Motion Picture News

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11168, 29 March 1930, Page 10

Motion Picture News

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MAJESTIC T HEAT LUO. To-day and To-night.—“ The Wonderful Li«”—Cinema Arts—starring TfrSjotto Helen, Finn/, Ledever and “The Runaway Princess” —- Aletro-Gold wyn —starring AJady Christians and Paul Cavanagli. Monday and Tuesday.—No pictures. Theatre closed installing talkies. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.— “Rapid Fire Romance”—Master comedy drama—starring Billie Sullivan; and “The Devil Horse’ —Fox—starring Gladys McConnell and Rex the horse. REGENT THEATRIC To-day, Monday and 'I iiesday.—l he .Last of Mrs. Choyncy”—Aletro- ‘ Goldwyn-Mayei';—starring Norma Shearer, Basil Rathhone and George Barra ml. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and and * Saturday.—“ The Black Watch”—Wm. ‘ Fox, Movietone feature—starring Victor AlcLaglen, Alvina Loy. David Rollins and Kov I.)’Arev.

FILMS IN SYDNEY. NEW COAIPANY TO AIA K F TALKIES. AN AUSTRALIAN RF.YFE. A wealthy syndicate i> hehiud a. new development oi talking picture production in New South Whiles, and a new eompanv will eoinmence opet aliens next month in Sydney. The sendees oi Air. Norman Hawn, an American, win, directed and produced two Australian films two years ago, have keen retained as producer. His Australian pictures were "For the Tei m of His Natural Lite’ and “Hie Adorable Outcast-. Air. Dawn told tie Sydnex "Dade Guardian" that prominent citizens oi Sydney have contributed toward the scheme, and the capital will he practically all-Australian, Operations will be commenced almost immediately, as the syndicate is now. seeking a suitable site for a studio. A complete talkie plant, valued at £IOOO. and a technicolor camera, worth £3OOO. have been purchased already ill America, and should arrive here by the Afakura on March G. The company intends competing tor the :Goooo prize olieivd by the Federal Government for the best Australian picture produced, entries for which close on .March 3.1. It is the idea of the syndicate to develop Australian talent, arid it success comes,, employment should be provided for many of those actors oi the legitimate stage, and musicians now out of employment. _ The first picture produced will be Jin all-Australian revue. Mr. Dawn is enthusiastic about the proposed company’s success. Ho says that Australia possesses; first-class talent, and that the conn--liy provides an unusual atmosphere and background sußa-hio for their operations.

RIN-TIN-TIN’S RETIREMENT. Despite the colossal salaries which film stars now command there must still be a few who can look forward to a life of well-earned leisure, at the age of 12. Having completed bis 42nd and last film. says the London “Sketch.” Rin-Tin-Tin, the celebrated canine star, is about to retire from work in Hollywood Studios, and pay a, visit to England foi rest and change. A charming picture of domestic bliss shows lUn-Tin-Tiu with bis wife and small son. fine thousands whom ho has delighted with his clover acting will wish hhii every happiness m his retirement, replete, one feels assured. with many a juicy bone!

NEWS AND NOTES. Sound picture rights to Robert Service’s poem, “The Shooting of Dan McGrow,” have been acquired by Metro-Gold wyn. Alayer.

When it was announced Unit “AH Quiet on the Western Front” would bo filmed with as close conformity to the book' of Erich Remarque as possible, people began to ask why was Joan Marsh in the announced. cast. Joan Alarsli. who -is returning to the screen at the age of sixteen, is to enact' the Rosier Girl, to which a very interesting chapter hi the book was devoted.

John Hattc-ii is a Now Zealander. It was while he was making Jils'stage debut in Hollywood in “The Ghost Storv” that Cecil B. de Mille, I). IV. Griffith, and Fox' saw him, and Fox immediately gave him the part of juvenile lead in his production. “Itobinson and Crusoe/' Since then he has played under the direction of many famous American producers. He was brought over to England by British International Pictures to play the part of Dick in their production of Thomas Hardy’s famous story. “Under the Greenwood Tree,” under tile direction of Harrv Laehinan.

Experiments with the new multU color camera, latest color process of the screen, at the Aletro-Golclwvn-Alayer studios, terminate a story that reads like a novel. Four years ago William AVortbingtoii. director, suddenly retired from screen work. AVith the success' of the new color process the .secret is out. He has- passed the last four rears perfecting the invention, .■which now bids fair to revolutionise color photography.' on the screen.

Ruth Clmttertou. .whose latest film is .“The Laughing Lady.” hail a career of twenty years on the stage before she took up acting for the 'screen. She already had had five years' experience : when she .joined a producernamed Henry 'Miller in IfH2 to play in ’“The* Rainbow.”: in which she was an exquisite,. ethereal looking creature. - .The' 1 producer has been troubled about, the -role:; for it required .someone who could act as well .as look like the .young girl. ' Then .'someone told-’him they had, seen “a girl in it Rochester' Stock company” that seqnied to' fill, the ! requirements,'' and Miller made the trio to see her, - 'was enraptured with Miss ' Chatterton arid her .wprkd and ' fortltdritlt' engaged her great'success. Her association with Miller lasted about fifteen years. She has' been living’-.hr Hollywood- for about thpee years, but made no head-way-tin pictures until the screen begiur tospeak; since .which time her services’ ary hi great demand, for her diction" is peffeet and what is needed more 'than anything else in talking pictures,",is diction. Miss Chatter ton made a arenf hit ‘”P V, Doctor's Secret and followed tins up with <. “Madame X.”"

