STAGE AND SCREEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12507, 24 July 1926, Page 13

STAGE AND SCREEN

I I : —; : I LilM I j 1 | Personal and General jottings |Tt 1

STAR PICTURE AT DE LUXE « The United Artists' production, “Stel- ; la Dallas," opened its Wellington season at the De Luxe Theatre on Friday to capacity business. The publicity given thi*» picture by United Artists has created a considerable amount of interest, and exhibitors have lost no time in getting into communication with United Artists regarding early screening dates. In “The Honeymoon Express," a forthcoming Master Picture production, you will see Irene Rich in another new role —as the mother of a modern flapper. Huntly Gordon tries mighty hard to curb the flirtatious inclinations of Irene Rich, his wife and greatest- trial, in the Master Picture “Silken Shackles." A crashing, smashing flood almcot knocks Patsy Ruth Miller, the winsome Warner star, unconscious in tlu* Master Picture, “Hell Lent for Heaven,” the Carolina Mountain drama that J. Stuart Blackton directed. lor his first motion-picture George Jessel, the stage star, will be seen in “Private Izzy Murphy,” the Master Picture Warner Brothers will put into production very soon. ADVENT OF NEW SCREEN STAR With an utter disregard for precedent and established custom there comes a stranger to the screen, whose histrionic brilliance and winsome personality havo jumped her into instant prominence. This little lady is Sally O’Neill—the most recent and sensational screen discovery for a decade. Not .vet eighteen years of age, Miss O'Neill is acclaimed by Marshall Neilan to be the logical successor to the most famous comediennes of the present day. In her first picture for New Zealand release, Miss O’Neiil is allowed considerable scope to indulge her. penchant for humour, and the result will charm all whose fortune it is to seen “Mike.” tally’s first starring vehicle. “Mike” is. an hilarious comedy of linw an Irish girl made Jife a riot for herself and her family, finally holpte foi l a Land of notorious who had looted a mail train. The adventures and romance that invaded her life in the. meantime make a delightfully humourous story plentifully supplied with thrills. It is a brilliant debut for Miss O'Neill, and the public will want to sec more of her. With William Haines. Ford Sterling, and Chavle* Murray, “Mike” is at present screening at tiio- King’s Theatre. * *. # # j Marion Davies, star of “Lights of Old I Broadway," a Cosmopolitan production | for Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer, directed by I Monta Bell, and soon coming to the i King's Theatre, will be seen in a dual | role. The charming Marion interprets I the roles of Anne de Rhondo and Felv I O'Tandy, orphaned sisters adopted into vastly different planes of society. Con- | rad Nagel is 'her leading man, and she is supported b\* a very large cast of wellknown players. lintinC]UlltllllllfC3llllllliim£3flllllillllintiifiiititiiniiiimtmiMiiiimtii

mMiiiinniiiiaiiiimmnNimiiiiwiiaiiiiiniiiiinHiiiimiiitiflmmiinni MADGE ELLIOTT’S SUCCESS j Madge Elliott, the pretty young dan- J cer who will he remembered as the part- ! j ner of Cyril Ritchards in several J. C. Williamson shows which came to New, I Zealand, is making a name for herself i iin the Gershiwn ballet in the “Mid- 1 ! night Follies” at the Hotel Metropole, | London. Strikingly attired, she ap- j | pcare as a lady of the Georgian period jin a “Rhapsody in Blue." j Blondi Robinson, who was seen hero I for a short time only a few weeks ago, jwill make his reappearance at His Mai jesty’s Theatre on Monday. Mr Robin- ! son aptly styles himself “Just a Fool," I and is a brilliant example of what can jbe achieved in the simple art of sheer l tomfoolery, when presented by such a i prince of comedians. Patrons will bo (particularly glad to hear of this an- ; nouncement. Dorothy Brunton made her first appearance in drama in Sydney recently, when she appeared as Guy Bates Post's leading lady in “The Climax." She scored a personal triumph, receiving a great ovation at the end of the play. The smart, semi-Bohemian, cynical set is cleverly portrayed in Geoffrey Warren’s new play, “Loose Ends," at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London. Miss Molly Kerr, Miss Mary Merrall, Mr Dion Tithoradgo (the producer) play the! leading roles. One of the features of the piece is a game of bridge, which is properly played right through, dummy's cards being exposed on the table. “IOLANTHE"* At Melbourne, the next of the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire, “lolanthe," will be produced with the following cast:— Charles Walenn as The Lord Chancellor, Bernard Manning as Earl Mountavarat, James Hay as Earl Tolloller, Sydney Granville as Private Willie, Lance Fairfax as Strephon, Effie Armstrong as lolanthe, Morna Stewart ns Celia. Beryl Pratt, as Fieta, Patti Ruesell ns Phyllis. • The opera will be produced by Miss Minnie Everett. » * * * Sean O’Casey’s “The Plough and th© Stars,” which is dedicated “To the Gay Laugh of my Mother at the Gaio of the Grave," lias been praised unreservedly by the critie« at Home. Jt is said to be •worthy of the pen that wrote “Juno and the J’aycock,” and to mark a distinct advance on the earlier play. “Abie’s Irish Rose" had its Australasian premiere at the Princess Theatre on Saturday last. Grace Stafford and George Duryea play th© leads, the latter having the part of Abie. • • • You will laugh and you will cry when you follow three friends in their search for happiness and success in “The Passionate Qurvst,” a Master Picture with May McAvoy, Willard Louis, and Gardner Jamesu

