STAGE AND SCREEN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 September 1925, Page 18

STAGE AND SCREEN.

Mr. John D. O’Hara may soon jay another visit to New Zealand). He intends to settle in Australia, when he retires from the stage. Mischa Levitzki, pianist, has just set out on a. tour which will carry him into 1927. He first goes to Java, India, China, and Japan.

At the Melbourne Majestic, Princess Rangiriri and her Nine Maori Maids create a turmoil among the pictures. The Maori dances arc well staged, and make a show in themselves. Alice Joyce- returns, to the screen in “White. Man,” a Master picture, which was recently screened in New York. She is supported l by Kenneth Harlan and Walter Long. Universal’s great production, “The Phantom of the Opera,” is, to have, its New York premiere on September 7-. The big’ scenes of the “Phantom” are filmed in natural colour, including a masked ball sequence with several thousand, actors and actresses in brilliant costumes.

Warner Bros, are (jutting five Master pictures. The titles are “Three Weeks in Paris,” “The Wife Who Wasn’t Wanted,” “Steel of the. Royal Mounted,” “Bobbed Hair,” (‘The Man on the Box,” and “The Limited Mail. ’ ’

Fred Thomson does his best work to date in the Master picture, “That Devil Quemado. ” Thomson has developed an original and pleasing style that is quite in keeping with the highclass comedy western production in which he now appears. Of course, there is action,, plenty of it.

After several months’ acting in South Sea. jungle pictures with a, smile and a blush by way of clothes, Patsy Ruth Miller has signed a long contract with Warner Brothers, where she will do regular lady parts' with a whole lot of clothes. Miss Miller will be featured in. the Master picture:, “Rose of the World.”

Arthur Jordan, the English tenor, who came out to Australia with Elsa Stralia, ' may come to New Zealand; there is talk about it, but he will not come as a. stranger, for his records have made him well known and well liked. He is an accomplished and cultured singer of oratorio arias, as well as of ballads.

Datne Clara. Butt’s Australian tour commenced at Perth on September 3, under the direction of Messrs. J. and N. Tait. The famous, contralto will then visit Adelaide. Melbourne, arid Sydney, coining on to New- Zealand in December. Mr. Kennerley Rumford is again associated with his wife.

Charlie Chaplin will visit England again, either this year or early in 192 G, with the, intention of making a picture there. Charlie lias two pictures that he wants to make—one a. story of an old clown, and the gtlier a typically London story. lie has had this ambition ever since he- entered) the picture business-. Chaplin recently completed’ his latest eight-reel comedy,’ entitled “The Gold Rush.” It is interesting to know that “The Gold Rush” is the first film that Chaplin has acted in as well as directed entirelv by himself.

Members of the male chorus nowadays have to, be, men of muscle. The dainty “Nanette” makes an exit- reclining on, their bowed, backs; Miss Mamie Watson was- carried about in hoops, but chorus work becomes most strenuous in “Kid Boots,” where Miss .Tosie Melville ends her “Lake Trail” dance with a back somersault .along a

line of outstretched arms njnd gripped hand's, a feat performed with an ease and grace which mask to a great extent- its difficulty and danger.,

There is said to be keen anticipation for “Secrets,” the play shortly to be presented by ,T. C. Williamson, Ltd., for the first time in Australia. It is by Rudolph Besier and May Edington, both of whom are well-known authors. The plot is said to be an unusual and excellent, one, rather on the lines of “Milestones,” and the artists chosen for the leading parts —to wit, Muriel Starr an.d Frank Harvey —assure perfect acting.

The J. C. Williamson production of “The. Street .Singer”,at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, presents Gladys Moncrieff in. her latest success. The newspaper critics refer to Miss Moncrieff’s triumph as her biggest since, “The Maid of the Mountains.” lifted, her to. star rank. Associated with her in the success of the' production are: Claude, Fleming, Arthur Stigant, Noel Leyland, Leslie Holland 1 , Beryl Walkley, and Nellie Payne. The play is produced by George Highland.

“The Pelican,” in which Muriel Starr is appearing, is a. tremendous drama of real life turned into a tremendous play of the theatre. Taking as its motif “the pelican in the desert tore its own. throat and gave its heart 's blood to save its young,” it is a story of sacrifice and is based upon tin*, famous Russell case, which not very long ago created a tremendous sensation- in. Kngland. It is: an. incident in real life transferred to the stage, an.d exemplifies the fact- that after all truth is stranger than fictiau.

One hundred lions afford n portion of the thrillers in “Quo Vadis. ” The scenes show the, wild beasts turned 1 loose by Nero in the Circus Maximas to attack a band of terrified Christian martyrs whom the tyrant accused of burning R|ome. Several of the most expert animal trainers in Europe —the picture was “shot” in Rome —jwefe engaged to pose with the screen’s players. Concealed in the. folds of their Roman garments were loaded, revolvers and heavy whips. In addition, the high tiers of boxes round the arena were fitted! with loopholes at which expert .marksmen were, stationed.

Said to be. the “dressiest” picture ever screened, “The. Dressmaker from Paris” is announced as an early Paramount release. Fourteen mannequins, chosen from the best known. New York fashion houses, appearing in the. most gorgeous, array of gowns is one of the highlights of this brilliant production. “The Dressmaker from Haris” is, a story of the fashionable side, of New York. Beatrice Jov, who for some time past has been, absent fi;om the screen, returns with, fresh laurels, this being her latest picture, since “The Ten Commandments.”

