DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3610, 22 May 1923, Page 60

DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS.

VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND. SEEKING NEW SCENIC EFFECTS. Fbom Oub Own Cobrespondent.i CHRISTCHURCH, May 15. Mr Sam Blair, Douglas Fairbanks’s manager, arrived in Christchurch this morning. He told a Star reporter that Fairbanks would be coming to New Zealand in tho not far distant future to film scenes for a big picture he is at present working on, called “Tho Black Pirate.” Mr Blair said he was to have gone to the Wanganui River, but bad weather made him change his plans, and he came south instead. While in Wellington Mr Blair obtained a great number of snapshots of the river, mountain, and coastal scenery of New Zealand, and he considers it is an ideal place to “shoot” scones such as Fairbanks will requiro for his picture. “Californian scenery has been done to death,” declared Mr Blair, “and we want something fresh. A great many of tho scenes will be taken in the South Sea Islands, and then Mr Fairbanks will bring his company of 100 players or so on to New Zealand.”

“I understand,” said Mr Blair, “that Douglas Fairbanks’s pictures have not been popular here lately. If that is the case, I cannot understand it. I was told in New York that the people out Tier© did not like his swank and smile, but there is no swank about Fairbanks. It is his happy-go-lucky style, and he is tremendously popular over there. He is always a liberal giver o charity, and is ever ready and willing to give advice to aspiring actors and actresses. He believes in keeping fit, and combines play with work. His firmest endeavour is to keep bis pictures absolutely free from vulgarity.” Questioned regarding t.he reported visit of Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford in conjunction with the other star, Mr Blair said he did not think there was much possibility of their coming. “Charlie Chaplin is making a comedy of Hamlet.” said Mr Blair. “Can you imagine it? And much as Mrs Fairbanks would like to accompany her husband to Now Zealand, she is in too much demand to be allowed away for any length of time.” Air Blair will stay here for a couple of days or so, and then go across to the West Coast.