MUSIC and DRAMA

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1927, Page 3 (Supplement)

MUSIC and DRAMA

(By

"Old Pro.”)

The Nellie Bramley Company is at present in Auckland. * * • “The Student Prince” will follow the successful “Sunny” at the Empire Theatre, Sydney. Mr Pirie Bush, of the Benee Kelly Company, is a New Zealander, and was formerly a resident of Wellington.

Bert Spargo, ex-featherweight champion of Australia, is appearing in the revival of boxing comedy, “Is Zat So?” in Svdney.

No fewer than 200 chorus girls will be seen in “The Crimson Shawl,” a new musical comedy to be seen in New York.

There is a possibility that Mr W. Bridges Adams may take his Stratford-on-Avon Shakespearean company to the United States after its summer season.

Miss Marie Ney, the New Zealand girl, took part in the British Empire Shakespeare Society’s “star” matinee at the Haymarket Theatre, London, to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday. • • • Daisy Yates, Yorke Gray, mid the Maekinnon boys, well-known in New Zealand, are with 'George Storey’s Storyettes at Newtown (Sydney) Majestic. During the four-weeks’ Shakespearean birthday festivities at Stratford, England, “Macbeth” was played five times. In all, 27 plays were given. “Meet the Wife,” just concluding a New Zealand tour, was produced in London last month, with Miss Constance Collier in the leading role. Mr George Vollarie, formerly a popular leading man in Williamson musical comedy, is touring the English provinces with. “Two Little Girls in Blue. ”

“Bose Marie” will start the second year of its run in Australia on Monday. The occasion will be celebrated by a special ceremony at His Majesty’s, Melbourne. Miss Harriet Bennet has not missed a performance.

The first production of the comic opera, “Madame Pompadour,” was given at Brisbane on Saturday, with Miss Beppy de Vries in the title role and Mr Frank Webster as principal tenor.

Georges Carpentier, former boxing champion, recently made his appearance as singer and dancer in a Parisian revue. It is said that he is likely to prove as successful on the stage as he was in the ring.

“The Constant Nymph,” one of the outstanding London successes, in which, by the way, the New Zealand girl Mario Ney is appearing, has been secured for Australia and New Zealand by Mr J. C. Williamson.

Success of N.Z. Girl in London. Of “Der Weibsteufel,” given by the Incorporated Stage Society, the London Era says: “The chief honours of the performance m ust go to Miss Majie _Vey (formerly of New Zealand), whose portrayal of the long and difficult part of the wife was a fine piece of work from start to finish. It comprised so many moods, all to bo achieved so suddenly. There was the passion of curbed motherhood, when the exiseman discovers.the unused baby garments'; tho alternate cajolings and revilings of her husband, when, overwrought Dy love, she scarcely knew what she vas doing; the passionate avowal of her love; and, finally, the elemental creature whose desire is sated by revenge.. Throughout, Miss Ney achieved all these moods, and the success of the play depended to no small measure on her superb rendering of the part.” • * * Madge Elliott’s Success. New Zealand theatre-goers will be pleased to hear of Madge Elliott’s great dancing success in London. Under the heading, “Dancing Triumph,” the Evening Standard says that nothing can be imagined nearer perfection than Miss Elliott’s dancing. “She is a musical comedy dancer, who ■delights her public and at the same time is one of the great artists of the world. She is pure Michael Angelo—small head, neck like a column, and broad shoulders.”

With her partner, Cyril Bitchard, Madge Elliott left Australia in 1924 to try her fortunes abroad. Since then the pair have had a series of successes. Miss Elliott has appeared in Berlin, in Paris, and in London, in musical comedies and cabaret shows.

Universal Film Company’s general manager, Mr C. F. Eskell/ has just returned to Wellington from Sydney after consultation with, Mr H. C. Mclntyre, managing director of Universal, with reference to the policy of releasing film in New Zealand during 1928.

Although the Universal Company in America will release sixty-seven pictures, it has been decided that only fifty-two programmes will be released in New Zealand. In addition to this, there will be two super attractions, the first of which will be “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” Universal’s adaptation of the famous book and play, which will reach the screen as a two-million dollar picture, that amount actually having been spent during the two years this super has been in production. It has a cast of forty-five principals, in addition to thousands of extras. The second of the ( two super attractions will be “Les Mise rabies,” a French film production, made from Victor Hugo’s immortal Included in Mho fifty-two regular releases will be four super productions, the first of which will be “The Cal and the Canary,” starring Laura In Plante. This is a mystery story, an

