Films and the Stage.

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 34, 3 November 1928, Page 22

Films and the Stage.

.....i- a: ' ■ '■ ~ Scenes of enthusiasm marked the conclusion of the performance of “Other Men’s Wives” by Anthony Prinsep’s London company, headed by ■ the famous actress, Margaret Bannerman, at the Grand Opera House, Wellington, last Saturday. Miss Bannerman gave a faultless characterisation of the maid, who, as she naively remarks during the progress of the play, is “broadminded up to a point, but beyond that is very old-fashioned.” Thanks are due to J. C. Williamson, Ltd., for having Induced this London favourite to desert the big city, and all it means, to a beautiful actress now at the very zenith of her wonderful histrionic powers, and make a tour of Australia and New Zealand. The fact ' that Miss Bannerman and the very capable company supporting her are playing tocrowded and enthusiastic —audiences nightly, is convincing proof that the people of the oversea Dominions appreciate to the full the visit —all too short though it be —of one of "7" the”indst noted artistes in'the theatrical world to-day.

As a .direct challenge to the usual talk of the instability of stage folk and their on and off marriages is the domestic life of Mike Connors and Queenle Paul, the producers .of the "League of Notions” Revue Company. They have been married many years now, and a more devoted couple-would be hard to find anywhere. .They are very popular both bn stage and off, . and Wellington people will be glad to welcome them back sometime in the near future. ' ' The addition of Patsy Hill, Vernon Sellars and Frank Moran has materially strengthened the George Ward “Whirl of Mirth” Revue Company, as they are three fine artists in their own direction. Frank Moran is an elongated comedian whose appearance itself creates much amusement, while Vernon Sellars is a fine singer, and Patsy Hill a very charming soubrette.

Mack Swain has been chosen as the Kelly of “The Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic City.” This completes the quartet of George Sydney, Vera Gordon, Mack Swain and Kate Price, who will arrive in New York next week under the leadership of William J. Craft. They will then go to Atlantic City for the exteriors.

Frank Borzage has produced another screen classic in “The Street Angel.” This powerful drama, based on the play “Lady Crisilinda,” by Monckton Hdffe, was selected after careful search through piles of manuscript as the most suitable vehicle to follow “Seventh Heaven,” his masterpiece of last year. Borzage is confident that in it he has something as great, if not greater, than the famous romance of “Diane” and' “Chico.” Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell are' co-starred again in the featured roles.

The two-fisted, rough and tumble “Captain Flagg,” of “What Price Glory,” Victor McLaglen, again gives what is said to be a remarkable performance in the title role of “The River Pirate,” Charles. Francis Coe’s story of the modern buccaneers of our river and ocean fronts. McLaglen, according to the author, is ideal for the piratical Sailor Frink as he pictured him in writing the story.

' Margaret Bannerman, the famous London actress who is, now touring New Zealand under the J. C. Williamson banner, with Mr. Anthony Prinsep’s London Comedy Company, is opening her season in the various cities and towns with “Other Men’s Wives,” the second production being Somerset Maugham’s startling play of modern life, “Our Betters.” It was in this intriguing satire that Miss Bannerman set the seal of fame on herself as an, actress (she played the part for over two years in London). . Somerset Maugham himself waxed enthusiastic over the wonderful characterisation of Lady George Grayston by Miss Bannerman, and in a personal note said he had been very fortunate in having her in the leading role. “While there are such actresses as Miss Bannerman the British stage will maintain the high standard it has achieved,” he added.

In spite of the centuries-old reputation of Greek women for beauty, none has even been featured on. the screen; Universal has signed the first Greek actress. Her name is Elena Aristl. She was an extra at Universal until Carl Laemmle saw her in the “rushes” and put her under contract.

The new Beery-Hatton melodramatic comedy, “The Big Killing,” which is now showing at the Regent Theatre, goes a long way from the larger cities and even from the front pages of the .newspapers. It deals with a family feud war among the moonshine-making mountaineers in the backwoods. This type of individual still exists in the United States in large numbers but, being remote, his activities being largely confined to his own virgin territory, little is heard or known of him. Occasionally, when a revenue officer is hurt in an attempt to wipe out an illicit still in these mountain regions, the backwoods mountaineer breaks into the newspaper for a brief period but, usually, he goes his individual way, unworried about the conventions of civilisation. When the two moving picture comedy men enter this environment, there is a complete barrier of laughter thrown up around the serious aspects of this little known life, but all the unusual customs and the peculiar activities of the characters are utilised, withou t distortion, to I provide exquisite moments of fun. “The Big Killing” is another step in the serious business of making good, intelligent comedy.

