IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19660, 11 June 1927, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

John Barrymore, whose latest picture, " The Beloved Rogue," is to be released • here shortly, has finally decided to make ( the " Cellini" picture, originally intended , for Valentino. A film-version of the record-breaking musical play, " Rose Marie," is shortly to be attempted by Metro-Golchvyn-Mayer. William Nigh, who has just completed Lon Chanev s latest success, " Mr. Wu," > has been given charge of the direction. but no cast has yet been selected. ! An episode of the war hitherto unused 1 on the screen—the Russian drive through , tho Carpathian Mountains into Hungary —forms the background for Miss Poli ' Negri's picture " Hotel Imperial," to be ! seen in Auckland shortly. It is based ■ 011 the play by Lajos Biron, a Hungarian war correspondent. Hoot Gibson has become famous to numberless patrons of motion pictures as the wearer of the picturesque costume of the Western States of America. He 1 undergoes a startling change in costume in " The Denver Dude," to be released locally shortly. In this, Gibson is seen in a white collar, a checkered vest and. last of all, kilts. Six British pictures are shortly to be released by Paramount. They will be introduced by " The Flag Lieutenant," in which Henry Edwards has the leading role. The film has been made with the hearty co-operation of the British Admiralty. The picture is also of interest as the leading actress, Miss Dorothy Seacombe, is -an Australian. A picturisation of one of the most popular novels by James Oliver Curwood .. wiJl be seen here shortly. It is "Prisoners of the Storm," a film version of " The Quest of Joan." House Peters has the leading role and the supporting cast includes Miss Peggy Montgomery, Harry Todd and Walter McGrail. The picture was directed by Lynn Reynolds. A new Douglas Fairbanks picture is becoming almost as rare as a fresh Charlie Chaplin production. Mr. Fairbanks, very wisely, is not allowing his productions to become too common, but ho has now decided on his next picture and work on it will commence shortly. It is to be called " The Gaucho," and will show the famous "stunt" artist in one-of those romantic southern pictures in which he excels. The film version of Somerset Maugham's story, " The Magician," is to be released tffere' shortly, with Miss Alice Terry in the principal role. It is the story of a girl caught between the forces of a magician whom she is unable to resist and her love for a young surgeon who saves her from being a helpless cripple. The entire production was made in Europe in the very places described in Mr. Maugham's book. The Latin quarter of Paris, thetGrand Boulevards, the cathedral of Notre Dame, Monte Carlo, and the interior of the gambling rooms of the Casino are said to form the subjects for beautiful photography which is a feature of "The Magician." Not toy trains but real locomotive engines were recently the objects of a shopping expedition by Buster Keaton. He needed these engines for his first United Artists picture, " The General," a comedy with a Civil War background. He had three engines remodelled into replicas of the old engines that ran in the 'sixties, and also acquired many old freight cars and passenger coaches for conversion into trains of the Civil War period. " The General" was planned as a comedy only, but it is said to be tho most costly and ambitious comedy ever produced. " It is technically accurate from a historical standpoint, and was filmed on a scale attempted in very few 4 rama;t i c productions. A novel request to the British Government has been made by Mr. Morris Gest, the American producer. Addressing the Home Secretary as " Your Excellency," he has asked him to appoint an English actor to appear in a film version of " The Darling of the Gods." Mr. Gest is trying to persuade Hindenburg, Mussolini, Trotsky and the heads of other European States to select actors to represent their, respective nations in this international screen version of Sir Herbert Tree's stage production. The author, the veteran American playwright, Mr. David Belasco, is Mr. Gest's father-in-law. Production of the picture is to commence in Hollywood on July 15 and the cast has to be made up a month before. Sir William Joynson-Hicks has. been given very little time to choose ms " artistic ambassador." Continental film productions are being given very favourable receptions in England at present. A recent French picture, " The Chess Player," is highly praised by Mr. Svdnev W. Carroll in the Daily Telegraph. "We are so often inflicted with stories ludicrously told," he says, "that such a tale, unfolded by a producer of taste, judgment and infallible flair for the picturesque is a burst of sunlight in the filmic gloom." " The Chess Player, is a picture with atmosphere, vitality, and colour. Its technical efficiency is remarkable, yet never obtrusive. The bizarre story of a mechanical chess-player, an automaton which, travelling across Russia, in reality conceals the living body of a I Polish refugee Count, is founded upon historical fact. Splendidly acted, the narrative convinces from start to finish. A particularly difficult and strikingly dramatic scene, in which the villain meets his death at the hands of a regiment of automatic soldiers, is especially thrilling, and provides a surprisingly fitting and artistic conclusion.