THE ANSWER CORNER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 267, 10 November 1928, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE ANSWER CORNER.

READERS' INQUIRIES ANSWERED.

liNJC (Takapuna).—Beth Sully was the mother of Douglas Fairbanks, Jun. L.W. '. (Paraell).—Rosemary Thebe has retired from screen work. Write her at 1907, Wilcox- Avenue, Los' Angeles, California. .-''■• :- "

p.S.W. (Parnell).—Alice Terry's real name is Alice Taaffe. iShe is married to Rex Ingram, who "discovered" her, and they, live on the Riviera, where Ingram has a studio. ! . -■"'■ .-'••.'• K.GH. (Mount Roskill)—Write Marie Prevost at The Cecil B. de Mille Studio (see B.W). She is married to •Kenneth Harlan; they were to .have been divorced, but are reconciled. J.S.(Remuera)—William F.Wel], Bebe Daniels, Jean Arthur, Emii : Jannings, ;and Esther Balston—Paramount (see 8.W.); JaickMulhall, Lewis Stone, and .. Alice ; White—-First National, (see 8.W.); ; . Marion .Davies—-Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer(see 8.W.) ..',;-.- B.W. (DargaviUe) Robert Agne'w at -6357, La Mirada Avenue, .Hollywood, California; Charles Ray, Glenn -Hunter and' Jack Mulhall, at The First National Studio, Burbank, California; ■Edna Murphy' and Johnny .Mack Brown, at The'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio, ;r Culver City, California;- Rod La- Rocqiie, at .The Cecil B.' de Mille •'.. Studio, Culver City; Louise Brooks, at The Paramount Studio,-5451, Marathon Street, Hollywood; Dale Austen, at ' Frederick-, Street," Dunedin.

j_ The British actor,' John Lbder, recently 'signed by Paramount, has arrived at the studios! and will'; start work almost -immediately on his first production for Paramount. ■; ;'■:'

Neil Hamilton plays the lead opposite, Bebe Daniels,-in- the star's next. Paramount picture, 'Wumber Please." "Num-ber-Please", will be. the.third consecutive production in which Neil Hamilton and Miss Daniels have played together.

David ..Torrence,/famous .stage ,-. and «cfeeh - star." plays Lillian Gish's- father in.therole of. Sir Robert.Laurie; famous Scottish, historic' character ;in "Annie Laurie,"- Miss Gish's new photoplay to be. screened shortly- in Auckland.-...

• Alfred Hitchcock will,be entirely responsible 1 for "The; Manxman," by ..Sir Hall Caihe, respect to thejproduction arid-the rcenario.' .-■ Carl.Brissbh is playing.Pete .and' Estelle Brody is r the •female star. >/The exterior, scenes will be made on theTsle.bf Man/; .

"The Butterfly ;Chaser," Harold -Lloyd's latest picture for Paramount, was;'commenced 'recently: after manymonths of detailed, preparation. The. story, must'be complete, before filming , is started .whenever sound, synchronisajtion. is to be "introduced. ■:■ Previously- it • was often built up as the picture, progressed. Ted Wilde is directing "The Chaser';'-' "."■., ■'.-, •

/-■■' -Aspecial short-feature; department has ; .been recently'organised at the.'Para- '/ mount studios;.to prod'uee one, two and .three-reel pictures -with sound-syhchrbn-f': isation. It., is .•;the. plan, of .the ,Para- ; i. mount executives .to present the whole '/show in sound,, including stage unit productions similar; to those now showing '"./on the stages of the principal; motion ..-picture theatres ; on.Broadway. "■-.'..

