Films and the Stage.

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 72, 18 December 1926, Page 25

Films and the Stage.

“Aladdin,” probably in the comely, person of Floie Allan, is to occupy the Sydney Opera House for Christmas. William Russell (Nellie Brantley's husband) has made arrangements with J. C. Williamson to produce the pantomime as it was done in Melbourne last year and in Palmerston North this year. Bruce Green is down for the Dame. Floie Allan is now in “Tell Me More,” but arrangements are being made to “lend” her to the other management.

i Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has signed Ralph Forbes, the brilliant young English actor, to a long contract. He has been prominently associated with the stage in both London and New York, and made his first .screen-ap-pearance in “Beau Geste.”

“Going Crooked” is well under way at the Fox Studios. Bessie Love and Leslie Fenton play the leads, in a murder mystery which has a good deal of humour injected into it. This picture marks Miss Love’s return to the Fox fold, after an absence of several years. The last picture made by her for this firm was “Gentle Julia.”

Mysterious, thrilling; bizarre, humorous, and unique are but a few of the adjectives that can be applied to “The Mystery Club,” the Universal Jewel attraction. It is an adaptation from the “Crimes ■of the Armchair Club,” by Arthur Somers Roche, and was directed by Herbert Blache, the screen’s mystery tale director. The cast is an all-star one, including Matt Moore, Edith Roberts, Mildred Harris, Charles Lane, Warner Gland, Henry Hebert, Charles Puffy, Alphonse Martell, Finch Smiles, Earl Metcalfe, Matt Carr, Jed Prouty, Alfred Allen. Sidney Bracey, and Monte Montague.

Edward Newman, kinematograph expert for Universal Film Corporation, conducted an interesting photographic experiment _ on “The Texas Streak,” a Universal production, starring Hoot Gibson. He photographed the entire, picture on pan-chromatic film, an unusually delicate and sensitive product with which a vastly superior quality of photography is possible. It was done as a test, and may result in Universal s making all its future pictures on pan-chromatic film.

A story by the famous literateur Irvin S. Cobb, dealing with a remarkable engineering feat—the building of the Panama Canal—will be produced for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by King Vidor, director of the historical war -picture “The Big Parade,” which has created a furore throughout the world.

Tod Browning, director of Lon Chaney, star, the combination that made the greatest crook drama of last season, “The Unholy Three,” have contributed another gripping story, “The Blackbird,” a story of London’s Limehouse district. This Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer picture will be seen at the Regent Theatre early in the new year.

The feud existing between rival shipping concerns is the main theme of “More Pay. Less Work,” the Fox screeji version of a Peter B. Kyne story. Mary Brian and Charles Rogers : supply the heart, interest, while Albert Gran makes a splendid Cappy. When the junior member of the firm takes a hand in the running of Dad’s business he decides that father’s ideas are quite wrong, and supplants the old-fashion-ed methods with a system of “more pay and less work” for all concerned. Dad fires him out, but has to take him back when he discovers that things do not run the same without the younger member.

PERSONEL

Mr. Lester Brown, of Sydney, is at present in Wellington making arrangements for the Fox attraction. “Fig Leaves,” which has its New Zealand premiere at the Regent Theatre on December 24. The Dempsey-Tunney fight picture, which opened at the King’s llieatre, on the 10th, has been playing to capacity business, and arrangements have now been made to transfer the picture to the Queen’s Theatre, for a further two weeks’ season. Mr. Maurice Ralph, who is handling this picture advises that it opened in Auckland at the Tivoli, Princess and Everybody’s Theatres simultaneously on December 2, and played to tremendous business. The fight picture is solidly booked up to March of nest year. It will open in Christchurch at the Liberty and Queen’s Theatres on January 17.

As a rule the various Film Exchanges forward to exhibitors throughout the country some little Christmas token usually in the shape of a diary or pocketbook. This year the publicity department of Universal have had mounted a dainty photograph of that general favourite, Laura La Plante, and are now busy forwarding these to exhibitors.

Mr. Bernard Freeman, managing director of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Ltd., accompanied by Mr. Barrie Marschel, general manager for New Zealand, returned to Wellington yesterday from Auckland.

