STAGE & SCREEN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 7 August 1926, Page 7

STAGE & SCREEN

H;litb O 'Sh a ugh n eswy ’ s novel of postwar Vienna, “the Viennese Metuey ■has been xiiaiiuvcnoed to the screen under the title of “The Greater Glory.’ Allan JDoone, and' Ins wile, Luna Kceley, for long popular in Irish drama in New Zealand, were recently appealing in a sketch an vaudeville in San Eianeisco.

Lillian Gish has had the most consistent series of (successes ot any actress' on the screen. “lhe Birth ot a Nation” marked her first great role; then followed “Broken Blossom,-/ “Hearts of the World,” “Way Down East,” “Orphans of the Storm,” and “The White Si.-ter.” Now comes “Romola,” her latest and biggest.

A real countessi plays the part of a reel countess in “A Woman of the World.” for Poke Negri, as the Conntoss lOlnora Natatorial, is a countess in her own right, having been the wife of Count Dombiski. a member of one of the oldest noble Polish families. Miss Gladys Verona left London on Juno 15 for Australia, where she intendw to tour. Later she-hopes to revisit New Zealand.

“The Phantom of the Opera,” Lon Chaney's much-heralded successor spectacle to “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and one of the most, daring departures in screen portrayals ever attempted, comes to the Opera House, Havvera, lor a season of four nights ami a matinee, commending Monday, August 9 It is a spectacular mystery story of' Paris, in which a complete operatic performance, staged in a huge replica of the Paris Opera House, largest in the world, is compared with weird and grotesque adventures in the great cellars and catacombs. Lou Chaney plays “The Phantom,” a strange creature of the shadows, in a makeup that eclipses his weird disguise as “Quasimodo” in the Hugo classic. Mary Philbin plays the opera singer whom lie kidnaps iuto his underground stronghold, and Norman Kerry plays her lover and rescuer. A remarkable cast is seen in the principal roles, and fully lour thousand people take part in the mob scenes, the brilliant spectacles on the grand staircase of the opera, and the gala performance of “Faust” staged in the opera house proper.

A thunderstorm of the utmost realism is the “big” scene in Pete Morrison’s latest picture “Blue Blazes,” a Universal Western attraction. No loss an expert than Bon Montez, Mary Bickford's cameraman, photographed this scene, which ensures a masterful and thrilling portrayal. Morrison, by the way, is supported by a- wonderful cast of players, including Barbara Starr, Jerome La Gasse, Les Bates, James Welch, Peggy Blackwood, and Joe Bennett.

The huge cattle ranches surrounding King Citv, California, centre of the cattle district of that State, provide the background for the exterior vseenes in Hoot Gibson’s latest attraction for Universal, namely, “Chip of the Hying U.” The whole company .spent two weeks on location in the cattle country.

“Skinner’s Dress Suit,” shortly to he released by Universal/ is probably the most entertaining picture that Reginald Denny has made. Laura La Plante is a great asset to the picture. A glimpse of the Jerusalem of King David’s Day is afforded in “So This i.s Marriage,” a Hobart Henley production for Metro-Goldwyn, showing shortly at the Opera House. "Whilst the story, which was written by Carey Wilson, concerns the experiences of a mocleni young couple, an interlude in natural colour photography is used to illustrate the Bible story ol how Bath-Sheba betrayed her husband through desire for David

Bettv Balfour’s film career reads like a fairy story. One film—the comic slaw ‘in “Nothing Else Matters”— ami‘then a jump straightway to stardom in “Wee MacGregor’s Sweetheart” and “Love, Life and Laughter.” Now, in “Reveille,” as Mick, the flapper, she has created a delightful character with plenty of light and shade and emotional and comic relief.

Harold Lloyd says there is even a moral in a comedy if one cares to think or look for such things. For instance, in his latest comedy, “College Days,” never for ail instant is the hero a buffoon. He is always a lovable, ga.v, high-spirited lad, who is up against a tough game and does not know what it is all about. But he is a sticker, and this quality carries him to victory.

Recent advifies intimate that D. W. Griffith’s next production for Paramount, following the completion of “The Sorrows of Satan,” would he the picturisation of the novel “An American' Tragedy” from the now famous novel by Theodore Dreiser. A recordbreaking sum was paid to tho author for the screen rights, together with a distinct undertaking that- the book would be filmed exactly as it was written. The rights were .secured only after much competition.

Opera goers and music lovers generally will find “The Phantom of the Opera,” coming on August 9 to the Opera House, Hawera, of unusual interest. inasmuch as the story is laid in and around the famous Paris Opera House, and includes iimoiiir its many big scenes a production of Gounod’s “Faust” in exactly the style this opera was ore sen ted in 18S<l.

Laugh and the world laughs with you, work and you work alone can he applied to Dongles Mac Lean in “Seven Keys to Baldpate.” You will laugh with the rest of the world at Douglas Mac Lean in this Paramount comedy, hut lie is the one who tries to work alone and ill peace and quietness at the Baldpate [nil. But contrary to our old saying at the top he does not work alone. He thinks he has the only key, but there arc six (others and all come to the inn on the night that Doug, picks to write a novel and then the fun begins. “Seven Keys to Baldpate” will lie screened in Hawera shortly.

Torn Mix. the film actor, was seriously injured during the filming of a train robbery. He was riding on the top of a car of a fast train, and as it was disappearing into a tunnel he leaped far uii iron bar. according to schedule, the train leaving him suspended. By some misunderstanding lie was left hanging until he was unable to hold on •inv longer, and dropped to the tracks. 30ft below.

Since the publication of Robert Kejiblo’- sensational novel “Simon Called Peter.” the reading public has Been demanding insistently the rest of the story, air. Iveable offers it in “Recompense.” to he shown in Ha worn shortly. One would go far to find a more notable story of"the crystallization of character. The lives of Peter and Julie develop into a climax that is as-

toni~liin<r —yet inevitable. In “RecompoiiKe’’ there is all the hold courage in telling oI life and love that made “Simon Called Peter” a storm centre. Here is the tale of what followed that tempestuous week-end in London. Few love stories are so alluring and unusual a.s this one '“The Beautiful Cheat,” a UniversaiJewel which is coming to Hawera shortly, presents Laura .La Plante in another story which includes happenings aboard ship. in her “Dangerous Innocence,” which William Beiter directed, the entire company took a trip to Honolulu and return and spent a week on the island shooting scenes for the picture. Practically the whole •of that story took place on board ship. In ••The Beautiful Client” Miss La Plante got another trip-—this time a four-day voyage to San Francisco and return during which the ship sequence was filmed.