SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 19020, 15 August 1925, Page 15

SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

‘ Forty Winks,’ a Paramount release, with Theodore Roberts and an all-star cast, will be shown here at an early date. Tho story is ono of Cnumiey, a titled Englishman who is so hinny than nobody takes any notice of him seriously. However, through a sc-nes of adventures as dan'gorons as they no laughable, he succeeds in solving a mystery, winning a society beauty, and saving her brother from disgrace, all of which is claimed to bo in a manner that makes ‘Forty Winks’ special eutertai nraen t. Lovers of Ethel M. Doll’s _ stories will be glad to know that ‘The 'inp of the World ’ is sot down for showing hero at an early date. ‘ Tho Top of the World ’ smacks of action and drama and love, the throe graces that are fundamentals necessary to every successful photoplay if it is to fulfil its mission of entertainment. Km wing that it was adopted from tho i r?vel by Ethel M. Dell, we are practioady safe in assuming that tins screen piay teems with vivid drama, virile action, and tender romance, tor all of these elements were part and parcel of the story. Something different Sn the way of scenery may be expected, as most of tho action takes place out on the mvsterious little-known African vexdt.

The Paramount picture, ‘Salomy of the Tenements,’ adapted from the story by Anzia Yerierska, who wrote ‘ Hungry Hearts,’ and featuring Jetta Goudal, Godfrey Tearle, and Josio Kohi.n, is one of the coming season’s most brilliant screen attractions. Sidney Olcolt, director of ‘The Humming Bird’ and other big screen hits, produced the picture, which tolls of a beautiful girl of the slums who sets her mind on bigger and better things, and does not stop until she has obtained her ambition. Miss Gondal pmys Sonya Mondal, waif of New York’s tenement district, who loves beautiful clothes and longs for tlio “feel” of romance more than life itself. Pho marries a multi-millionaire philanthropist in ilio picture, and ah ends happily. Production has now been completed on ‘ The Wanderer,’ Paramount’s big picture for the year of 1926. In a recent cable from New York, Jesse L. Lasky, first vice-president of Famous Lasky Players, stated that the production was easily comparable with ‘ The Ten Commandments.’ ‘The Wanderer ’ is a modern story, being a parallel to the allegory of the ‘Prodigal Son.’ .As Famous Players claim that it is .f the same calibre as ‘The Ten Commandments,’ something very big is io be anticipated in this production. One of the most important transactions ever made in motion pictures took place recently when Paramount signed a contract with Florence Ziccfold to produce a scries of pictures in which the world-famous Ziegfeld girls would bo featured. This indeed is a groat move, to provide in screen entertainment something that savors of disi.inct newness.

livery one of the eight capital ships comprising the division of the American fleet has been equipped with_ a motion picture set whereby entertainment is given throughout the cruise. The lighter typo or picture predominates, A number of members of the fleet had been Interviewed upon the subject matter of these programmes, and there is unanimity on _ one ‘ Charley’s Aunt,’ with Syd Chaplin, is the greatest piece of film farce that the navy has been supplied vrith. ‘ Charley’s Aunt ’ will he released in Now Zealand at an early date.

The response to the announcement of the fifth annual Paramount Week has been spontaneous on the part of exhibitors throughout New Zealand. Inquiries from all quarters have been flowing in,, and it is anticipated that Paramount Week this year will truly be a big affair, Details of the distribution of £250 in prize money are being made through various mediums, and also of the Paramount Week Exploitation Shield, which will go to the exhibitor who shows the greatest enterprise during this season in the presentation, advertising, and exploitation of a motion picture.