Films and the Stage.

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 97, 19 January 1924, Page 17

Films and the Stage.

“Divorces should be as hard to get Rs a snowball in summer,” says Alajor Charles G. Norris, the author of “Brass,” .the famous novel of marriage and divorce. There is no doubt that never before has the whole subject of marriage, its obligations to the individual, to society, and to the State, been handled with such masterly understanding and sympathy as in “Brass.”

Owing to the popularity of “Potash and Perlmutter” at the Empress Theatre last week, this comedy of the two Jewish partners, will run' for another week at the Strand Theatre. Also screening is “The Pilgrim.” now m its third week.

The Wellington Caledonian Society, who. have the Dominion champion pipo band, and the Scottish Society, who also have a very fine pipe hand, have agreed to co-operate with Everybody’s Theatrp this week in the screening of “Wee MacGregor's Sweetheart,”an exceptionally fin© Scotch' comedy drama. The pipe bands will play from Courtenay Place up Manners Street right into Everybody’s Theatre.

The now Lawrence Grossmith play, “Quarantine,” a comedy in character (writes the Sydney “Sun”). Th.© various studies are well carried out. Diana Wilson is a Spanish woman of the world, who fascinates the broadminded and shocks the jealous. In her gorgeous black' and . white clothes she looks positively beautifully regal. When the little world around her is wondering what daring creation she will venture to wear next, she appears in an astonishing dress of wonderful cut, which makes her look a “vamp” to. the manner born.

Seeing a 32-story skyscraper built in 20 minutes, outrivals for speed a combination of Seven League Boots and the Ala,gio Carpet of fable fame, yet a motion picture of the new S. AV. Straus and Co. building, on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, will make this possible. Of course, construction will take some months, but the completed picture will be run off in 20. minutes. To show the building from . the beginning until the outside of the structure is entirely inclosed with brick, and Indiana limestone, a special motion picture cage was constructed in Grant Park, where a camera man takes 20 to 30 feet of film each day. The pictures will be lent to engineering schools for the purpose of illustrating building construction methods. They will also be used in architects’ and contractors’ conventions, and in other educational ways.

George Jean Nathan, the New York dramatic critic, whose severe criticisms have . blasted .many reputations in America, laid it down in one of his articles that English actors and actresses were generally sounder in their work than those of American birth, and he was kind enough to hold up Irene Vanbrugh .and. Dion Boucicanit as examples of English acting at its liost. These two fine artists, who are experiencing a wonderful reception in Australia, have, like all other intelligent people, derived great amusement from the Nathan wit and humour, and are inclined to feel complimented when he praises them because he has the rare quality of being entirely disinterested.

Johnny Hines, Broadway’s popular comedian, shows what he can do on the screen in “Little Johnny Jones,” the 1 film version of George Cohan’s popular stage play.

The “premiere* 'r ' of “The Covered Wagon” took place tL in Christchurch on January 14, being f screened at two theatres simultaneously —to pack- Jo od houses (says a com- ||fl| munication from Christ- \ church to the ParamountFamous Players - Lasky V' Head Office in Welling- % ton). • The word “bell” in tho title of a picture film seems by common consent to be indicative of strenuous doings. At Paramount . Theatre in Wellington this 1 week is i “Hell’s Holo,” a Fox .film starring Charles Jones in what is described as “a drama of iniquity.” Tho feature film on the new programme at Shortt’s Theatre is “Kisses,” with the kissable-looking Alice Lake as the star. “Kisses” is described as “a modern American com-edy-drama of the consequences of a secret ingredient in Betty Estobrook’s kisses.’i’ Thi? sounds distinctly promising as film entertainment.

Rin-Tin-Tin, the famous Belgian police dog, who eclipses all the other screen wonder-dogs, will be at the Empress Theatre this week in “Where the North Begins,” a Master picture.