PLAYS AND PLAYERS Jjjfc ... ON THE SCREEN ...

Tubby Phillips, the heavyweight, of the British screen, stands over six feet and weighs 2o stone. Air. Phillips, who is an Irishman, has had one of the most exciting careers a man could have. He has been cabin boy on a train)) collier steamer and at the tender age of 12 lie was in the thick of the fight during the early days of the Boer War. He was taken prisoner by the Boers and released by the late Lord Roberts. He lias also soiled with the British forces in Zuluhind and in Pondoland. and with the police in Durban and '1 ransvaal. In ID] 3 Mr. Phillips retired from the .South African police and first became interested in films financially and then as .an artiste, for the South Airman Film Company. During the war Air. Phillips saw much service and was twice decorated. After the Armistice be was encased in the musical comodv “Goins Up,” at the Comedy Theatre, and also played hi Lupino T.aim's first film comedy at Eel Pie Gland on the Thames. Since then Air. Phillips lias piaved for most of the present producing companies in England, in ‘Under the Greenwood Tree” Air Phillips has one of the principal roll's as member ul the Alellstoek Choir and the A'ilbigo 'Blacksmith.

The First National and Yiiaphono lirodtielion. “Paris," is the last word, in gorgeousness, color and music, and brings to the screen the outstanding luminary oi the musical-f-omedv world. Irene Bordoiii. and also Jack Puehanaii. famous musical comedy star of the English stage. Paris, with its joyous songs, its .gorgeous gowns and glorious girls, is brought to Tin* talkum screen hi Nature’s own colors, with cyclonic dancing choruses and glorious beauty ensemble.'.

When one looks hack upon the names of those men who made Britain’s greatness there is one name which stands out brilliantly iu the history of policies—and that man is Disraeli. Warner Bros., with their usual foresight in knowing the public taste, have made Disraeli a living person again, in their special Vitaphone production. “Disraeli.” Geo. Arliss, tile famous English actor wiki has for many years played the part of Disraeli on the stage, again pom trays (lie role of England’s statesman on the screen. One sees Disraeli — not as cold historical facts show Uni, but as the Dreamer, the Alan of” Action. and the loving, devoted husband. One feels at the conclusion of this production that they have been present at a great historical event.

Elinor Glyn's recently-published magazine story, "Suclt Men are Dangerous,' will be filmed with Kar Johnson and Warner- Baxter in tlie leading roles.

Alter appearing in two silent films. Gdila Gray, noted dancer, is soon to be seen in Iter first talkie. The picture has been tentatively entitled “Frankie and Johnny.” and was recently completed at the long Island studios of Paramount. “Alonia oi the South Seas.” “Piccadilly.” and “Cnbaret” are other _ pictures in which the dancer has been starred.

Alary Astor. popular leading woman of silent films, has been assigned one of tin- chief roles in “Ladies Love Brutes.” George Bancroft’s next picture. Ruth Chatteuton pin vs tlio lein mine lead «ind Fred Kohler and Frederic March are al-o in the oast.

The thin, red line of silent stars boldin'" out against jaikies has been reduced lo one little man hi baggy prints. For months ( ImHie OiHipJm and Lon Chancy stood side by side for silence. Now Lon has .fallen. Under a now contract with Al.ctro-Goldwyn-Alayer he will make four dialogue-dramas a year for five years, commencing April l. Chaney’s refusal all along has been for financial reasons. He argued that Us existing contract gave the producers no right to use his Voice. Chaney carried on with silent films, with diminishing returns to the company. They dwhi-, died so fast that the producers at last agreed to pay h'inuui extra £!o0 a week.

Douglas Fairbanks. I lie film, star, i> 4A. and his waistline is a matter, el importance in many ways. To keep it where and as it is, be has,invented * l very fast game, and called it 'Don*,. It is a whirlwind form of Badminton, an indoor game of terrific speed, a game of', tennis played all on the vollov. The TOoz. racket is devised with” so little weight that it can be moved about rapidly. Tile court is •marked as in tennis, with rules similar except.that the server stands on the service line instead, of the back. In singles the ball may be struck op with the hand on return, and then hit with the racket. The projectile has a crown of feathers as in Badminton. hut the base is smaller and heavier, so that with a full swing the “dong” as it is called, gets away at groat speed, almost as fast as a smashed tennis ball. The leather crown shows it up after. crossing the net. and it is almost impossible to Ut it out of court.

'l'he introduction of sound and dialogue in motion pictures has considerably changed the teehuiqup of Upndling crowds during the filming ._ of large scenes. 1 The. new. method was employed with excellent results during the- filming of ' a Civil War scene for “Only the Brave,” Gary Cooper’s next starring picture. Sevt• ra I hundred troops were usod iti ; the scene, and the battle front extended •or a. quarter of a mile, yet every move was timed to perfection. Upon a signal from the director an initial volley ' wag fired. The leader of detachment one counted live, then sent his men into battle. Another division counted 15, a third 25. A tremendous explosion, also timed from •e first'hnrst -of-firing/ was a signal >!• the cavalry to move into action.

Universal lias purchased from the estate of Frank Desprez the talking picture rights to “Las’ca.” This story —originally published as a poem—has been used as a play, a moving picture. and a novelette. Tom Reed, because of the tremendous success lie made; of the adaptation of Peter B. Kvne's “Three Godfathers” has been assigned to “Lnsca.”