Season of Great Photoplays

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 538, 15 December 1928, Page 13 (Supplement)

Season of Great Photoplays

United Artists

Theatregoers of this city can look forward to unusually delectable film fare this season, according to an announcement made by the Majestic and Strand Theatre. Motion pictures have improved in quality from year to year, until to-day the product available includes what may be termed ultra de luxe photo-plays. The season’s choice of this product is now promised for this season by the Majestic and Strand, who are receiving congratulations upon closing contracts with United Artist Corporation insuring the exhibition of filmdom’s newest masterpieces on the screen of the theatre.

United Artists Corporation, by the way, is rated the most unique and at the same time the most successful star ownership organisation of motion picture distributors. Formed 10 years ago by Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith, in an effort to obtain an unrestricted market for their productions, the company has since grown to an unprecedented extent. The original quartet has now added a dozen outstanding personalities in the world’s roster of stars and producers. Their co-opera-tive distribution has spread to 94 key points in 45 countries. The new pictures by this famous company will include the following: Mary Pickford, in an adaptation of the Broadway stage success, “Coquette,” in which she plays the wilful Southern girl whose love affair is a hurricane of drama.

Norma Talmadge in “The Woman Disputed,” direction of Henry King and Sam Taylor, based on Dennison Clift’s powerful play. Gloria Swanson in “Queen Kelly,” an African dramatic romance, direction of Eric von Stroheim, who is also author of the original story. Dolores Del Rio in “Revenge,” direction of Edwin Carewe, based on “The Bear Tamer’s Daughter,” by Konrad Bereovich.

Vilma Banky as an Alsatian belle in “The Awakening,” direction of Victor Fleming. Charlie Chaplin’s next picture will be a rollicking story of cafes and night clubs, “City Lights,” written and directed by himself. Douglas Fairbanks in “The Iron Mask,” direction of Allan Dwan, the further adventurers of d’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers. Synchronised with music and sound effects. John Barrymore in "Tempest.” A romance of modern Russia.

Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky will make their last appearance together in “Two Lovers,” based on Baroness Orczy’s novel, "Leatherface.” John Barrymore in “King of the Mountains,” a drama of the Swiss Alps. Ronald Colman in “The Rescue,” direction of Herbert Brenon, based on Joseph Conrad's sea story. Lily Damita, new Goldwyn importation, makes her American screen debut opposite Mr. Colman in this production. D. W. Griffith’s “The Battle of the Sexes.” adapted from the story by Daniel Carson Goodman, with Jean Hersholt, Phyllis Haver, Belie Bennett, Don Alvarado and Sally O’Neil in the cast. Also, D. W. Griffith’s “Masquerade,” a stirring drama of the times of Napoleon 111, with William Boyd, Jetta Goudal, Lupe Velez, George Fawcett and Albert Conti in the cast. Other fine United Artists productions will be “Lumnox.” directed by Herbert Brenon, the man who made the classic “Sorrell and Son”: “Nightstick,” a tense, gripping drama by Roland West, known for his picture “The Bat”; “She Goes to War,” a big, spectacular drama of the women’s part in the Great War, a Henry King production; and finally, "Three Passions,” directed by Rex Ingram from the Cosmo Hamilton novel with Alice Terry and Ivan Petrovitch in the cast.

The parents of a new star called her in and berated her bitterly for telling an interviewer about the poverty and struggles of her childhood. "Don’t you see ?” wailed her mother, who has acquired a grandeur-complex with her first limousine, "that that makes us seem like cheap people?” “Well.” said the star cheerfully. “What of it? Aren’t we?”