• The casting of the members, of the Cohen and'Kelly families is rapidly being ' completed at Universal City. The latest addition;to.theranks of the Kelly elan Cornelius Kee'fe, who is to play young -Kelly;'in "The Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic City." .This production .will be made almost entirely at the famous-sea-. .-. shore -with V; William, •J. Craft 'directing. George Sydney and- Vera /'Gordon impersonate Mr. and Mrs.-Cohen,* ■while Mack Swain and Kate Price are Mr. and Mrs. Kelly. :•..•■ " • :

.'•- : "'Tie exploits of/ the .cruiser > 'Eiudenj under : Captain Karl vori Muller, and-her ravages on British merchant shipping-during the early months of ' ' the world.war,.have'been realistically '. pictured in a' film made; under the aegis h ■":. of the, German Admiralty, "The .Exploits : "; ■■ of/the Emden,". which, will, shortly, .ho; '.': released by Eiyst National.pictures, who' _V"added:sevefar sequences film''from' the V X-.Australian angle.' acclaimed: by ':V English critics for-.the; fairness'; of its ';. /;' .treatment, the. film makes/no/ attempt ,' .'•. 'to 'minimise the iiitimate..burning and ..?' defeat, of,;the;enemy:;cruiser,: and- the [i- scene showing the Emderi. arid, 'the Ausi ':■: tralian cruiser/ Sydney, actually, at grips .. -. -is a record' of a remarkable sea'; battle,' :'':.'both spectacular and authentic. ~.-.;_"..

;■'; Perhaps . the most true-to-life story .;-■-■ that can be told on,the screen Is the \i,j V: story of the woman who tries to change her'station in life, to find that she can • ;...bc'haippy only in her own ; sphere. -That '■is the story of "The Actress," the-adap-tation of Pinero's "Trelawney of the /Wells" and JNorma Shearer's new stat-;.?-iing picture. The charming star ;of "The . ,> Student .Prince," plays;,'the. rqleyDf,-,Eose .-* Trelawney, an actress at. the Wells : -:, Theatre, in London. \Rbse meets Arthur : '/':J; ■■ Gower, an English ; aristocrat, falls'; in ". with him; and at the;invitation of : :>l.Gower!s uncle, goes to live , iwith ;' his people. There, the little, actress finds .;■ ',; .that the, home of .'her .lover is. too cold andrgloomy to bring her happiness,-and .-.-. ...that she'can only be happy in .the realms ..X-cV'ofthe stage." 'How the,problem; is/solved ■;-''.■ vniakes."'/The Actress", one ; of,; the most /".intriguing pictures of the year. Balph ', --. / who: '■ played /.; opposite : .Miss '• /; Shearer''in "The Latest from Paris," ;; : ;v/:?Bain plays the leading-role. '■'.-■<■-■ fcW'/..' *.■*•■. '.' ' ....'/ •'. -'■•••■ ". .. K&M ■'■'• "■ : '•' ■■■•.....'

British International's picture "Tcsha," in. which Maria Corda,and Jamieson Thomas co-star, has been accorded a wonderful reception by London critics.

Paul Lukas.is playing opposite Evelyn Brent in Paramount's version of the Somerset Maugham stage success? "The Letter," which is being produced on the sound stages. ,

Had it not been for the co-operation of the Fijian chief, "The Adorable Outcast" would- not have been nearly such an excellent picture as,it is. In one of'the scenes. 6000. Fijians-take part, under the leadership of Ratu popi, their hereditary king. "The Adorahle Outcast" is the screen adaptation of Beatrice Grimshaw's Australian novel; "Conn 'of the Coral Seas", i

Janet Gaynor has started work' on another Fox production. . The picture, as yet Untitled, has an atmospheric background of Holland.

Gei'trude Messenger has been selected to play; opposite; Arthur- Lake in the "Horace, in Hollywood"' series of' comedies, being produced by Universal under the direction', of Edward Luddy. As its •title suggests, . the series relates the adventures of a. youth who becomes screen struck'and.goes .to Hollywood.

