IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 9 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

Thomas Burke, author of " Limehouse Nights," " Twinkletoes " and other stories which have proved screen successes, announces that he has been commissioned to write the story of Miss Mary Pickford's next film, A new mystery picture has been com menced by Lon Chaney. It is '* The Hypnotist, " and in it he plays the pari of a Scotland 1 ard detective, using hypnotism to unravel a strange mystery in an old English home. Miss Marceline Day, Miss Polly Moran, Miss Edna Tichenor, Conrad Nagel, Henry B. Walthall and Jules Cowles are in the supporting cast. A dashing comedy drama of Spanish America provides Miss Bebe Daniels with the next role in which she will be seen in Auckland. The picture is called " Senorita," and in it Miss Daniels masquerades as a man. A veteran character of the screen, Josef Swickard, plays the part of Don Francisco Herandez, grandfather of the vivacious heroine. The famous Scotch comedian, Sir Harry Lauder, has started work on his first motion picture, " Huntingtower." This production, which is being made in Scotland by the producing company of WelshPearson, will bo released as a" Paramount picture. Sir Harry is said to have plenty of opportunities to display the peculiar talents which have made him famous all over the world. The cinema industry now ranks as the seventh of the greatest industries in England. This information is contained in the Somerset House report on company registrations for the six months ending June 30. During the period under review, film companies with a gross capital of £3,624,170 were registered. The Gaumont British was the «hird largest of the " millionaire " companies listed. Yet another star has arisen in the film firmament. This is Glenn Tryon, who, for some time, has been performing well in minor roles in Universal productions. He was given a featured part opposite Miss Patsy Ruth Miller in a new picture, " Painting the Town;" and as a result directors were asking where he had been hiding for the past few years. He has now signed a five years' contract to be starred in Universal productions. There is a wealth of comedy and also a wealth of action in Miss tiara Bow's latest picture, " Rough House Rosie," which is to be released here shortly. One of the features is a realistic ten-round fight between Reed Howes, the leading man, and Charles Sullivan, a professional boxer. Incidentally, Howes is known as the most photographed man in the world, having gained this distinction by posing fcr portraits for collar advertisements. " The Flag Lieutenant" is said to be one of the greatest pictures ever produced in Britain, " a practical demonstration," as one critic put it, " that the film industry is not wholly an American hands." It has drawn crowded houses wherever it has been shown, and is one of the few pictures to be seen by Royalty. Their Majesties the King and Queen saw it at an evening screening in a London picture theatre, and the Prince of Wales has been to see tiie picture more than once. It will shortly be released in Auckland by Paramount. Anna May Wong has been engaged by Samuel Goldwyn for "The Devil Dancer, the first picture to be made for him by Miss Gilda Gray, the dancer. Miss Gray's story of the Tibet monastries and their hidden mysteries will be Miss Wong's last appearance on the screen for some time, as she is going on the stage. Sojin, the famous Oriental character player, Michael Vavitch, James Leong, Anne Schaeffer, Martha Matt-ox, Albert Conti and Barbara Tennant have also been engaged. Give Brook will play the leading role opposite Miss Gray. " The Devil Dancer" will be released by United Artists. Many months of preparation were devoted to the production of " Mons" before ever a foot of film was turned, and Captain Walter Summers, the director, was fortunate in securing not only the assistance of the War Office, but also the co-operation of several of the officers and men who lived through the famous retreat. Every man in the picture is at present serving or has served in the army. The majority of the scenes were filmed on the actual sites where they occurred, and, although this picture deals with one of the most tragic but heroic events in the Great War, it has its lighter side. It is being released throughout the Dominion by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and will be in Auckland shortly. To secure correctness of detail in Victor McLaglen's performance in the arena in the Fox version of " Carmen," Rafael Valverde, a Mexican toreador, was brought to Hollywood to teach McLaglen the gentle" art of bull, fighting. Several weeks before the film began the star started his course of instruction in the technique of wielding the matador's sword. When " Carmen " was j called by Ron! Walsh for the first scene, ■ McLagien disnlayed wonderful profici- I ency. Miss Dolores Del Rio plays the fiery Carmen. Don Alvarado, Miss Nancy Nash, Miss Mathilde Comont and Jack Bastian have prominent roles. Walsh discovered that Valverde also possessed dramatic qualities and placed him in the cast.