IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19061, 4 July 1925, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

What a Cart-wheel Did. Just over 100 years ago Dr. Peter Mark Roget, who was born in London in 1779, read a paper before the Royal Society which was destined to lead to the invention of the cinematograph. One day, in the summer of 1824, 'Dr. Roget was looking out of his window at a baker's cart delivering bread at houses opposite. Passing his eye up and down the slots of a Venetian blind, he received the impression of a stationary wheel, which he saw was revolving when he kept his eyes still. He discovered the cause and effect, and ultimately gave his findings in his paper to the Royal Society. The publication of the doctor's paper started a new train of thought among the leading scientists of the day. That his writings on the subject were widely read is proved by the acKnowledgtiietits of Dr. Faraday, Dr. Plateau, of Ghent, and Dr. Stampfner, of Vienna. They agree that but for his clearly-given data and lucid explanation of the phenomena the invention of the phenakistoscope by Dr. Plateau and of a similar instrument, the stroboscope, by Dr. Stampfner, would not have occurred. Notes and Comments. Richard Dix is becoming more and more popular with each succeeding role. Since his wonderful part in " The Ten Commandments," he has played in " Sinners in Heaven," " Manhattan," and now his latest role will be in " A Man Must Live." This is an adaption from " Jungle Law," from the story by I. A. R. Wylie.

An important purchase was completed recently when Zano Grey handed the famous Lasky Corporation a signed contract for the film rights to fivo of his most successful books. They are: "The CP Trail," "The Man of the Forest," Desert Gold, I'he Desert- of Wheat," and " The Mvsterions Rider."

Four outstanding character actors of the screen have been selected to support Gloria. Swanson in the Paramount picture, " The. Coast- of Follv." Alec B. Francis will have the role of Count, fie Taure; Eugenie Besserer will play Nanny, motherly nurse of the child horn to millions; Dorothy Cumming will play Constance Fay, and .Ted Prouty will enact a comedy role. Anthony Jowitt, a handsome young English actor, will be "Miss Swanson's newest leading man.

"Miss Bluebeard" will be Bebe Daniel's next offering for Paramount. This picture is anadaption of the stage play, "Little Miss Bluebeard," which stood them up on Broadway for more than a year. Robert Friizer «»nrl Raymond Griffin, and others prominent on both stage and screen play in support of the star. The story is one of a French actress who goes to London and finds herself accidentally and unintentionally married to two men.

The Paramount picture, "The Devil's Cargo," a Victor Fleming production adapted from Charles E. Whitaker's story, "The River Boat." and featuring Pauline Starke, Wallace Beerv, William Collier, jun., and Claire Adams in the principal roles, is due for release at an early date. The story is a colourfu'. tale of the early days of the California!) gold rash, dealing with the activities of the vigilantes, a group of law-abiding citizens, who band together and bring about the wholesale deportation of the town's "tougher element."

Fercnc Molnar's highly successful stage play. "The Swan," described by critics as' "the perfect comedy of the year," has become an even more successful Paramount picture. Written and directed by Dimitri Buchowetzki. who produced "Men" and "Lily of the Dust" with Pol a Negri, it is a gorgeously magnificent production featuring Adolph Menjou, Rieardo Cortcz and Francis Howard—a satirical high comedy with a delicate romance as its foundation —the story of a girl who throws over royalty for the man of her heart.

Ferenc Molnar's highly successful stage play, " The Swan," described by the critics as ; the perfect cornedV of the year,' has been released by Paramount. Written and directed by Dimitri Buchowetski, who produced " Men," " Lily of the Dust," with Pola Negri, is said to be a gorgeous, magnificent production, featuring Adolph Menjou, Francis Howard and Ricardo Cortez—a satirical comedy with a delicate romance of a girl-snob who wants to be regular and doesn't know how, and who eventually throws over royalty for the man she loves.

Frank R. Adams, one of America's best-known magazine writers, will be responsible for Douglas Mac Lean's story material when the comedy star hegins production work 011 features for Paramount. He has for years been a regular contributor of light fiction to the Cosmopolitan Magazine. Collier's Photoplay, and other periodicals. He has also written several novels and plays, including " The Time, the Place, and "the Girl." A number of Mr. Adam's stories have been filmed with excellent results. He recently wrote " Stage Struck." in which Gloria Swan son will "star."

The largest niotinn picture set ever constructed anrl the greatest number of persons ever used for one scene hi An Ameri-can-made motion picture are two of the outstanding features of "The Wanderer, a Biblical "spectacle which Raoul Walsh directed for Paramount. The scene, which is that of an unnamed Biblical ci17/, was built, in the foothills of Santa Monica, California, and covers many hundred acres of "round. .More than 200 carpenters and scores of technical assistants worked more than three weeks constructing the hundred massive buildings and walls for the set. For the scene depicting the destruction of the city by earthquake and firo thousands of actors were used, as well as hundreds of lions, tigers, elephants and camels. More than two years was spent preparing for the production, and four months were required for the actual filming. Many thousands of costumes were prepared, occupying the time of 100 seamstresses for almost a month. Two crows of men, labouring day and night, worked for weeks constructing the huge interior sets within the studio. A score of jewellery craftsmen were engaged to construct 3000 rings, bracelets and arm bands, as were used in the days before the Christian era.