FILM FEAST FOR NEW ZEALAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 142, 6 September 1927, Page 9

FILM FEAST FOR NEW ZEALAND

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER’S FLANS Following its policy of eliminating the “sausages” of movng pictures, " Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will make only about 40 films next year, but these will cost more than the amount spent on the greater numbers of past years. “The foundation of our policy for 1928 is upon the stars whom w© believe the public wants to see,” said Mr. Douglas Lotherington, assistant general saies-manager for the Australian company, who arrived by the Ulimaroa from Sydney this morning. “Good stories, well produced and featurng the real screen favourites —that is what we are spending money on. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is retaining all its big stars, without reduction of salaries, which is a contract to the action of many film companies.” The appearance of Auckland’s two largest theatres impressed Mr. Lotherington, and he was surprised at the quickness of release of films. Some of them were seen in Auckland before they went to Sydney, and “Bardely’s the Magnificent” would be shown here for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere. This version of Sabatini’s novel featured John Gilbert. “BEN HUR” Talking of future releases, Mr. Loveringten said that “Ben Hur” was one of the finest pictures of all time. The chariot race was something which lifted stale “traders” off their feet at the initial screening and the technicolour scenes, especially that of “The Last Supper” were salon pictures. Running at the largest theatres in Sydney and Melbourne, the picture, which was in its ninth week, showed promise of breaking box-office records. Another great film was “Mons,” a British production featuring the famous retreat and in which General Sir H. Smith Dorrien, General Sir Tom Bridges, Governor of South Australia, who was in Auckland early this year, and other famous soldiers had parts. Among the releases would be “The Merry Widow,” based on the play; “The Flesh and the Devil,” featuring John Gilbert and a new discovery. Greta Garbo; “The Garden of Allah.” produced by Rex Ingram, maker of “Scaramouche” and “Mare Nostrum”; “Napoleon,” a French picture, and “The Student Prince.* THE SEVEN STARS “We are featuring seven stars, John Gilbert, Jackie Coogan, Norma Shearer, Marion Davies, Lon Chaney, Lillian Gish, and Ramon Novarro,” said Mr. Lotherington, “and in addition we have picked out three new people, Greta Garbo, a European discovery, William Haines and Tim McCoy.” Important improvements to the firm’s productions would be the use of the techni-colour process and of the speaking film. By arangement with the Hearst newspaper organisation Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was building up a news-film service to reach every corner of the globe. The film would be called the “M.G.M. News.” An international policy was being cultivated and the best films made in Britain and France were being purchased. Interest in New Zealand was shown by' the distribution of the publicity department’s films and the “Miss New Zealand” contest. Comedies were strongly in demand, said Mr. Lotherington. and the company booked up Harold Roach for five years. The funniest picture for a long time was “Rookies.”