AUCKLAND IS SEEING:-

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 38, 7 May 1927, Page 23 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND IS SEEING:-

REGENT “The Waltz Dream,” Miss Etta Field. MAJESTIC “The Night of Love,” “Fool’s Luck.” EVERYBODY’S “For Heaven's Sake,” So’s Your Old Man.” PRINCE EDWARD “Rose of the World,” “Lure of the Wild.” RIALTO “Hold That Lion,” “Chalkmark.” STRAND “Steele of the Royal Mounted,” . “The Desert’s Toll.” GRAND “The Miracle of the Wolves,” “Hot Water.” TIVOLI .. .. “The Silent Sheik,” “Everybody’s Acting.” NATIONAL AND LYRIC .. .. “Twinkletoes,” “Oh, Teacher.” PRINCESS .... “The Silent Sheik,” “Everybody’s • | Acting.” (Epsom) “Hold That Lion,” Poker Faces.” BRITANNIA “Beau Geste.” QUEEN’S “The Unknown Soldier.” EMPRESS “Aloma of the South Seas.”

Ifanetta Millner, a German mra * ss has been engaged d> i aidmount to come to America. Everything is collegiate in “Naughty V. , Nice" Colleen Moores new picbu There are college boys in it, ‘“ r <T (he story calls for College boys cla d in raccoon coats. . ( Carl Laemmle announces that Mary Philbin and Jean Hersholt will share hnnours in “Viennese Lovers, on twch production will start following Ihe finishing of “The Crimson Hour. Constance * Talmade has finished •'Venus of Venice." and after a short vacation will begin “Breakfast at buni". ,n adaptation of the Drench farce of the nume Kathleen Norris, the writer, has arrived in Los Angeles to be the guest of Mary Pickford. Miss Norris is to start work immediately on the story of a new picture to be filmed by Miss Pickford.

Titles for Constance Talmadge's new comedy drama, “Venus of Venice,” are being written by George Marion, Jr. The picture has just been completed at the United Artists’ Studio.

A brand new hospital containing four wards is the latest innovation at the Fox Films Hollywood Studios, where a •urgeon and complete hospital staff will remain on duty continously during production.

Blonde and brunette match their types in Donald Crisps ‘Vanity,” under way at the De Mille studio. Leatrice Joy, decidedly brunette, offers contrast to Helen Lee Worthing, Follies’ blonde, who supports the star.

Eddie Cantor went from Hollywood to New York recently to appear at a benefit performance for a boys’ camp at Spring Lake, N.Y. The former Broadway star has made a custom lor several years of aiding the benefit.

With the insignia of a fire chief on her automobile. May McAvoy, the dainty little heroine of “The Fire Brigade,” was permitted to dash through Los Angeles streets, and was •ven eligible to ride on the front seats of ail fire apparatus.

As a result of his wonderful work in “Sunrise,” F. W. Murnau, the German director brought by Fox Films to tT.S.A. for the purpose of making that picture, has been signed to a five-year Contract by that firm. “Sunrise” is a pretentious and unusual production.

Gloria Swanson is back ’in Hollywood and has reopened her home in Beverly Hills with the avowed intention of staying. ‘‘l’m going to make two pictures within the next seven months to be released by United Artists,” she said. “Then I’m going to Europe for a rest.”

Lecutres on motion pictures will be a part of the regular curriculum of the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, beginning when Will H. Hays, president of the MotionPicture Producers and Distributors of America, delivers the first lecture this month.

Rin-Tin-Tin, the clever dog actor, is said to gather in new honours in ‘Hills of Kentucky,” in which he performs a number of new tricks. With Rin-Tin-Tin ore Nanette and Rin-Tin-Tin Jr., and Jason Roberds, Dorothy Bwan, Tom Santschi and Billy Kent Schaefer.

Richard Crawford, younger brother °f Joan Crawford, has just signed with the Metropolitan Productions in hope °f attaining stellar roles. Tall and of splendid physique, with curly brown and eyes not unlike those xff his sister, he is a splendid type of young American screen hero.

, ore nce Vidor will star next in The World at Her Feet,” for Paramount, Luther Reed directing. Miss v idor is going into the first scenes shortly after the finish of “Afraid to Love,” a sprightly comedy now completed according to B. fcchulberg, associate producer.

