(By "Movie Fan.")

Grey River Argus, 6 February 1917, Page 4

(By "Movie Fan.")

The Famous Plavers-Laskv Picture people have descended on. Australia, where they intend to produce dramatic studies not only for- the Australasian market but also for the American field. This is the first American concern t.) attempt to establish itself in this ■ art of the world for pictures. A few years agx> a Melies Company paid a visit to New Zealand and took one or two Maori plays in the Rotorua ri: s trict. James Cowan, the Well-known authority on Maori subiects, supplied the stories. One of these I saw announced in America subsequently J/ but none of the others. "The Sentimental Bloke," which Lawrence Campbell has been reciting with such success, is to be made into pictures in Australia. I notice that the ""American pirturc films now declare that it was sujltgreslive titles and . posters wh:;h brought about the censorship. The Limelight Man in the Christ• church "Star" is an unrestrained admirer of the Triangle films, which he declares to be the best on the ma'ket ir his -judgment. Them stories ha*"c more novelty about them and they show more artistic endeavour than mpst of the other studies. Douglas Fairbanks is hailed as the best comedian s}f them all, and his 'The Half-Breed" and "Manhattan Madness" are enthusiastically praised. The Fox Films' Corporation has entered the field with new comedies. These are known as Foxfilm Comedies and they begin with "Social Pirates."' Samuel Goldfish, who was chairman of directors of the Famous Play-ers-Lasky films, has resigned and 'is at the head of the Gpldwyn Corporation, which will put on pictures writ* / r P cJrV- ¥ar £ a ret Mayo; the authoress ' of,-".Twin Beds" and "Baby Mine." and her husband. Edgar Selwyn, who Played the lead in that fine film "The Arab." ■ Mary Pickford continues to hold the j major part of public popularity Her .# latest/picture is a-Scotch one. i '■, ?u .f st T 'bffore he died—three days in ■I'&? fi a w nd T was fi]med by the $ Mutual Weekly of America. They sent an operator down to see. him on' his ranch at Glen Ellen. California, and there -the big-hearted fellow who had given us so many fine stories was .put on the. .film. That picture has , some value. i v,.Pav^ War^ Griffith, the head of the Fine Arts Studios in the Triangle a,?', has sc °J"ed terrifically with his Intolerance./, 1, which has the "Birth of a Nation" beaten handsomely from all. points.. Griffth. by the way is a decided propogandist in his work, with a broad sympathy for the poor and down-trodden. You'll notice it in all th^ work he touches. Harold Lockwood and May Allison have been turning Harold MacGrath's ?i° VCL ?ldfirin Is]and" into a-film for the Metro people. Over in the States there has been a reversion against the domestic infidelity series and the vampires, but one Sli^ut^S?™ - turned out a-serial called "The Vampires." which, however, is a detective story and not a collection of Theda Bara s and 01** Petrovas and Louise Glaums "Greater New York" I saw in Chris* church recntly It is a fine pictme with only one 'fault. There should be I more of it. It gives a better idea of thej real New York than all your book's and newspaper articles. Mrs. Dion Boucicault. the "Porkpt Venus" of other da ys. died on Novem ber ,6th Her death was cabled out earlier than that, some three weeks in eisror. She was the original Billy O Connor in her husband's play "The Col een Bawn." In iS6o and when s! c gud farewell to the stage in 1898 it was m the same play. though on that ! OCT\ Se°W? e o£ Pcaf das \ M?s- Cre^ _ me War Office has released an i nS \?* S-^ies Of W«"«S dealing ; with, the visit of King- George to his : ainues on the West front. Among he I and Mr. Lloyd Geore-e in France AnY [ tral.«m and New Zealand troops on [ their way to the firing line, the Canadian camp, the, Belgian headquarters Id armT '^ Salute of th?St I Jjed armies, reviewing the battlefield nf Fncourt. and fraternising with^ oUlff ed men at the hospitals.. The films ™\te enCCI 9t thC Melba Th-" w Rector's famous restaurant on BroadLaw " S e h prpd"ced in "The Common i£ fl c i set covered the entire stu" -'o floor, and necessitated the engagement of 4So extras in evening drefs to ceG^tfoT IlerS a NCW V-' S E- , Jt is stated that Billie Burkes contract with George Kieine for "Glorias Romance" provided for a~ saJarT^f poo a week. Henry Kolker; her Wd tng man. received £106 a week, 'rife first Ive-reel story in "Gloria's A* otherLr released in s^y & ; ct E T Sn/ mp f° n ' a well-known pi. mm of CRnstchurch. left recently for Sydney. where he ioins M. Paul Lufault on a tour of Java. China, and ?S Sch^Xdi? to be back in Qu:^ -Harry Lloyd Brett, second son of j Mr Henry Bretet, Auckland, died recently, at the age or 44. He was a well-known vocalist, and was associated with the Auckland Choral Sorb'v ' hi? tenor voice being- much in request Posessed of admirable personal qualities, he was one of the most popular men m Auckland, where his amiab:litv of temperament was particularly ».«■.. teemed. Harry Lauder, the popular Scotch comedian, has subscribed o'ooo-0^0 ' 000-0^ to the new- War Loan. So runs the cable news. Brayo. little Harry Lau.der! He must have, stacked the' yellow boys one on top pjF the other vera karefully. But Harry: Lauder has done more than that, for he gave his son to the Empire fighting- forces, and that son only the otner day gave his life in France. W. H. Webber, lately a student of music at the Melbourne University but now musical director of "Tonight's the Nighj:," on tour in Enjrland." was lately charged "as being a person belonging to the Army Reserve, and being called out on permanent service, with, failing- to appear at the time and place stated." The case 1 was made a test one. and was dismiss- j ed on the grounds that Webber was a " student and continuing 1 his studies in * England. . . « As an outcome of his strictures on ] the stage in general and the Alham- , bra revue in particular. General Sir l Horace Smith-Dorjien has been Very- 3 ed with a writ for libel. When the I last mail left England leading coun- 1 sel had been briefed in the action, 6 which is brought by Mr/ Oswald Stoll and the Alhambra Co.. Ltd. Mr. Gor-, r don Hewrart, X.C.. will lead for the • plaintiffs. and Mr. Hume Williams, s X.C.. fpr the defendant. Tt was 3 thoug-ht probable that the hearing ' would take place during- the current b term. .'.