THE SILENT STAGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20089, 4 May 1927, Page 2

THE SILENT STAGE.

FILMS AND FILM ARTISTS. By Harlequin. The ancient city of Pompeii, destroyed by volcanic eruptions in 79 A.D., and excavated during the eighteenth century, is one of the m~ny places of historical anil pictorial interest Rex Ingram utilised in the filming in Europe of his production "Mare Nostrum” 'Our Sea), for Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In order to take advantage of the special permit granted by the Italian Minister for Arts to work in the ruins, Ingram and his company endured the hardships of living for several days in a small hotel at the base of Mount Vesuvius, only a few yards from Porta Marina, the main entrance to the destroyed city. Vesuvius made no rerfous disturbance during the time Mr Ingram and his company, which included Alice Terry and Antonio Moreno, who enact the leading parts in the famous Blasco Ibanez story, were working in Pompeii. However, it was active at all times, and clouds came out of the boiling crater day and night. According to Miss Pauline Starke, who has the leading feminine role in ‘‘Love’s Blindness,” the new Metro-Goldwyn-Myer production, men respond more quickly to flattery than women. “Women,” says Miss Starke, “have been flattered by men since time began, and because of this women know flattery when they hear it, and while appearing to believe every word, they always take it with a grain of salt. Men—poor dears —have not been flattered as much as women have, and, therefore, they enjoy it more, and are not so quick to recognise it as such. We all like flattery, there is no doubt about that, but men, being less used to it, are more susceptible victims.” Supporting Miss Starke in “Love’s Blindness” are Antonio Moreno and other well-known players. Marcelino Day plays the leading feminine role in support of Jack Hoxie, who has started in the Universal Western attraction “Looking for Trouble.” Marccline Day has made meteoric strides as a film star, and since the making of this particular attraction has been chosen by the famous Eric Von Strohein for the principal feminine lead in one of his most outstanding attractions.

The time and expense to which motion picture companies are put in order to get authentic scenes is demonstrated in the making of “Prisoners of the Storm,” starring House Peters. The entire company, including star, director, supporting staff, and technical staff, travelled* a distance of more than 3000 miles, from Hollywood, California, to M‘Call, Idaho, to obtain realistic snow scenes. “Prisoners of the Storm" has in its cast Peggy Montgomery, Walter M'Grail, Henry Todd, Clark Comstock, Fred Desilver, Lillian Nicholson, and others.

A significant addition to the all too meagre ranks of screen comedians is given the public in Little Billy, who plays the leading role in “Oh, Baby!” Little Billy, the tiny actor who forgot to grow up, measures 40 inches in height, and is 28 years of age. At the age of 12 his well-developed talent at dancing, impersonations, and monologues attracted the attention of vaudeville managers, who promptly booked him. For many years now Little Billy has been a great favourite on the principal American vaudeville circuits.

Research that covered almost tho entire globe was necessary in the reproduction of the sensational new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture “The Temptress,” filmed from Vicente Blasco Ibanez’s novel of Paris and South America. Laid in European cities, Buenos Aires and the wilds of South America, its range in scenic design and costuming, types of actors, and methods of characterisation proved enormous. Strange foreign vegetation, imported from South America, and transplated in the wastes of the Mojave desert, reproduced a plain in tho Argentine, and water transported in great wagons drawn by tractors had to be procured to keep it alive for the few weeks required to film tho scenes. “The Temptress” features Greta Garbo and Afttonio Moreno, who are supported <fy a cast of popular players. One of tho busiest members of the Hollywood film colony is tho charming and exotic Chinese actress Anna May Wong. Speaking of her mpvie career, Miss Wong said that she had to overcome a lot of prejudice and opposition from her parents before she was allowed to take up a career. “They’re used to it now,” she said, “but they wanted mo to stay at homo and get married while I was still young to some nice Chinese boy. But I wanted a career, and I haven’t found tho Chinese man yet whom I would marry.’’ Usually, _ Miss Wong is cast as an Oriental, but in tho Motro-Goldwyn-Mayer production “The Desert’s Toll,” Miss Wong appears in tho role of an Indian girl, and it is surprising how her Oriental features lend themselves to such a characterisation. “The Desert’s Toll” is an adventure epic photographed amid the gorgeous settings of the Bryce Canyon in Utah. Francis M‘Donald, Kathleen Key, and a number of wellknown players form the cast. “THE FLAMING FRONTIER.” An unusual history of the early days in the West is unfolded in “The Flaming Frontier,’’ recently released in New Zealand. The picture has an all-star cast, which includes Hoot Gibson, Dustin Farniiin, Anno Cornwall, Ward Crane, Kathleen Key, Eddie Gribbon, Harry Todd, George Fawcett, Charles French, Harold Goodwin, William Steele, Ed. Wilson. Walter Rodgers, and Joe Bonomo. It was directed by Edward Sedgwick, who also wrote tho story. In 1876 the tide of civilisation is steadily pushing Westward. Tho Indians are growing restless and jealous of tho advancing whites. On tho plains settlers and soldiers are blazing tho way, while in Washington politicians and profiteers are selling whisky and arms to tho Redskins. Bob Langdon, pony express rider, army scout, and friend of General Custer, through Senator Stanford, gets an appointment to West Point. There ho meets Lawrence Stanwood and the latter’s sister, Betty. It is a case of love at first sight. General Grant ;s President. General Custer is seeking to bring peace in tho West, but this clashes with the interests of the profiteers and they try to disgrace Custer before Grant. Custer is aided by Senator Stanwood. In order to get Stanwood, the plotters involve his son with Lucretia Belden, at West Point. There is a scandal, and to shield the Senator Langdon takes the blame and is expelled. Ho returns to Custer’s command. The Indians, aided by tbe renegade whites, unite under Chief Sitting Bull, for attack on the whites. Custer, misled as to their numbers, attacks on the Little Big Horn. Ho has 400 men; the Indians number thousands. Custer sends Langdon through the Indians with a message ordering Major Reno to come to the rescue. Reno fails and Custor and his command are slaughtered. The profiteers are gleeful. What finally happens comes as a startling climax to this great picture. .