So far there has been no pronouncement as to whether “The Patsy” (in which dainty Irene Homer had scored such fan outstanding success) will come to New Zealand, but it is sincerely hoped that this delightful comedy will be scheduled for a Dominion tour. “The Patsy,” it will be explained, has nothing to do with the Emerald Isle. It is a term used to designate the Cinderella of, the family, who has to play second fiddle to her sister, but who “gets there.”

The local screen never has presented anything more tender and more beautiful than the William Fox picture “Over the Hill,” which opened at the Queen’s Theatre last night. The story is based upon a theme that is jno stranger in literary and dramatic works; but seldom, if ever, has the subject of divine mother love received so reverent and dignified an exposition as is revealed in the beautiful screened story adapted from two poems that ha,ye been recited more in school and on the lecture platform than those of any other American poet. Will Carleton, whose “Farm Ballads” captured the popular heart many years ago, provided the motif of the story, W’hich Paul H. Sloane, a wellknown young screen writer, has worked into one of the strongest picture plays ever devised. The simplicity and humanness of the tale won a capacity audience, at the Queen’s Theatre last night from the start. In fact, it is doubtful if . any other theatrical attraction in recent years seen in this city has gained such distinct and enthusiastic favour as has “Over the Hill.”, The remarkable. hold of the play on its spectators caused scenes among them, that will live as long as win memory of the picture itself. The audience was alternately swept by laughter and deep emotion throughout the performance. The remarkable exposition of the little mother’s life story found its way deep into the hearts of men and women alike. “Over the Hill” has scored a triumph here, as it did during its run. of one solid year on Broadway, New York.

Esther Ralston appears as a blonde Venus in spangles in her new picture, “The Sawdust Paradise,” which opened yesterday at the Regent Theatre. As a girl for a diving act, in a street carnival, Migs Ralston wears tights similar to those of the several girls with Anette Kellerman figures, who appear as the other “human seals.” Several hundred Hollywood extra girls were called by the Paramount studio casting office in order to obtain six with perfect, or nearly perfect figures. In other portions of the picture, Miss Ralston wears more simple and less revealing attire. Hobert Bosworth, Reed Howes, Alan Roscoe, Mary Alden, and others, appear in support of the star in “The Sawdust Paradise.”

Ramon Navarro’s latest Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer picture is “A Certain Young Man,” a modern society romance, with a touch of real drama, a lot of thrills, and heaps of laughs. Ever singe he stormed the heights of unqualified public approval in “Ben Hur,” Navarro has caused a stir of expectation as each of his pictures has been announced, and “A Certain Young Man” amply justifies the faith the public has in his versatile talent. In this picture, which is now showing at the King’s Theatre, Marceline Day appears opposite the star as leading lady, and, as usual, acquits herself with the, highest honours. Renee Adoree and Carmel Myers play the role of sirens, and they are fascinating.

Apart from her clever stage presentation of Kitty Brown in “The Girl Friend," Miss Annie Croft, who has endeared herself to the young people as few visiting artistes have done, is a true friend of the girls of to-day. Get this charming and versatile young lady to talk of the young generation, and her expressive face becomes il--lumined with enthusiasm. “Encourage them and their ideas all you can,” she says; “develop their personality, make themselves be really true to themselves, get the very best out of them, and you will wonder and be delighted at what you see evolving. I love the girls who have the gift of heart, and can display a laugh with a tear behind it. They are the humans who will get the very best out of life, and will radiate happiness wherever they are. Such girls are indeed richly endowed.”

“Hit the Deck,” the dancing and musical comedy to be presented to New Zealand audiences by the J. C. Williamson Company, headed by Annie Croft, with Reginald Sharlaud, Leo Franklyn, Gus Bluett, Billie Lockwood, and many other J.’C. Williamson favourites in the cast, is described as “a nautical musical comedy.” It has proved very popular in Australia, and will doubtless be received with similar manifestations of approval in New Zealand, for there is infinite variety in the characters, including missionaries, mandarins, men from the waterfront and other places, sailor-lads, Chinese, and a bevy of attractive girls who know how to dance. Then there is the only May Beatty; as the black “mammy,” who sings the now-famous “Hallelm jah” with full orchestral and vocal accompaniment. There are many fine musical numbers in this musical comedy, as the gramophone has already demonstrated.