John Barrymore will appear in Warner Brothers production, adapte from Lord Byron’s poem, “Don Juan.’

In Germany a, law has been p,assoc and is in operation that for each for eigu filar shown, in- a German, picture house a German; film must be shown

Britain is contemplating a similar step

John Roche is going back to Warner Brothers when he shall have polished off “The Woman,” with whom lie has been playing leading man for Fox.

Miss Pearl White, formerly “serin queen” in the movies, is to appear it “The. London Revue’’ at the Lyceun Theatre, Lojidon, shortly.

In “Good Morning, Dearie,” Josie Melville, will be seen as Rosie Marie, a little errand girl in the employ of a milliner. In this role she is said to equal her- success in. “Sally.”

“Glorious New Zealand,” the, big scenic film which has been prepared by the Government Publicity Office, will be sent on tour shortly. The film, which, embraces the, finest- scenic gems to be found in the Dominion, together with such interesting subjects as swordfishing. native bird life and other nature studies, will have ,a: film prologue in which some of New Zealand’s early history and other features of unusual interest will be recorded. The picture, which will be accompanied by a lecturer, represents the cream of two years’ kinematographic effort.

A great deal of interest attaches to the return to New Zealand of Miss Stella Murray, the New Zealand contralto, after some years’ experience in concert work in the Old Country. MissMurray before returning to England intends to make a tour of the Dominion, which will embrace the cities and larger towns. Miss Murray lias returned with her musical technique more fully developed by study and experience. Her vocal and artistic equipment won for her a high place in the ranks of the. leading concert artists of the Old' Land, and she received unstinted: praise from critics and audiences.

“Contraband,” the, novel which had a very popular run just after the war, and which was written by Clarance Kelland, has been brought to the screen by Paramount with an all-star cast of players, including Lois Wilson, Raymond Hatton, Noah Beery, Charles Ogle, and Lillian Leighton. The story of “Contraband” centres around a

girl editor in a. small town, wlio determinedly sets out to break up a political ring, tlie. leader of which is also the head of a rum-running gang that is making the town its headquarters. “Contraband” is a story full of; action and entertainment.

“After the Ball,” a’ photodrama spectacle adapted to the screen from the famous old song that broke all American popular melody records, two decades ago’, will be the feature of the Paramount Theatre programme this week. Though tliero are- moments when the “weeps” are turned on like a spring flood, the story, it is said, is carried along with a flash and. a touch of kindly humour here and there that leaves that “glad. 1 went” sort .of feeling - after the ball is over. The production is presented by an all-star east headed by Miriam Cooper, Gaston Glass, Edna Murphy and Robert Frazer.,

“The. Winding Stair,’’ from the novel by A. E. W. Mason, 1 has been put into work for the screen, by William' Fox, with Edmund Lowe and Alma. Rubens in the leading roles. “The Winding Stair” is described as being One of the most colourful ever written. For the main, part- its scenes are laid in. Morocco. Ravenel, to save the' life of a dancing girl with whom he has fallen in love, deserts his command in the French army, thereby losing everything, including honour. The story has an extremely happy endingin which the girl is mainly responsible for the. restoration of her lover’s good name.

Warner Brothers liavei signed up Maurice Cost olio’s two daughters, Dolores and Helene. It- is a. curious coincidence that the" two girls were signed up just, three .days before Warners bought the Vitagrapli Company, with which their father 'Maurice' Costello', gained his popularity', so that the, girls more or less; make their screen debut under the same auspices as their father. Both are very pretty girls, but, distinguished one from the other by contrasting personalities and looks. Dolores'is a blue-eyed blonde of a somewhat sad, ethereal type; whilst Helene is much darker, more roguish and vivacious. Both girls have had about eight months’ stage, experience, and previous to that Dolores worked as a model for the American artist, James Montgomery Flagg.

Beaumont Smith’s seventeenth Australia, n production' “The, Adventures of Algy,” had its premiere screening in New Zealand at the Strand Theatre, Auckland recently. Record business has been the experience of Sydney, and as it features our own New. Zealand people, it should have a. big run through the Dominion. The leading lady. Miss* Bathie Stuart, is a Dune-rt inborn girl, who is now living in- Auckland. Mr. Claude Dampier, who plays Algy, has been so. many times through New Zealand he can. almost be considered, ,a resident. Other well known names will be found iii the cast, and the scenery and locations are. almost all New Zealand. The At a oris of Rotorua, are well to the fore in the film, and generally it reilects great credit on Beaumont. Smith, its producer. Very shortly motion .picture lovers in New Zealand will have an opportunity of seeing an entirely new type of picture —those produced at the. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios in Culver City, and released here, by Met.roGoidwyn Films. Mctro-Goldwyn pictures are recognised .in England, Europe, and America as being unique in stories, stars, ami directors, and their advent here should create a. great deal of interest. Metro-Golclwyn stars include John Gilbert, Ramon Navarro, Lillian Gish, Norma Shearer, Marion Davies, Buster Keaton, Jackie Ooogan, Aileen: Pringle, Alice. Terry, Lon Chancy, I3le.iu.ior Bonrd'mair, Antonio Moreno, Carmel Myers, Enid Bennett, and many others. Rex Ingrain, Marshall. Ne.ila.n, Fred Niblo, Erich Von Etroheim, Reginald, Barker, Henry King, Rupert Hughes, King Vidor, and Victor Seastroin are amongst the well-known directors who make Metro-Goldwyn pictures.

PEOPLE, PLAYS AND PICTURES