IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19508, 11 December 1926, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

The Film in a Bad Light. The storm of dissent that greeted the first screening in England of " The Big Parade," has prompted a good deal of discussion as to the role of the cinema in international relations. Hitherto it has always been imagined that the photoplay above everything else joined the nations together in bonds of love and understanding. As it was said, " languages vary, differ, but the picture of a mother is the same in all of them."

Now a doubt has crept in. "The truth," says one American writer, " is that the photoplay may develop into one of the greatest instruments yet devised for fomenting race hatred and a most fertile soil for future wars." He quotes the denudation in London of " The Big Parade," as " an outrageous display of the arrogance of America," and combats this criticism by declaring that it is downright absurd to say that the picture makes the slightest claim whatsoever that America "won the war" or that it is in any degree a display of national boastfulness. In fact, he says, any such charges, are so simple to refute that practically no one now writing in the United States has been able to resist the temptation to expose their crazy sophistry and point out the superior: tolerance of America in such matters.

It is not only in England- either, that the attitude of condemnation is to be noted. Within the last two months two of tho finest pictures ever made in America were hooted by Berlin audiences until the photoplays had to be withdrawn. They were Chaplin's " A Woman of Paris," and Erich von Stroheim's " Greed."

The American writer referred to takes these instances to mean, not that.the pictures were bad, but that they aroused the jealousy of foreign audiences. " The voiced objection," he says, "is merely a rationalisation of a jealousy of American films. ' The American films supply a focal point for all dislike of America and Americans, rather than a bond of attachment, as the photoplay orators would lead you to believe. When you consider also the vast market for films that is at present dominated by the American companies, it is not difficult to understand the feelings held by other nations when their product holds so inferior a position economically. Perhaps it _is not even being too wildly pessimistic in one's predictions to imagine future wars being fought over the matter of photoplay markets." Notes and Comments. - The story of " The Blind Goddess" is the thrilling of the New York law courts and the blundering efforts of the criminal law to achieve what is called justice. It is said to be the most startling revelation of the unreliability of circumstantial evidence ever • portrayed.

Rex Ingram, director of " The Four Horsemen," " Mare Nostrum," " Scaramouche." " The Prisoner of Zenrla," and many other remarkable pictures, has again gone abroad for Metro-GoMwyn-Mayer, for, a film .version of Robert Hichen"s novel "The Garden of Allah."

Since the same colour registers differently in sunlight and artificial light, it was necessary to have two complete sets of costumes for " The Black Pirate," ono for,, interiors and one for exteriors, as this latest production of Douglas Fairbanks is done entirely in colQur. " The Black Pirate" is a big Christmas attraction at both Wellington and Auckland.

"Harlan and C 0.," David Graham Phillips' famous novel, has been adapted to the screen under the title of "Souls for Sablps " aind will be shown in Auckland shortly. " Souls for Sables" is a strongly'dramatic story of a young wife who" almost "wrecked her life before realising that a woman's . natural love for luxury can be carried to extremes. As the butterfly wife, Claire Windsor is an ideal choice, and the male lead is in the hands of Eugene O'Brien.

Christmas will soon be here and with it is the announcement of Paramount's " A Kiss for Cinderella," which will be released as a special attraction during the festive season.- Betty Bronson totally eclipses her previous effort in " Peter Pan," also a yuletide release last year, and Herbert Brenon lias never produced a picture that will find such ■instantaneous popularity as this one. It is to be recalled that the same people, 'Herbert Brenon, the director, Betty Bronson, the star, and James M. Barrie, the author, participants in the making of " A Kiss for Cinderella," were also together responsible for " Peter Pan."

Official announcement has been made of the definite visit of Paramount's American Red Indians to New Zealand next January, in connection with the exploitation. off Zane Grey's story, "The Vanishing-'Race," a Paramount picture. An invitation of Maori chiefs at Rotorua to Chief Se-ump-te-wa (Blooming Flower) of the Red Indians 'now in Australia has been accepted, and all ten Indians, including little . 11-year old Nasjah, the Indian boy movie star, will arrive in this country about January , 20. The Red Indians will spend some time at Rotorua meeting the Maoris and .taking part in native celebrations there in February, It is expected they, will ask the Maori chiefs to smoke the pipe of peace with them as a sign of good will between them. The Indians will arrive in-New Zealand in full tribal regalia including tall feathered-headdresses, gaudy blanketc, war paint and moccasins. The names of the Indians, who are in charge of the Rev. Hugh D. Smith, an Indian' missionary, are: Chief Se-ump-te-wa; Num-ke-na (Warm Welcome); Tel-we-pe (Swift as Lightning); Sikia O-ma-voma (Red Fox); Tech-a-we-na (Able to Scare); his wife, Ka-shon-ka (Pretty Parrot); their children, Ho-mi-asi (Sand Foot) and Du-wa-ku-ku (Sant Paint); Leonard Man Hammer and his brother, Nasjah. All took part in "The Vanishing Race." *