•-."The Ring" should put an end to the legend that nothing of first-rate quality can .'come from a British film studio, writes a critic on the • "London Daily Telegraph."' ;It 'is'a' thrilling drama of the -boxing ring, and stars Carl Brisson. The supporting cast- includes Lillian Hall-Dayies,: lan -Hunter and ■ Forrest Harvey... . -.-.; :..■■-'

On the New, York waterfront in the late nineties there existed a notorious gambling and drinking; saloon known as the "Sand Bar." It was. a dilapidated :structure- of weaving, walls, with sagging floors-and ceilings, and it witnessed many daik, ..chapters of riverfront history. A replica of .'the old saloon was constructed -recently.- at;' the Paramount studios, for certain-scenes, in "The Old Docks -of .New. York," ■ starring George Bancroft Old drawings, mellowed with a"e, were unearthed by the research department of the' studios, as also were old-magazine photos and newspaper clippings:' A pool,table, fifty years old, was resurrected-from the; basement of a storage warehouse.. 'Old calendars, pictures, :hahging lamps and furniture were picked up'°here and/there", in pawnshops arid the '• backrooms yi 0f... ancient, bars. Gambling machines that-had long_ ceased to -function, were also among the hundreds of.other:articles, discovered. The reconstruction' was : necessary to preserve the' corr'ect' v atmosphere of the story around, w'hich; the "picture was being produced. ' ■'■-.- * . ■.'.'. ' .

"The Tong War"'is the second-of a series of dramatic: Paramount pictures, in which Wallace Beery will play the leading roles. "Beggars" of Life," .the first,'was recently completed.. ■.■.

An .interesting novelty will be introduced into the film ''The Carnation Kid," [which Douglas Mac Lean is. making for Paramount. A telephotb apparatus will be shown in operation', with a picture being transmitted over the wires from one station'to another. "The' Carnation Kid" willbe sound-synchronised. :'• ,

What is claimed to bo a world's record for a horse jump was set during the filming of Glenn Tryoii's starring vehicle, "Hot Heels,"' when Redhead,; a trick jumping horse, made a leap of. 29ft 3in, beating his. former record of ,27ft -6ih. Patsy Ruth Miller plays opposite Tryon, while others in the cast include Gretel Yoltz, James> Bradbury,- sen 4 Tod Sloan, and Lloyd Whitlock. William : James Craft directed. ' .-.;'..•" .-••

Carlylo Blackwell" will be seen shortly in three , British Dominions films. Although a star in American films, Mr. Blackwell decided.to return to England and appear in British films. Hisfirst, "The Rolling Road," adapted : from the well-known sea story by Boyd Cable, was such a success in'En'glahd that:he was given starring roles; in "One of the Best" (from the play, by Seymour Hicks) and the thrilling mystery story, "The by Arnold Ridley, author of "The Gl-ost Train."; : ':. V.' / '.'•;

.What ' has been described after its amazing premiere; at -the Boxy in -.New York as "the strangest motion. picture ever filmed" .is soon -to be seen byJNew Zealand audiences. ; It is "The Strange Case of Captain Ramper." Particularly appropriate; in. these days of aviation enthusiasm, the plot'deals with a man who has been lost for years in the- terrible wastes-of the 1 /Arctic, and returns to modem, life, unrecognisable in his brutish stupidity. and ; appearance. ' Mistaken for a. peculiar..animal,'lie is; kept caged, and events-move' with lightning rapidity. and- breath-taking thrills when he falls in love-with ah ultra-modern girl, who strokes him; carelessly.;' Fit for. adult audiences only, hut without being in • the least' prurient; the strong plot is one that every man. and : .woman who longs, for adventure should "see, revealing the endurance of. hardships in the land of .the midnight sun that are almost unbelievable,;and one : - of' the strangest passions,. surely, ever, brought to the screen. ' '.-'■-• ■'-'."■"■;:-.

