CINEMA HUMOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 171, 21 July 1928, Page 5 (Supplement)

CINEMA HUMOUR.

Some cinema humour from London "Opinion":— He Mistook the Word. Film Magnate: Say, this is some junk you've worked off on me. I never read anything more flat and tame in my life. Scenario Writer: Wei!, I told you* when I sold it you that its theme was the simple life. Film Magnate: Gosh! And I was thinking you sinfi He Knew. English Cinema Star: I'm afraid you've no idea of how peeresses behave. Yankee Producer: Ain't I? Lerarae tell you my cousin Sadie came within an ace o' bein 3 one !

Tlie grim life endured by convicts isolated in the famous French prison on the Isle of St. Noir is vividly depicted in the Universal-Jewel production, "A Man's Past." "A Man's Past" is the screen version of the stage play, ''Diploma," and stars Conrad Veidt under the direction of George Melford.

Charles Rogers, a product of the Paramount school of acting, will be starred in several big productions during the coming season. Rogers' acting in "Wings" marked him out as a player of outstanding ability, and he scored another notable success in his character of Abie in "Abie's Irish Rose," a Paramount picture. In this production he plays opposite another young player, Nancy Carroll, who, as Rosemary, has made a deep impression on film critics. "The Little Shepherd or Kingdom Come," in which the increasingly popular Richard Bathelmess is responsible for such fine characterisations, is a very human story of the Kentucky Mountains in Civil War days, and as the popular novel by John Fox, Jun., the refreshing and appealing story enjoyed an amazingly successful run. It has a dramatic punch, well stressed in the film version, and provides continual suspense and interest for the spectator, making it one of tho finest screen vehicles Barthelmess has appeared in. Molly O'Day supports the star with all her customary cleverness, completely absorbing the spirit of the little mountain girl which she is called upon to portray. The back-country scenery is, of CQurse, a feature of the production.

A nation-wide contest has determined the title to be used for Universale newspaper production by .Peter B. Kyne. It will be called "Freedom of the Press." Lewis Stone, Marceline Day and Malcolm McGregor are the featured players. Within the confines of the studios at Hollywood, there are no fewer than eighteen avenues through which a girl, by hard work and initiative, may rise in the film world. There are, of course, the stars, featured players and extras, a vast army of feminine talent. There is even a woman director. Apart from these, however, many girls fill other positions incidental to the making of pictures. Motion pictures require adequate costumes and dressings, so there is always a demand for hairdressers, seamstresses, costume designers, milliners, set dressers and drapers. The Actual preparation of film occupies cutters, film splicers and film retouchers. Script girls, writers, readers, secretaries, stenographers, clerks, librarians and telephone operators are all positions held by girls. Promotion in the motion picture ranks lies ahead for all who are diligent, and efficient, and many girls have been promoted to important executive positions.

John Gilbert is coming back again shortly in "Monte Cristo," an old success, which was first released some four years ago. Gilbert, playing the title rule, is the hero of the multiple adventure borne by the famous Alexandre Dumas character, and lias a cast of stars to support him. The otory of the Count of Monte Cristo is so veil known that to retell it is only the occasion to explain what portion of the contents has been picturised. Edmund Dantes is a young, buoyant sailor, who returns from a voyage to marry the charming Mercedes, beloved also by his rival, Fernand. Fernand and another enemy, Danglars, conspire against him, naming Dantes as an ally of Napoleon Bonaparte, in a letter to De Villefortc, the prosecutor. Dantes is arrested on his wedding day and thrown into prison. But by tunnelling his way to another cell he is constantly in the company of an Italian priest, who educates him and leaves him the map of the island of Monte Cristo, where there is untold wealth. How Dantes escapes from prison and avenges himself upon Fernand, Danglars and De Villefort form some of the dramatic scenes. The supporting cast includes Estelle Taylor and Kenee Adorca.

Madge Bellamy will Bing and talk audibly in "Mother Knows Best," a Fox Films' version of the story by Edna Ferber.

