IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19031, 30 May 1925, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

Filming tho Sea Floor. An expedition of scientists, under the leadership of a French archaeologist, hope t<f make a moving picture, of a .sunken Roman city in the .Mediterranean with a newly-invented undersea, camera. 1 hey also hope I" salvage treasures of great value. J a .some parts of the Mediterranean it is possible to distinguish objects 100 feet, below tile surface, 'this makes it ideal for the taking <>t submarine pictures. The operator, lowered over the ship s side in an ingeniously eonstiuctcd armoured cylinder, works a camera and a poweriul light projector. An artificial screen has been devised to make the objects stand out clearly in submarine photography, by filtering a chemical tluid into the water from above. It reflects the artificial light, which otherwise would be lost in the darkness of the water. Notes and Comments. ''The Ten Commandments" is now being shown in two theatres in Dunetlin to capacity houses. The bright and entertaining Hugh J. Ward musical comedy, "Little Jessie James. ' has been having a very successful run in Melbourne. " Merlon of tho Movies," the satirical comedy of Hollywood s movieland, has been released by Paramount. lho story tells of a hoy who aspires to become, a movie star, and finally goes to Hollywood. The situations and difficulties he meets with bring forth a good comedy drama, with a cast including Glenn Hunter, Viola Dana. Charles Ogle, Luke Cosgrove and Elliott, Roth. A bright story of a young English lord is told in "Forty Winks, ' a coining Paramount release. It s a Raymond Grifiin triumph, and " Cigar " Roberts is well in the cast, and the most comical situations are devised. This picture is an adaption from the play, " Lord Chumley,'' and is headed by a cast including Theodore Roberts, Raymond Grifiin and Viola Dana. Paramount,'s production activities include the following:—"Tho Dressmaker From Paris," with Leatriee Joy and 12 beautiful models; "Sackcloth and Scarlet," with Alice Terry; '"The Thundering Herd," from Zane Grey s story of the same name; "The Swan," with an all star cast; "Tho Top of the World," from the story of the same name by Ethel M. Dell; "'The, Devil's Cargo," and "The Code of the West." A group of fiUft', which is now in tho course of construction in the Paramount studios, will contain such pictures as " Madame Sans Gene," with Gloria Swanson, " Sackcloth and Scarlet," " Modern Babylon," " The Dressmaker from Paris," with Leatriee Joy, " The Goose Hangs High," with an all star cast made by the man who produced " The Covered Waggon," James Cruze, " l'orty Winks, which brings back to the screen Theodore Roberts after an absence of some months, " A Sainted Devil." with Rodolph Valentino, Zane Grey's " The Thundering Herd," and " The Light of Western Stars," " Contraband," of the novel of I the same name starring Lois Wilson. There will also be a number of Gloria ! Swar.son, Pola Negri, Richard Dix, and ! Thomas Meighan offerings. A new' step in the motion picture industry—the establishment to develop young men and women into trained actors —has 5 been announced by Jesse L. Lasky, first vice-president of the Famous Players Lasky Corporation. Incorporated under the laws of New York and approved by tho State Commissioner of Education, the school is to bo known as the Paramount Picture School, Inc., and it is to be situated at the Paramount Eastern studio in Astoria, Long Island. Under the plan disclosed every section of the United States will be combed thoroughly in the search for beauty, histrionic talent aild handsome masculinity. It is the belief of Mr. Lasky and his associates that one of the screen's most troublesome, problems, that of developing new faces to i play important roles, will bo solved by the school's formation. Not the least attractive feature of the school is the possibility of Paramount contracts for those students who display the greatest amount of talent. These contracts will be given for one year at a reasonable salary, but will carry an option on the players services for four additional years with an adequate increase provided for each year that the option is fulfilled. Only 20 students —lO young men and 10 young women—will be chosen for tho course (luring the first term, which will last six months. Tho following comment on tho backward condition of the British film industry, appears in a English paper : Both the French ancl tho Italians, also, have contributed some beautiful masterpieces to tho world's films; it is, therefore, all tho more to be lamented that Britain has so fallen behind. We have expressed our national individuality by means of all the other arts. No nation can rival us in drama. Why should every nation beat us in the film world ? This is not to plead for an exclusive exhibition of British films, even if such a thing were possible, for it is in tho best interests of art that we should witness the ideals and methods of other peoples. But anything would be better than the present American monopoly, by which a, standard of sloppy sentiment is imposed on vast audiences. If Germany challenges this monopoly, so much the better. .. . But is it not ignominious that we should be forced to choose between ar:y foreign countries as to which shall dictate what films are to be shown in British cinemas ? There is much outcry against monopolies that are glaring evils. The American film monopoly is no less an evil because it-is less apparent than some. But how insidious it is may bo judged from the fact that a cowboy film-star has just been welcomed by three English mayors on his arrival in this land and has also given an audience to tho Lord Mayor of London.