The Deadhead's Diary

NZ Truth, Issue 902, 10 March 1923, Page 11

The Deadhead's Diary

Since he arrived m Melbourne and announced that ' he . would willingly read any plays submitted tp him, with the possibility of producing one that had the necessary qualities for success, Mr. Oscar Asche has received over a hundred scripts, and has cheerfully waded through the lot. When asked whether he had discovered anything worth while, Mr. Asche said that several of the plays had possibilities, but the majority were hopeless. "However," he added optimistically, "there is no knowing but that a play might turn up that will be the great Australian production we are searching and waiting for." :: . :: it

It is some years since Jean Gerardy, the young Belgian violoncellist, thrill* ed music-lovers throughout Australia and New Zealand with his wonderful playing. He was then only a youth of. nineteen or twenty. To-day he 18 the matured artist, retaining all the great charm that first ,-uttr acted attention to his work, and now is recognised as tjie greatest 'cellist. of the world. An eminent London critic has styled him as the "Kreisler of the 'Cello," for he has all that famous violinist's wonderful musicianship and genius, and has applied it to the sister instrument. Gerardy is contemporary with Kreisler and Tsayej and has made joint tours at different periods with both artists In America and Europe. He was the flrst boy prodigy to play the 'cello, and made his debut at the early age of nine. He graduated from the Liege Conservatoire at .11, the youngest graduate that institution ever sent forth. After playing on the Continent.he went to London. and .created 6ne of the greatest lurores ever known there. Despite the fact that he wan playing with such world-beaters aai Paderewskl and Tsaye, the boy 'cellist was the sensation of tho concerts. Queen Victoria took a keen interest m young Jean's career, and he was a frequent visitor to Windsor Castle. He possesses a wonderful collection of presents given to him at various times by his Royal patron and visiting kings and queens. Mr. Percy Kahn, tho well-known accompanist, who was here with Miss Roslna Buckman recently, mado a tour of sixty concerts In England last year, and he says that the wonderful 'cellist created the most extraordinary enthusiasm throughout Great Britain., He still retains that youthful appearance and charming platform ■- personality that appealed so strongly to those Australian music-lovers who heard him on his flrst visit. Mr. E. J. Gravestock has arranged for M. Gerardy to commence his Australasian tour m Sydney m April next.'- *"* ' In Paris there's a comedy- drama, "Madame Pompadour," that is proving "a sensation. Joseph M. Schenck, producer of the Norma and Constance Talmadge and Buster Keaton productions, saiW lt, and saw ln the play excellent possibilities for Connie, and Immediately entered Into negotiations with the authors. Ho was successful m securing film rights to the play, and following the purchasing of It announced that it would serve as a new starring vehicle for Miss Talmadge. :: j: '•'• Although King Solomon, Brigham Young, Nat Goodwin nnd other muchmarried figures of the past are not with us to give their views, there is an amazing and prophetic answer to tho age-old problem, "What's Wrong With The Women?" m a powerful photoplay of that title, an Equity Picture. !! it H Tlie story of "Love Never Dies" lives up to its title. Lloyd Hughes, the lending male player, has the role of a successful engineer who finds his home life broken. From the tangle he frees himself by (severing himself from all former surroundings: but the ties that bound him to his wife nre too strong to be broken by such a step. A spectacular train wreck features m the early part of the story, and has its counterpart m tho thrilling rescue of a drowning man from tho waterfalls ln tho last reel of film. :: s: H "Tho Sentimental Bloke" reached another phase of his spectacular career when C. J. Dennis put his poetic hero into a spoken play. This play comes to Now Zealand straight aftter its Melbourne and Sydney successes. El loon Alexander, who takes tho part of Doreen, is a Christchuroh girl, and Walter Cornock itho. "Bioko")' is wellknown to. New Zealand audiences. It Is not generally known that Herbert C. Walton, the dapper little "Artlo" of "Tho Sentimental Bloke," is a cousin of Gladys Walton, tho Universal film star. He Is also a relation of Barry Lupin'o. Bert's breozlneas. pep and versatility hav<» gained for him many friends m New Zealand. • He will 1)0 romombored In J. C. Williamson's Itevuea "The Passing Show and "The Blni*; Boys on Broadway." «: :: tl Ever since Mother Eve embedded her pearly teeth In the fabled apple, humanity has pondered from time to time on the age-old problem, "What's Wrong with tho Women?" Now comes a motion picture that settles for Itself tho same eternal question, and comes pretty closo to answering It — at least so far ns tho present high-powered, helter-skelter, fiapperescont generation of women is concerned. It is called "What's Wrong with tho Women?" J: j: is "A Southern Maid" m playing to capacity at Melbourne Theatre Royal. Up to now lt has broken tho record of "Tho Maid of the Mountains," at tho same theatre, for the number of people who have paid for admission.