Anita Page, filmland's newest Cinderella, is certainly making a whirlwind beginning at the Metro-Goldwyn studios. As soon as she finished working as William Haines' leading lady in the latter's new untitled picture, she was cast in one of the three leading feminine roles in "Our Dancing Daughters." Joan Crawford and Dorothy Sebastian are also featured in this new production. Universal thought the Denny picture "On Your Toes," was about the high mark of Denny productions for this year until they saw "Good Morning, Judge," last week. .The unanimous opinion now is that "Good Morning, Judge" is the best Denny yet. It was directed by William Seiter and the cast includes Mary Nolan, Dorothy Gulliver, Otis Harlan, Bull Montana and Sailor Sharkey. A quartet of the screen's most sinister and formidable villains contributes the "dirty" work in "The Hawk's Nest," Milton Sills' latest First National starring vehicle. They are Montagu Stuart Holmes, Mitchell Lewis and Sojin, all of whom, on the screen, have hatched innumerable plots, robbed safes, imperilled fair and desperate heroines, and eventually died horrible deaths, or been cast into prison in the eighth reel. Lewis plays a rather sympathetic role, one of the few of his whole career, thus leaving the majority of the deep-dyed villainy to Love. Doris Kenyon (who, in private life, is Mrs. Milton Sills) plays opposite her husband in this stirring tale of the mysterious Chinatown of a large city and gives a splendid characterisation as the cabaret dancer rescued from the gang of desperate crooks.

Norma Shearer has a strange gift, the ability to change her personality as often as she desires. Miss Shearer is one star who can never be cailcd a "type." Her versatility is one of the reasons for her latest role on the screen as Katie, the little sweetheart of the young prince in "The Student Prince." In "The Demi-Bride" she played a French schoolgirl, in '"His Secretary" a stenographer who at first was plain, then beautiful. In her new role she wears full skirts, an old-fashioned hair-dress, just as the girls of Germany did at the time of the story—and still is very beautiful. The new picture is a vivid screen version of the famous old romancc that inspired the great stage play, and its recent revival as "The Student Prince." Ramon Xovarro plays the prince, Karl Heinrich, and a bi" cast, including thirty-five principals and several thousand extra players take part.

Three new screen players are making American debuts in 1928 in leading roles in United Artists pictures. Camilla Horn, 19 years old, and only known through her appearance opposite Emil Jannings in '"Faust," is to be seen for the first time in an American picture in her role of Princess Tamara in John Barrymore's "Tempest." Walter Byron, young English actor commended by "Ronald Colman, makes his American screen debut opposite Vilma Banky in "The Innocent." Le Roy Mason, an American youth, discovered by Edwin Carewe in a Hollywood restaurant, begins his film career as leading man for Dolores Del Rio in "Revenge." These three beginners in American filnrs follow in the footsteps of Lupe Valez and Merna Kennedy. Last year, Lupe Valez, who had been seen in only one Hal Roach comedy, played opposite Douglas Fairbanks in "The Gaucho." Now Miss Valez is to be co-featured with William Boyd in "La Paiva." Merna Kennedy had never appeared on the screen before Charlie Chaplin cast her as his leading lady in "The Circus." At that time Chaplin took an option on the young lady's services, {rnd this option lie exercised, so that Merna Kennedy will be Charlie Chaplin's leading lady in his next United Artiste picture which is to go into production very shortly.

That the second production effort in America of F. W. Murnau, "Four Devils," will be released as a road show special early in August at one of the major Manhattan picture palaces is the word being broadcast by Fox Films. This picture, according to pre-view critics, will introduce an actress new to the cinema—Mary Duncan—who appeared as '"Poppy" in "The Shanghai Ggstnre" for two years. Miss Duncan is heralded as the first outstanding stage player who has become a great cinema box office attraction virtually overnight, and the critics agree that with the release of "Four Devils" Marv Duncan will take her place along with the greatest of the dramatic actresses in pictures. Since Murnau made "Sunrise," followers of Fox Films have been looking forward avidly to see what this master craftsman's next film production would bring in the way of novelty and unusual treatment. That there *is a rare treat in store for them is promised by those who have seen the latest cinema effort of the man who made rhe Last Laugh" and "Faust" Tho" Picture, which has in the cast, besides Miss Duncan. J ane t Gavnor Mac Donald, Barry Norton; Charles Mor ton and *aucy Drexel, will not be 4v eL a general release until 1929. ° i