SCREEN JOTTINGS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 21 June 1926, Page 7

SCREEN JOTTINGS

“For once the newspaper advortis- ! ing of a film has not exaggerated the j value of the goods its represents. Tho Oovernmpnt Publicity Office production "‘Glorious New Zealand’ is indeed a thing of joy and beauty.”—Vide Press. A mere panoramic succession of scenic gdiis would not provo fully 1 satisfactory to patrons, and tho Gov- i eminent recognising that fact have j produced the film feature in such a ! wav that not for one instant is the j interest allowed to flag; for instance, the arrival in New Zealand of Jan Abel Tasman in 1042 shows his ships Herinerck and Zeolian arriving off the coast of the Dominion, and a comparison is made showing the progress since those times. Tho part New Zealanders took in the Great AVar is graphically portrayed in novel fashion on the screen. Studies of native birds in the hush are fascinating to a degree. The glories of Alt. Cook, the icy pinnacles of Frail/. Josef Glacier, tho crystal clear waters of the beautiful AA’angaiiui River, the splendid hushclad bays of Stewart Island, the thrills of sword-fishing, the spouting geysers ' of uncanny AVnirakei, the wonders of our Southern Lakes, Milford Sound, Bowen Falls, and numerous scenic beauties of lesser known parts of the Dominion, are depicted in quite up-to-date fashion per medium of colour toned and tinted film. ‘‘Glorious New Zealand” will he screened at the Theatre Royal, commencing AA’cdnosday next.

Tho famous Pendleton, Oregon Round-Up of 1925, the greatest annual cowboy sporting event ill the country, is shown in full detail in “Under AA'ostern Skies,” an Edward Sedgwick production coming to the Theatre Royal, with an all-star cast. In order to secure these scenes exclusively for the picture, Universal purchased tho motion picture rights to the round-up. Among the players in this great picturn are Norman Kerry. Anne Cornwall, AA’ard Crane, Eddie Gribbon, Kathleen Key, George Fawcett, Charles Tx. French, Harry Todd, AA’illiam Steele, Frank Limning. and .Tulin Rotors. Sedgwick wrote the store and also directed the picture. In it the East and AA'est and combined to make a smooth and easy running picture.

“The Desert’s Price,” the production starring Buck Jones coming to tho Grand Theatre on Thursday, is a whirlwind western drama full of action and thrills. Tho plot revolves round the dispute between the cattlemen and the sheepmen, coming to an entirely unexpected and exciting ending. There are some wonderful exhibitions of horsemanship. Tho scenic and photographic effects are beautiful, and the cast is extremely well chosen. Supporting Jones are Florence Gilbert, Edna, Marion, Earnest Butierworth, Arthur Houseman, and Montague Love. AA r . S. A r an Dyke directed the production.

Rin-Tin-Tin, the “Wonder. Dog,” who lias appeared in a number of highly successful photoplays made by Warner Bros., is not a mere “stunt” performer. Before his present contract was signed lie had established a screen versatility which enabled him to play a wide range of parts as are commonly given to a male or female human star. At the present time the photoplay stories in which Bin-Tin-Tin appears arc being chosen almost entirely because of their broad interest, and not because they are specially suited to a dog, with the usual restrictions brought about by the average dog’s inability to do anything other than a few “tricks.” In “Tracked in the Snow Country,” coming to the. ’Theatre Royal for .Saturday, Rin-Tin-Tin has a. real acting part. Most interest in him in this picture comes from the fact that he starts out as a. “heavy,” being falsely accused of a. crime. Rin-Tin-Tin's efforts to bring Iho real culprit to justice and thereby establish his own innocence provide the big dramatic thread of the story.

Monin Bel 1 , who directed “Lady of tire Night,” the production which is to open at the Grand Theatre on Tuesday, is a realist and a psychologist. From the opening title to the fade-out, his new picture is replete with human interest. "Lady of the Night” is a story of life in New York, where the society and criminal worlds rub shoulders. In the dual role of Florence and Molly, Norma Shearer, viTin is featured, contrasts two widely different types with vivid artistry. She is her charming se'f as the aristocratic Florence, hut as Molly, child of the slums, she essays something different from anything she lias done before. She makes her characters convincingly different, with touches of pathos, passion, humour, and fascination, in what is without doubt her finest performance.

Theodore Roberts has a rival! The cigar-smoking championship, held for many years by the famous character actor, was nearly lost at the studio Hollywood during the filming of Y 111 in m do Millets newest production, “New Brooms,” which comes to the Grand Theatre on .Saturday next. One morning Nei! Hamilton, who had never before smoked a cigar, did away wiLh ten or more Havanas. While two cameras were grinding awav, he .suddenly turned a queer shade of nnlo green. . “No. not sick, Mr de Mille, just a little rooky,” Hamilton told his director., hut it was more than that. ‘‘The nrieo of fame is a hot one sometimes.” ho groaned, as the set, lights, canv-ras. director ami the rest of the studio blurred and began to oyrnto about him. Bessie Love and Phyllis Haver, fhe other featured players in “New Brooms,” were amonc Ihnso who watched Neil Hamilton sink under a smoko srreen.

i From a New Fugbind hello b> “Tim °oa Boast.” the sea ooie in w'drli .T-bn Barrymore n’avs Die lead. 'Dolores Cosiel'o inn-as.l i n f], P 7 - 0 10 of a na-ohtv. lve.-nsorl I ■' tie nit's in the no-,- Wart:;' Picture. “The Little Irish Girl.”

