The Deadhead's Diary

NZ Truth, Issue 943, 22 December 1923, Page 15

The Deadhead's Diary

All the children of Gertrude Elliott and her famous husband, Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson, have inherited the good looks and talents of their parents. The eldest girl, Maxlno, named after her aunt, Maxine Elliott, Is very beautiful, and already shows a great gift for book illustrating. Like* her sisters, she is very musical, rides admirably, and at a recent house partygiven by Lord Birkenhead m honor of the Duke of York, distinguished herself at tennis. The youngest girl, Diana, was lately voted the most boautiful child at a juvenile party m Berkeley Square, London. She is of the distinct Irish typo, with blue eyes, dark curling hair, and clear complexion, and m grace of movement is true to her classic name. Because she is n god -daughter of the Duke of Rutland, she is supposed to have * been named after his own famed daughter. Lady Diana Cooper, but thef* was no such thought at the christening of Diana Forbes Robertson.

: : : : it "Sally." at Melbourne Theatre Royal, entered upon its ono hundredth performance In thnt city on December 3. Tho occasion was a souvenir night, when a handsome photograph of the principal members of the company waa presented to patrons. Thi3 will be one of the most Interesting and attractive souvenirs ever issued.

Miss Ada Reeve has arrived tn Melbourne, and preparations are now m full swing for the pantomime of "Aladdin" at Her Majesty's, m which Miss Reeve will play principal boy. The scenery is heing painted by W. R. Coleman ancl W. Coleman, jun. It will embody several noveltlos, which will accord with a new system of lighting to be installed at Her Majesty's specially for the pantomime.

Plnygoerß throughout Australia will have pleasurable recollections of the J n C. Williamson production of "Flora - dora," which set a new standard for musical comedy ln those days and achieved a lengthy run. It is an interesting fact that Miss Ada Reeve, who is to play principal boy In the Firm's "Aladdin" pantomime at Her Majesty's. Melbourne, was the original Lady Hollyrood m "Floradora" In London, and taught Miss Grace Palotta (who played the part In Australia) the "business" of the role. "This was a labor of love," said Miss Reeve, "for I knew that she would be a big success."

"Merry-Go-Round" Is the story of a count and a peasant girl but lt is not a fairy tale. They don't fall m love, marry and live happily after. It requires a war — its grim lessons and pitiless levelling of humanity, to bring Into being the consummation of their desires. The story involves the great tragedy of Austria and th© downfall of .its pretentious glory of before the war days. The settings are astounding In their tremendous perspective, and the cast assembled for the picture Includes a score of famous artists, among whom are Norman Kerry as the count and Mary Phllbin as the organ grinder, supported by George Hackathorne. Caesare Gravlna, Dale Fuller, Maude George, Spottlswood Aitken. and many others. Kerry's work ln tho picture Is so good that Universal have signed him on a long term contract, and Mary Phllbin will lie starring m six further Jewel productions with the Universal Company during the coming year.

A contributor to> the new Journal. "The Gramophone," edited by Mr. Compton Miickenv.le. gives a masterly review of the first quarter's records, nnd emphasises particularly some Coluinhie. Issues which have met with a more thnn favorable reception. Tho signature "Z" affixed to the nrtlclo Is no doubt the nom-de-guerre of a wellknown authority on music. Here Is an extract from his "Review of the First Quarter of 1923": "In my opinion by far the moat encouraging product of the first quarter of 1')23 is the new material that the Columbia Company Is using for all its records. When plnylng with the loudest needlo I possess there Is loss scratch on the pew Columbia records than there used to be on old records with tho softest needle m existence."

"The Sheik's Wifo" Ih the sequel to "The Sheik." but without bath salt* nnd perfume. She, a French blond", married a Sheik. Then, as his wife wandering In the desert, she found herself face to fnce with Immemorial custom and rigid tradition. Ho had sworn "by the beard of Allah" that she would be his only wife, the sole l.uht of his harem, but after three years his love for her is overruled by the clamorous demands of his tribesmen, nnd he prepares to tako a second wife. Tilings, however, a flight and a flKht, change these events.

Helene chndwick and Richard Dlx nre two of the most prominent film players this year. They have been rl/-en practically step by men together, and lately discerning director** have made a Dlx-Chadwlck combination. It Is not so many yonr* ago since Miss Chadwiek was earning her livlntr po«dm- for advertisements. Then I'nthe gnvc her n small part ln a picture, and eince then sho haa never wanted an engagement. Ploturegoors will remen-her these two clever artists In "Dangerous Curve Ahead," and b«fore long they will be neen together again In "The'Olorloua Fool"

At Inst It hna been deciding thnt Arthur Edmund Care we m to piny the pnrt or Svrnc-ill In the coming Him version of "Trilby." Crlghton Hale i* to play Little rally. Andree I^fayctte, the French -irUst, will fill the title role ot Trilby, und Maurice Connnjc*. another French player, will havo the comedy pari of Zouzoul