» FIRST NATIONAL FEATURE 1 AT PARAMOUNT Seldom in the history of pictures has such a distinguished cast been assembled for one production as Robert T. Kame has secured for his first film, “The New Commandment," a First National pic- ’ ture, now showing at the Paramount . Theatre. Blanche Sweet and Ben Lyon have the leading roles. For the rest of his cast Kane has gone to Broadway. He brings to the screen Holbrook Blinn, Claire Fames, Effie Shannon, Dorothy Cummings. Diana Kane, Betty Jewel, George Cooper, and other luminaries of the “Groat White Way." The artistry of such a cast insures a screen triumph, nir3ii!iMiiiiiic]iiiiiiimi[C3hiiiiiimic]ii]iiiiiimc]iimiiiini[]iiiii!iiiiiini

; utE3iiiiiiiiiiifniiiiiiuiii!(a!!iiiiiiiiiic3itiiiiiiitncaii!iiiiiiiitt3iiiiiiiiiuic: ;• and under the direction ol Howord Higr £in, who, witli Sada Cowan, collaborated 1 in writing the scenario. “The New Comr mnndment” is reckoned one of the most t finished productions of the year. I ' # A- * « -I Joan Crawford., well-known on the L stage, appears as Harry Langdon’x leading lady in the comedian's first feature length comedy, “Tramn, Tramp, Tramp," 1 for First: National. Miss Crawford lori merly played in the Winter Garden in • New York, appearing in musical shows > and revues there for several season©. 1 Her beauty attracted the attention of the 3 movie producers, however, and she left • | the stage to accept a film offer. ) j # * * tt -l The complete cast for “Too Much ■? :Money," a First National picture scheduled for early release, in which Lewis 'Stone and Ann Q. Nilsson are featured,

afirmimiicaiiiriiiiiiiicaiimiiiiiiiciiuiuiinncaiiiiiiiuuiniiiiiiiiiiffcaiiui [consists of Robert Cain, Derek Glynee, { Doiothy Kiirrg, Cliff Worman, George I Henry, Anna Brody, and Edward Elkas. j !John Francis Dillon directed under the supervision of Earl Hudson. I j June Mathis, noted film writer, stands sponsor for the production of “The Greater Glory," First National’s super feature. “The Greater Glory" is a stupendous film drama of post-war Vienna, once tho gayest city of the Austrian Empire.

gfcaffiiiiiimicaiiiiiiiiiiiicaiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiitiiinicaiiiiiimifimiiiiiHiiiicaiiii The picture is an adaptation of Edith | O'Shaughnessy’s famous novel, “The' Viennese Medley." More than n .year! was spent on the product inn. Tt is promised ns one of the biggest pictures of]

“MIKE" AT THE KING'S /Mike," an hilarious comedy at the King's Theatre, is wonderful entertainment. ©** . * Marshall Neilan, who wrote and directed the picture for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, i designed his latest production solely for the amusement of the onlooker. The comedy of “Mike" is rollicking and constant, and runs the gamut from subtle wit to broad comedy. It is the result of the ingenuity of the director in 'handling the amusing situations and the acting of the priniepal comedians, who include two of the most famous afiiimfiiiicaiiiiiiifitiicaiiiiiiiiiiNcaiiiiriiiiiiicaiiiiTitiiiiiEiiiiiiiiiniicaitiiiiii

inniiiiiiiiituiiiHiniiioiiiiniiiiicsmiiiimioiiimiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiitsiiiti farceurs of the films. Charlie Murray and Ford Sterling. The love inteiesl centers in the roles played by William Haines and Sally O’Neill. The latter, who has never appeared on the screen before this picture, is Neilan’s latest, clis- j eovery, and she bids fair to become his ! greatest which is saying much, as the J director Ims given the first chance to j many of the present stars. The excite- 1 meat is derived from the well maintained | suspense, and the group of thrills that j punctuate the picture at what seems to be just the right, moments. • * * # As Old Bill in his forthcoming Master Picture production for Warner Brothers, “The Better ’Ole," Syd Chaplin will make yon laugh as you have never laughed before. W. Kemball, junior, manager of the

King’s Theatre-, Wellington, reports ex- \ J ceptionally fine business with the Motroi Guldwvn picture, “Mike.” I ! i # * # » I Mr Latov Smith, of the Opera House, | Wanganui, was a visitor to Wellington j | during the week. * • V • * .! Mr Barrie Marsehel, manager of Met- . ro-bioldwyn I'i I ms. Ltd., who is at pre- . seat on business in Sydney, is expected . 1 to return to Wellington next "week.

llllllllHC3llllllliUllC3llllltllllllC3illlMllllliC3millllltllC3HllllllllilC3llilll| [ Knob thinks the other a crook in I “The Social Highwayman,' until there Sis quite a hopeless mix-up. Dorothy Devon 4 ami John Put rick take the lond- | ing roles in this Master Picture.