Mr Cecil Mason, assistant general manager of First National pictures, re turned to Wellington during the week after having paid a business visit to Sydney. Mr. Maurice Ralph, of Pinnacle Pictures, has moved into new offices at 151 Lambton Quay. He is now busy making arrangements for the tour of Phyllis Lett, the famous English contralto, who will commence a tour of the Dominion in February under the direction of E. J. Gravestock. Mr. F. W. Thring, a director of J. C Williamson’s Filins, Ltd., is expected to arrive in Auckland from Sydney on Tuesday. He will remain in Auckland for the opening of the new Regent Theatre there, and will then come to Wellington. Mr. Beaumont Smith, managing director of J. C. Williamson’s Films, Ltd., is at present in Auckland. He will be present at the opening of the new Regent Theatre there on the 23rd inst.

Mr. C. F. Eskell, general manager of Universal, has received advice from Christchurch that the latest Reginald Denny production, “Rolling Home,” is meeting with much success at ■ the Liberty Theatre there. “Rolling Home” opened at the De Luxe Theatre, Wellington, last night. Mr. Alan McGowan, New Zealand manager for Australasian Films, returned to Wellington yesterday after having paid a business visit to Auckland. Mr. McGowan advises that the big John Barrymore attraction, “The Sea Beast,” is playing to remarkable business everywhere. Mr. W. W. Duft, Wellington manager for Famous Lasky, is now busy making arrangements for the arrival of the Red Indians, who are being brought to New Zealand to play in conjunction with the big Zane Grey attraction, “The Vanishing Race.” The Indians attracted much attention in Australia, and early in January the people of this country will have an opportunity to see representatives of a race of which thev have read so much. Mr H. Marsden, manager of the Lv'Ceum Theatre, Whangarei, has been transferred to Wellington, where he will take charge of the Strand Theatre. Mr. T. O’Brien, the well-known Auckland exhibitor, has secured control of His Majesty’s and Palace theatres, Blenheim, and also of the Theatre Royal, Kingsland. This gives Mr. O’Brien control of seven theatres in Auckland and suburbs, one in Dunedin, and two in Blenheim.

Mr. Laurie Quinn, manager of United Artists, Limited, has received advice that two prints of the big attraction “The Winning of Barbara Worth will arrive in New Zealand on the Tahiti early next month

Mr. Tony Wood, manager of the De Luxe Theatre, Wellington, .is now busy arranging for the presentation of the United Artists production, “The Black Pirate” which opens at that theatre on Christmas Eve.

A romantic love affair between a wealthy landowner’s daughter and a handsome bond-slave is the theme of "Janice Meredith,” a most entertaining novel bv Paul Leicester Ford, now produced in screen form under the title of “The Beautiful Rebel.’ A rebels’ war, with rovalist troops, pro vidcs a colourful background to a most absorbing screen play, and many remarkable battle scenes are introduced. Miss Marion Davies, delightful star of many Metro-Goldwyn-Maver pictures, including "Zander the Great’’ and “Lights of Old Broadway,” has the leading role, supported bv Harrison Ford, Holbrook Biinn, Tyrone Power, and George Siegmann. This picture is the attraction at the Queen’s Theatre this week.

“Subway Sadie” will be released by First National later on, starring Jack Mulhall and Dorothy Mackaill. A wonderful fashion display, intermingled with a story of no mean interest, gives this picture a place above the average.

Olive Borden is seen in the longheralded picture “Yellow Fingers” this week. This is undoubtedly her finest piece of dramatic work to date, and gives her full scope for the display of her really fine emotional acting. As Saina, the half-caste girl, Miss Borden is in turn headstrong, passionate, alluring, loving, jealous, and treacherous as the action goes on, and her work at the critical moment, when she learns that she is not all white, is one ot the most thrilling parts of the picture.

When D. W. Griffith’s sensational melodrama, “That Royle Girl,” opens its local engagement next Tuesday, for a three nights’ season at the Artcraft Theatre, native picture-goers will rereceive a complete and post-graduate course in jazz. The keynote of the production is jazz, its background is the jazz belt of Chicago, its story treats of a vivid phase of our ultra-modern jazz life and its settings, which include several elaborate cabarets, are in harmony with the all-pervading spirit of jazz.