From the musical comedy stage to the screen is a big jump, but “Maytime.” a “Master” picture, has taken it. Tire story of “Maytime” tells of a. gardener’s son, who turns his eyes from the worm to the butterfly daughter of an old dragonfly. Of course, they caiinot marry, and the hero goes away far find gold in the mountains of California. Years, as is their custom, pass, and the Californian mountains yield their gold, as they always do, to the rejected, but in the end, lucky suitor.

As attractive as its title is “The Girl of the Golden West,” , to be screened at the Empress' Theatre next week. It is the “creme do la creme’’ of Westerns, with all their adventure and colour, without their absurd melodrama. It tells of the roaring days of the Forty Niners, and the boom of the Sonora gold-fields, with all their tlirills and dangers. Warren Kerrigan, and Sylvia Breamer head the caste.

In “Quarantine,” due at the Grand Opera House to-night, Lawrence Grossmith will play Tony Blunt, a delightful ch.rractler, round whom, revolves tho diverting situations and humorous •complications cf the play. Mr. Grossmith will have exceptionally fine opportunities in this role —that of an embarrassed person, who has two women in love with him, and who finds himself engulfed in an extraordinary predicament. The Lawrence Grossmith reason, is limited :to eight nights. Four will be devoted to “Quatrntine” and two each to revivals of “Ambrose Applejohn’s Adventure” and “The Silver Fox.”

A good jazz band is to be heard at Everybody’s Theatre. The latest and most popular jazz music is played in a style which makes the audience forget all its cares and worries,.

Universal’s ambitious conception, “Merry-Go-Round,” is now showing at the King’s Theatre. “Merry-Go-Round” is a reflection of the old days of pomp, luxury, and gaiety at the Austrian Imperial Court, and -with such a background is rich in plot .and action. The stars arc Mary Philbin and Norman Kerry. “The greatest love storv ever told,” is the description applied to the film by .its producers. 1

“The Country Kid,” Wesley Barry’s latest “Master” picture, is a story of New England farm life, orphans, and harsh, cruel uncles whose hearts are stone. Wesley is tho oldest of three orphans, to whom is left a farm, and a fortitude to work it himself. A cruel uncle puts the two. youngest orphans in the poorhouse, 'but it is impossible to keep Wesley down, and he comes out with -flying colours.

Commencing at the King’s Theatre on January 25, tho Goldwyn classic picture, “Remembrance,” will be screened for a short season. This picture was written for the • screen by Rupert Hughes, and directed bv himself. The cast includes Claude Gillingwater, Patsy Miller, and Cullen Landis. It is a small town story, with plenty of first-class character acting, and a nice mixture of drama and comedy of sorts.

“The Glorious Fool,” a Master picture, is a delightful story by Mary Roberts Rinehart, and tells of a wealthy young man who married his nurse ten minutes before he was supposed to die, and then .unexpectedly lived.

Mr. S. E. Short, presiding at the annual sessions at Birmingham, England. for the granting of kinema licenses, said that the business was conducted in 186- buildings, accommodating 135,000 persons, yet it was only necessary to proceed against one licensee—and that for a minor offence. The theatres and music halls were so satisfactory that the licenses were renewed for another five years. In regard to singing licenses for kinemas, the singing must be incidental to the film. Songs and choruses in which the audience joined would not be allowed.

Australia (reports the “Daily Mai]”) mad; her first entry to the British film world on November 19, when “The Sun Worshippers” was released at the Marble Arch _ Pavilion. It is a record of the expedition of the Lick Observatory to Wallal, in West Australia, first year io study the total solar eclipse. The scientific interest of the film, however, is blended with adventure and romance, and the weird customs of Australian aborigines are introduced into the story.

That there is a vast difference between revue acting and screen acting is again demonstrated by the production of “The Rest Cure.’ a new Stoll picture. Elaborate pains (says an English exchaiigttjjkluivc been taken to star Mr. George Robey. He is something more than the foundation of the piece-—he is t!-?'niece. Ho is-shown “as himself” desperately striving to invent jokes in a homo of -list i icting noises and worries. He li es to the country, only to find himself recognised and- feted and generally pestered. The material for a comparatively long film is slight, and it has nothing much to olfei in the way of comic invention. Mr. Robey works hard to be funny, but he does not seem to have picked up the knack of getting his personality into a, picture. In that he diffens from Miss Sydney Fairbrother, who plays the comedian's wife. She can get a Joke out of the flicker of on eyelid.

