IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19221, 9 January 1926, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

A British Film Find. Miss Nina Vanna, surely tho most piquant beauty of tho screen, a Watteau shepherdess if ever there was one in real life, acts notably well in " In tho Night Watch," a new French film, shown in London recently. This is a translation of "La Veille d'Armes," staged in England some years ago, with Miss Madge Titheradge in the part filled by Miss Vanna. " Miss Vanna," says a London newspaper reviewer, " can simulate terror better than anyone 1 have seen 011 the screen, though I have not forgotten Miss Lillian Gish in ' Broken Blossoms' and Miss Mae Marsli in ' Birth of a Nation.' When Miss Vanna wishes to simulate fright she has merely to think of her experiences during the Bolshevik upheaval in Petrograd, where the convent in which she was being educated was invaded by ruffians of the worst type. Her father was killed, but the family escaped to Tiflis by travelling in cattletrucks. Nina became a waitress, and later an interpreter at British G.H.Q. in Batoum, where she met the young London hank clerk and ex-officer who is now her husband. " She is the most wonderful thing that has happened in film production for a long time," says the critic, " though British producers are slow to realise the fact." Notes and Comments. William S. Hart's " Tumbleweeds," his first release for United Artists, is being hailed as an epic film, the biggest and finest Hart has ever made. Allan Dwan having completed " Stage Struck," starring Gloria Swanson, will next start 011 " Sea Horses," a dynamic drama of the relentless sea which will star Jack Holt, Florence Vidor, George Bancroft and Lawrence Gray. Tho " Leviathan." giant trans-Atlantic liner, provides many of tho backgrounds for Thomas Meighan's newest Paramount picture, "Irish Luck," the scenes being " shot" while the actor was crossing to Ireland to make the bulk of the picture. Several hundred expert swimmers were necessary for one of the most important scenes in Bebe Daniels' recently completed picture, " Volcano," the scenes depicting tho refugees fleeing from the earth-quake-ridden city of Martinique during tho awful disaster which took 28,000 lives. Chester Conklin, the comedian who has become famous overnight by stepping from •the two-reelers to the part of a featured role in Pola Negri's forthcoming Paramount picture, " A Woman of the World," was a vaudeville actor and a circus clown before joining the movies. , Veritably a page torn from the book of life is " The Storming of Zcebrugge." This colossal motion picture production, made under the direct supervision of the British Admiralty and with the entire navy and personnel at its command, is due for its initial New Zealand premiere before long. It is understood that Charles Chaplin intends paying a visit to England early this year. There have been many rumours during the last eighteen months of the film star paying a return visit to his native land, but in tho film world they have been nothing more than rumours. It is understood that Chaplin's visit is not entirely for pleasure, and that .he will make one or more films during his stay.

For a long time Lionel Barrymoro has been alternating between stage and screen. Now comes his decision to concentrate upon screen work entirely. Barrymoro recently returned to Hollywood after a long absence, during which he made two pictures in Germany and returned tp .the New York stage in three vehicles. Tho famous star's most important role is that in Frank Lloyd's "The Splendid Road,' which will bo released by First National this year.

( " Paths to Paradise," with Betty Compson and Raymond Griffith, is one of Paramount's new 1926 productions to be shown here at an early, date. Betty Compson and Raymond Griffith comprise the excellent combination of stars in the picture, which is a comedy drama of the very livest order. Raymond Griffith hns come to the very fore as a screen comedian, and those who remember Miss Bluebeard" and " Forty Winks do not have to be reminded of the merits of Griffith as a comedian.

Tho news that Paramount will release Harold Lloyd's picture, " College Days,' throughout Australia and New Zealand should be an item of particular interest. This is the picture made and ret?ased in America under tho title of ' The Freshman." and it has already succeeded in setting up new figures of mirth flood-level for Harold Lloyd pictures. _ College Days," in size, in theme, and in regular mirth, starts where the other Lloyd comedies leave off, and the success which attended its presentation in America has already commenced a most extensive duplication in England.

A visitor to Auckland by the Maunganui on Monday was Mr. E. F. de Tourret, managing director of several New South Wales theatres. He is touring the Dominion with tho object of inspecting local picture theatres and examining local theatre methods and organisation. Mr., do Tourret stated that the New Zealand film exhibitor was held in great respect, in Australia, particularly as it was known that, on a population basis, the Dominion had 50 per cent more cinema theatres than any other country in the world. Tho country town in New Zealand was extraordinarily well served in this respect, comparing more than favourably with New South Wales. Mr. de Tourret is much impressed with Auckland's new Majestic Theatre, which, he says, stands comparison with Sydney's Prince Edward.