Films and the Stage.

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 224, 9 June 1923, Page 17

Films and the Stage.

A story that has a punch of its own, and which will appeal to all lovers ol auto* and speed is told in “High Speed” to be shown here soon. The hero, a young man who is suspected of having thrown away- a big track race in order that another, car might win, is given the opportunity of winning beok his. former prestige, which he does in is descr.oed as one of the moot thrilling motor races ever filmed.

Xi ia understood that locations have been fixed in New Zealand for the big film which Douglas Fairbanks is coming out here to make. If reports are true he will make part of “The Black Pirate” somewhere up the Wanganui river and perhaps part in the sunny north.! it is not yet known whether he will bring his famous little wife, Mary, with him, but if he does she is assured a welcome by many of her admirers in this country.

In “Ladies Must Live,” which is now / being shown at the Princess theatre, Betty Compson, now a Paramount star, has the role of a young girl, whose penniless father plans to carry her off to some rich man in order that his income, derived from his son-in-law. may be increased.' But there, is another woman who has similar plans to obtain an easy living, and the two clash, with interesting results. -

Everybody knows it was 'Charles Chaplin who avoided Jackie Coogan his first opportunity to act and show the ..world what a. little marvel he was on the screen. “The ,Kid” was the vehicle of Jackie’s introduction to the' world. Now comes another lad boosting the unique name of Dinky Dean who. in Chaplin’s production of “The Pilgrim.” is deemed to have made a hit of sufficient emphasis to merit starship. Accordingly, Dinky. Dean is to be put at the head of his own com- ■ pany and starred in a series of fivereel photoplays, the first of which will be an Italian story called “John of . the Woods.” By a singularly plear sant coincidence Albert Austin has been chosen to direct the lad. It was Austin who directed Jackie in “Trouble.”

.«* cu..»mUe orii.ua sculpture, pusxng, and aiusion, but that can be claimed for “The Awakening of Galatea” the invention of Kx-nest St. George, a young Australian, whose inventive genius is well-known to Australian theatrical folk. In this Act, which is now being featured at the Sydney Bijou Theatre, a marble statue cornea to life, breathes, moves its arms and eyes in attitudes of supplication. Then as the lightning flashes, the apparently Jiving thing falls to fragmanta. Mr. St. George has built a dramatic story around this extraordinary illusion.

Of Pola Negri an America n paper says: "A day or so may pass when she does not feel like acting or .she is not in the mood to face the bright lights. But-no rumours say that she does not know her work,*even though they may whisper that she will not bulge from her, dressing room until everything is just bo. without a single thing to add. She always wants to get op the “set" when all she has to do is to act and not wait for anybody or anything. She has her emissaries who inspect the “set.” look at the director, see that nothing is lacking and then report to “Queen” Pola in her boudoir-like dressing room. Eventually she emerges imperilously, sometimes with a smile, sometimes with a scowl.

An interesting romance of the Canadian North-west ,is the feature attraction at the Princess theatre this week—“ The Heart of the North.” Bov Stewart. and Miss Louise Lovely, the Australian lartist, are featured.

Nazimova, who has been absent from the screen for some time has just completed “Salome,” an adaptation of the work of Oscar Wilde, made famous in song and opera. It is a role admirably > suited to Alla Nazimova. The picture is to be released here soon through the United Artists. “Yellow Men and Gold,” by Gouverneur Morris will be screened here soon. All the colour, action and romance that made Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure stories the joy of our childhood are present ,in Goldwyn’s fascinating photoplay of buried treasure on a volcanic island of the south seas. i

Melbourne was very reluctant to say farewell to “The O’Brien Girl.” Rew musical comedy organisations have achieved such sustained individual and collective popularity as Mr. Ward’s company of comedians.

Film enthusiasts who have seen “Robin Hood” at the Grand Opera House this week, and who may like an open air outing on tiie Day’s Bay hills, are invited to join in the “Outlaw Hunt,” which is taxing place this afternoon. The hunt is a free-for-all affair, with liberal prize money attached to the finding of the outlaw.

Box Office returns proclaim the fact that “Robin Hood’’ has teen one of the biggest film successes of recent years. Hundreds were turned away from the Grand Opera House in Wellington during the initial nights of the Beason, and popular interest in this famous old English film seems to be unabated. The season has been extended.

Three moving picture players whose abilities have not as yet led them to stardom are in. high hopes of making their screen fame in “Driven,” a photoplay which Universal has purchased. They are Charles E. Mack, chosen by D. W. Griffith as the successor of Bobby Harron and Richard Barthelmess, and lent for this production; Elinor Fair, who started her career as a screen player with Universal some years ago; and Emily Fitzroy, who for the first time in ner screen career has had the opportunity of playing a sympathetic emotional role.

