IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18771, 26 July 1924, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

Ole??ynmn»is Ohvach '3&lstory Film. •'The Rev. E. T. Newcombe, of St. Michael's Church, Hull, is about to produce a film dealing with church history. Miss Sheila Kaye Smith, the well-known novelist, has written the story. Between two and three hundred people will take part,'the leading roles being filled by local talent. Mr. Newcombe produced last year a film which is now running in America. He is; also a keen wireless operator, having a : fully-equipped station for transmissions as well as reception. Notes and Comments. Last year America exported to i other countries 148,434,916 ft. of films, or nearly 30,000 miles.' "The. public has come to resent the big set unless it is part of the story of the motion picture," says Jesse.L. Lasky. "To get the punch into the story instead of into the set will be the fixed objective for the future," declared the executive in outlining the programme of the Famous Playors-Lasky Corporation for the coming season. Lois Wilson has returned to Hollywood, after six mouths' stay in the East, to play the leading .feminine role with William Farnum in " The Man Who Fights Alone," which Wallace Worsley is directing for Paramount.'While in the East, Miss Wilson worked in three pictures produced at the Famous Flayers-Llisky Long Island studio. " My ambition is to act in a role similar to my father." This was the declaration of Douglas Fairbanks, junior, son of the famous film actor, Svhen he landed at Liverpool from America recently: "I have come over," he said, " to travel and study. _ Already I have completed my first big picture, a romance of schoolboy days called " Stephen Steps out." I have desperate encounters with outlaws and numerous other ruffians, but I come out trumps; in the end." When a stage play, was produced from Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle's novel, "The Tragedy of the Korosko," it was called "Fires of Fate," which the Gaumont Company Ltd. elected to keep as the title of the film which they produced in Egypt. The picture was first announced in America under the same title, but subsequently was rechristened " The Eternal Kiddle - ." However, the Truart Filim Corporation have finally decided to release in the States, as " The Desert Sheik." It is said to be the most genuine" sheik picture ever made. Charles Jones was surprised one day during the filming of his new picture, the working title of which is " Double Dealing ". at the William Fox Studios when a visitor, seemingly a stranger, presented him with two "stills" taken of the western star while he was a sergeant in the cavalry stationed at Fort Meade, South Dakota. The pictures were of " Buck " then a soldier in a dramatic scene with a group of Indians. It was the big star's first picture. With several other soldiers he had been borrowed by a "wild cat" film producing company for the parts. Although film features, screening Jack Pickfcrd, have been cc. .picuous by their absence during the year, the young star has by no means been idle. He' has just completed " The Hill Billy," a melodrama of Kentucky mountain folk, but, unlike so many stories of these rugged people, it presents several new angles of interest. The story, which is by Marion Jackson and John.Fox junr., was one of the literary: winners of last year, and when suggested for presentation on the film, Mr. Fox agreed on condition that a suitable character be secured for Jed McCoy. >" George Arliss, one of the most distinguished actors of the generation, has a powerful role? in the Distinctive Pictures . feature, :" The Green Goddess," which is due, for presentation in Auckland shortly. Few actors on the eiage have portrayed as many varied roles as George Arliss. It is only necessary to cast one's eye over the diversified nationalities which Mr. Arliss has played to realise the great art and ability possessed by the actor. Th-jse nationalities are the Japanese Zukurri in " The . Darling of. the Gods," the Danish Ulrich Brendel in "Rosmersholm," the. English Jew in "Disraeli," the American in " Hamilton," the Italian in " Paganihi," the Russian in " Poldekin," the Frenchman in "Leah Kleschna," the Scot in "A Professor's Love Story," and now the Indian Rajah in "The Green Goddess." In endeavouring to popularise the musical portion of the programme at the Princess Theatre, th«j management is making a strong efforti to attain for its orchestra a similar status to that eiijoyed -by the orchestras in the leading picture theatres of the world. ■ Thus Mr. George Poore, .well known in musical circles in Auckland, is given control of a capable orchestra of eleven plaiyers, and he u c es his extensive musical knowledge to good advantage. His orchestra has acquired the distinction of teing the only crelusVa at.an Auckland picture theatre of which the leader conducts with the baton—a course which has been adopted with the intention of producing the maximum results from the very excellent material at his disposal. This forward move on the part of the, Princess management adds undoubtedly to the pleasure of its programme, and will be welcomed by that very large circle of picturegoefs who appreciate the value of good music as accessory to the art of the screen.