STAGE & SCREEN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 August 1926, Page 7

STAGE & SCREEN

The British Film Service Company had 20 big features brought to New Zealand this week by the Niagara

The J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company will arrive in New Zealand on August 24. The tour of the Dominion will open at Auckland

“The Last of Mrs. Cheney,” Frederick Lonsdale’s successful comedy, which has not yet-been seen in New Zeaand, is being played by L 3 different companies. It is being played all over the world, including Germany, Scandinavia. Holland, South Africa, America and England. lienee Kelly will play the name part when the play eventua-ilv comes to New Zealand.

Universal has chosen “The Sensation Seekers” as the releasing title for “Egypt and the Lord.” the Elnest Pascal story which it purchased recently. I.ois Weber is to direct this production, and she will have as her feminine lead Billie Dove. It is anticipated that this combination of diicctor and star will have as great a

success with “The Sensation Seekers” as they had with “The Marriage. ( lause,” one of the Greater Movie lust Minis.

A western picture minus horses is something new. This is the case, however, in Peter B. Kyne’s latest story, “The Enchanted Hill,” but the thrills of rescue and wild riding come with motor-cars, aeroplanes and trains. •

Eve Gray made her first appearance in London recently as the leading lady in “Nome But the Brave.” at the. Garrick Theatre. The Press paid her high tributes, and prophesied a long run for the play. Huntley Wright, xhe leading man, played with Miss Gray in ••.Madame Pompadour.” Eve Gray’s first claim to fame was as the winner of an Australian beauty competition. Later she went on the stage and is gradually climbing the tree of success. Among the big .British films to he reI leased in New Zealand very shortly are I "Tons of Money.” An English exchange says of Les’lie Henson, who lias the leading role: “In all kinds of subtle little ways this great comedian gets the effects across which astonish f even those who have entertained great, I hopes oPjjhis future in films.” Flora j Le Breton is cast in -support of Heni son. “A Couple of Down and Outs,” j with Lillian Hall Davis, is another com inu attraction

The Red Indians’ imported by Paramount in conjunction with “The Vanishing Race” has created great interest in Sydney. In all probability these Indians will lie brought to New Zealand, and there is also every probability that Mr. Zane Grey, the author of the story, will make a personal appearance when this great picture has its premiere in this country.

Ena Gregory, a blonde Australian, who appears to be making great headway in motion pictures, is said to have been very successful in the ,Master picture production, “Manon Lescault,” in which she appeared the innkeeper’s daughter. .John Barrymore is the star of the production

Laughter, not slaughter, i.s the ruling theme of “Behind the Front,” Paramount’s comedy of the Great War, with that famous starring team. Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton. It features the humour, adventures and disillusionment of a couple of dumb doughboys, played by this inimitable character team. Their roles are taken from life, for every battalion had two such characters, who served to furnish laughs for their buddies, and plenty of mix-ups and trouble for their superiors. It will serve to recall to every digger that in the face of grim war, men could laugh and joke, and that at times when life was at precarious stake, humour had its way. Through the whole story runs a fine thread) of romance, with lovely Mary Brian playing the roSe 6 f a Red Cross worker in France. The supporting cast includes Chester Conklin. Richard Arlen, Louise Lorraine, and Gertrude Astor.

Alter lying idle in Berry’s Bay for the last ftve years, the hulk of the old five-masted schooner Inca, has been sold to Australian Films. Ltd.. by Messrs. Airland and Co., and is to be taken out to set, set on fire, and blown up during the filming of an Australianmade picture, “For the Term of His Natural Life.” Masts are to he erected and about sixty ieet of the alt part of the vessel will lie refitted to represent one of the terrible convict vessels of a hundred years ago. The vessel will then be fully rigged as a sailing ship, and taken well out to sea, where she will he set on fire and destroyed hv explosives. Some of the scenes will be “shot” while the Inca is ini Berry’s Bay, but in order- that an unbroken skyline may be shown, most of them will he taken outside Sydney Heaths. A special feature of the film will he the natural colour effects.

i.ou Tellegen will, soon lie directing pictures for Fox Films. The former Romeo of the stage and screen, who. of later years lias filled villain parts, has been given “His Wife’s .Honour,” a comedy-drama of Monte Carlo, to direct for Fox Films 1926-27 release His rich theatrical and screen knowledge will he given full play in pictures that are confidently expected by Fox officials to ho masterpieces of their kind. Teh lege n has just finished the “heavy” role in “The Pelican,” with Alma Reubens in the leading part.

Thd noted English actresses have passed away within a few days. The first. Dolores Drummond (Mrs. W. A'. Spngue), was married in Melbourne, and made her first appearance on the stage there in 1856 as the slave in “Timour the Tartar.” Two years later she played Desdemona to the Othello of G. V. Brooke. Returning to England in 1874, she filled important i-oles in a great variety of productions in London and the provinces for many years, making her last appearance on the stage in 1912, at a charity matinee at Brighton Miss Drummond visited the United States in 1896 as leading lady in Sir John Hare’s company. Tho other actress whose death is announced. Miss Phyllis Broughton, was for many years a prominent figure at the London Gaiety in a. round of characters previously filled by Miss Kate Vaughan. She was the Lord Clanside of the long run of “In Town” in the “nineties” at the Prince of IVales Theatre and afterwards at the Gaiety. Miss Broughton, who had -a long list of successful roles to her credit in comedy and burlesque, had appeared hut seldom of late years