IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18629, 9 February 1924, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

Improving the Pictures. A new spirit of caution is fast spreading through the ranks of the great international army engaged in the making and exploitation of ' moving pictures, . and it seems likely to transform'it entirely as well as beneficially, says a London reviewer, How urgent is the need to turn over,. a new leaf may be "inferred from an illuminating confession just made publicly by the head of one of the largest* producing concerns in America. "We considered the moving picture business a, game, a gamble, a good way to make money. We felt it was a makeshift, a good one while if lasted; but we did not expect it to last very long. It looked like a ease of 'Gather ye roses while ye may.' So we-gathered, and, in gathering, we, now and again, nearly ruined the bush. We never thought much' about fertilising it. We were sure its future was past. Then, in spite of our 'carelessness, the thing grew and flourished, and gave off more beautiful flowers than ever." What served to remove the scales from a number of eyes was not so much a newly acquired intuition as the approach of the gaunt spectre of disaster. Film producers, as a body, have, suddenly come face to face with the conviction that, to continue on the old lines, spells speedy ruin. The money for superfluities is fast disappearing. Owners of theatres have to make their arrangements accordingly. They are asking the producers, somewhat inconsistently, in the same breath for better and cheaper films. To this the producer replies that he considers his films distinctly better than they were ever before, and, as to price, he "must at least recoup what they cost him to produce. "Impossible," retorts, the exhibitor. "You want more money than my theatre holds." Htence the impasse. Notes and Comments. "The Truth about Wives" is the somewhat ambitious title of Betty Blythe. s latest picture. She is said to tell the truth of one woman's experience in a daring and forceful manner. An exhibition of films, including a drama and two comedies, in Duke-street Prison, Glasgow, was attended by .about 180 men and'women prisoner?. Music was provided by friends of the governor. A mania for sneed is the chief characteristic, of the hero: in "Watch your Step." This is onlv cured by a strange series of accidents arising from a grand smash-up with his racing car. Cullen Landis plays the part of the swift hero. He is supported by Patsy Ruth Miller.

Clemence Dane's startling slay A Bill of Divorcement" has been filmed by the Ideal Film Company, and features Fay Compton and Constance Binney. Never before, it is claimed,, has the question of divorce been treated with such honesty and enlightenment.

Trains have dashed across the screen at* varying speeds before the advent of "Westbound Limited," a master picture, but invariably they have swerved accommodatingly to right or left. Not so m "Westbound Limited" where the madly dashing express comes straight at you and continues right over yon. Emry Johnson, and his camero man literally "dug-in" between ties of th» railroad track to record this unusual photographic freak.

Distinctive Pictures Corporation is marshalling a great cast for its forthcoming production, "Blood, and Gold, which is now under way at its studios in New York under the direction of Al Parker. Alma Rubens and Conrad Nagel will take the leading parts in this film. Recent ' additions to the cast include George MacQuarrie, Mme. LaVoilet, Fred Burton and Bela Lugosi. If will be distributed by Goldwyn Cosmopolitan.

An interseting feature in "Main Street," the Warner Brothers* screen classic adapted from Sinclair Lewis widely read novel, is the spectacular carnival, which follows a snow storm in a little American town. In this scene, a number of professional ski-jumpers and slaters give exhibitions. Some extremely beautiful effects are said to be introduced, the cast includes Monte Blue, th» Danton of "Orphans of the Storm/' and Florence Vidor, who did such excellent work in Hail the Woman." .

"David Copperfield," a screen version of Charles Dickens' novel, released by :Associat<;d Exhibitors, was not only praised by the critics of the Philadelphia newspapers when it opened at the Aldine Theatre, bat was also endorsed by the board of directors of €he Civic Club, Philadelphia's leading women club. One reviewer said "No stars appear to distract one's attention from the unfolding of this lovelv tale. There is no jarring note and one sifs as if in a dream.. The picture is a work of art in every respect." Another written said : 'The flavour and atmosphere and sentiment of Dickens have been captured by the clever director." i

What is regarded as an achievement in the motion picture industry is the Paramount creation-of the photoplay "The Covered Waggon," which will in due course be seen in Auckland. At present it is drawing crowded houses at two theatres in Christchurch. .The story is an absorbing mixture-of history and romance. It follows the fortunes of the first great expedition of pioneers, who, with their families, set out in 1848 from Westport in covered waggons to reach Oregon. Hardships and disaster dog the expedition, and many turn back. Floods, blizzards, a prairie fire, and an Indian attack are among the dangers faced. One thousand Indians, 600 oxen, and a herd of wild buffalo are included in the ' cast. The buffalo hunt is a' remarkable sight.

That South African picture productions are to be taken seriously, is said to be evident after witnessing a private screening of " The Blue Lagoon " at the TivoK, Sydney. The picture is taken from the story of that name by H. de Vere. Stacpoole, and deals with the life of two children who, with an aged sailor, 'have been cast upon an uninhabited island, there to work out their own destinies. The moral behind the story introduces me evolution of nature's laws, is most delicately handled, and well preserved. Some of it, whilst a little daring, will be favoured by lovers of the ideal in true life. The subject is most deftly handled, being surrounded by a very coherent story and ending up to the satisfaction of ail parties concerned. The principal characters have been well chosen, thus adding to the value of the picture.

The French Government has granted permission to Norma Talmadge to take scenes in the Chateau of Versailles for a film with the title, " The Affair of the Queen's Necklace." When this cinematographic project was first made known there were protests from the French cinema industry, and threats to boycott the production, on the ground that any film based on French historv should be a purely French work, so - that a proper presentation could be assured. Another argument used was that with so many people in the French cinema industry unemployed it was undesirable that the Chateau "of Versailles should be used for a foreign production. When it was made known that the profits of the film would be shared equally with the French Government, the money to be used in restoring the chateau, that at least 5,000,000 francs would be spent in making it. and that with the exception of Norma Talmadge, who is to play the part of Marie Antoinette, and one or two principals, the entire cast would bt- French, opposition- ceased. Some notable personalities used their influence with the Government, which at last decided to grant the permission demanded.