During all the years of its existence the New York Hippodrome never had a performer who packed as many laughs and thrills in an act as did “Poodles” Hannaford, the riding clown of the celebrated Hannaford family. Marceline, himself, never started louder shouts of merriment than did the reckless young man who clung to his horse’s tail with such an air of fatuous selfsatisfaction or rode the animal around the ring balanced on his left ear. (This refers to the rider, not to the horse.) “Poodles” has been engaged by William ’Fox, and will introduce his startling and amusing riding feats in a screen called “The Riding Master.”

“Hell” also figures in the new programme at the Eketahuna Town Hall this week—the piece-de-resistance being “The Man from Hell’s River,” starring Irving Cummings and Eva Novak in a story of the Canadian North Woods.

John Barrymorb has completed “Beau Brummell” for Warner Brothers, and will return to New York for a short season of “Hamlet,” and a. brief tour of the principal American cities. There should be no disappointment in his work in “Beau Brummel,” a “Master” picture.

“Wee MacGregor’s Sweetheart,” a Master picture, starring the irresistible and charming Betty Balfour, is screening at Everybody’s this week. J. J. Bell and Geo. Pearson, tho producers, have scored a. triumph in the way they have transferred the atmosphere and charm of the former’s books, “Oh, Christina,” and “Countess Christina.”

Tom Moore will be seen shortly in Wellington in “Mr. Barnes, of New York,” a Master picture. As a novel and stage play, this exciting story was a favourite, and there is no reason ■why it should not appeal in screen form..

Besides “Wee Macgregor’s Sweetheart” at Everybody’s Theatre this week, “The Lonely Road,” starring Katherine MacDonald, will be screened. -It tells the story of a husband who Relieved his wife should be, of the clinging vine type, have no financial responsibility, and little personal liberty.

Wesley Barry, as mischievous as ever, but more grown-up in appearance, plays the title-part in “The Printer’s Devil,” a Master picture, and pursues this career with a vengeance, as well as that of chief engineer, and reporter of the “Briggsville Gazette. “The Printer’s Devil” will Im shown at Everybody’s Theatre next week.

Maeterlinck’s tale of love and war in mediaeval Pisa, “Monna Vanna',” has been screened by a European film company. It is a spectacular production, filled with huge crowds, and realistic fighting scenes.

It seems as though picturesque screen sheiks will come and go until tl:‘e sands of the desert grow cold. The latest desert drama comes from an English company. It is entitled! “Shifting Sands,” and claims to have been filmed in the hot sands of the Libyan Desert. In this particular desert Peggy Hyland is loved by Lewis Willoughby, who foots.it all over the sandy spaces, until lie burrows her out. It is not so easy as it sounds, for Richard Atwood disputes every grain “of sand of the way. ~

Dorothy Dalton in “The Siren Call.” ought to be a strong attraction to the Artcraft Theatre this week. The story is a dramatic one of the Alaskan gold boom, with its dance halls, hard living men, and lawless conditions. The plot is an unu'sual one, developing thrilling situations and tense climaxes. “The Common Law.” after a great showing at the King’s Theatre last week, is now being screened at the Oueen’s Theatre, .where admirers of Corinne Griffith will have another opportunity of seeing this clever film star in Robert Chambers’ most successful social novel.

Mae Marsh recently arrived in Hollywood to play in “Daddies,” at the Warner Brothers studio. For company she has her husband and baby. Miss Marsh had a great reception, her last Griffith picture, “The White Rose,” having broken all records.

A society drama, lavishly produced, and with a compelling story, will be released shortly in New Zealand under the title, “Daughters of the Rich,” a Master picture. For the most part the scenes are set in Paris, in luxurious apartments, and the most fashionable hotel! Paris is dazzling in her gayest mood.