IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 10 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

First National announces that the cast of " Careers," starring Miss Billie Dove, will inclutlo Antonio Moreno, Tlielma Todd and Noah Berry. Moreno was responsible for good work opposite Miss Dove in " Adoration."

" Black Eagles" in the title of a new Paramount picture listed for production in the near future. The principal members of the cast are Miss Esther Ralston, Gary Cooper and Wallace Beery. Lothar Monties will direct.

Charlie Chaplin, after many delays, has started on " City Lights." Previously ho had done soino work alone, and now he is surrounded by Miss Virginia Cherrill, his leading lady, Henry Clive, Henry Bergman and Harry Crocker.

Barry Norton, a well-known featured player, has a leading role in the Emil .Tannings' starring picture for Paramount, titled " Sins of the Fathers." Other wellknown players in the cast arc Jack Ludcn, Miss Jean Arthur and Miss Ruth Chatterton.

Moran and Mack, the " Two Black Crows," are now at the Paramount studios in Hollywood preparing for their first talking picture, which will be put into production in the near future. The story of the picture is being written by Octavus Roy Cohen, the famous author of "darkie" stories.

" The Wedding March," the Von Stroheim picture for Paramount which has been two years in production, will be released in New Zealand shortly. One of the principal parts in the picture is played by Miss Zasu Pitts, a well-known character actress. Miss Pitts has been on the screen for many years and has played a great variety of parts from heavy drama to farce comedy.

Production of Maurice Chevalier's first picture for Paramount, " The Innocents of Paris," is now well under way. The famous French vaudeville and musical comedy artist will be heard in a number of songs, and there will also be dialogue throughout the sound version of the picture. A complete silent picture will also be released.

" Wild Orchids," the latest Metro-Gold-wyn-Maver picture, in which Miss Garbo appears, has been enthusiastically received in America. It was directed by Sidney Franklin, from an original screen story by John Colton. Lewis Stone and Nils Asther appear in Miss Garbo's support.

Miss Claire Eames, featured in Rex Ingram's film, " Three Passions,' has an international stage reputation. In London she duplicated her American success in "Tho Silver Cord," the play written by her husband, Sidney Howard, and earned enthusiastic praise from the British critics. Miss Eames had previously made a big name as a Shakesperean actress, and has played with success that most exacting of fill parts, Lady Macbeth.

After reviewing the latest British International picture, " Tesha," the London Sunday Chronicle states: "The most praiseworthy picture of the year. If the standard of fifty per cent, of the British films were anything like " Tesha," we could compete with the whole world." " Tesha" is adapted from Countess Barcvnska's daring novel which has created more controversy than any novel of recent years, and stars Miss Maria Corda the young Hungarian actress, well refnembdred for her delightful characterisation as " Helen of Troy," and England s leading male lead, Jameson Thomas.

Douglas Fairbanks will immediately start a new production to follow " The Iron . Mask," which is now completed. Fairbanks' scenario editor has been working on the script for the new story, an original, as yet untitled. This is the first time for several years that Fairbanks has made two pictures without at least a six month's rest between. " The Iron Mask," on which Fairbanks was working for a large part oi last year, is a sequel to- " The Three Musketeers," and will be released this year.

Herbert Wilcox, producer of " Dawn." has returned from Hollywood where he completed his first British " talkie." Originally entitled " Fog," it has now been renamed " Black Water," and is not only to have a general release throughout the British Empire, but also throughout tho United States. The cast is entirely British and included John Loder, whose first British film, "The Firstborn," is shortly to be released, Miss Mary Brian, James Kirkwood and Lloyd Hamilton. Wilcox will make three more all-British " talkie" pictures in Hollywood while bis new sound studios are being completed in England.

Miss Anna May Wong, the little Chinese actress, who first became known through her' exquisitely graceful playing of the slave girl in the Douglas Fairbanks' picture. " Tho Thief of Bagdad," will be :een shortly in her first British International picture, " Show Life," to be released by Cinema Art Films. According to all the European critics. Miss Wong scores a triumph in this picture as the little Malay girl who is befriended in an Eastern city by a music hall artist, and whoso partner she finally becomes. " Show Life," incidentally, is the first British picture to be made with two distinct endings—a tragic and a happy one.

Early scenes in " True Heaven," produced by Fox 1' ilms, are laid in a stieet in Belgium, back of the line of the Allied armies. Major Charles T. Watkins, late of the British army, who gave technical advice concerning their construction, declares that they are so faithfully reproduced that when " True Heaven" is shown in Belgium it will be impossible for the most critical to discover a single flaw. George O'Brien and Miss Lois Moian take the leading parts in a film in which the war serves only as a was adapted from tho story Judith, by C. E. Montague.

That inimitable character actor, Albert Gran, remembered for his Papa Boul in " Seventh Heaven" and the village postman in " Four Sons," both Fox productions, has portrayed American gentlemen in two of his latest pictures. In " Dry Martini" he played the role of a wealthy and successful business man, and in " Mother Knows Best" brings to the screen tho part of n theatrical manager. Miss Madge Bellamy has a role which is a radical departure from her former efforts. As Sally Quail, child of the stage, into whose life comes love that, is stifled by her mother, Miss Bellamy's acting is a revelation. Miss Louiso Dresser and Barry Norton have the other leading roles.

As leading man in " Queen Kelly," her third independent production for United Artists, Miss Gloria Swanson has ono of tho newest and most favourably discussed actors of the screen—Walter Byron, a recent importation from London. " Queen Kelly " marks Byron's second appearance on tho American screen. Ho was brought from England by Samuel Goldwyn to appear opposite Miss Yiima Banky in the recently completed United Artists picture, " The Awakening." Miss Swanson's third independent offering for United Artists is now in production under tho direction of Erich von Stroheim.