IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19720, 20 August 1927, Page 9 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

_ Til p. latest Tlarold Lloyd comedy, "The Kid Brother," will be released in Auckland next month. It is said to give the bespectacled comedian an excellent part and to abound in humorous situations.

Ju order to furnish a comparison between the Emil Jannitigs of "The Last Laugh" and the Emil Jannings of " The Way of All Flesh," his first American picture, a New York theatre recently revived the earlier film. In conjnction with " The Last Laugh," " Driven," a drama of the natives of the Carolina mountains, was presented with Charles Emmett Mack and Miss Emily Eitzroy.

Reginald Denny's next picture, "The Cheerful Fraud," is said to bo one of the finest this popular comedian has ever made. Denny, of course, is a host in himself, but he has excellent support in his latest offering. Otis Harlan is a well-known comedian, and Denny receives his support. In addition there is Charles Gerrard, one of the finest character actors on the screen at the present time.

"Tho Telephone Girl," Paramount's screen version of the William C. De Millo stage'success, will reach Auckland soon. It is the story of a man struggling for political honours, and the final attainment of his ambition through the help of a young telephone girl. It is said to be a picture worked out with all that artistry and dramatic intensity of which, Herbert Brenon, tho director, is capablo. Miss Madge Bellamy has the leading role and is supported by Holhrook Blinn, Warner Baxter, Lawrence Gray and Miss May Allison.

The most sensational of screen entertainments at tho moment are certainly the sound-films. Colonel Lindbergh's arrival in Washington, with brass bands and speeches by the airman and the President of the United States, is recorded both for eyes and ears, and received a wonderful reception in London. Tho sound-film of the Walker-Milligan fight was shown there recently. If seeing is believing, then seeing and hearing big events in the cinema is practically the same as being there. Perhaps in time they will give us colour and smells as well.

Towered castles rising hundreds of feet in the air—quaint, old inns of the seventeenth century with their picturesque flagons, their mounted boars and other trophies of the chase —beautiful estates of mediaeval noblemen, with stately gardens, pools and fountains. These are a few of the settings of " Bardelys, the Magnificent," starring John Gilbert and Miss Eleanor Boardman, which is to be released here shortly. John Gilbert makes a dashing " Bardelys," and looks entirely different to the mud-bespattered, khakiclad soldier of " The Big Parade." George K. Arthur and Roy D'Arcy are included in the cast.

Master Pictures will release shortly four Betty Compsori pictures, " The Ladybird," " Say It with Diamonds," " Love in a Cottage," and " Temptations of a Shop Girl.". They will also release three allBritish produttions. The' first, "Blighty," starring Miss Ellaline Terris and Miss Lillian Hall Davis, is due for early release. Miss Betty Balfour will be seen in " Cinders" which shows' England's " Queen of Happiness" at her best and brightest. " The Queen Was in the Parlour" is another British triumph. It. was produced on the Continent by the famous British director, Graham Cutts, for an English firm. It is adapted from Noel Coward's stage success.

"Mother Machree," a Fox picture, has gained considerable praise in London. "It may be a melodrama replete with mother-love and Irish sentiment," says one critic, "but is a well-made, wellacted and very human picture, full, of mingled humour and pathos. This was to be expected, since it was directed by John Ford, who gave us "Three Bad Men." The Irish mother is Belle Bennett, good as she has never been since "Steila Dallas," and more attractive than ever in a dark wig. Perhaps in her old ago she grows just a shade too trembly, but this is compensated by the presence of Victor McLeglan as the strong man of a travelling circus in Ireland who follows the mother-heroine to America and transforms himself into a stalwart New York policeman."

The year of 1927 is slipping quickly away, and already the leading Hollywood studios have commenced on their production schedules for tho 1927-28 season. It will be some time before we see anything of these pictures, but in the meantime there are those just recently completed to see and enjoy. The inimitable Lon Chaney has completed " Mr. Wu" to be quickly followed by " The Unknown." John Gilbert has completed " Twelve Miles Out" in which Miss Joan Crawford and Miss Betty Compson also appear. Miss Marion Davies will desert tho flowing skirts and glorious gowns of former roles to appear in the role of a modern flapper in " Tillie, the 1 oiler. Matt Moore, George Fawcett and Miss Gertrude Short assist "this fine actress. Karl Dane, of the " Big Parade," will cn-star with George K. Arthur in " Rookies," a comedy of a military training camp. Ramon Novarro will play opposite Miss Alice Terry in " Lovers," and Miss Pauline Starke will be seen in " Women Love Diamonds."