Max Lin der has been engaged for two big productions to be produced m Vienna for an international combine. Vienna, the centre of intrigue, once a city beautiful, now a city sad and forlorn, is the centre round which the Universal Super-Jewel "Merry-Go-Round" is located — more particularly m the Prater, Vienna's gay show* place. The heroine. Mary Phllbin, whom many critics are now calling the brightest star of the cinema firmament, is here found m the lowly role of an organ grinder. This young actress, although only three years out of high school, and with an actual camera experience of only half a dozen minor roles essayed ln the "Merry-Go-Round" an intensely emotional role, which critics' describe ns the dominating characterisation of' the picture. Clairo West is the most popular fashion designer m filmland. She Lthe creator of the beautiful, sometimes fantastic, costumes worn by such folk as Anna Q. NUlson, ' Claire Windsor. Beatrice Joy, and Estelle Taylor. Not only is this wonderful person a creator of beautiful gowns, but of beautful women. She developes ordinary charms Into extraordinary ones, ac-po-ttnr-f-R the strong points and hides the weak. Kenneth Harlan has signed a new contract with Preferred Pictures. "Dulcy," Con-stance Trilmadge's new picture, has been completed. ! » : : Tlie title "Westbound, Ltd.," suggests a train thundering along through "he night and coming to an open bridge, either tumbles to its doom or Is saved by the timely Intervention of the stntiol master's daughter. Such speculations will not be wholly without foundation In th's film, featuring Johnny Harron ftnd Ralph Lewis. : : : : :: Mr. George Pearson has once ngaln produced a clever film, 'Wee MacOr«&or'3 Sweetheart." Me Js one of England's be«t producers. IS li !! .Arpor-g the latest recruits to Warnor Brothers' army of film stars "and experts nre Mac Mnrsh. J. Harron, brother of the wo'l-known Bobble Har..<v. ->".,< Clvuies Roshcr, one of Mary Plckford's chief camera men. Th~v are nil nt work on the new production of "Babbit," from Sinclair Lewis's novel. The eternal triangle Is given a new twist m "Temptation." featuring Bryant Washburn, Eva Novak, and June • Flvidere. The story denlß with a woung married woman's desire for wealth and all that goes with IL Tho desire is trruifled. bringing with It the realisation that money alone does not make for happiness. Work on "Maytime" has beon started at Srhulberg's studio. Mr. Schulherg has just announced tint Ethel Shannon nnd Clara Bow wUi he the lending women ; players, and Harrison Ford the hero. :: :: s: Perhaps one of tho most thrilling everyday sights Is a rnclng fire engine It -suggests tree^dy nnd courage. A film entitled "The Third Alarm" Is alleged to be the epic of the fireman Certainly lt provides some th^illinc fir© scenes, nnd deeds of bravery are not lacking, This film was shown at the headquarters of ihe Sydney Metropolitan Fire Brigade, and was used as part of the propaganda for Fire Prevention Week. t : ! : i : There waa a mnn who thought h r was bound for other worlds, so ho married his nurse In order to save hi*** money from scheming relatives. But he recovered, and there he was — :*> married man, when only a few week--enrller he had been a rollick«ne younir bachelor, and he scarcely knew the girl's name. That is what hipnene' to "The Glorious Fool," portrayed by Richard Dlx. n j j "Main Streot." the •screen fldiptntlo*** of Sinclair Lewis's book, is not o-lv true to life, but it also possesses r* rich vein of humor. Through the R"*m-v runs a pretty romnnre m which Mis? Florence Vldor and Monte Blue share tho honors. "The Foolish Age." starring Doris May. Is based upon an Idea thnt lend? Itself, admirably to rapid- fire comedy. t: j: Charlie Chaplin has a remarkable knack of setting In and out of comnlicnted situations m a most original fashion. In "The Pilgrim" he steps r'ght Into them In the very first foot of tho film nnd he rfoes not wholly escape until the final fade-out. ' ! ! !! Ji Cecil Pc Mllle had 25.000 -persons and 4000 animals ln a reproduction of the Ancient Egyptian city built by the Children of Israel. It Is one of tho Wgge.vt sots thnt hat* ever been constructed for a moving picture. "The Ten Commandments" Is said to be one of the biggest plcturos of all time. Lewis Stone Is an actor that will be seen In a great number of Paramount offerings for the coming year. He takes the leading male rola ln "Tou Can't Fool Your Wife." one of Pammount'n offerings for the coming year. N T ita Naldl and Lcatrlce Joy are also In tho cast. tt :: tt After Pola Negri has finished "The Cheat." her second picture for Paramount nfter "Bella Donna," she will mako "The Spanish Dancer," an adaption of a Spanish classic which Is known as "The Spanish Cavalier." tf :t tl ! Two hundred dancers trained by j Theodore KosJoff spent a week performing for Director Cecil Do Mllle, tt Is probably thc largest dancing stunt overt* attempted nnd la -supposed to be a reproduction of tho revels of the Children of Isrnol before the Calf of Gold nt the foot of Mount Slnnll on their pilgrimage to Egypt. This set will be part of tho Biblical prologue of ("Veil De Mule's "Ton Commandments." The Paramount offering. "The Covered Wagon." will be the biggest picture released In the early part of 1924. This picture has created records wherever It has been shown nnd has Just completed a long season In Sydney nnd Melbourne. It is oxpoctcd that this nitlfitorplece of tho screen will be attended with one of the moat Invlah prologuea that has over been soon In New Zealand. Arrangements are now helm? mnde ln Sydney for the trannportatlon of the material for this prologue to Now Zealand. ti :t it Paramount has ploturlsed several of Zune Grey's utorlgn and the firm to be presented In New Zealand will be '"To The Lm«i Mnn." Thin l« the first picture that ban --ver been personally supervised by Z.me Grey, denplto any statements that have horn made to the con t m ry. • • :: ii Pauline Sl.irke WfiH recent ly HOlecl'Hl as onr* <>f the nix moat beautiful screen actrenata.