NOTES FROM THE FILM WORLD

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12643, 31 December 1926, Page 13

NOTES FROM THE FILM WORLD

“COLLEGE DAYS” AT DE LUXE "College Days," with Harold Lloyd, will be the big attraction at tho Do Luxe Theatre this week. Without a doubt the star with tho horn-rimmed spectacles, will win many more admireis through this, his latest offering. Lloyd essays the role of a college freshman, who endeavours to be over good-natured to his pals, but learns that it is only through his “treating" and spending capacity that his popularity is sustained. When he learns this he sets out in another direction, and proves that he is a sport in other ways. The football match scene is one that will provoke untold merriment, and when the hero kicks the winning goal his true popularity among his fellows knows no bounds.

“WET PAINT” AT KING’S Fven though the title of Raymond Griffith's latest picture for Paramount is “Wet tPaint," people won't stay away. They will react to this sign in tho same way that steel is drawn to a magnet. Raymond Griffith stands to-day on the t°P rung of the civilised farce comedy ladder, and there is no one to touch him in his field. Paramount having caught wind of his growing popularity, have given Griffith a complete comedy unit of his own, and the result of months of concentrated labour I© “Wet Paint." Helene Costello, daughter of the screen's, first star, and sister to Dolores, is featured along with BryWashburn in the supporting cast. Wet Paint" is the starring attraction at the King's this week, aha the other feature on the programme is “Speed." • ■ • • • # PERSONALS FROM FILMDOM Sir Beniamin and Mr John Fuller are expected to visit New Zealand early in the New Year. Mr Beaumont Smith, general manager of J. C. Williamson's Films, Ltd., returned to Wellington from Auckland on Monday. Mr Smith states that the opening of the Regent Theatre in Auckland on Christmas Eve was a great success, and the theatre has been acclaimed ns one»of tho finest in Australia and Now Zealand Th> Paramount picture, "Beau Geste/' was chosen for the opening, and'the business has been such that it will most likely be necessary to extend the season • * • • Mr Charles Munro, special representative of Fox Films in Australia, arrives in Wellington on Monday, en route for America, where ho will spend some, months at Fox headquarters in New ’York and at the Fox studios at Hollywood, • * « « Mr-Bert Bolton, publicity manager of Universal Film Mfg. Co., Ltd., and Mrs Bolton are, I should eay, one of the happiest couples in Wellington this festive season, having been presented with a bonny son and heir on Boxing Day. Bert says that the boy is- apparently going to follow in fathers footsteps as he is already making himself heard. Mr Bolton is very popular in the picture business, and it is hoped that he and Mrs Bolton will celebrate many more festive seasons in a similar manner, • * • • Mr Allen McGowan, manager of Australasian Films, is busy preparing for the release of “Don Juan," which is stated to be one of the outstanding pictures of 1927. He will also release two British pictures, “Madaxnoisele from Armentieres'' and "The Better ’Ole." Both these pictures were record-breakers in 'England, and will no doubt be popu-* lar here. • * • • Mr Barrie Marschel, general manager of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Ltd., and his staff are busily engaged in preparing for the release of “The Big Parade." This picture played in one theatre in London for over nine months, and Mr Marschel states that it will be presented in New Zealand in a manner never before attempted. a • • • Mr Phil Hayward, of the Majestio Theatre, Auckland, was both surprised and pleased last week at receiving the following cablegram from Douglas Fairbanks “ 'The Black Pirate' wishes yon a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year/'—Douglas Fairbanks. This cablegram was displayed in the lobby of the Majestio Theatre during the screening of "The Black Pirate.” Mr Reg. P. Davison, manager of Paramount's department of publicity and exploitation r is at present on holiday. Early in the New Year Mr Davison will return to Wellington, and will attend to preliminary arrangements in regard to the arrival of Paramount's

“THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS” AT THE EMPRESS. Virginia Valli plays the feminine lead in the For production, “The Family Upstairs," and is supported by a splendid cast, which includes J. Farrell McDonald, that splendid character-actor; Allan Simpson, and Jacqueline Wells. Louise Heller is the elder daughter of an average middle-class family who live upstairs in an apartment house for the simple reason that it's cheaper. Her family remind her of the fact that she has reached the age of 21 without having the prospect of a “regular young man." but, unknown to them, Louise has fallen in love with the teller at the bank, where she daily makes deposits for her firm. The young conple are

happy in their newly-discovered love, and when he calls round one evening to take Louise out, the family nearly faint from astonishment. Ma Heller, in her endeavour to help matters along, nearly succeeds in completely destroying the romance; but Louise, being a modern girl, declines, to let her mother spoil her hopes and wins the "boy friend" finally. • • • * A BUSY WEEK All the film exchanges have been working at extra high pressure during 'the last few weeks in supplying the hundreds of additional programmes required by exhibitors ■ for screening l during the holidays. Practically all the showmen in the smaller towns require extra programmes at this time of the,-year, and the work entailed in assuring,these programmes arriving 'in . time is considerable. Considering the- pressure: at which the postal an'd railway services have been working, great credit is due to those responsible for the prompt dispatch of tho many additional tins of film.

The Fox attraction, “Fig Leaves," concluded a big season at the Begent Theatre on Thursday. This picture is the first of the Fox 1927 output, land was very popular with the public. The J. C. Williamson vaudeville act, "The Big Four," also proved verv popular. .... Mr Lester Brown, head office exploiteer for Fox Films, is at present in Auckland assisting in the exploitation of "Fig Leaves," which .opens at the Regent Theatre there next month.