Chester Conklin, hailed by many as the screen’s outstanding comedian, plays the role of a subway guard, who falls in front of a sub-way train, and wakes up to find himself hero, in First National’s “The Big Noise,” now screening at the Paramount Theatre. “The Big Noise,” from the prolific pen of Ben Hecht, deals with the power of the Press in connection with polities throughout the country, and depicts to a remarkable degree the drama, pathos, and humour that are present daily in the editorial, rooms of a metropolitan newspaper office. In addition to Conklin, the cast embraces such well-known players as Alice White, Sam Hardy. Jack Egan, David Torrance, Bodil Rosing. and a host of others.

With Annie Croft, the charming musical comedy star who heads the cast of “The Girl Friend,” and “Hit the Deck” (two of the most enjoyable productions J. C. Williamson have ever sent to New Zealand) comes a remarkably strong combination, including many New Zealand favourites. Reginald Sharland and Leo Franklyn, who play leading roles in their own particular departments, are London artists of high standing, and all the beautiful scenery and magnificent mountings as used in the Australian productions have been sent over. The consistent maintenance, of this high standard has placed the Firm in the unassailable position it is in today. The complete success of “The Girl Friend,” and “Hit the Deck,” in their New Zealand comprehensive tour, so auspiciously inaugurated is assured. The company comes to Wellington on December 26.

With what is now described as the most elaborate party of exploration that the world has ever seen, Commander Richard Byrd, the famous explorer, has now set out on his Antarctic expedition. From the start to the finish this great drama of the frozen south will be filmed by two intrepid Paramount cameramen, who are now on board the City of New York, bound for Dunedin. One will remain at the main base at the Bay of Whales, the other will push on towards the Pole with Byrd. He will secure pictures of their progress from the air and the land. And after the two years of labour Paramount will be able to offer to the world one of the most astounding and dramatic films ever screened. Included in the expedition are seventy men and seventy-five dogs, who are prepared to travel 20,000 miles, build a village in a frozen continent, roam over some 4,600.000 square miles of unknown territory for a year and a half. Almost incidental is their purpose of flying over the South Pole.

The Paramount director, Victor Echertzinger, has written two songs specially for the production “Manhattan Cocktails,” which is being produced on the Paramount sound stages. Schertzinger will be remembered as the composer of “Marcheta.” one of the biggest song successes of recent years.

Florence Vidor, the Paramount star, recently returned from a trip to the Continent, and is starting on her new production, “Divorce Bound.” She brought back with her a husband, whom she married while on her trip. He is Jascha Heifetz, the famous violinist.

The De Luxe Theatre will present “The Foreign Legion.” Universal’s dramatic screen adaptation of “The Red Mirage.” J. A. R. Wylie’s sensational novel, as its feature picture beginning Friday. November 16. Norman Kerry and Lewis Stone are co-starred in the picture. Opposite them are two popular women. Mary Nolan, and June Marlowe. one, the exotic, heart-breaker, the other the adorable sweetheart type. The story concerns a British society man and army officer who becomes infatuated with an unscrupulous woman, a blonde of indescribable beauty. Her kisses spell disaster. His fate is to be cashiered from the army And to drop out of sight. He turns up in the French Foreign Legion, as a private under the command of his own father, who had similarly dropped out of sight before him. The dangerous blonde, turns up in Algiers. With her is the hero’s real sweetheart, her sister. How father and son, their identities unknown to each other, lock horns over the adventuress, the unusual military results that.ensue and the final working out of the romance, makes one of the most gripping life-dramas ever screened.

The William Fox picture, “Sunrise,” hailed as “the dawn qf a new day in motjon pictures,” opened yesterday at the De Luxe. The tale is of a man, his wife, and another woman. The man and his wife have a farm. They are happy until a woman from the city enters, their lives.- She instils, in the young husband a desire to kill his wife. .“Drown her,” she says, “and make people believe she fell overboard accidentally.” In his passion i for the city, woman, the man would yield to the temptation of ridding himself of his slender, lovely young wife. He is saved by his conscience at the darkest moment.! But the young wife is horrorstricken, for she 1 has noted her husband’s intentions. Hurriedly, then, he rows her to shore and she dashes off to the city, unheeding of traffic when she £ets there. He runs madly' after her, begging her hot to be afraid of him—he will never hurt her.. And at last she is won over to him again.They spend the day in,the big city, at the barber shop, at the’ restaurants, at . the big amusement park. And then they sail home by moonlight. A storm arises and the wife/appears to be drowned. The wishes of the city woman seem to be gratified. But just as the man is about to kill the temptress in revenge, the wife is found, alive. It is Murnau’s direction which makes this production a thrilling, 'perfect work. He has succeeded' in making his cast work in perfect co-operation and with intense feeling. Janet Gaynor is tenderly charming,’ George O’Brien is strong and vigorous, Margaret Livingston is really wicked and even those who wander in and out for about two or three scenes are human.

