The Picture World

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 39, 14 August 1926, Page 19

The Picture World

After lying idle in Berry's Bay for the last five years, the hulk of the old five-masted schooner Inca, has been sold to Australasian. Films, Ltd., by Messrs. Auland and Co., and is to be taken out to set, set on fire, and blown up during the filming of an Australian-made picture, "For the Term of His Natural Life." Masts are to be erected and about sixty feet of the aft part of the vessel will be refitted to represent one of the terrible convict vessels of a hundred years ago. The vessel will then be fully rigged as a sailing ship, and taken well out to sea, where she will be set on fire and destroyed by explosives. Some of the scenes will be "shot" while the Inca is in Berry's Bay, but in order that an unbroken skyline may bo shown, most of them will be taken outside Sydney Heads. A special feature of the film will be 'he natural colour effects.

Lou Tellegen will soon be directing pictures for Fox Kirns. The former Borneo of the stage and screen, who, of later years has filled villain parts, has been given "His Wife's Honour," a comedy-drama of Monte Carlo, to direct for Fox Kirns 1926-27 release. His Tieh theatrical and screen knowledge will be given full play in pictures that aro confidently expected by Fox officials to be masterpieces of their kind. Tellegen has just finished the "heavy" role in "The Pelican," with Alma Eeubcns in the leading part.

The Universal-Jewel attraction, "Combat," is unique in that there is only one woman in the entire east. She is Wanda Hawley, who has starred in pictures for over eight years. Originally she was intended for au opera singer, but a severe attack of laryngitis ruined her singing voice, and consequently the film industry benefited by her misfortune.

Julian Josephson, widely known writer and. scenarist, has just started work on his first script under his recentlysigned long-term contract with Paramount. He -is writing the film version of "The Gallant Lady,." This is to be a Florence Vidor starring picture, scheduled to go into production soon. The screen story is taken from the novel of the same name by Margaret Widdemere, which is soon to run serially in a nationally-circulated woman's magazine.

Syd. Chaplin is to start work at o:uv inhis next Master picture. "01), \7".!::. a Nurse," is the title, and the saris by Eobert E. Sherwood, or "Life" Magazine. The picture will /be dirccU;il by Charles F. Keisner, who also directed Chaplin in his last comedy, '"The Man on the Box." It has been learned that Eudolph Valentino and Agnes Ayres, who created such a sensation with the picture "The Sheik," are making a trip to Australia and New Zealand with the stage production of the great desert romance. Mr. Philip Lytton, of Australia, is at present in America, negotiating with the two stars. Valentino has proved liimself to be a great lover on the screen, but whether lie -will meet with the same success on the stage remains to be seen. Agnes Ayres also has many followers in the movie world, and when the company reaches the Dominion the play, without doubt, will meet with any amount of support. Madge Bellamy, who appeared to advantage in the picture "Sandy" just finished screoning at the Kin-s Theatre, has a totally different part in the Fox production, '' Havoc,'' showing this week at the De Luxe Theatre. In thig latter film she appears as Tessie, an English girl, who proves faithful to her sweetheart through all the horrors and disillusionment of war, when, aa a nurse she tended the soldiers in France, and even till after her lover had been cast aside by a heartless siren. The closing scenes of this powerful drama touch great depths of emotion, as George O'Brien, the soldier-sweetheart, returns to his old love, blinded in both eyes, but with the eyes of his soul seeing clearly as he never did before. "Ssh, Tessie, don't cry," he pleads, groping for her hand, "it will be all right. Give me your hand, Tessie."

Pat O 'Malley, who is co-starring with Virginia Valli in "Watch Your Wife," a Universal-Jewel, has added another unique role to his already long list. Pat has been plumber, gangster, salesman,, and Grand Duke, and now in "Watch Your Wife" he is a temperamental author. Others in the cast are Helen Lee Worthing, Nat Carr, Albert Conti, Aggie Herring, and Nora Hayden.

Men from every walk of life have been suggested as "living doubles" of Theodore Booaevelt, to play the role of the late President in "The Eough Eiders," which Paramount is to produce as a super-special this summer. The list includes many humble workmen, as woll as men in every professional walk of life, including a former United States Senator.

May M'Avoy has been engaged by Warner Bros, to play one of the leading roles in "Lady Windemere's Fan," the picturisation of Oscar Wilde's famous drama, which will have an important place on their 1925^26 release schedule. -Irene Bich and Olive Brook have already been selected for prominent parts in this Master picture by Director Lubitsch.

Peter B. Kyne's romance, "Thoroughbreds," which was transferred ;to the-screen by Fox Films under the title of "The Golden Strain," is being released in Wellington next week. Kenneth Harlan, Hobart Bosworth, Madge Bellamy, and an all-star cast interpret this Western romance of the 'eighties.

Kathryn Perry, who plays ''Helen," the young wife, in the "Married Life of Helen and Warren," comedy series being released by Fox Films, has been einematically divorced from "Warren." depicted by Hallam Cooley. Mr. Cooley has been called upon to play in other releases, so the husband's role in the forthcoming productions will be given to Allan Forrest, who was so successful in "Fifth Avenue" and "Partners again." '

Edgar Kennedy, who portrays the role of Bill Sproat in "My Old Dutch," Universal's spectacular story of London coster life, learnt that the Coster King at last year's Coster Festival in England had his coat embroidered with 5000 buttons. Kennedy's flair for realism demanded a similar decoration. His insistence was granted, and now he is sorry, as he has to navigate through four months of picture filming burdened with the weight of 5000 pearl buttons. The Bed Indians imported by Taramount in conjunction with "The Van-

ishing Race has created great interest in Sydnoy. In all probability these Indians will bo brought to New Zealand, and there is also every probability that Mr. Zane Grey, the author of tho story, will make a personal appearance when this great picture has its premiere in this country.