Now on her way td Australia, with her complete cast, is Miss Gertrude Elliott (Lady Forbes Robertson), who will appear under the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management throughout the Commonwealth and New Zealand. The distinguished artist has enjoyed a remarkably successful season m Sottth Africa, the receipts m Johannesburg constituting a record for South Africa. The opening play will be "Woman to Woman," by Michael Morton, who also wrote "The Yellow ' Ticket," the play of Russian life which was staged m Melbourne some years ago. "Woman to Woman" has strong dramatic interest, and a compelling story. it «i if

. The celebrated novel, "Blood and Sand," by Vincente Blasco Ibanez, the man who wrote "The Four Horsemen," is being* Aimed at Everybody's, Wellington, this week, and indeed the picture is a tremendous one. both ln ators and In presentation. Rodolph Valentino is the star and with him are Llla Lee and Nita Naldi. Those who have read the book need know no more ln« troductlon' to this film, for if the picture Is half as good as the novel it will be something really big. "Blood and Sand" is a tale of Spaniards and of the national sport of Spain — bull-flghting*. It is a great story and Ibanez had nothing but praise for his tale aa transferred to the screen. 4 t: :: :: That the plcturisation of his lateßt story, "The Enemies of Women," will be a most magnificent photoplay, following closely his famous story, Is the opinion of Blasco Ibanez m a letter sent to Cosmopolitan Productions. Ibanez's letter states that, while the company was making the exteriors of the Aim In France, the -celebrated Spanish author gave up his literary work to live the life of a film actor. The picture is now being-completed In the Cosmopolitan Studios m New York. In addition to Lionel Barrymore. and Alma Reubens, who are featured m the picture, tho cast includes Pedro de Cordoba, William ("Buster"') Collier, junr., W. 11. Thompson, Gareth Hughes and Gladys Hulette. t: :: :: To the book lover, the student of English classics and the educator, the coming of "Lorna Doone" will be a rare treat. Maurice Tourneur has earned a reputation aS an educator m the film industry and his screen versions of classical books and plays have been marked by such artistry that they have won permanent places m the film libraries of schools, churches and community houses. Critics declare thnt "Lorna Doone" far outstrips even Treasure Island" and "The Last of the Mohicans." :: :i :: Sir Harry Lauder, who has already appeared twice In Australia, will return there at Easter under the management of J. and N. Talt m conjunction with E. J. and Dan Carroll. A London .paper recently commented upon the famous pomedlan'g love for golf, and expressed tho opinion that when he went to Australia he would doubtless have the opportunity of matching hlrrtself against some of the cracks. Lauder claims that he has played on more golf links than any other person on earth, and there seems something In his contention when it Is remembered that he has been appearing throughout the English-speaking world for a number of years. :: ::, :: Some of 1923'a big . -releases (Film House offerings): "Missing Husbands," a French creation^ from the novel, "l'Atlantide"; "A DollY House." starring Nnzimova; "Tess of the Storm Country," with Mary Pickford (second version); "Robin Hood." with Douglas Fairbanks, probably the greatest film he has ever made; "Dream Street," another D. W. Griffith's special, with Carol Dempster and an all-star cast. :: :: :: Arthur Stlgant, who has added to his successes by his performance as Wex m "A Southern Maid" has travelled much m his time, and can quote some wonderful experiences. His worst time was m Buenos Aires. He was booked to play twenty miißical comedies In six weeks, and on tho opening night of the first one ho had an accident to his kucc, which would have put any ordinary man out of action for weeks. But Mr. Stlgant wont through every performance without any of 'the audience suspecting the agony ho was Buffering, aud it wns not until his Inst night that tho management info.rmod tho audience of tho disadvantage under which Mr. Stlgant had been laboring, lie used to reheav.-o his roles with hia leg resting on a chair. t s :: ti Reminiscent of "Broken Blossoms." and set m the same locale as it* predecessor, '-Dream Street," Is D. W. Grlflith's next screen offering from Thomas Burke. Tho story is taken from "Limehouse Nights"— "Gina of Chinatown" — nnd once again tho wizard hand of Griffith has caused tho wonderful characters to step out of Burko's book and flit In shadowy, 3omotimes sinister, silence across the silver sheet. Carol Dempster, who will j bo remembered In "The Love Flower." heads an all-star cast. Wellington people can Bee lt at the Empress thlu week. i: t: ti Another famous stage piny has been chosen for tho screen. "The Concert," starring Lewis Stone and an all-star cast of players, is said to be among the "unusual" pit-lure plays of VJ2". It Js the story of a musician and his extraordinary love romance— and musicians arc reputed to bo unusually ardent worshipper* al the ahrhn- of the Cioii of Love, uh! tho artistic temperament!