IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20028, 18 August 1928, Page 9 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

There is now no local office of First National Pictures. The activities of the firm will in futuro be directed from Wellington. Mr. Errol Fuller, who was First National's Auckland manager, will, however, bo still idehtified with picture industry in Auckland. Reginald Denny's latest picture " The Night Bird," by Frederick and Fanny Hatton, has been completed and is now in the cutting roof at Universal City. Its cast includes Miss Betsy Lee, Sam Hardy, Michael Yisaroff, ITarvey Clark, Miss Corliss Palmer, Alphonse Martcl, Miss Jocelyn Lee and George Bookasta. George Bernard Shaw, who has consistenty refused to go to America, was seen and heard in New York for the first time at the Globe Theatre, recently. Shaw did not appear in the flesh, but the result of his speech recorded by FoxMovietone at his country home in England was, perhaps, almost as good. The United Artists director, Edwin Carewe, intends to do a little globetrotting for the production of his next few films. With a company headed l>y Miss Dolores del Rio lie will leave Hollywood shortly for England to produce »> picture in London and will follow this with films made in China and India. Miss Greta Garbo will play tlie starring rolo in " The Woman of Affairs," a screen adaptation of Michael Aden's story. This will be the first of Aden's works to be screened. Miss Garbo is at present completing " War in the Dark" at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayor studios under the direction of Fred Nibio, with Conrad Nagel in tho leading male role, and Miss Betty Blythe in the cast. John Gilbert and Miss Greta Garbo, upon the completition of their present pictures, will again be seen together. Clarence Brown will direct them in "The Carnival of Life," from Frances Marion's adaptation of the Oskar Hocker novel, a drama with St. Mortiz as the background. < :lbert is now completing his part in I 'our Walls," being directed by William >»'igh from the famous stage play. After prolonged negotiations, First National has acquired the screen rights for " Toilers of the Sea," the Victor Hugo novel which offers spectacular and dramatic possibilities to exceed " The Hunchback of Notre Dame." Robert Kane will produce this special on an elaborate scale, taking advantage of tho opportunities the story offers for,immense effects. Plans for the cast and director will be announced shortly.

Mr. Barrie Y. Marschel, who was mainly responsible for building up the New Zealand activities of Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, has resigned from the position of manager of that company to accept the post of general manager for New Zealand of British Dominions Films, Limited. This company releases the films of practically all the leading English companies and in Mr. Marschel it has a man who will do a very good best to re-establish British films in the Dominion.

John Barrvmore's forthcoming production for United Artists lias been definitely titled " Conquest." Like " Tempest," which will shortly be released here, "Conquest" provides the star with a modern role. It is an original story, arid not the film version of the similarly titled play. "\Tiss Camilla Horn will again have • the leading feminine role. This will be her third picture, the other two being " Faust," in which she was a most appealing Marguerite, and " Tempest." Miss Vilma Banky's first starring picture following " Two Lovers," her last picture with Ronald Colman, will be entitled " The Awakening," instead of "The Innocent," as previously announced. In addition to Miss Bank.v, who is starred, the cast of " The Awakening" will include Walter Byron, a young English screen player who makes his first American appearance in the picture as Miss Banky's leading man, Louis Wolheim, and George Davis, the English comedian. • It mav be temperament, or it may bo only ambition, but from . Hollywood, the place of startling announcements, comes one that John Gilbert has expressed the wish to be the director in a story written by himself in which he himself will be the star. It is a commendable wish, and if Mx*. Gilbert were to play a dual role in the picture he would establish something of a record. However, results may be more than a little satisfactory, and if his wish is granted he will have the expert advice of Erich Von Stroheim who has promised to play the l'ole of a chauffeur in the film, which is to be titled " Downstairs." Mr. Norman Walker, who produced a fine British film, " Tommy Atkins," is now with his company in Devonshire to film the exterior scenes of " Widdicombe Fair," adapted from the Eden Philpott s stories by Eliot Stannard. 'I his will be a thoroughly English picture, full of the traditional glories and the modern life and customs of Devonshire; a great feature will be the reproduction of the actual fair. The role of the heroine is to be played by Miss .Gillian Dean, tAi seventeen-year-old Oxford gii'J, who is one of the British film discoveries of the last few years. William Freshman will play the part of the hero, and that fine character actor, Moore Marriott, the part of TJncle Torn Cobleigh. r lhe picture is being made for British International Films.