IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19215, 2 January 1926, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

A Yeear of Good Films. Many notablo pictures were shown in New Zealand in the year just closed. Probably tho most striking was "The Ten Commandments," which had an unprecedented season in Auckland and achieved the record long run for a moving picture in tho Dominion.

No new Chaplin picture was exhibited, but in the coming year "The Gold Rush" will probably be seen. It has proved a phenomenal success in both tho United States and Great Britain.

Harold Lloyd, who ranks nest to Chaplin as a popular favourite, has been represented by two pictures—"Girl Shy," and "Why Worry. ' All New Zealand flocked to seo tho films, the universal verdict being that 110 was at his best in both. "Hot Water," another Harold Lloyd picturo, will bo shown early in tho new year.

Then thero is tho world's sweetheart, Mary Pick ford, whose picture "Little Annie Roouey," is now earning universal praise. Rudolph Valentino has been seen in "Monsieur Beaucaire," an excellent film; and Gloria Swanson in "Madame Sans Gene."

Both "The Sea Hawk" and "Captain Blood" were huge successes, and thero has novor been a better interpretation of a difficult part than that of Lon Chaney in "The Hunchback of Notro Daino." Sid Chaplin in "Charley's Aunt" has filled every theatre where the film was shown. Douglas Fairbanks and Norma Talmadge have fresh triumphs to their credit in "Don Q., Son of Zorro," and "Tho Ladv," respectively; while Conan Doyle's '"file Lost World," struck a new note in picturo production. Mention must also bo made of "Lighthouso by tho Sea," and "Find Your Man," both Rin-Tin-Tin pictures. These are but a few examples of the year's notablo productions. Notes aad Comments. Noah Beery, featured Paramount player in Joseph Conrad's story, " Lord Jim," now has a miniature zoo, having recently received threo buffaloes from a Wyoming admirer. Tho Paramount picturo which ho will both direct and act in will ba tho first picture to present Eric Von StroTieim on the screen sinco his memorable appearance in " Foolish Wives." After finishing her featured role opposite Adolpho Menjou in " The King on Main Street," Bessie Love decided to follow the trend of fashion by taking a vacation of three weeks in Europe.

Marceline Day, playing opposite Hoot Gibson in his latest success, Taming the West," is a newcomer to the screen, having been drafted into the service of Universal pictures several months ago. She started with extra parts, and soon was given a lead opposito William Desmond in " Red Clay." She performed so superbly that she was given a five years' contract.

The casualties to date on " The Black Pirate" are the heaviest ever recorded in a Fairbanks production. Fairbanks suffered a broken rib; Ted Reed, production manager, broke a shinbone; Roy Coulson, pirate, had a sfword run nearly through the Achilles tendon of his right leg; and Donald Crisp a dislocation. " It's no gentle business, this thing of playing pirate," said Fairbanks.

A new Nazimova flames before the cameras in Edwin Carewe's production of "My Son," a First National picture. The Russian actress transcends any of her previous efforts and gives a performance that for sheer artistry and perfection of technique stands alone in the kinema field. With keen touches Carewe paints the picture of the Portuguese fisherwoman who loves three men with the simplicity comparable to a real artist's painting and portrait. The principal players in M The Wanderer," Paramount's great picture for 1926, will include Ernest Torrence as Tola, the Evil One; Greta Nissen as a siren of ancient Babylon; William Collier, jun., as the First Black Sheep; Wallace Beery as a swaggering trader of the times; Tyrone Power as Jesse, the Patriarch; and many others. Lavishness is the keynote of the whole production. The first section of the "Ten Commandments" is recalled when one witnesses the magnificent depiction of the times of ancient Babylon. " The Wanderer" had its world premier at the Criterion Theatre, New York City, last August, to a crowd that not only packed the theatre, but blocked traffic for an hour on the sidewalks surrounding the theatre. It is announced that this great picturo will be released by Paramount late this year, but there are no definite plans made for it yet outside America.

Because Tom Mix wore chamois gloves all through the film " Dick Turpin" and other previous pictures, the horseback hero has been bombarded with questions regarding this phase of his haberdashery. Ho explains: "I'm not only an actor, but also a hole digger, a horseshoer, a fence builder, an ironworker, and a scene shifter. Somehow, I never feel quite sure of myself unless I do tho detail workaround the set myself. As a result, look here." And he removed tho chamois gloves and exhibited as rough and calloused and marked and scarred a set of 10 fingers as has ever been seen. "Now," he went on, " wouldn't it be grand if in my next close-up I should drape thoso two paws over the shoulder of' the heroine! Oh, I know you'll say it would bo realism and would suggest tho manliness of the bruto, but there's nothing in that view. People don't want to see unsightly hands in the films. I use from a dozen >to a scor of pairs of these in each pictura Thus I avoid alienating the goodwill of many patrons. At tho same time I don't, find it necessary to do my 'intimately emotional' scenes"—and hero he couldr/t keep down a smile—" with my hands in my hip pockets."