STAGE AND SCREEN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 3 December 1927, Page 16

STAGE AND SCREEN

Chester Conklin will be one of the featured comedians in A 1 Christie's production, “Tillie’s Punctured Romance,” wiucli is to be produced as a Paramount-Christie special.

-Richard Talmadge has, according to hardened critics, scored a distinct ••come back” in "The Patent .leather Kid,’ which will be shown in New Zealand next year.

Rex, the famous equine film star, will shortly appear in a Universal production entitled “Wild Beauty,' winch lias been picturised from tne well-known story ny Sylvia Seidt The human side of the cast includes June Marlowe, Hugh Allen, and others.

Ethlyne Clair, who made an enviable reputation as Mrs. -Newlywed in the "-\ewlytyeds’’ comedies, lias succesksfully convinced her fan friends of her versatility bv appearing as the feminine lead in "Three -Miles up," a Universal picture. Playing opposite A 1 \\ ilson, famous aviator star, is a decided change for the pretty leading lady.

The .Met ro-G oldwy n-M ary e r produotion of “The Merry Widow” has been produced with a notable cast, including Mae Murray in the title role, the versatile John, Gilbert as the dashing prince, and supported by Roy D’Arcy, George Fawcett and Tully Marshall.

Writing of George Gee in a recent London production “The Girl Friend,” an English critic says:—For an hour and more in the second scene our contentment was immense. This was due entirely to two artists, Emma Haig and George Gee gifted creatures or unimaginable drollery. To describe in their fullnes the antic dispositions of this pair would be impossible; let me just say that Mr Gee looked and acted lii-.e an animated caricature by Caran d’Aelie, while Miss Haig presented in her small person all that the puppetworld holds of the wild, illimitable grotesque.

"The Secret Studio,” Victor Schertzinger’s production for I’ox Films is said to be a perfect blend of drama, comedy and pathos. Olive Borden is the star anti the theme is said to have universal appeal. It has action every moment —one scene paving the way for the next scene without intriguing interest and powerful attraction. The production is based on a newspaper serial by Hazel Livingston.

Carl Laeinmle, Jr. is the author of the spirited comedy dramas oj student life titled "The Collegians. ” The latest picture in the series will commence at the Opera House next week. Each story in the group is complete in itself, hut the same leading characters appear in all pictures. George Lewis plays the principal role with Dorothy Gulliver in the female lead and Hayden Stevenson in a featured part. Carl Laemmle, Jr., is the son of the president- of Universal Pictures. "The Collegians” is his first screen enterprise.

The tragedy and the imperative necessity for wider and more frank knowledge on the vital questions of life form the theme of "Married Love,” the British film, whose production was supervised .by Dr. Marie Stopes, which opens a season at the Opera House shortiv. The film is a pictorial expression of Dr. Marie Stopes’s views on vital matters cleverly wrought into an interesting and convincing story. The picture certainly is an unusual one, and its appeal is universal, being away from the ordinary run of film stories.

in “Babe Conies Home,” a breezy comedy drama of love and baseball, which will be screened in Hawera next Saturday, there are two very amusing love affairs that vie with each other in comedy moments. The principal one is between the star. Bebe.Buth, and Anna Q. Nilsson, who, with Louise Fazenda, is featured in the picture; the second affair is between Ethel Shannon and Lou Archer. The romance between the famous player and the blonde film star is said, to be one of the most novel love affairs, ever devised by the resourceful scenarists. Baseball and romance, laundry atmosphere and carnival thrills contribute varietv and colour to the picture.

Alonta Bell, the noted director of “The Snob,” “Lady of the Night.” “Pretty Ladies.” and “Ibanez Torrent,” has made another excellent picture in “The Boy Friend.” which will be screened here shortly. It makes a definite appeal through his delicacy of handling and the whimsicality of its theme. The story concerns a young village belle whose social aspirations bring her numerous heart-breaks. Only through her “boy friend’s” efforts does she finally realise that she will be happier as the most popular girl in her own town than as a nonentity in higher circles. “The Boy Friend” is based on a noted stage success, “The Book of Charm.” and as a picture is breezy and sparkling.

A notable engagement of a versatile Chinese artist, Clum Yuen Tai, _ has been made by the management of' the Opera House. Chun Specialises in cartoon sketching, with quaint humour and original Chinese conjuring which will baffle and mystify the most alert. This Oriental artist, who has received a cordial reception wherever he has appeared, will appear in conjunction with a full picture programme on. Frida v aml Saturday, December 16 and 17.

After a most' successful season at Auckland, “The Cradle Snatchers,” played by the specially organised Anglo-American Company sent over by J. C. Williamson Ltd., transferred to Wellington, and in the capital city this hilarious farce-comedv was received with much laughter and considerable enthusiasm. There is no question that Misses Olive Sloane (who plays the part of Susan Martin. the principal snatcher). Jessamine Newcombe (Mrs. Kitty Ladd), and Bertha Belmore (Mrs. Ethel Drake) are finished artists. In less capable hands the comedy would not be the hilarious farce it undoubtedly is —and as it was intended to he. As the' three callow college youths. Messrs. Maury Tuckerman (Oscar Nordholm, “the. big Swede”), Fred Conyngliam (Heirrv TYinton. the unsophisticated), and John HalJoran (Jose Wallerio. who makes love with th» srreed of an express train) gave excellent performances, while the three husbands. as pourtrayed bv Messrs. Hebert Belmore (who is also responsible for the production of tb® play), Arthur Cornell, and Sidney Stirling, are rackettv but likeable individuals.

“The Chocolate Soldier.” which, is to conclude the New Zealad season of the company, is a universal favourite with all theatre-goers. Afore than ordinary interest will be attached to its production in New Zealand by the ladies and gentlemen who have already be ome such favourites, for the reason that the artists of the Gilbert and Sullivan production have not before been heard in musical comedy. The popular and haunting melodies which are ch aracteristic of this delightful production will have some of the best voices ever heard in New Zealand to send them, lilting and appealing, across the footlights.

That New Zealand theatre-goens are delighted at the announcement made that the enchanting and brilliantly successful musical comedy “Rose Marie” is coming to the Dominion, and will provide the Christmas attraction at Auckland during carnival week, is*proved by the many congratulatory letters received at the head office. As far as the Dominion tour is concerned, Mr. Royle is still engaged on details, hut the assurance is given that the itinerary will be one of the most comprehensive yet scheduled.

Additional interest is given to the visit to New Zealand of the organised J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Comic Opera Company by the fact that in the Dominion yeans ago an enthusiastic lover of the works of the two great composers predicted that “Ruddigore,” which is the principal Production of the present tour, would create a furore when it was played in New Zealand by a professional company. That was nearly 40 years ago. and to-day a company of J. C. Williamson’s selected comic singers are giving practical demonstrations of the truth of the prognostication. There is- something in the music that makes a particular appeal, and the libretto is well up to the Gil—bertian standard. This beautiful, witty, spectacular and impressive opera is followed' by the evei-welcome “Gondoliers.” “Mikado,” “Pirates of Penzance.” “Tolantbo,” “Yeomen of the G--ard.” “Prinresip Ida,” and' other Gilbert and Sullivan operatic gems. Tb® company is now at Auckland, with a North Island provincial tour to follow, including Hawera on December 19.