.NOTES FROM THE STUDIOS

| * * * j “The Only AA 7 a.v,” adapted from Charles Dickon’s “Tale of Two Cities,” lias been converted into what is possibly tho best film yet made in Great Britain. Sir John Martin Harvey, as

Siono Carton, is magnificent. It is ■ not only a. great personal triumph, but j ranks as one of those very lew really j great- characterisations which Irom time, jto time go to provo that film acting | can be an art. First National Pictures take pleasure in announcing that this ‘ special production will he shown i through New Zealand * * *

A beautiful picture of the world’s most beautiful country, “Glorious New Zealand” —a fitting title for this exquisite colour toned picture. A veritable scenic classic of tho silver sheet, presented in lavish and heautilul form, “Glorious New Zealand’’ represents the essence of two years’ Government cinematographic effort. Containing the cream of 100,000 feet of glorious film compressed into two hours’ entertainment, “Glorious New Zealand” unquestionably testifies to tho unexcelled beauty of the Dominion’s Scenery, Gorgeous scenes of ravishing beauty follow each other in bewildering fashion. Comparatively few people have seen native birds such as tuis, wckas, pigeons, bclibirds, etc., in their bush environments, yet the clever camera men of the Government staff secured some quite unique close-ups of those beautiful specimens of our avifauna for inclusion in this scenic masterpiece, “Glorious New Zealand.” Sporting is also represented in swordfishing and other deep-sea sports. In the sword-fishing episode there is depicted quite a thrilling encounter with a rushing, leaping, fighting monster, which proved to be a record-sized fish. Tho beautiful AVanganui river—“river of pictures and peace” —is a classic of reflective water and mirrored fernery. Fiordland and “The Finest Walk in the AA’orld” (Aliiford Track) offer feast for tho eyes. “Franz Josef Glacier,” with its pinnacles, minarets, and fantastic. castles of scintillating ice provides an unforgettable scene. 'Stewart Island. “the land of tho Cowing Skies.” as the Maoris call it. is nrosented pinomatographically foil the first lime. Everywhere the camera, man turned could be found an ideal picture ; indeed it is no exaggeration to say that it was difficult for the selectors to know what to cut from the film. In fact nothing lias been neglected, from the. tropic strands of coral-girt Samoa to the frozen wastes of Ross Island; tho film probes from out-of-tlie-wav corners reve'aiions in unsuspected scenic glories. Nor yet is neglected tho beautiful womanhood of our Dominion, there being .screened several of our most exquisitely charming girls. Never has there been a more beautiful scenic film •shown throughout the Dominion. During the screening a highly entertaining educational and instructive lecture is delivered by Mr Tano Faina, and the short Timaru season will commence at the Theatre Royal on AA'ediicsdav.

Two nf scrcoida lid’s already wellestablished favourites will probably enjoy still further popularity with the advent of “Memory Lane.” coming to the Theatre Roval for Tuesday only. The players referred to are Eleanor Boardman and Conrad Nagel, both of whom have figured in .some of the biggest successes of the past. Versatility lias marhed the past triumphs of both stars, and in “Memory Lane,” their talents in that direction are severely t°xed, and both come through with flying eo'ours. “Memory Lano” will provide local screen lovers with something really new. in that the theme is altogether different from the usual. Tt is a picture, too, that will take its audience through a medley of emotions. thrills, and pathos. Tt is a medlev that holds an appeal to young and o'd. Tn addition to the stars moniinnrd, there is a big cast of support, which includes the twelve beauties chosen a.s bridesmaids in the big wedding scene. These eirls were chosen from hundreds of Hollywood's applicants, and the final selection was only made after most careful deliberation. “Memory Lane’’ is in every respect a memorable production, and one that provides convincing proof of the wonderful advancement made in serccncruft during recent years.

Anita Stewart, in Los Angeles, was in the net of boarding a train for New Tori; when a picture representative rushed through the station to the train shed and halted her. When told that she was wanted for a Yifagraph production, she expressed entire willingness to postpone her trip. She drove hack uptown, and after a brief conference' with David Smith, the producer of the Mu star picture “Baree, Son ot Kazan,” the contract was signed.

Ernst Lubitsch is to have Irene Rich in a leading ro'e of liis next Master picture, “The Door Mat.”

Rudv Valentino, in the Master picture “Cobra,” is worth the price of admission just to see the new line of early spring clothing he wears. There isn’t anything else in the. picture to attract you to be sure. Not even Nita N,nidi's new- figure ami old clothes can rob you of vour absorbing interest as you watch Budv change from Tweedledum to Tweedledee. “Cobra.” as a snake, transfers its stiakev appearance to Rudv.

Corimic Griffith started work last week with her designer on the wardrobe which she is to wear in her forthcoming production, “Mile Modiste.” ft is said with considerable authority that more than of),000 dollars will go to clothe the beautiful star for this one production. New' creations in morning, afternoon, and evenin'': gowns will ho introduced, many of which the star has bad in mind fur some time. “Milo Modisfe,” according io those familiar with the plans of the production, will 1)0 the most pretentious and elaborate production in which Miss Griffith lias appeared.