MOTION PICTURE NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20867, 6 November 1929, Page 2

MOTION PICTURE NEWS.

SOUND AND SILENT FILMS. By Harlequin. Among the Gainsborough “ talkies” scheduled for production in the immediate future is a screen version of the stage success “ The Bil of Divorcement.” British Dominions Films have already secured many important Gainsborough talking Reductions, such as "The City of Play," The Valley of Death,” " Taxi for Two," and The Wrecker,” all of which are to be released at the end of this year or the commencement of 1930. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is constructing 2i? e l kk® largest and most complete theatres outside of New York at its •nil *-^ ty studios. The big theatre will be used , for producing stories of theatrical life for the screen, and in addition, it is also a complete sound stage, being thoroughly sound insulated. Of s 11 ( J? Es truction,- with special acoustic walls, floors, and ceilings, the new theatre will seat nearly 2000 people, _ The first talking picture to be made at iMetree, under the agreement between British and Dominions and His Master’s Voice, will be a film versipu of the stage play Wolves." Miss Dorothy Gish and Oharles Laughton will make their talking debuts. Others in the cast include Oscar Aecne, Arthur Margetson, and Jack OsterF lan ;., The production will be directed by Albert De Courville, under the general production supervision of Herbert Wilcox.

A cablegram from Berlin gives the information that Emil Janningse first sound production for. U.F.A. will be called Devd and Saint,” and that Jannings the E ar * ; of Rasputin. This rum will be an Erich Pommer production which is to be directed by Josef von a tern berg, who is already en route to Berlin frqm_ Hollywood. Von Sternberg produced The Last Command," in which Jannings played in America. Amazimr scenes were witnessed in Longon at the first presentation of Gloria Swansons first talking picture, "The Trespasser. About 5000 people, mostly women, lined the pavements near the kinema. When Miss Swanson arrived the crowd broke the police cordon and surged round her car in an attempt to obtam a real "close up” of the star. Miss Swanson had to be extricated from her car by a bodyguard 'of guests in even,n K drees from the theatre. Adolph Menjou appeared in court in New York to defend a suit of £2OOO brought against him by his former man?Bcr. After hearing the testimony the judge dismissed the case. Menjou then walked over to where his wife was seated and. taking her in his arms, he kissed her, i?,.l“®delight of the spectators. If Billie Dove appears in "The Broadway Hostess.” her latest First National picture, in a sun-tan shade, it will be Her own and not make-up. Mias Dove started the picture a week after a vacation at her Malibu Beach, cottage, where she spent most of her time in a bathing SU l.u Now 6116 is trying to figure out whether sun-tanned limbs fit in with night club atmosphere. r? u 4? r 4r s i talking picture, " Smiling Irish Eyes, Colleen Moore is a surprise. Her voice is particularly sweet, with just the touch of Irish brogue which makes it fascinating. “ Dawn," the picture over which so much controversy was raised, first banned and then licensed in nearly all Englishspeaking countries, is now screening throughout New Zealand. The film graphically portrays the colourful and adventurous life of the war nurse, Edith Cavell, whose tragic end so shocked the Jt is .based on the story of her me by Captain Berkeley, and made into a photoplay by Herbert Wilcox, one of Europe s most famous producers. The production was over two years in the making, and each scene was re-enacted in the exact spot in Belgium where the tragic events occurred. Mr Wilcox received the whole-hearted support of the Belgian Government, and it is largely due to its aid that the finished production rings so true. Sybil Thorndyke. LA don’s most popular and famous emotional actress, and a friend of Edith Cavell, portrays the nurse, and is supported by an excellent cast, including Madame Bodart (actually Nurse Cavell’s assistant) Marie Ault. Mary Brough, Micky Brantford, and many others. There are no war horrors in the production, and Sybil Thorndyke gives a performance of dignity and restraint that is far more eloquent than a ton of ovemoting would be. "The Bondman,” a ■pictunVation of Sir Hall Cain’s famous novel of the same name* is now screening in New Zealand. This British Dominions film, starring Norman Kerry in the title role, with Frances Cuyler and Donald is the story of two half-brothers whom destiny decreed should meet though half the world ‘apart. At practically the same time each had taken an oath—one on the dagger of vengeance and the other on the cross of repentance. Michael leaves tb® Isle of Man for an important post in Sicily and leaves behind him his sweetheart. Jason comes to the Isle of Man seeking vengeance, and falls in love with Greeba. Michael has not been heard of tor three years, and Greeba consents to wed Jason, How the brothers eventually meet—the triumph of repentance over vengeance—makes a stirring story. Adapted from the successful Broadway stage play. "Fog" by John Willard, author of "The Cat and the Canary,” “ Black Waters ” is the story of uncanny happenings aboard a mystery ship which lies in a murky San Franciscan dock. To this ship five oddlv-assorted people have been summoned by a strange letter. As midnight arrives they meet at the dock, all astonished to see one another, but determined to board the schooner despite the warnings of the wharf watchman, who calls it a devil-ship, (The party assembles in the cabin quite unaware that the watchman has been killed and also that the ropes have been severed from the wharf, with the result that the ship is slowly drifting out to sea. Then ensues a series of amazing adventures. The climax is a masterpiece, leaving everyone gasping under a deluge of thrills. This all-talking British Dominions film will be screened throughout New Zealand very shortly. Myrna Loy, who plays the feminine lead in the all-talking picture " The Black Watch,” Fox film starring Victor M‘Laglen, is claimed to be one of the most colourful and exotic personalities on the present day screen. Her role of Yasmani in this pretentious production is easily the moet. important she has been cast for in her brief but splendidly successful career in the movies.

“ Yasmani,” as created by Talbot Mundy, author of the novel from which the picture is adapted, is a voluptuous figure. exotic, mysterious, a she-devil with whom many men matched wits only to come out second best. The stellar role, plaved bv Victor M'Laelen, is that of “Captain Donald King, of the famous “Black Watch,” the nickname for the 42nd Highlanders. "The Black Watch,” which comes to the Empire Theatre soon, is expected to prove the greatest directorial triumph of John Ford. The supporting company includes David Rollins, Lumsden Hare. Lewis Mitchell, and scores of others.