First National will be releasing “The Charleston Kid,” a story full of comedy. A trip to Coney Island with William Collier, Jun., and such players as Louise Brooks, Jack Mulhall, and Dorothy Mackaill makes a good story

The great Australian opus, “For the Term of His Natural Life,” is announced for early release in the new year, and it will undoubtedly be a long-anticipated release. Eva Novak, who was especially brought to Australia to play the role of Sylvia Vickers, has recently returned to her homeland, and there only remains now many technical details to be polished, and the £40,000 Union-Master picture will be presented to the world—a genuine example of Australian kinematic art.

Reginald Denny is possibly the only comedian on the screen who does not declare that he yearns to play the deep, dark tragedy. , From Chaplin down to the lowliest two-reel comedian, the funmakers of the screen are pleasea to declare that they want to be tragedians. Dennv, however, assirts that he is perfectly satisfied to play farce roles the rest of his life. His latest starring attraction is "Rolling Home,’ a Universal Jewel picture based on the popular stage success by John Hunter Booth.

Buck Jones has now completed work on his first two features for Fox Films, and is. engaged on the third. Those already finished are "Thirty Below Zero,” with Eva Novak in the feminine lead, and “Flying Horseman,” in which Gladys McConnell, the little lady of the Imperial Comedies, plays opposite him. His third production is to be "Desert Valley,” the picturisation of Jackson Gregory’s novel of the same name, and one which is expected to be one of the best yet made by this sterling Western artist.

, “The Great Love,” something brili liantly new to the screen, and based on one of the most novel plots ever conceived, is coming to the Queen’s Theatre for Christinas week. This new Marshall Neilall production for I Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is another “triI angle” story, but this triangle happens to have an elephant for one side of it. Viola Dana and Robert Agnew play the doctor and his loved one, and “Norma,” six-ton actress, is the rest of the love triangle. The cast includes many well-known players, including Chester Conklin, Frank Currier, Zasu | Pitts, Malcolm Waite, and Junior Coughlan. A troop of two thousand Boy .Scouts appear in one of the striking scenes in the new picture.

Metro-Goldwx n-Maver, who startled the film world in 1926 with their wonderful array of releases, will be again to the fore in 1927. This firm have produced in 1926, and arc releasing ill New Zealand during the season 1927, pictures which are said to be, and have proved to be elsewhere, the greatest entertaining and classical productions produced by the industry. The first two of these two stupendous productions, “Mare Nostrum” and “I he Big Parade,” are listed for early release and will be presented on a large scale at all the leading theatres throughout th e country. “The Big Parade,” which stars John Gilbert and Renee Adoree, is a picture of the Great World War. This production has taken New York and London by storm, and has been running over nine monthly iii’ the (latter capital. This picture lias been described by critics as one of the finest produced and most human pictures of all time. “Mare Nostrum” (“Our Sea”), from the novel by Blasco Ibanez, is also a tale of the World War and its locale is the Mediterranean Sea, known to the ancient Phoenicians as “Mare Nostrum,” Alice Terry, star of “Scaramouche” and “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” plays the part of a beautiful siren in the employ of the agents of the Central Power. Antonio Moreno is co-starred and gives a fine performance as the captain of a steamer, “Mare Nostrum,” and Tie is the man whose knowledge of the inland sea is required by the agents of Germany. This picture moves on to a smashing climax, where Alice Terry is ordered to be shot after she has been betrayed to France by her own colleague. “The Barrier,” from the novel by -Rex Beach, is also to be released by M.-G.-M., and this action picture is to be the New Year attraction at the Regent Theatre. This will be followed at the same theatre by Lon Chaney’s “'1 he Blackbird,” a story of the_ Limehouse district in London, in which Chaney gives another wonderful dual role performance. “Brown of Harvard,” a splendid story of college davs, will also release at the Regent Theatre. Tn the cost are Jack Pickford. Mary Brian, William Haines, and Francis X. Bushman, jttn. The struggle for rowing and football supremacy between the colleges is very exciting, and throughout this picture is a thoroughly clean and entertaining photoplay. “The Waning Sex,” with Norma Shearer; “Blarnev,” a tale of the old bare-fisted fight rings; and "Battling Butler,” with Buster Keaton, are also highly entertaining films to be released by this company.

