NOTES FROM THE FILM WORLD

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12283, 31 October 1925, Page 13

NOTES FROM THE FILM WORLD

OF INTEREST TO NEW ZEALANDERS The third annual meeting of the Film Exchanges Association of New Zealand (Inc.), was held in Film House, 'Wellington, on Thursday, October 22nd, when the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr C. F. Es« kell, general manager of Universal Film Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (re-elected unopposed); vice-president, Mr W. W. Huff, general manager, Famous Lasky Film Service (N.Z.), Ltd.; Mr C. Hagnall, general manager, Fox Films Corporation (Australasia), Ltd. » « * * Mr C. Hagnall manager of Fox Films, returned to Wellington on Friday after a’tour through the South Island. * * . * m Mr W. Farland, exhibitor, of New Brighton, visited Wellington during the week. * * * * The Paramount special, ''Charley’s Aunt/' featuring Sid. Chaplin, brother of the famous Charlie, is playing to capacity business at the He Luxe Theatre, Wellington, this week. * * * * The New Zealand Government Scenic, "Glorious New Zealand," proved a wonderful attraction at the Paramount Theatre, Wellington, and everybody is unanimous that this picture will be a great boost for New Zealand. Tano Fama, of "The Biggers" fame, is lecturing with the picture, and the very fine publicity given "Glorious New Zealand" is a credit to both Sid. Bridgford, manaI ger of the Paramount, and to Tano. The photographs displayed in tlie theatre vestibule, and in the shop windows, are indeed beautiful, and reflect great credit on the publicity department of + he New Zealand Government. • • • • The First National attraction, "Quo Vadis?" opened at the He Luxe Theatre, Wellington, yesterday, and it is anticipated that capacity business will result. The picture has received a great deal of publicity for the last few weeks, and it is expected that it will prove a greater attraction than the* "Quo Vadis?" of some years ago. * * * * Mr Errol Fuller, manager for Selznick Pictures, Ltd., is at present in Auckland to meet Mr Nick Carter, of the Sydney office of Selznick, who is a through passenger on the Aorangi, en route for the States. * * * * The Australasian Films release, "The Early Bird," featuring the popular Johnnie Hines, proved a winner at the Empress Theatre, Wellington, and owing to the popularity of this picture arrangements have been made tof transfer it to the Strand for a further week.

Warner Oland has been, cast for one of the most important roles in “Flower of Night," Pola Negri’s latest starring vehicle for Paramount, which Paul Bern is directing. The well-known character actor will portray “Luke Rand," leader of the vigilantes in California during tt\e gold mining days of 1856, a man of power and oharm, hut with a sinister note to his nature. “Flower of Night" was written by Joseph Hergesheimer, and was adapted for the screen by Willis Goldbeck. * * * * Elaborate preparations were made by the Hugh J. Ward management for the presentation of “The Music Box" revue in Sydney. The original cost of the settings, wardrobe, and properties was JE9O,000.

In the matter of helping British films the London “Evening News’* says: “Victoria's decision to compel the inclusion of 1000 feet of British film in every cinema programme gives a lead to the remainder of the Empire. A thousand feet will not be of much help to the British film drama, but it will be mofct helpful in the portraying of English scenes and customs. Tlie London “Daily Mail" asks: “Why don’t we do tho same here? The industry is languishing, not because Britain cannot produce good films, but because she is inundated with foreign films. Many of them purporting to represent English life, are full of vulgar anachronisms and preposterous inaccuracies. Others savour of American propaganda."

“Little Annie Rooney” had its New Zealand premiere at the Strand and Tivoli Theatres, Auckland, on Friday last, and the box-office receipts prove that Mary Bickford’s return to the role, which endeared her to the hearts of the people the world over, has been hailed with delight by young and old. Big business is the result, and United Artists received the following “wire" from Mr Hayward after the opening night “ ‘Annie Rooney’ big success, and well liked by audiences." Mr Wally Smith, travelling representative for United Artists, took the matri-

monial plunge last week, and was quietly married. All join in wishing him every success and happiness for the future * * • * * Exhibitors’ Alliance Films will release Anna Q. Nillson’s latest feature, “Innocence," at the King’s Theatre, Wellington, shortly. • • • • “Judgment of the Storm," the Palmer photoplay picture which was extensively advertised in every Amepcan magazine of note, will be released at the De Luxe Theatre, Wellington, shortly. a * * * Miss Budd, for some time publicity manageress for the New Zealand Picture Supplies, Ltd., is on her way back from America to take charge of publicity for the Strand and Majestic Theatres, Auckland. • * • • LAWRENCE GRAY Lawrence Gray, whose rise in pictures has been the talk of Hollywood, left California recently for New York to b« Gloria Swanson's leading man in “Stage Struck," the star’s next picture for Paramount. Young Gray is a native of California, having been born and educated in San Francisco. His first film work was in the production depart ment at the Famous P 1 ayers-Lasky studi< in Hollywood. He was urged to trj acting and went to New York, appearing in two or three pictures. Then h t returned to Hollywood. A role in “Thi Dressmaker from Paris" drew attentior to his ability, and he was signed to s contract by Paramount. He did notable work in “Are Parents People," with Betty Bronson, Adolphe Menjou and Florence Vidor. When Gloria Swanson came to Hollywood to make “The Coast of Follv" ©he was impressed with the talent displayed by the young actor, who takes part in this production. A short time ago ihe was notified, that Miss Swanson had chosen him to bo her next leading man. * ♦ ♦ w NOT SO LONG AGO (This is one of an interesting series telling of the life “Not so long Ago" of ten personalities, who now are established as among the greatest stars of the screen) Not so long ago Raymond Griffith was a seaman in the . United States Navy, living out his ambition to 6ee the world. To-day electric lights spell his name in a thousand cities. No one knew Raymond Griffith, the gob., Nearly everyone knows Raymond Griffith,, the man who made the world laugh in “Forty Winks," “Miss Bluebeard," “The Night Club," and “Paths to Paradise." Love of travel had a lot to do with it. After two years in the Navy Griffith decided he wanted to see more of the world, and joined a troupe of French pantomimists, with whom he toured Europe for a year.

From these artists he acquired his unsurpassed! skill in pantomime, an art without which permanent screen fame is impossible. In those days his home was a hammock on a torpedo destroyer. Today he enjoys the comforts of one of the leading clubs in Los Angeles and of one of the finest ©tar dressing rooms at the Famous Players-Lasky 6tuflio in Hollywood.

One of the characters that take© an important part, in the Guv Bates Post production of “The Masquerader" is the bloodhound “Huskie." He has no speaking part, though occasionally he makes himself ncard with a gruff bow-wow. “Huskie" is a great pal of Cecil Haines, who plays the part of the Cockney slavey, juid will do -almost anything for her.