The Palace Theatre block in Melbourne in Bourke Street, immediately opposite the Theatre Royal, is considered to bo one of the best sites for theatres in Melbourne. At present it consists of the Palace Hotel and the Gaiety and Bijpu Theatres. “Our bid for theatrical supremacy,” said Sir Benjamin Fuller in an interview, “has only just begun. Melbourne theatregoers have lost no time in recognising that they already have two fine playhouses, but there are others to -follow in Melbourne. Later on we intend, to rebuild the Palace block. We are. not overlooking Sydney. Before I left Melbourne the architect was authorised to sign contracts for 1 the £70,000 worth of steel to be used in the St. James’s Theatre. The actual work in the construction of St. James’s Theatre will commence within two weeks, and it will not be long before Sydney will see the theatre it has been my ambition to build—the greatest playhouse in the world.

‘The Old Homestead,” a Paramount super attraction to be screened at Everybody’s theatre next week, has a particular appeal of its own. The cast includes such well-known players as Theodore Roberts, Harrison Ford and George Fawcett.

“To Have and To Hold,” a lavish picturization of Mary Johnston’s famous novel, is a story of Old England in the days of James 1., and of Virginia, soon after its settlement in the seventeenth century. One sees the magnificence of King Jame’s Court, and then the scene shifts to the little settlement at Jamestown with its Indian lighting of the former days.

The love of a man for a maid, two conscienceless plotters, and. many enthralling rescues, are the ingredients that make “Partners of the Tide.” the new attraction, at the Eketahuna Town Hall.

The biggest “panorama” stage cloth ever made in Australia will be used in Hugh J. Ward’s forthcoming production of “Tangerine.” .It measures 30 feet by 4 feet. The work of constructing this gigantic fabric was earned out by the wardrobe staff.

Charlie Chaplin has two. more pictures which are set dpwn for screening Some t’me this year—“ Pay Day” and “The Pilgrim.”

The date, of the release ,of the second version of “Tess of the Storm Country,” starring Mary Pickford, has not vet. been set down for release. “Tess” is declared by the critics to be her finest work. Mary, by. the way, his iust finished her latest picture “Suds.”

“Smilin’ Through” is really coming to New Zealand after all. It has been delayed in Australia on account of the play of the same name being produced. It is a story of two generations, and Miss Talmadge plays the double part of Kathleen and Moonyeen m one of the sweetest love-stories ever told. It is an old world story, and one of the most beautiful gardens ever imagined is the scene of many happenings. In this moonlit garden, fragrant with jasmine, the hoop-skirted maidens rustle to and fro.

A really good picture with scenea filmed in Paris, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, is “The Impossible Mrs. Bellow,” a Paramount production starring Gloria Swanson, at Shortt’s Theatre this week. The Parisian scenes were “shot” when Miss Swanson was in the French capital last summer, the New York scenes when she was returning, and the others during the general course of production.

Heralded as a sensation in America, “Fury,” starring Richard Barthelmess is listed among the big 1923 “Film House" offerings. The picture ia Baid io hare caused a sensation in America.

One of Oscar Wilde** novels are to be seen shortly on the screen—“A Woman of no Importance.” The very talented, and altogether delightful English actress. Miss Fay Compton, plays one of the leading roles. This is said to be a faithful production.

Another typically Griffith ian feature is announced for release some time this year—“ The Fall of Babylon,” said to be the most spectacular Bible story ever produced. .Lccording to the reports from America he has created another masterpiece.’

It is 17 yeans since Miss May Beatty first left Australia for England, and though she has made arsi maintained a big name abroad, the jxipular commedienne still regards her role in “The Chinese Honeymoon” as her favourite. “I would love to play that type of comedy again,” she says.

A curious legend of the South Seas was drawn upon for a novel idea in presenting the new musical comedy “Tangerine” at the New Princess Theatre by Hugh J. Ward’s company of comedians. It appears from ancient Polynesian lore that during the reign of the great Totem God on earth, ho came across a beautiful damsel with orange-red hair, which so delighted him that lie raised her to the rank of Princess after one look, and named the island “Tangerine,”- in honour of her gorgeous tresses. Thereafter the dusky flappers of .“Tangerine” dyed their hair with tangerine juice to propitiate the awesome Toiem God. In Mr. Hugh J. Ward’s production the island girls of “Tangerine” will wear orange-red wigs.

A sparkling comedy drama, that goes with a snap is the “Hottentot,” starring. Madge Bellamy. The fun of the play grows cut of a case of paistaken identity. Sam Harrington u • yachtsman who. has braved the Cannibal Isles, laughed in the face of racing storms, and snapped his fingers M typhoons. Fear is unknown to him except when thdre are horses within reach of him. Invited to a country home for a house party, he becomes the accidental hero of a runaway and is mistaken by the girl he saves for a famous jockey of the same name. He promptly falls in love with her, but hesitates to shatter her illusion as she loves horses. x; He gets into endless trouble and finally has to ride the fiery “Hottentot” in a steeplechase.