One of the most efficient; methods of •directing sound pictures was recently seen in.operation on;the set where the first scenes of Paraniount's picture /version /of the stage' play. "Interference" were being made. . The director,'Lothar Mendes, had at his elbow, a row of; electric push buttons, which were connected with;a corresponding row of .small-elec-tric 'coloured lights.; They! were "so arranged 'as to be clearly 'visible 'to' all the players,- cameramen and technicians. Different;hues had been carefully-pre-arranged in place of the usual-commands of the director. Before' filming any particular' section' of '^Interference,"'-.the scene-was carefully rehearsed in order to perfect the action, and'dialogue.".- Then .the-. company; : prepared ' to',' record'"the scene- in 'picture/'and ; souhd, and-all was silent on-the set." A light flashed; and the:cameras began 'to turn, on their silent bearings.. Studio electricians; their • eyes on the glowing bulbs, carefully, operated the • big incandescents -and other, lighting appliances,; while -=". the'; sound-•"! director) behind the plate/glass in!the.roof of the set, regulated the volume of sound that reached the:microphones. ,And: so, after several hours': laborious/Zwork, 'in. which ;tho scene,was retaken, many times,-.the ;.was completed,,and;preparations for the next portion of "Interference" continued. :;■ ; f'i ■■'■■•'• ,;-' ; y "

Marion Dav" ■•'.■' new starring picture, "Her Cardboa:. i.over," is shortly to be screened in Auckland. In this film, Miss Davies. has the role of a young college girl,- touring Europe, with a party of youthful friends.'.Nils' Asjher, -who. will be remembered for his role in "Sorrell and Son," has the leading male role

Sue Carol, whose rapid rise to featured roles in motion pictures, created a sensation in-Hollywood, scores another notable success in ; "Win That Girl." This picture, based upon the humorous situations arising from a football feud thai involves! three ■'generations, is duo for an early release in New Zealand. David Rollins plays opposite Miss Carol.

. A notable film of the war period is "The Soul.of France." It was made by a French producer, and will be released by Paramount. Many 1 of the scenes were filmed: oh'the actual.battlefields of the Great War —the Marne, Verdun and others. Thcv principal parts are played by. M. ancLMmc. Desjardiris, of the Comedie Francaise. , 4

■Now completed and- waiting for its initial screening, "Shiraz" is expected.to make v a big impression, because of the unusual and daring theme chosen for all-Indian production. "Shiraz" is said i; to bo among the 'most beautiful end : spectacular films yet produced. With the'/'famous ■ Taj Mahal as " its background and the: entire cast consisting of. Indian players, it should strike a novel note in appeal. - ,'"••". ' \' :

Hungary has more than a fair : representation ; in the making of Samuel Goldwyn's production, "Two .Lovers." Vilma Banky, who makes her final co-starring appearance. : with ;RonaldColmair in th& picture,, is Hungarian. :£o is Paul Lukas, until recently one of the foremost players of the Budapest stage.;, Baroness Orczy, who wrote the novel "Leatherface;" from which; "Two Lovers" -was adapted, was also born'in the Carnivai City.-: . :'■'..': ■...:'.;, .'...■■■..■ -.

Two different productions of the same musical comedy brought recognition to two members of .the cast .'of Universal's "Heart of a : Nation." ' The , musical comedy was ."Mercenary, Mary." John Boles played the leading.male role'in'the New. York production and Flora-Bratnley the leading feminine^role.in the London production. In "Heart of a Nation" are also George.Sidney, Patsy Ruth Miller, George Lewis, Eddie Phillips, .Beryl Mercer, Albert Gr'aii,. Michael. ..Visaroff, Kathlyn Williams«and others. Edward Sloman directed. .' "-.,'■.'■.■■,..

Brought from Paris especially to play an important role in John Barrymore's picture,' "Tempest," Boris de Fa,-., a wellknown Russian actor,' has found his services in such demand that he plans, to remain in America. De Fas has appeared' in several European productions, .and it> known for. his characterisation, of the Tartar count in "Michael Strogoff," His work in this picture so impressed.Barrymore tliat de. Fas was persuaded to appear in'"Tempest.'! ."Tempest" has as its background ' the Russian revolution. The original story is laid'in the period before, during and immediately after the upheaval, which swept the. , Czarist regime from power. Barrymore has the role of a Russian peasant subaltern. ■•.