Sydney notabilities were present at H lO Premiere of Master Pictures’ John «arry mo re feature, “Don Juan,” when p. Was released at the Sydney Prince L-award Theatre. Mr. Ward Morgan, musical comedy star, who received injuries in the recent Brisbane nmway smash, acted as host.

v Hesmond is concluding a audeville tour to return to Universal k r a new serial picture. Desmond is *cr his many Western plays, the new serial will follow the type of his former stories. Called fr..TrV anisb *ng Rider,” it was written r Desmond by Val Cleveland.

5 4i- r «>-^ e year ended March 31, 1926, 0 foet fllm was censored by ■u- t ea * an( i censor, the late Mr. bein S nearly a million feet *“ an the previous year’s total. biot,/ ens ’5 b . celluloid comprised .2,751 u»at, lres ’ bein S of all descriptions—drac, scenic, industrial and comic.

toairi? 41 ? Barthelmess has been thA b * m self very much at home at int#% tf St studio. He moved from his house at leavA &nd for a week did not boast* e £ r °unds. As the studio barhc, a cafe, gymnasium, library and fectlv r sbor> * hi* s life has not been exCUy Primitive for all that.

? arr « i n Russia a noted actress, under 8 s<re,n appearance will he le lrst National tanner. She mond s i^ e t K w L th MilU>n Sin * in " Dia3 Ilrabin . n * be Rough.” a story Charles riean h; IS ®* rect lag ot the South AmeMiL o iam ° nd m »nes. With Sills and the lecture are Charles • toward Peil and John MiUan.

A French romantic novel, “Cheri Bibi,” by Gaston Leroux, has been bought by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The story tells of French penal settlements and convict ships, and a hero who organises a mutiny, captures a prison ship and figures in a romance. Leroux is author of “The Phantom of the Opera.”

The life of Jesse James will furnish material for Fred Thompson’s first picture to be released by Paramount, While Thompson and liis horse, Silver King, are completing their final picture for F. 8.0., the Western star is having all the exploits of Jesse written into story form.

In addition to Lillian Gish and Lars Hansen (the eminent Swedish actor), who score all along the line in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s fine version of Hawthorne’s celebrated book, “The Scarlet Letter,” there is conspicuous in the cast, Karl Dane, the popular exponent of “Slim” in “The Big Parade.” Dane ran John Gilbert close for first honours in the latter picture.

When Adolphe Menjou finishes work on “The Headwaiter,” as his new picture is tentatively named, he will leave Hollywood for a two months’ trip to Europe. Menjou and the members of the, company returned to the studio a day or so ago from a 10 days’ trip to Lake Tahoe, where they made a series of Alpine scenes for a picture that has a European locale.

John Emerson and Anita Loos, of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” fame, one of the most famous teams of collaborators in writing stage and screen plays, are responsible for the story of “The Whole Town’s Talking,” a new Universal Jewel production. Edward Everett Horton and Virginia Lee Corbin are featured in this comedy, which is due for early release in Auckland.

Madge Bellamy, according to advance information, has seldom enjoyed a better opportunity to display her screen talent than in “Ankles Preferred,” a J. G. Blystone production for Fox Films soon to be released. Lawrence Gray has the leading masculine role opposite the charming little Fox Films’ star. Allan Forrest is also in the cast.

The dance of “Salome” in Fox Films’ “The Heart of Salome” is the latest screen sensation. Alma Rubens in the leading role did the screen dance under direction of Victor Schertzinger. Miss Rubens began her career as a dancer in a San Francisco theatre where Schertziner was music director. Walter Pidgeon gives a masterly characterisation in the part of Monte Carrol. This feature will soon be introduced in Auckland.

In her short but successful screen career, Olive Borden, Fox star, has been a little half-breed in the South Pacific, a little aristocrat of the late nineteenth century who adventured into the West with her father. She has portrayed the part of a povertystricken Canadian who rose to fame on Broadway in a musical review and she has been a fiery tempered senorita. But until she was cast in the featured role of “The Secret Studio,” the film version of the popular newspaper serial story, she has never been Just an honest to goodness twentieth century girl, with all the faults and failings and all of the saving graces of the famous “younger generation.” This picture has been selected for Auckland. .* * *

Preparations for the production of Universal’s “Chinese Parrot” have been completed. J. Grubb Alexander has finished the script for the play and lias been placed under a five-year contract by Carl Laemmle. Conrad Veidt will be starred in the role of Charlie Chan, the Chinese detective, and Hobart Bosworth will play the part of Philip Madden in this screen version of Eari Derr Bisffers’ novel. Marion Nixon will be the leading lady.