apart from the story, the dirt .’ ion will prove soiiivtliing of a novelty in the way of pictures. The second super in the regular release will be “Love Mej and the World is Mine,” featuring' Mary Fhilbin and Norma;! Kerry, and directed by A. E. Dupont, the director who made “Variety.” Then there will be “Show Boat” from the celebrated novel by Edna Ferber, which will be produced on a magnificent scale. The fourth super will be “Big Guns,” from a story by Richard Barry. George Lewis, the smiling hero of “His People” and “The Collegians,” is the star. The United States Navy is cooperating in the making of this picture. * * * There will be four pictures by Reginald Denny, ami included in the Jewel productions will be “Back to God’s Country,” starring Renee Adorec. who made such a hit as the little French girl in “The Big Parade;” “Silk Stockings,” taken from the famous play by Cyril Harcourt, which will be a starring vehicle-for Laura La Plante, and “The Chinese Parrot.” In addition to. the Jewels, which will be of outstanding merit, there will be seven Hoot Gibson pictures, and it is quite possible that some English, pictures will be included in the regular fifty-two re-

Mr Carl Laemmle has gone out of his way to make Universal pictures of outstanding merit during 1928. Universal are now controllng 450 theatres of their own in the United States, and have just purchased the Colony Theatre in New York, which is one of the leading theatres on Broadway. Universal must live up to the standard of “A” grade productions, by virtue of the fact that they have to supply their own theatres with first class pictures.

Altogether, Mr Eskell states that exhibitors in New Zealand are assured of an outstanding first class supply, coupled with the service that has helped to make Universal so popular in the Dominion.

Colourful uniforms and beautiful gowns feature ’ 1 The Love Thief, a Universal Jewel production. Norman Kerry and Greta Nissen are the featured players in this spectacular love drama, while others in the east are Marc MaeDermott, Cissy Fitzgerald, Oscar Beregi, Augustino Borgato, Carrie Daumery, Nigel Barrie, Clarence Thompson, Charles Puffy, Alphonse Martel, Anton Vaverka, and Lido Manetti. A regular “League of Nations” is represented in the cast, there being natives of Norway, Germany, Hungary, Czecho-Slovakia. India, England and the United States therein.

Big Bear Lake, a famous tourist resort in northern California, provides a beautiful scenic background for many of the scenes in “The Man in the Saddle,” Hoot Gibson’s latest Western attraction for Universal. Gibson’s troupe, including Director Clifford Smith, and Fay Wray, Sally Long, Charles Mailes, Clark Comstock, Emmett King, Duke B. Lee and others, spent two week's at the beautiful lake, filming exterior scenes, and all hands enjoyed a pleasant vacation at the studio’s expense, without too much troublesome work to be done.

Williamson Sues D. B. O’Connor. A Supreme Court writ has been taken out by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., against D B O’Connor, theatrical manager, of Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat, for an injunction to restrain from advertising the plays, “Are You a Mason? and “What Happened to Jones, as J. C. Williamson’s “greatest comedy and “funniest comedy” respectively. The firm also claims damages.

New Zealand audiences are being given their first introduction to one of Europe’s most popular stars in “Her Big Night,” a Universal Jewel attraction starring Laura La Plante. Einar .HanMn, who is one of Europe’s most popular actors, plays the lead opposite the comedienne. He is under long term contract to Universal. Others in the cast of “Iler Big Night” are Tully Marshall, Zasu Pitts, Mack Skvain, John Roche, Lee Moran, Nat Carr, Cissy Fitzgerald. Melville Brown was the director.

“The Border Sheriff” is the next great Western drama from Universal, starring Jack Hoxie, with a great cast <>f Western players in support. Among the players are Olive Hasbrouck, S. E. .Jennings, Pec-wee Holmes, Buck Moulton. Tom Lingham, Bert De Marc, Frank Rice, Floyd Criswell, and Leonard Trainer. Robert North Bradbury d'irce.ie'd the making of “The Border Sheriff. ’ ’

Two “Wanpas Baby Stars” appear in the cast of “The Man in the Saddle,” Universal’s latest Western attraction, starring the popular Hoot Gibson. They are Fay Wray, who plays the feminine lead, and Sally Long. Both were chosen as amongst the thirteen most promising youiig actresses of the screen by the “Wampas. ” an organisation of Hollywood writers and publicists, which selects its thirteen “baby stars” for whdm is predicted cinema brilliance in the future, as an annual event. ' ✓ A varied aiid ‘interesting assortmen •>f theatrical personalities are included in the cast supporting Laura La Plante in her latest Universal Jewel picture “Iler Big Night.” Nat Carr was a vaudeville, and burlesque comedian of note; Cissy Fitzgerald was a famous musical ccmc-dy star; Lee Moran and :Maek are veteran screen coni ■iians; Jo’.n Roche and William Ausin were both luminaries of the stage: Tully Marshall is an old time : stage ind screen character actor; Einar Han •son, before his importation, was one oi Europe’s leading film stars. Gilbert (Pee-wee) Holmes does sonit ’splendid comedy relief work in th< Universal Western at trap ion “Th; Border Sheriff,” star ing .!”(•’ TT<>.\ie ihat matter, in the film world, makes ai excellent partner for Jack Do' ie in hi; latest picture. Supporting players in elude Olivo Hasbrouck. S. E. Jennings Frank Rice and many other wcll-knowi Western character players.

