a hero in "Tempest." the United Artists' story of modern Russia. John Barrymore has the leading role, with Camilla Horn playing opposite him. " The Phantom Flyer," A 1 Wilson's latest Universal western air film, is making a new record as a thrill producer. Bruce Mitchell, the director, who also wrote the story, does not hesitate to exhibit thia great flying ace at his most daring stunts in the cloud 3, although he has managed to make the story so convincing that at no time do the aerial acrobatics appear as mere exhibitions of skill. Lillian Gilmore plays the feminine lead opposite the star, with Billy (Red) Jones, Don Fullen, Mary Cornwallis, Myrtis Crinley, Larry Steers, and Buck Connors assisting.

Russia, the magnificent, the gayest court in the world, with beautiful women, handsome officers, . all the glory of the land of the Czars before the revolution —this is the background for the poignant romance of Count Vronsky and Anna Karenina, as enacted on the screen by John Gilbert and Greta Garbo in "Love." It is a dazzling spectacle, with gorgeous uniforms, glittering costumes, great palaces and the revelry of the Russian aristocracy at its height, as a glorious setting for the central love theme, the world-famous romance of Count Tolstoy, known to literature the world over as "Anna Karenina." In its film version it is a gorgeous piece of entertainment that has with utter fidelity kept the spirit of the novel. Gilbert, as the dashing Count Vronsky, is a figure no less romantic than in his role in "The Merry Widow," but with a far greater depth of character that calls forth the utmost of his skill. Miss Garfoo, as the tragic Anna, sacrificing all for love, and dogged by relentless fate, has a wonderful role. The settings are gorgeous reproductions of the Russian palaces before the war, and the entire setting is lavish indeed.

Do You Know That— — Harold Lloyd's middle name is Clayton ? There are no lenses in the spectacles he wears on the screen? The loss of a coin decided his career? He was once an "extra" and left a certain studio because his salary was cut from five dollars to three dollars a day? He is serious-minded off the screen? He sold popcorn and papers, ushered, did bits in stock, went to high school and taught in acting school all in a day's work ? His chief hobby is hand-ball? He is a magician, chess player, superb all round athlete, acrobat and specialist in make-up? He blushes easily?

People seldom recognise him without his glasses? Everyone in the studio considers him a "prince of a fellow" because he never wants'to "hog the show?" He previews his pictures to at least five different classes of audiences, and then cuts, recuts or retakes portions until he is thoroughly satisfied? He once played in stock with Frank Bacon, who made the state character of "Lightnin'" famous ? Next to laughter, romance is his forte? He appeared in comedies for seven years before he became a star? 1 His latest comedy "Speedy" is being released by Paramount!

Henry Mcßae has been selected by Hoot Gibson to direct him in " Doubling for Trouble," by Arthur Statter. He has alfeo chosen' Eugenia Gilbert as his leading lady for this picture. Norma Talmadge and Gilbert Roland, first seen together in "Camille," again play together in "The Dove," shortly to be seen in Auckland. In this colourful story, Miss Talmadge is Dolores, a South American charmer and dancer. Noah Beery is the villain, and the ardent Roland is the romantic lover. Furs and beards have been particularly bothering to Paramount property men since Emil Jannings went definitely Russian in "The Last Command," and fol- | lowed up with "The Patriot," now in production. Moujiks must have beards, while the furs, of course, are for the grand dukes, only slightly less? numerous than peasants in Hollywood's old St. Petersburg. In "The Patriot" the matter is complicated by Director Ernst Lubitsch's fiat calling for genuine whiskers. . Several embarrassing moments during production on "The Last Command" it seems, revealed that wind machines have a saddening effect on studio-grown "foliage." "The Patriot" calls for even more storm and stress. Practically every actor in Los Angeles and Hollywood who could prove permanent ownership of a beard more than three inches in spread, was hired for a mob scene staged in a huge square before the palace of mad Czar Paul, played by Jannings. Furs valued at more than £20,000 were used in "The Patriot." Carried to the Hollywood studio under guard, the furs were watched constantly during the week they were required. Among the skins was one of a black polar bear, supposed to be very rare and valuable. Florence Vidor, Lewis Stone, Neil Hamilton and Harry Cording support Jannings in the new picture.

From crook to detective is quite a jump, but anything is possible in the movies. George Bancroft, virile personality, who was seen in ''The Rough Riders" and other Paramount Pictures, is now elevated to stardom. His first was "Underworld," then follows "The Showdown." The latter picture is for release shortly in New Zealand, and then comes "The Dragnet.'* The first picture was Boncroft, the crook, now he shows how to catch them in ''The Dragnet" when he becomes a detective.

Esther Ralston has started her new picture. It will be railed "The Sawdust Paradise," and Reed Howes will be leading man. Another big player has been added to the cast of this Paramount picture—that is Hobart Bosworth, famous for his characterisations in many pictures. Luther Reed is the director. _ • Glenn Tryon and Patsy Ruth Miller, the comedy team that scored such an outstanding hit in " Painting the Town," will, be seen in their second Universal farce comedy, " A Hero for a Nigut." The picture is said to be even more laughable and fast-moving than the first opus, and has caused critics to outdo themselves in its praises. William James Craft directed and Harry O. Hoyt wrote the story.

Corinne Griffith is to enact the role of Lord Nelson's adored mistress in the person of Lady Hamilton, in the First National produ&tion titled, "The Divine Lady," which is said to be one of the most pretentious of the company's 1928 programme. Dealing as it does with the great admiral and the famous beauty who influenced most of his life, some of the dramatic values of the production can perhaps be gauged. Victor Varconi is responsible for a very powerful characterisation as Lord Nelson. The swirling romance of the stately captivating woman, frho became the idol of an Empire, guiding wireer of an admiral who was to win one of the most famous victories of all times, has been amazingly well outlined. Behind this remarkable romance is the spectacular background of the battle of Trafalgar—the most historic incident of all naval records. Frank Lloyd, whose virile direction of "The Sea Hawk" proved his faculty for the powerful handling of huge gfea spectacles, has been selected to direct "The Divine Lady."

The winn'er from a large field of contestants in a Chicago beauty contest, and recently signed by Universal for-a long term contract, Joan Alden, makes her featured debut in "Call of the Heart. Miss Alden has shown such exceptional promise during the six months of her training in motion picture technique that she was given her first real chance to play the feminine lead in this picture, starring Dynamite, the famous police dog.