IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18943, 14 February 1925, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

Pictures and the Voice, Perfect " timing " has boon aehiovod ill the phonofihn, the talking motion picture, which was recently sho\wi to the Royal Society of Arts in London !>y Mr. C. F. El well. The phonolihn is a distinct advance upon all previous etforls in making cinematography articulate, and though it is only in the experimental stage, and has at 'present definite limitations, the result shows that much of the mechanical side oi the problem has to li< -olved. ll is stated that British productions will he attempted next year with this new method. Mr. Klwell showed several talking reels. The first, a one man sketch, "Cohen on the Telephone," was not very successful, because of the resonance produced in the soundhorn. and the strong American decent. Then followed a series of voeal and instrumental items which were admirable, and a dance with orchestral effects that was the best of all. The demonstrator explained the method by which the voice was recorded. It was, he said, admited that the ordinary silent drama would not, in general, be improved by the addition of the voice. But it was reasonable to declare that it was up to scenario writers to see the new possibilities, arid to work up their situations and scenes around such acoustic effects as could be .successfully brought out. Notes and Comments. A message from Paris says that the wife of "Fatty" Arbuckle. the former well-known film actor, has obtained a di\ ore e. Pepper, the famous Sounett comedy cat, died recently in the Cat and fog Hospital, at Los Angeles. Pepper made her last screen appearance in "Flip Flops," a master comedy. Miss Mabel Xormand. who has contributed much to the gaiety of nations by means of the films, is once again delighting patrons in Australia in a cleverly conceived comedy-dn-ma entitled "The Extra Girl." Since 1910. when Johnny Hines first went into theatrical work, he has forged to the front as a motion picture comedian, through the intermediate steps of vaudeville and the "legitimate."' He became popular in the series of "Torchy" comedians. These were followed by a n/.mber of feature length comedies. The latest is "The Speed Spook." Xow that '"The first Year" is to be filmed by Prelerred Pictures, nominations are in order for the married couple who will take the leading parts in the picture A young couple is wanted who will be v.illing to re-enact the experiences of their first- year of married life. Wallace MaeDonald and Doris May have been suggested or May Allison and Robert Ellis. "Deburau." the Sacha Guitry play which has so long been discussed as one of the important screen productions of the season, is going to lose its maiden name when wedded to the celluloid. The producers have decided to drop the original title, which is the name of the historical clown about whom the play revolves and call it "Lover of Camillc." " Searamotiehe," a Metro Paramount release from the story by Rafael Sabatini, will be released in New Zealand shortly. This picture brings to the screen a star i in the person of Ramon Navarro. "Scaramotiehe was produced by the man who made "The Four Horsemen," and in this story of the chaotic days of the French Revolution, the hand of the master producer is again evident. Can a man and woman, both products 0 ? our modern hothouse civilisation, wrest a living from Nature, unaided bv any of the present-day conveniences ? That is the interesting question that "Emptv Hands," a new Paramount picture to be released here soon, raises and answers. It is a \ ictor Fleming production, based on Carev Wilson's adapta tiiin of Arthur Stringer's novel of the same name. In a debate at the First Night Playgoers' Club in London recently on the subject of "Is the Film the Lowest Form of Art ?" Mr. Arthur Rourehier said that he had played in films, but, hoped not to do so again, as on one occasion it had taken him three weeks to obtain a kiss, fie had travelled from Highgafe to Croydon, from Maidenhead to Scotland, in an attempt to find the sun. but finally the scene had to be taken in a studio under arc lights. "The Mountebank." by William J. Locke, comes to the, screen in the title of "The Side Show of Life." It deals with the adventures of a circus clown who becomes a general during the war, falls in love with a titled English lady, only to come To the bitter realisation, when the war is over, that "once, a clown, always a clown." In a series of heart-i tigging situations a powerful climax is reached, and from this point on the picture marches to a happy and triumphant finish. "Mine to Keep." is an intense drama which gains its title from the altitude of a nev.dy-marrie ! man toward his bride, whom he declare., is "Mine to Keep." His jealousy almost wjceks the happiness . of both, but in the end true love triumphs. ] 1 lie picture is one that appeals to both i men and women, for who among us has ; not felt the torture of "the green-eyed , monster : ' It is the good, wholesome, clean, but compelling sort of drama that i everybody likes. Bryant Washburn and i Mabel Forrest head a distinguished cast. < •fesse L. La-sky is so enthusiastic; about j the seventeen-year-old Hetty Bronson's ; work in "Peter Pan" that, lie predicts i that -he v. ill become a second' Mary j Pickfoi'd. His statement was made a ] tew days ago to newspaper and magazine | writers who had gathered to say farewell to the new star in Hollywood. "She has that divine spaik," lie said, "which , will endear her to the world, not only , in 'Peter Pan.' which, I believe, wijl t mark the. opening of a new and greater , era of motion picture production, hut also in many other picture;-, which are . to follow." i Through her business Mr. Frank '■> Fralick, Miss Viola Dana, ha, just re- < fused two most tempting offers to proofed to Europe, for the purpose of there mak- ! ing a scries of fcatnie pictures. Mix Dana stated thai, while she fully appre elates the honour of the offer, -he prefer, to spend v. hat Jcij.ure she has with her pels at home, rat her than close her beautiful Hollywood home for so lengthy a 1 period. There is a .shrewd .suspicion afoot, [ however, ibat the. long ocean trip was • another vital obstacle in the way. It is considered that Miss Dana very -wisely " chose to rest for the time being, for her ' present arrangements should keep her very ? active throughout 1925. ; The new First National Picture, "Sun- 1 down," is the story of a great trek of 0 cattlemen iivtm the grazing grounds of Western America to Mexico. Recently over 150,000 head of cattle were gathered on the northern rim of the Grand 1 I'anyon, and travelled through Califor nia, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and " Texas. A young film man, Earl .1. Hud- '' son. saw in this great- exodus the theme ,v ->f a great picture. Ten camera men ac- ' rompanied the cattlemen and secured ;orae of the most impressive episodes ever " shown in any picture. There is one •conn, especially, where, from the top of i crag, can lie seen the whole herd. K -tretched out to the far horizon, which 11 Is perhaps as notable as anything ever " achieved l>y the motion picture camera. C