Directed by George Fitzmaurico, "The Barker," with' Milton Sills in the leading role, is unusually colourful entertainment. Revealing'the inside story -of sideshow carnival life, the dramatic elements are : strong, and the portrayal of the main theme—father and son devotion —is unusually clever. The rather exotic plot is based on a'revengeful intrigue, 'where one of the "vamps" of the' sideshow is induced to "get" the hero, and falls in love with him before she realises it. All the irresistible colour and fascination of the nomadic life of the vivacious sideshow suppers is painted unerringly,' and the dozens of deft touches-in the-handling'make th> direction outstanding-. Sills is forceful, and Betty Compson arid Dorothy MacKaill (the latter as ■ a snake charmer) are .responsible for really, splendid work.

'Preparatory work of "Erik the Great," Paul Eejos'Universal feature, is-'under way. Announcement has just been made of the addition of .William H. Turner to the cast, 'which is. headed ; by. Conrad Veidt and--Mary Philbin. • . :

"Adam's Apple," the. first' film made by Monty Banks under his,contract with British .International . .Pictures, was shown' recently in London. . Mr. Banks has already established a reputation as a; comedian in'. Hollywood, and this, his fijst'British film, has ,been, awaited with The cast includes • Gillian Dean, Lena Halliday, Judy Kelly and Colin Kenny. ,

Edmund Cobb and Frank Clark have been added to the cast of "The Final Reckoning," the G. A. Henty chapter play-in which Universalis starring Newton House and which is being directed by Ray Taylor..': ■ .;. -,yV!■:■;'.:

"The.Lady of the Lake," from Scott's well-known novel, is being made into a film by James Fitzpatrick. Scenes .are at present being made in the Scottish Highlands. Percy Marmont and Benita Hume, have leading roles,,.also. Haddon Mason 1 and James Carew. "The; Lady of the Lake" will be a British Dominions release in New Zealand.

The romantic atmosphere of' Naples, the struggle of two souls for happiness, woven together by a master hand—that is "The Street Angel," a Fox Films supei>production. Janet Gaynor and Charles • Farrell are co : starrcd" in the picture, which was made under the understanding and sympathetic direction of Frank Borzage, who directed them in "Seventh Heaven." ;.[':

"Elirig _qf the Mountains" is the title of John Bitrryiriore's forthcoming production for United Artists. Some of the exterior scenes have already been shot, and the remainder, which will be taken in the Swiss mountains, will be' shortly completed. Ernst Lubitsch is.directing, and the supporting cast includes Camilla Horn and Alona Rico, the ' beautiful Mexican recently discovered by Lubitsch.-

Victor. McLaglcn -has .just been.. signed' to a new Fox contract. It'stipulates that his next four pictures will he called "Victor McLaglen" series, the first classification of the kind ever accorded t0 .%, star'of the company. This was a direct result of his work in "A Girl in Every Port" and "Hangman's House"—the latter picture has not yet been released here. The four selections for the McLaglen scries are "The River Pirate/ "The Baggage Smasher," "All -Velvet' arid "Captain Lash." In two years this Englishman, who adventured over the world before entering filmdom, has "had a remarkable rise in popularity, beginning with his portraval as Captain Flag:: in "What Price Glory?";

A largo traffic tangle occurred-in Los Angeles during the filming of."Stop that Man,", the. Universal picture. ~Arthur. Lake, who enacts' the leading male role; directed the' traffic on a main iutersectionfor some of the scenes. Everything went-well until Lake became engaged in an argument with a:policeman, also part of the scene.' Inside a few moments, while . the 'camera ' was filming the' sequence,, the traffic'became so tangled that: it-required the services of a score of real officers- to straighten out the mess. ■ Barbara' Kent plays, opposite Lake, while.'iu -the, supporting • cast are Eddie Gribbon, Warner Richmond,' Walter McGrail, George Siegmann and r Joe Girard. Nat Ross directed. " , ";,--.

fierce, there are wolves in men's shape. And, Hollywood is no exception. I know that there are tales of glamour that make the pretty mouths of millions of girls water, tales of this extra girl getting spotted by a .famous director and made into a star overnight, tales of that small-part actress making a hit'in just one picture and forthwith being offered a contract at £500'a.week'by a movio ,Czar.v • t ;. : ._. . .