Paramount’s Red Indians will spend some time at Rotorua meeting the Maoris and taking part in native celebrations there in February. It is expected that the Red Indians will ask the Maori chiefs to smoke the pipe of peace with them as a sign of good-will between them. The Indians will arrive in New Zealand in full tribal regalia, including tall feathered headdresses, gaudy blankets, war paint and moccasins. Their war dances are loud and fearful. The names of the Indians who are in charge of Rev. Hugh D. Smith, an Indian missionary, are: Chief Se-ump-te-awa (Blooming Flower) ; Nuni-ke-na (Warm Welcome) ; Tel-we-pe (Swift as Lightning) ; Sikia O-me-yoma (Red Fox) ; Tech-a-we-na (Able to Scare) ; his wife, Ka-shon-ka (Pretty Parrot) ; their two children, Ho-mi-asi (.Sand Foot) and Du-wa-ku-ku (Sand Paint); Leonard Man Hammer and his brother, Nasjah (The Owl), 11 years old. All took part in “The Vanishing Race,” a Paramount picture.

Eighteen vears in motion pictures, appearing in over two hundred productions, is the unique record of one of the most reliable players in movies, Harry Todd, celebrated character actor. Todd is a member of the cast of “lhe Runaway Express,’- a Universal production, the lending stars of which are Jack Dauehvrtv 'and Blanche Mehaffey.

“Helen Maria” Dawes gets a close-up of the movies. On the right of him is Charles M. Robinson, president of the First National Bank of Los Angeles, and Douglas Fairbanks in the costume he wears in “The Black Pirate,” his new picture. The general evinced a keen interest in motion pictures, and spent considerable time at the studios in Hollywood. . Screening at the De Luxe Theatre on December 24.

The reception accorded the United Artists attraction “The Son of the Shiek” in all parts of the Dominion goes to prove that the late Rudolph Valentino was one of the most popular screen stars. At Oamaru recently the picture plaved to capacity business at the Opera House, and wa’s such a success at the Theatre Royal, Hamilton, that it was found necessary to retain it for a further night’s screening.

It is reported that in the near future a reallv up-to-date picture theatre with a seating capacity of over 2000 will be erected in Christchurch. A group of gentlemen who were interested in the Amusement Park at the Dunedin Exhibition are said to be making arrangements to build a chain of picture theatres in the lending centres of the Dominion. Buster Keaton and Sally O'Neil (of "Mike” fame) are co-starred in “Battling Butler,” a coming drama of rare merit, which is to release early in the new year at the Regent Thea-

Buster Keaton and Sally O'Neil (of "Mike” fame) are co-starred in “Battling Butler,” a coming drama ,of rare merit, which is to release early in the new year at the Regent Theatre.

Frederick Lonsdale's play, “The Fake,” was staged by Maurice Moscovitch and his company at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, last week. It is stated to be not entirely a cheerful play. It interrupts the pleasant after-dinner mood by insisting that the audience should think a l.ttle. “They Knew What They Wanted” was the first of the Russian Jew’s productions. He has "Trilby,” "The Music Master,” and others still to be seen some time in Australia.

1 The first of the special. series of reissued Charlie Chaplin pictures—all brand new copies—-entitled “The Pawnbroker,” commenced screening last evening, and will be repeated at the matinee to-day, also again to-night, and Monday finally, together with the special feature, “The American Venus.”

A rescue scene, in which Norman Kerry and George Cooper make a brilliant dash across drifting ice floes, is one of the many thrilling sequences of “The Barrier,” the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture from Rex Beach’s novel, “The Barrier,” coming to the Regent Theatre on New Year’s Eve. The cast includes Norman Kerry, Lionel Barrymore, H. B. Walthall, and Marceline Day.

John Barrymore has never played a role that could be termed ordinary. Throughout his great career his character work has stood unchallenged, arid his parts have always been remembered for their whimsical and fantastic realism. His latest, “Don Juan,” due for early release, brings to the screen that famous mediaeval figure of a life of loves and adventure. “Don Juan” was one of the most misunderstood poems of a misunderstood poet, though it brought Lord Byron recognition as one of' the greatest dramatic factors of the period'; Mary Astor and Estelle Taylor support Barrymore in this elaborate production.