DANCED TO FAME

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11435, 3 February 1923, Page 15

DANCED TO FAME

PRISCILLA DEAN, UNIVERSAL STAR. “One might say that I danced myself into the movies,” says Priscilla Dean, star in Universal pictures. “At the age of four I made my debut on the stage, playing a child part with Joseph Jefferson in ‘Rip Van Winkle.’ My mother was a well-known emotional leading woman at the time— May Preston Dean. She had the leading role in ‘Madame X,’ following Dorothy Donnelly, who created the role. When I was twelve or thirteen years old, I was standing in front of a Broadway theatre talking with a friend when I was introduced to Philips Smalley, husband of Loia Weber. He asked me if I would like to go into pictures. I assented, and played child roles in three productions. Then I went hack to the stage, dancing for eix months at the ‘Follies Bergere,’ now the Fulton Theatre, in New York. David W. Griffith saw me dance, and asked me to dunce in one of his pictures. That*was my real start, for Mr Griffith seemed to think I could act as well as dance. I then got a contract in California to star in one-reel comedies. After six months of that 1 joined Universal to appear with Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran. Lois Weber was seeking someone to play a ‘baby vamp’ in the problem play called ‘Even As You And I.’ She finally decided she must give me the part, and it was she who took me into drama from comedy.. The public seemed to like me in the picture, so Universal decided to star me. That was three years ago, and my first feature was the ‘Two Souled Woman.’ My biggest succcsfl so far has been in ‘The Virgin of Stamboul,’ hut I believe that ‘Under Two Flags,’ whioh I have just finished, will eclipse them all.” NOTABLE FILMS SOME RELEASES FOR THE YEAR. In connection with the production of super-attractions, some notable releases of the Universal Film Co., Fox Film Corporation, Selected SuperFilms, Ltd., Selznick Films, and Hodkinson Films are as follow:—“Under Two Flags,” starring Priscilla Dean; House Peters and Mary Philbin, a now star, in Hal Reid’s popular stage melodrama “Human Hearts” ; Reginald Denny in “The Kentucky Deiby,” which includes a race in which Morvicli, the celebrated American racer, is seen in action. Booth Tarkingtous well-known story, “The Flirt,” has also been picturised, with a splendid cast headed by Helen Jerome Eddy. “Bitter Sweet” will feature Virginia Valli, who will be remembered for her great work as banette in “The Storm,” and supporting ner will be Lon Chaney, the clover chararttor actor. Priscilla Dean’s next Jewel feature is entitled “Tho Whits Tiger.” “The Flame of Life,” in which Miss Dean will also be. staired, lias been adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel, “That Lass o’ Lowric’s,” an engrossing story of the Lancashire Lowlands. Reginald Den. ny's second picture is an adaptation cf the famous Jack London story, “Tho Abysmal Brute.” Victor Hugo s immortal classic, “The Hunchback ol f ' ~

Notre Dame,” with Lon Chaney in the title role. “The Merry-Go-Round,” a story dealing with life in Vienna, is uting produced by Erich Von Stroheim, the director of “Foolish Wives,” and other Universal films. Two other attractions that are out cf the ordinary are “Up the Ladder,” featuring Virginia Valli, and William Brady is stage sudceSs, “Drifting,” with Priscilla Dean. These practically complete Universal’s big dhtput for the year. The Fox Film Corporation releases for the year promise to be most attractive. The first is “Silver Wings,” with Mary Capr, well remembered as the wonderful “mother” in “Over the Hill.” Next will be “Nero.” which William Fox made in Italy. Another fine production is “My Friend The Devil,” a drama founded on atheism; staged by Harry Milliard. A ten-reel production with an all star cast, entitled “A Little Child Shall Lead Them,” and “The Count' of Monte C-risto,” adapted from Alexandre Dumas’s well known classic, completes the Fox presentations. Selected Super-Films, whose first release in this country was “Omar Khayyam.” will next release “A Madonna in Chains,” to he followed by “Women Men Marry,” after which conies “Fascination,” “Jazzmania,” and -“Broadway Rose,” all of whioh have Mae Murray as the star.

HENRI VERBRUGCHEN GREAT TRIUMPH AS SYMPHONY CONDUCTOR. The first orchestral concert under the direction of Mr Henri Verbrugghen at Minneapolis, was a pronounced success, and a large audience gave tlie gifted conductor an enthusiastic welcome. East and "west, lovers of music are keenly interested in the career of the Minneapolis Orchestra this, yegr, and above all in the work of, Henri Verbrugghen, the first of the . season’s guest .conductors. Commenting on Mr Henri Vcrbrugghen’s musicianship, a leading critic of one of the papers writes afout liis initial performance that “the crowd demonstrated that Minneapolis has secured the services of one of the world’s very great orchestral leaders. The orchestra hat been together this fall for less than a week, and what Mr Verbrugghen has accomplished in that brief space is little short of miraculous. In a week he has brought about such a smoothness and solidity of tono in tho strings, such crisp precision of attack, and such firm unity as the orchestra has never known before. This he accomplished by discipline, knowledge and inspiration. The welcome which the orchestra received, and .the applause which followed after tho performance of the pieces, were quite warm enough to demonstrate that the Orchestral Association has wholehearted support in its efforts to give Minneapolis this year the finest orchestra in its history.” A bnhlo has just hoen received that Mr A'erbrugghon has elected to remain in America, having accepted a three year-' engagement: therefore he has' resigned hie Sydney appointments. Rodolph Valentino's genius for romantic lonemaking has adequate opportunity in “Blood and Sand.”