' These tales are. true.. But they are the tales of the Very, .Very "rare' exception. They are like the tales of the working girl who wins the Calcutta sweepstake. And for every success', or partial success, what an ocean of failures, what poverty, tears, heartbreak, tragedy! Let me explain more fully. In tho old days there was a - better chance, because the industry was not so overcrowded; But to-day there are over 15,000 names, on the lists at Central Casting, the agency 'where you must register for extra' work. There used to be many agencies—and many scandals. But the scandals became too blatant, they shocked even the wildliving States, and Will Hays, the movie Czar, cleaned up the agencies and established this one station. ' • There is only one way to elude the station, and that is to hays influence in a studio. . If a director j sends word along that he wants to use Miss •&., Central Casting won't refuse her.' Otherwise,' Central Casting .may. For they cannot afford to be sentimental at Central, with 15,000 names on 'their books, and work for no more than 2000. I got a startling insight into the life of the extra folk while I was in Hollywood. About two words described it: weary discouragement. ~. ' On several days I hitched myself on to an extra, sometimes' a party, of two or 'three," nearly always young arid pretty girls, dressed in their- smartest, and went off. on what they called "The Grand Parade." We will call my companions'on this particular sunny day, which is one of my most vivid Hollywood memories, Jean, Jill and Jessie. ■ Outside the casting office, a tiny bare office with a fence running across it, a great lino of agitated humanity was forriiing.-.- An excited young man shepherded them. On the further side a sign read: "Office of' Clifford Robertson, Casting Director." This was the gateway to heaven! : " ; .. - ! They were, .taking on extras for ' a bargain sale mob'.' Jean and Jill.were lucky. . They had been there before. They arrived before the casting window, a brief, glance, a word or two, and they were handed the coloured cardboard pass to "heaven." • ~'■'■''■'''. " . But Jessie was a hew arrival, and Central, with a tremendous surplus on their books—rcomedy, .bobbed, longhaired, Jewish,- jockeys; fat, tall, 'swimmers, society, dresfl, cabaret, -drug-fiend, exotic—Central, had looked once at her, seen just another pretty : girli" and politely but'■firmly told- her to go back home—which, meant out of Hollywood. She had a few huridred dollars, however. Theso gave her courage. • She made a face at Central! arid stayed. Jill and Jean were her fellow lodgers at.her cheap boarding-house. ■'•:'■ .'.. ■ Now. she ; stood before, the pasting window. A pair of. cold, keen grey,eyes looked at her out of a-lean tanned-face. "Name?" She gave iti But something about her, a hesitation, a nervousness, caught those lynx-eyes. -"Registered at Central ?" came like a_ flash; "Er—no; You- see, .-.'., .-■.;.- ",' : - : ""'" : .'"

"We get ?em all;through Central.'Pass along.";-.- ;'.':■"■ '~'. ■■ ' •"" : . ;, : . •'-.

I found myself ..opposite, the eyes. "Why do they do-it?" said' the man behind the window'iinpersonally tame. "Now she's ■'wasted : her fare.'.. Name?" .f'They call me. Hill, usually," I said, "but I'm not registered ■.- at' Central either, and I'don't thin?: 111 - take a job to-day."

"Mad," remarked the, caster calmly. "Sun, I suppose. It gets 'em." I passed on, and' paid Jessie's car fare back to Hollywood. She wasn't disconsolate. A friend : was sendinc her an introduction to a director. She'd show these Central casting people!' "'" :' .'. '•'- *)"';_ ',' j

And then? Three dollars, possibly five, occasionally seven and a-half, for a day's