“Sins of the Fathers,” the next Jannlngs’ picture for Paramount, has one of the finest casts of supporting players ever assembled in Hollywood. Ruth Chatterton,is the leading woman. Barry Norton, Jack Luden, Matthew Betz, Jean Arthur, and Arnold Kent have featured parts. Ludwig Berger is directing.

“Port of Dreams” has been chosen as the releasing title of the Universal feature for 1929 which Wesley Ruggles has-just completed as a starring vehicle for ,Mary Philbin. “Port of Dreams” is an original story of the San Francisco waterfront by John Clymer. It has been variously known as “Salvage” and “Forbidden Love.”

Signorina Margherita Flor is declared by newspaper critics of both Australia and New Zealand to be a born musical comedy star, and it is expected that this is what, she will eventually become when her present contract with the Fuller-Gonsalez Grand Opera Company terminates. Signorina Flor has an unsually fine stage.'appearance. She is tall apd slim and /blonde, and she plays her parts with gay naturalness and spirit. As her voice is so much above, the average of musical comedy singers, her success in this type of production would seem to be assured.

Miss Janice Hartt of the New London Revue Company, now in Christchurch, is a singing comedienne with a personality, this Attribute accounting largely for her many English successes in pantomime “principal boy” roles. s Too, the lady is a very clever dancer, and she specialises in picturesque Vocal-terpsichorean scenas in elaborate settings.

“When a girl drops her handkerchief in front of you on the street, smiles, and waits for you to pick it up, go and do so,” advises Jack Mulhall, featured player -in First National films. “Restore the lady’s handkerchief—tip your hat —and proceed on your way,not too rapidly, but firmly and unswervingly 1" he adds, by way of an etiquette hint. All of which refers to the way he becomes acquainted with the heroine of a highly entertaining comedy how playing at the Strand Theatre, “The Butter and Egg Man," in which Mulhall has the featured role. In this case. Mulhall restored the handkerchief, and did not go on his way—alone! “The Butter and Egg Man” is an adaptation of the big “hit” of that titlf on the stage. Richard Wallace directed the picture, and among the supporting players are Gertrude | Astor, Sam Hardy,, and William Demarest.

Fox Films production, “Making the Grade," featuring Edmund Lowe and Lois Moran, is a story of a youthful millionaire brought at last to see the emptiness of his superior world, but not until he has attempted to live the life of a regular human being with dismal success, stumbling through a maze of laugh-provoking situations.

“Wheezer,’ the two-year-old emotional actor of Hal Roach’s Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer “Our Gang” troupe, is'seen in gang’s latest outburst of fun, “Edison, Marconi and Co.” As its title indicates, this comedy is based upon the science of invention, and the youngsters go into the inventive field with wondrous results. This comedy is now showing at the Kings Theatre, with “A Certain Young Man.”

Karl Dane and George K. Arthur will be seen next week at the De Luxe Theatre in a side-splitting comedy, called Detectives.” The stars of “Rookies,’ “Baby , Mine,” and “Circus Rookies” are seen in a medley of creepy caverns and Egyptian mummies, mystery, thrills, and gales of lauglxter. The monarchs of mirth are on the trail of a master crook and his gang of cut-throats. Marceline Day, Tenen Holtz, and Polly Moran appear in this elaborate M e tro-Goldwyn-Mayer production.

Jean Hersholt, who plays the role of the lovable Dr. Juttner in Metro-Gold-wyn_Mayer’s remarkable screen version of “The Student Prince,” was one of Denmark’s celebrated stage stars before he became a motion picture actor. This lavish production will be seen at the De Luxe Theatre this month.

John Gilbert and Renee Adoree, the two well-remembered stars of “The Big Parade,” will shortly be seen in a stirring and picturesque production, “The Cossacks,” adapted from the story by Count Leo Tolstoi. It is a stupendous drama, huge in its great settings, —a complete town was built as a locale for the play—huge in its great drama of the love of a father and son, and through it runs the central theme, the sweet love story of a boy and a girl.