SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 19143, 9 January 1926, Page 15

SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

The year 1925 was an eventful one in the world of pictures, especially in regard to Paramount. This last year saw the release of such attractions in Now Zealand as ‘The Ten Commandments, ’ ‘Monsieur Bcaucairc,’ ‘ Scaramoucbo, 1 Madame Sans Gene,’ 1 Peter Pan, and many others. The coming year should be equally as groat. ‘The Wanderer ’ will probably bo the biggest picture released. It bas_ been built throughout on similar lines to what is known as the first section of ‘ The Ten Commandments.’ ‘Tbo A\anderer ’ is the Biblical story of the prodigal son. Its two keynotes arc larisbncss and power in tbo story. Iho cast will contain such players as Ernest Torrence, Greta Nisscn, William Collier, jun., Wallace Beery, Tyrone Power, and Kathlyn Williams. Another picture said to be of almost equal calibre is ‘Tbo Vanishing Race,’ written by Zano Grey, and featuring Richard Dix in the leading role. This is a story of the American Red man, from the"time of bis zenith to bis present decline. The fact of Zano Grey s imminent visit to this country v ill lend added interest to this attraction. Tbo picture, ‘Grounds for Divorce, directed by Paul Born (who made ‘The Dressmaker from, Paris’), and leatnrinp; Florence Voder, Matt Monro, and Louise Fazenda, is another early Paramount rclea.se for screening locally. ‘Grounds for Divorce’ is an adaptation of the stage play of the same mime which took New York by storm during the season of 1.924. Harry Myers (the Connecticut I ankee) heads the supporting cn:>t, which also includes George Andre Homager, Gustave Von Seyfiertiiz, Edna Mae Cooper, and five of" the fourteen international beauty models who appeared in ‘The Dressmaker.’ ‘Grounds for Divorce’ is described as an unusual comedy-drama of modern marriage. The news that Harold Lloyd’s picture. ‘College Days,’ will bo released throughout Australia and Now Zealand should ho an item of particular interest to the entire film'industry. This is the picture made and released in America under the title of ‘The Freshman,’and it has already succeeded in setting up new figures in the mirth-flood level for Harold Lloyd pictures. _ ‘ College Days,’ in size, in theme, and in regular boncst-to-spleudidncss mirth, starts in right where the other Lloyd, comedies leave off, and the _ success which attended its presentation in America has already commenced a most extensive duplication in Kngland. In being acquired for release by Paramount at the time when Lloyd is actually engaged in the making of his first Paramount picture, ‘ College Days ’ joins the ranks of such features as ‘ Never Sav Die ’ and ‘ Introduce Me.’

Much secrecy is observed (writes our correspondent) regarding tlio proposals to be submitted to the Govprmuent._a.nd the Legislature tor assisting British films against the overshadowing competition of America. But it is stated that a fair measure of agreement haw been reached among the did'erent interests concerned, and that, the scheme proposed envisages stipulation a rising proportion el British films being shown at all theatres during a fixed period, and for the abolition of block hookings as a paralysing factor calculated to cripple our film production, ns well as injure the cinema’s popularity. How far these proposals can achieve their purpose remains to he seen. Where entertainment is concerned nothing is more certain than that, the public, especially ihe cinema public, will consult only its own sensations. 'ln heat. America we must, produce as good, nr better, work, and hero aVises the crucial question of climate. Perhaps our best, hope lies in an Imperial film movement, with its factory G.H.Q. somewhere, in the clear atmosphere of overseas.