A one-reel comedy in colour, the first venture of the sort ever made, has been finished by Tiffany Colour Classics. Playing the leads are four beautiful girls from the Earl Carroll "Vanities," Jean Murray, Gladys 1 hilbin. Irma Philbin and Eileen Wenzel, and others in the cast are Antrim ishort Yvonne Bristol and Ricoa Allen. Plays of the romantic type have been done in colour. "A Greenwich Village Romance” is the first comedy.

Billie Dove, the pretty dancer of “An Affair of the Follies,” will be starred in “The Stolen Bride,” a ture of Alexander Korda, European director, for First National. Miss Dove is starred after her work in “The Tender Hour,” for George Fitzmauriee. She was co- featured with Ben Lyon in “The Tender Hour.”. In “The Stolen Bride” Lloyd Hughes will be her leading man. * * * Not long ago Milton played the role of an Italian Duke in First National’s “The Unguarded Hour.” Then he assumed the stellar role in Earl Hudson’s big special, “Men of Steel.” Now, as Nicki, in the screen version of Frances Lightner’s stage play, “Puppets,” Milton will be seen as the owner of a ■Tu.inch-and-Judy show, who abandons his two loves—Angela, the girl of his dreams, and his marionettes —to join the Italian army. But, of course, he returns and all comes out happily in the end. Chester Franklin, screen director, has no superstitions about the number “13.” Shortly he will direct “The Thirteenth Hour” at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, starring Lionel Barrymore. The picture was begun February 13; was completed by E. T. Lowe in 513 scenes; was written in Lowe’s office No. 13, and will have thirteen people in the cast. “One 13 will neutralise the other,” says Franklin. “Just as vaccine neutralises smallpox.” Incidentally, the dog to be used in the film is just 13 months old.

Shirley Mason will have the unique distinction of being the only feminine player to appear in Douglas Mac Lean’s latest Paramount Comedy, “Let It Rain.” “Let It Rain” is a story of the U.S. Marine Corps, and as in his success, “Twenty-three and a Half Hours’ Leave,” Mac Lean will play an enlisted man. Much of the action of-the story will take place on the floating barracks of the marines, aboard a battleship.

Fritz Feld, who was seen in America in “The Miracle,” will play with Norma Talmadge in the screen version she is making of Willard Mack’s melodrama, “The Dove.” Olga Baklanova, another “Miracle” player, is in the cast. Feld began on the stage with Max Reinhardt in Berlin, and Werner ICrauss and Emil Jannings were members of the company. Feld and Krauss alternated in the role of the Piper during the “Miracle’s” early weeks in New Y r ork.

The struggle between duty and love, when their pathways run in opposite directions, makes “Prowlers of the Night,” Universal Western drama, more compelling in its Western habiliments. Fred Humes, long identified with two-reel Westerns, firmly establishes himself as a star of featurelength pictures. There is a zest and youthful breeziness about his performances which is missing from that of the more established Western favourites.

The time for a new type of picture, simple, dramatic, intensely human, is at hand, in the opinion of William IC. Howard, director of “The Thundering Herd.” “Gigolo,” and other screen sliccesses. Howard believes that the ornately mounted, elaborate spectacle and romantic picture must give way before less sensational films giving attention to careful study of human emotions. Howard’s new picture, “White Gold,” starring Jetta Goudal, is under way at the De Mille studios.

From the heights of operatic triumph to the plane of a film “extra” worker was the step essayed recently by Mme. Richard-Constantineau, five years ago a well-known opera singer of New York, Boston and Washington, and lifelong friend of Mme. Clementine de Vere Sapio, of the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York. Shocked by the unexpected death of her two younger children, Mme. Constantineau deserted her opera and went into films.

Clara Bow started work on her new Paramount starring vehicle, “Rough House Rosie,” by taking a day’s outing at the beach. Opening “shots” were made at the Venice amusement pier, a popular beach resort near Hollywood. The company patronised the games and rides and had a wonderful time as part of the day’s work. Miss Bow has the title role. Reed Howes is her leading man. Other members of the cast arc Doris Hill, Casson Ferguson, John Miljan, Arthur Houseman and Henry Kolker.