MASTER FEATURE AT EMPRESS True characterisation is the one thin" which Gene Stratton Porter, writer of successful books, insists upon in the making of the screen versions of her stories. During the filming of "A Girl o*-’ the Limberlost,” the Master Picture which is now scoring so heavily as the feature of the programme at the Empress Theatre, Mrs Porter gave 6ome directions concerning the Bird Woman in the story. “Nobody knows what the Bird Woman did, what she said, or how she acted any better than I do/' commented Mrs Porter, “because, you see, 1 was the Bird Woman.” Cullen Landis and Gertrude Olmstead are the featured players. Ernst Lubitsch’s next Master Picture production for Warner Brothers, “Sc This Is Paris,” is a delightful coined? about two husbands who fall in love with each other's wives. Patsy Ruth Miller and Monte Blue are one of the tangled-up couples. Rin-Tin-Tin, the Warner dog star, Continues to create a sensation on hi: personal appearance tour in conneetioi with the showing of his latest Mastei Picture, “The Night Cry.” Since leaving New York, where he was given a wonderful reception, Rinty has visited a number of cities and has invariably been greeted with clamorous affectioi and welcome. The dog star, in re sponse to the demands of his many fans to meet and know him in person, i making a country-wide tour. NOTES FROM FILMDOM Mr T. O’Brien, the well-known pie ! ruie theatre proprietor, of Auckland was a visitor to Wellington during tht week. Mr R. Schureck, Auckland manager o 1 Fox Films, returned to Wellington or Tuesday after having attended his Brm’ts convention in Svdney. Prior to his departure for Sydney last week, Mr (4. Dagnall. manager of Fox Films, who ha<s been transferred to Australia,- was presented -with a gold foun-tain-pen, suitably inscribed, by his staff, as a token of the esteem in which lie was held. The British war picture, “Ypres/ 1 opened its Wellington season at the Grand Opera House on Monday last, under the direction of Fuller-Hayward Theatres. The house was packed, and groat interest was taken in the picture. Mr It. Hnddow, manager of the Empress, Wellington, was in charge ot publicity for “Ypres,” and to him great credit is due for the manner in which the picture was presented. A novel prologue, entitled “In An Estaminet,” was presented prior to the screening by a number of ex-Digger«s, who again lived the care-free life of the soldier out of the trenches for a rest. « # • • A large audience attended the Artcraft Theatre on Thursday last at the invitation of the lion. G. J. Anderson,

iiiii!iiiiiiic:ii[iiuiimc3iiiiiniimc3i[ini((in[:3imnimiinfini!([(iiicjmita (Minister for Publicity, to view a screening of New Zealand publicity films, including one featuring Mr Zane Grey’s dcep-sca fishing exploits. Great inter- | est was taken in these films, and it was | | very apparent that the Government I | Publicity Department have produced pictures which show T New Zealand to Hie best advantage, and which will bo of great interest to travellers all the world over. Tli© picture of Zane Grey’s exploits was particularly fine. and should certainly make New Zealand known as the Angler’s Paradise. “WOMAN HANDLED” Gloria Swanson said in "Manhandled”: "Women have a hard time because men won't let them alone.” Now Richard Dix replied in “Womanhandled/’ his latest starring vehicle for Paramount : "Women have a hard time because they won’t let men lot them alone.” In the picture Dix docs not play a role ih which lie is irresistible to women. It is not that he is irresistible to women, but.* that he is “womanhandled” b.v their gentle requests. “Woman-handled,” the sequel to “Man-handled,” wa* adapted for the screen by Luther heed from Arthur Stringer’s "Saturday livening Post” story of the same name. Stringer also wrote "Manhandled/’ Gregory La Cava, who staged all the comedy thrills in "The Stock Punch” and "The Lucky Devil,” the star’s two previous pictures, directed this one. • % • It is reported that Mr W. R. Kemball, who controls Hie Dc Luxe. King’s, and Queen’s Theatres, Wellington, Arcadia and Opera House, Dannevirke, Municipal and Cosy, Hastings, and Op..era House and Cosy, Mnsterton, has nowpurchased the Paramount Theatre, Palmerston North. The "Wellington office of Fox Films has received advice that two copies of the first productions on the 1027 release schedule have been shipped to Wellington. Mr W. T’. Tfoggan, general sales manager for Famous Lasky Films {Service, who has successfully hold two Paramount Conventions in New Zealand, is at present in Auckland. Mr Hnggan is expected to return to Wellington ; shortly. Mr F. L. Rut liilge, who has been appointed Wellington manager of Fox Films, is expected to arrive in New Zealand shortly. Exhibitors will he interested to hear that (’jintain V. V. Dawson, who wns with Fniversal and Selected Super Films in New Zealand, lias been appointed l manager of New South Wales for Fox ■ Films. 4 * * « Mr t). N. Gille-pio, general manager j of Fir.-t ( National Pictures. Lid., visit-