IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19418, 28 August 1926, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

What Screen Stars Are Paid. When the man who receives the, basic wage runs across a newspaper paragraph telling of the fabulous sums collected yearly by this or that star, he no doubt views the matter with incredulity—at the same time expressing the belief that it is, in many instances, better to be born lucky than rich. There is, no doubt, need for a very excesive tax in the case of those who receive a sum far in excess of the dreams of avarice, as it were; and, perhaps, there is a little consolation in the knowledge that the government of the land sees the fortunate ones do not have things all their own way. According to an American periodical, here are the ten motion picture artists who earned the most money last year: — Harold Lloyd, £400,0C0; Charles Chaplin, £300,000; 'Douglas Fairbanks, £240,000 Gloria Swanson, £200,000; Mary Pickford, £200,000; Norma Talmadge, £200,000; Tom Mix, £170,000; Thomas Meighan, £100,000; Lillian Gish,. £100,000; and John Barrymore, £BO,OOO. Many of those players are not in receipt of salaries; they market their own pictures. Notes and Comments. The Warners have purchased " The Wife Who Wasn't Wanted," by Gertie Went,worth James, for Irene Rich's next Master picture. "Compromise" has been completed. Irene Rich, Louise Fazenda, Clive Brook, Pauline Garon, Winter Hall and Raymond McKee comprise the list of leading actors. May McAvoy has been engaged by Warner Brothers to play one of the leading roles in " Lady Windermere's Fan " the pieturisatiori of Oscar Wilde's famous drama. Irene Rich and Clive Brook have already been selected for prominent parts in this Master picture. Wesley Barry, the 18-year-old film actor, who has graduated from child's parts to youth's, has married in New York, Julia "iVood, aged 2i. It is stated that the groom's salary equal to that of the president of the First National Bank of NewYork. The evolution of the Peter B. Kyne story, " The Enchanted Hill," compelled Jack Holt to make several trips through tho air in a speedy aeroplane, and do some of the most daring riding of his career on tho back of his famous saddlehorse, " Red Cbief." Pauline Frederick, stage and screen star, is the central figure in "Her Honor the Governor," now being made in Hollywood. The theme of the woman in politics appears to be an hitherto untouched source of motion picture material. This story will, it is said, give the star every opportunity for displaying her emotional ability, as "well as bringing something different to the screen. An unusual invention was made by the technical department, of the Universal studios for the filming of the shipboard scenes on land for "The Beautiful Cheat," a Universal-Jewel, starring Laura La Plante, It is an immense platform cn a rotating socket which can be tipped and rolled in any direction simulating the pitch of a vessel at sea. It is_ large enough for life-size ships to be built on. Mary Pickford, the Peter Pan of the silver screen, will shortly be seen again in her latest offering entitled "Sparrows." This is a story of a baby farm, wherein 12 little children are "mothered" by Mary, who plays the part of the eldest of the unhappy little band with all her accustomed skill. The pathos and comedy, according to English reviewers, are very skilfully blended throughout the entire eight reels. Germany has given marching orders to the films of Eric von Stroheim, the Austrian ex-officer, and Hollywood producer of vicious screen satires of Continental army types and social customs. All von Stroheim's' films are studies in human degradation, but "Greed," which degrades humanity to levels lower than the beasts, was too much even for Germany. The critics hissed it at the private view, and the first-night audience at its public presentation boohed it off the screen. The popular belief that an elephant's skin is so thick that it must receive a terrific blow to feel anything is entirely disproved by an experience in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during the filming of Marshall Neilan's new picture " Tho Great Love," with Viola Dana, Robert Agnow, Zasn Pitts, and Chester Conklin. A six-ton elephant which contributes a great deal of the delightful comedy in the film, was noticed walking about on three legs, holding up the fourth to attract the trainer's attention. A magnifying glass disclosed that a tiny piece of chewing gum was adhering to the back of the elephant's foot. When this was removed the animal was quite happy. What is the best food on which to keep healthy and slim ? Doctors cannot agree; beauty specialists have each a favourite diet; physical culturists prescribe a vigorous course of early morning contortions —and in the meantime perplexed Miss 1926 watches her growing plumpness in wonderment. Here's the secret—eat carrots. Eat them for every meal and in between times —and you'll have no difficulty in keeping that schoolgirl figure. This is the diet recommended by Eleanor Boardman and Sally O'Neil, beautiful stars appearing shortly in " The Auction Block " directed by Hobart Henley from Rex Beach's famous novel of the same name. Charles Ray is also in the cast.