“BLINDFOLD”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 584, 9 February 1929, Page 15

“BLINDFOLD”

NEXT PICTURE FOR MAJESTIC Lois Moran, playing the part of a. demure little newspaperwoman who lias lost her memory through grief over the death of her brother and an attack on her fiance by a gang of crooks, is called upon in the Fox film, "Blindfold,’* which will be shown at the Majestic next week, to order her lover out of the headquarters of the gang—not realising in her condition that he is her sweetheart. It is one of the points of high interest in the story, which was written by Charles Francis Coe, ace crook story writer of the modern day. Miss Moran’s transformation from her demure self to a coquettish flapper-aid of the gang is complete—she really plays quite a Jekyll-Hyde type of role. Her ambition for a long time liaxl been to portray a "sort of wicked’* individual, and in "Blindfold" she got an opportunity of which sho took full advantage. Geurgo O’Brien, star of "Sunrise," “The Iron Horse,” and other outstand-" ing Fox productions, plays the part of Kelly the cop. the sweetheart and fiance of Miss Moran. He, too, is fulfilling an ambition by his appearance in that sort of role, as he long had wanted to be a cop in pictures. His father is chief of police of San Francisco, and he was brought up in a more or less police atmosphere. Earle Foxe. portrayer of vigorous roles as well as a first-class comedian. and lately seen as the Prussian officer in “Four Sons,” has the next most important role. He plays tbe. part of Dr. Simmons, eminent neurologist and head of a gang of highclass crooks. Don Terry and Maria Alba. youngsters of tho Fox fold who show great promise, have important parts. Others in the cast include Fritz Feld of "The Miracle" piper fame. Craufurd Kent, Robert Homans, Andy Clyde and John Kelly. Charles Klein, newly-arrived German director, wielded the megaphono over this, his first feature length picture. He had demonstrated an ingenious technique in the production of Edgar Allan Poe's "Tell Tale Heart."

Fifteen major productions are now under v.ay at the M-G-M Studios. Among them are some of the biggest pictures of the season, including "The Last of Mrs. Cheney” (Norma, Shearer), "Thirst” (John Gilbert), "Broadway Melody." a "talkie" (Anita Page, Charles King. Bessie Love). “The Trial of Mary Dugan,” a "talkie’* (Norma Shearer), Cecil B. De Mille’s "Dynamite," a "talkie,” "The Pagan" (Ramon Novarro. Renee Adoree). and “The Five O’clock Girl" (Marion Davies). Two hundred college students, none of whom has previously been before a camera, have been brought to the Metro -Goldwyn-Mayer studios from the University of Southern California by James Craze to stage a college dance for 'The Duke Steps Out," William Haines’s new starring vehicle.. Joan Crawford. Eddie Nugent and a cast of well-known players are supporting Haines in this new picture.