IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18891, 13 December 1924, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

Lavish Expendituie on Films.

That fortunes are. frequently spent in the production of one super film is well known. Film producers .rill spend literally thousands of pounds upon a scene that will flash through in s couple of minutes. As an example of this, says an English paper, it is only necessary to mention " The Midnight Alarm," for which an enfire five-storeyed building was bought up and burned to the ground for the purposes of a fire thrill which lasted on the screen a matter of minutes only.

The castles in "Robin Hood," the Monte Carlo scenes in " Foolish Wives," and the Notre Dame Cathedral in " The Hunchback." were all full-size and solid reproductions of the actual buildings. Tho town which was flooded out in " On tho Banks of the Wabash," was a real town, built specially by J. Stuart Blackton, the producer, in Manhassett Bay. No less real and expensive were the crowds and buildings seen in the other photoplays mentioned.

Not&i; and Comments. Mr. A. W. Andrews, proprietor and manager of the Gaiety Theatre, Otahuhu, will control the destinies of the Rialtn, a new picture theatre now being erected on Broadway. Newmarket. This theatre, when completed, it is claimed, will be one of tl e mast up-to-date places of amusement in the Dominion.

After an absence from the film world of two years, Rodolph Valentino will appear * shortly in Booth Tarkington's "Monsieur Beaueaire," which Sidnny Olcott recently produced for Paramount. The romantic background of this stoty is the gorgeous court of Louis XV., famous for the standards of etiquette and fashion that, it set, but infamous for its vico and love affairs. Something unusual in the way of costumes and settings may he expected in view of the fact that his. torical accuracy is a feature of this colourful photoplay.

Tn connection with the forthcoming reproduction of the celebrated siege, of the, Orakaii Pa in motion pictures by Maori War Films, Ltd., of Auckland, the original mats worn by the redoubtable chieftain Rewi Manipoto and now in the possession of his lineal descendants will be worn by the Maori chieftain enacting Rewi's role. A number of old uniforms worn during the war by members of the Colonial Defence Force and other combatants have been offered to the company for use in the production, by descendants of the original wearers who have also forwarded in much valuable data in. connection with personal experiences.

Director Emmett, Flynn is very enthusiastic over what he claims to be the most elaborate picture interior set ever constructed at Hollywood. For one of the most important scenes in the screen version of Gilbert Frankau's novel. "Gerald Cranston's Lady," the interior of St. Margaret's Cathedral near Westminster Abbey, London, was duplicated in the William Fox Studios. This set is the exact reproduction of the original in every way. The wedding scene in " Gerald Cranston's Lady" was filmed on this set. James Kirkwood was the bridegroom and Alma Rubens was tho bride. The other principals in the cast are Walter McGrail, J. Farrcll Mae.Donald. Lucien Litflafield, Spottiswood Aitken, Templar Saxe, Richard Headrick, Marguerite De La Motte, Eric Mayne and Lydia Knott.

Mr. Beaumont Smith arrived at Wellington from Sydney this week on a search for suitable* types for his moving picture productions. Mr. Smith's visit is mainly to secure people of outstanding merit, either to appear in his productions in New Zealand or Australia. He lias brought with him his chief assistant director, together with camera-men and electricians. He proposes to give all ambitious people an opportunity to appear before the camera, and for this purpose the stages of various picture theatres will be fitted up as moving picture studios, fully equipped with special lighting plant and other accessories necessary for real picture production. " There are," said Mr. Smith, " dozens of Mary Pickfords. Gloria Svvansons, Norma Taimadges. Reginald Dennys, Rudolph Valentinos, Tom Mis.es, and probably Hairold Lloyds and Charlie Chaplins, not forgetting scores of Jackie Coogans and Baby Peggys, who are waiting to be discovered."

Who Mill impersonate Major Von Tempsky ': This is one of the problems confronting Mr. Rudall Hayward, Maori War Films, Ltd's producer who is making preparations fur the filming of "Rewi's Last Stand." Yon Tempsky was the beau-ideal of every adventurous " young blood" in Auckland some sixtv vear's :igo° He was a veritable "Buffalo Bill" oi New Zealand, whoso extensive experience in guerilla warfare in other lands cause-J the New Zealand Government of that d.>v to commission him to form a corps of "'. ishforagers" or "forest rangers" as thej .-ere called, to go out ahead of the r< ;ular troops and tackle the Maori in the heart of the bush where hitherto he had been considered more than a match for the white man. .An old Auckland authority thus describes Yon Tempsky:—"Of wiry form he was, rather above 'middle bight, keen eyes, high cheek bones and sharp features, a forage cap with oak-leaf band sat jauntily on the side of his head over a mass of dark curling hair hanging almost to his shoulders. He wore a blue jumper thrown open at the neck and about his waist a red silk sash, with bowic knife, revolver, and sword belt. He could throw a bowic knife with remarkable dexterity and was one of the finest swordsmen to ever put. a foot in New Zealand." Yon Tempsky has born " re-discovered" for picture purposes by Mr. Hayward who considers he will become one of the screen's most popular outdoor characters.