One of the screen’s most successful comedy teams has been found by Universal in the combination of Begin aid Denny, star, and William A. Seiter, his director. Their latest production is “Bolling Home,” a Jewel production, which will be seen.shortly. Mr Seiter has already directed Denny in “Where Was I?,” “What Happened to Jones and “Skinner’s Dress Suit.”

“Mons,” said to be the greatest picture of its kind produced, will be released in the near future by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The highest price paid for any single British film was paid by M.G.M. for the production which was produced with the sanction and assistance of the British Government. #

“Bardelys the Magnificent.” from the novel by Rafael Sabatini, author of “The Sea Hawk,” etc., is scheduled for early release by Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer. John Gilbert, star of “The Big Parade,” plays the role of the dashing Bardelys and Eleanor Boardman, Karl Dane and George K. Arthur are also in the cast.

“The Magician,” starring Alice Terry, wil release shortly, and is the first Rex Ingram production for M.G.M. since his widely discussed and highly successful screen version of “Mare Nostrum.” The story of the new picture is that of a girl caught between the forces of a magician, whom she is unable to resist, and. the loVe for a young surgeon who has saved her from being a cripple, by performing a delicate operation on her spine. The entire production was made in Europe on the original locations described by the author, Somerset Maugham, in his book. The Latin Quarter of Paris, the Grand Boulevards, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Monte Carlo and the interior of the gambling rooms of the Casino, the famous towers of Switzerland and many other places of historical and pictorial interest in France, Italy and Switzerland were utilised as backgrounds for “The Magician.”

Marion Davies, the beautiful star of “Yolanda,” “Lights of Old Broadway,” and “Beverly of Graustark, is now starring in the new M.G.M. feature “The Red Mill,” releasing throughout New Zealand. It is a new Marion Davies that this play gives to the screen—a lightsome, colourful creature of evanescent moods and charming little ways —with whimsical sense cr humour and an amazing capability for poignant dramatic acting. She looks very charming in a quaint Dutch costume, with wooden shoes and blonde pigtails.

A notable cast supports Marion Davies in the new M.G.M. picture now releasing. It is l a story of love and adventure in Holland. A spectacular winter festival, a great church scene, a stirring adventure in boats on a canal in a Dutch village, are all interesting high lights in the production, together with the eerie incidents in a weird haunted mill. Owen Moore plays the Irish lover of the Dutch heroine, George Sicgman the villainous Uncle Willem, and Karl Dane and Louise FazJnda make an hilarious comedy pair, aided and abetted by Snitz Edwards.

Mae Murray, dainty heronie of dozens of screen romances, has never appeared to greater advantage than in her latest picture “Altars of Desire,” in which Conway Tearip plays opposite her in the featured male lead. “Altars of Desire” is the type of screen romance that has found favour with film fans. In it comedy is flavoured with romantic sophistication. In this Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer picture. Miss Murray plays the part of Clare Sutherland, one that is said to compare favourably with her “Merry Widow” in opportunities for the star.

On account of the success of former effects, the introductory scenes of Mae Murray’s new starring vehicle for M.G.M., “Altars of Desire,” was photographed in technicolour. Miss Murray’s exquisite beauty is emphasised to a high degree when her delicate colouring is shown. The opening shots of “Altars of Desire” reveal in a trub colourful manner her introduction Paris and her education in social w:r An especially beautiful bit shoves 11 star dancing the tango before a gt geous background of silver and gold. “Comedy is the university of th screen.” So declares Louise Fazend pioneer ’ kevstonc comedienne, and m famous character artist who ho hut comedies have proved the < nor her acting success. “Comedy,” she says, “teaches one to act better because one learns to compress so many fleeting emotions in so short a space.” Mis Fazenda plays the role of Gretchen ii Marion Davies’ new starring vehic! “The Red Mill.” adapted from tin musical comedy of the same name. I is a dramatic story of Holland wi Owen Moore, Miss Fazenda, Snitz Ed wards, Kiri Dane, and a notable sup porting cast.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s forthcoming releases are all widely different in story and appeal. Amongst these are “Bardolys the Magnificent” from the novel by Rafael Sabatini (starring John Gilbert); “The Understanding Heart” from the popular novel by Peter B. Kyne; and Lon Chaney’s latest production, “Tell it to the Marines.” This is said to be a most exciting picture, the story taking place in a Marine Training school, and a large amount of the action being filmed on the High Seas.” William Haines, the popular “Brown of Harvard” star, has a big part in this picture, and he will also be seen in “Slide Kelly Slide,” a story which gives the star unlimited opportunities of displaying his ability as an athlete. “Mons,” an epic production producer under the supervision of the British Government, will also be released by M.G.M. in the near future.