Ena Gregory, a blonde Australian, who appears to be making great headway in motion pictures, is said to have been very successful in the Master picture production, "Manon Leseault," in which she appeared as the innkeeper's daughter: John jJarrymore is the star of the production.

An exciting attack on a stage coach forms one of the big scenes in "A Six Shootin' Romance," a Universal-West-ern attraction starring Jack Hoxie. Even though it is a false attack staged for the benefit of the now boss of Travis Kaneh, it is not the less exciting. The players supporting Hoxie include Olive Hasbrouck, William A, Steele, Carmen Phillips, Bob M'Kenzie, Mattie Peters, and 'Virginia Bradford.

Tho sixth annual Paramount Week promises to be a success so far as New Zealand is concerned. There will be a very important representation of exhibitors, and practically every theatre in the country will be taking part in this event. A feature of the coming Paramount Week will be the competition for the Paramount Week Exploitation Shield, valued at one hundred guineas, which will be offered again this year to the exhibitor carrying out the best exploitation in his particular town.

"All Around the Frying Pan," the latest of Master pictures series of Fred Thomson^ Westerns, was released in Sydney on 17th July. "Silver King," the star's wonderful horse, is also in the cast. Master pictures will release several more Fred Thomson productions, the next of which is "The Tough Guy," in. which "Silver King," Lola Todd, and Bobert M'Kim aro featured.

Maysie Grieg, a young Australian newspaper woman, is the authoress of "Peggy from Beacon Hill," the novel upon which is based "The Love Gamble," to be released shortly by Universal. Miss Greig left Australia some years ago to gain wider experience, and worked for some time with a leading London newspaper, eventually finding ! ;•• way to America, where she stepped '.:>'■:> "r.xminenee as a writer.

"cv:6tiationa were concluded recent}y between Harry M. Warner and Albert Lewis, whereby Warner Bros, will make into a Master picture "The Jazz Smgcr," the musical comedy success in which George Jessel has been starring during the current season. Plans are already in the making for putting the play on tho screen. The cast of the Master picture, "Compromise," which is in the course of production at the Warner Bros.' studios, has been completed. Alan Crossland is directing, and Irene Bich, Louise Fazenda, Clive Brook, Pauline Garon, Winter Hall, and Baymond M'Kee comprise the list of leading actors.

Patsy Euth Miller's next Master picture will bo "What Happened to Father," the Mary Boberts Einehart story.

William Cameron Menzies, who designed the settings for "Cobra," a Master picture to be released shortly, Budolph Valentino's first independent Bitz-Carlton production, was responsible for the marvellous sets in "The Thief of Bagdad." "Cobra," with Nita Naldi playing the name-part, is a modern story of Spain and New York, and gives the art director a chance to show Mb versatility.

The Warner3 have purchased "The Wife Who Wasn't Wanted,' by Gertie Wentworth James, for Irene Eich's next picture. Jack L. Warner (director-general of production for Warner Bros.) is in New York from the West Coast studios. Among the many announcements made by Mr. Warner was one to the effect that he has planned the -first six pictures for the 1926-27 schedule. These are "Across the Pacific," "Private Izzy Murphy," "My Official Wife," "The Gay Old Bird," "College Widows," and the first Henry Somers Boche mystery story.

Warner Bros, have started production work on "The Fighting Edge," their picturisation of William M'Leod Baine's novel.

Following the "Pioneers," which had its world premiere in Sydney recently, Master pictnrea will release some exceptionally fine productions. "Bose of the World," an adaptation of Kathleen Norris's novel, starring Patsy Euth Miller; "Souls For Sables," a Tiffany production, starring Claire Windsor and. Eugene O'Brien; "Bed Hot Tires," starring Monte Blue, with Patsy Euth Miller, is also set down for release shortly. The Warners have bought "Why Girls Go Back Home," a magazine story. It will be made into a picture, and will be a sequel to "Why Girls Leave Home."

Huntly Gordon and. Helene Chadwick have been assigned the leads in "The Golden Cocoon," a Master picture, which will be among the first of next season's'releases. '

It has been stated repeatedly that Valentino, like Byron, awoke one morning to find himself famous. That is true, but it should not be forgotten that for seven long and laborious years of struggle and disappointment, he fought to prepare himself to be ready to grasp tho opportunity when it presented itself. Kudolph Valentino now is a Master Picture star and "Cobra" is his first production for this organisation. Kodolpho di Valentino* d'Antonguella—for such is the full name of this star—was born in the* little village of Castellaneta, Italy, 6th May, 1895. His mother was the daughter of a learned Parisian physician, Pierre Filibert Barbin. His father, Giovanni Guglielmi, was in his youth a captain of Italian cavalary, and later a veterinary, renowned in his section for his studious accomplishments.

Work is well on the way for the schedule of Fox Films' 1926-27 releases. Five productions are already finished, and ten more are being made. "Thirty Below' Zero" and "No Man's Gold" have been finished by Buck Jones and Tom MLx respectively. "Three Bad Men," a drama of the pioneers of the American frontier, is ready for the market, as are li Fig Leaves," a gorgeously dressed picture of the evolution of clothes, and "The Family Upstairs," adapted from the Broadway comedy hit. .

Adapted from Herman Melville's "Moby Dick," and produced by Master Pictures, ".The Sea Beast," which will shortly be released, has been acclaimed as the most important photoplay of the year. It deals with the New England whalers of 1840, who, in their clipper ships, carried the American flag over the seven seas. John Barrymore, who has not been seen in pictures since (as Beau Brummel) he won the gold medal for the greatest acting of the 1924 season, is said to have contributed another masterpiece of acting to the screen in the role of Ahab Ceeley, the fighting sailor of pride and mighty strength.