MIMES AND MOVIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11756, 21 July 1916, Page 3

MIMES AND MOVIES.

"Booties' Baby*' goes on at Everybody's next week. *.*

In reply to an interrogator: " Peg o My Heart" ran 704 times in London.

Madame Ada Rehan left £40,000, of which £IO,OOO was in stocks.

*»* ••Police," the last Essanay Chaplin film, has been doing big business m Australia. ••* The auction of seats for the first night of Zeigueld's Follies in ><cv l r ork brought in over £3OOO. *•• Miss Ethel Barrymore next season is to appear in a Maugham comedy, Urn Uotters," in New. York. Tolstoy's "Resurrection" is being shown in Australia in the Fox film entitled "A Woman's Resurrection. Betty Nansen plays the lead, Matusha. ** The Lampinis, a magician with a comedy partner who "exposes all the mvsteries, are said to provide a turn of" more than ordinary skill. *•• The Allan Wilkio Shakespearean Company has a little over another week in Adelaide and then is booked •o leave for tho Dominion. Charles Waldron is playing lead m " Daddv-Long-Legs " in London, and Miss Dorothy Dix is in tho same cast for a email' part. James Kirkwood, who directed Mary Pickford in several of her successes, is mentioned as likely to act in a similar capacity for May Miles Mmter at the American studio. Miss Margaret Auglin next season in New York is to be seen in W. •rcmerset Maugham's comedy, "Caroline," which has scored such a big sucje<s at tho Now Theatre, London- *»* It is stated that up to the end of Mav United States bookings to tho valiio of £260,000 had been made, by the Mutual for the new Chaplin comedies. The Australian rights aro said to have realised £35,000. ■•♦• Both "Romance" and "To-night's Mie Night" have opened well in Melbourne. The latter is a Paul Rubens •uusical comedy which has seen big business in London and New York. ••• Alfred Mirovitch and Piastro, the Russian musicians who have been so mccessful in Australia, are to tour the Dominion under the direction of J. and N. Tait. # • Camille Clifford, the Gibson Girl (the Hon Mrs Lyndburst Bruce) i$ appearing in " Razzle-Dazzle," a Drury Lane revue which went "on this month. Her iiusband was killed in Franco. *•* The Kewpies, created and maintained by Rose O'Neill Wilson in American magazines will shortly £o on the stage. They are being dramatised into a fairy story for grown-ups and will go on next season. J.C.W., Ltd., took the place of the Wheelers,' who {practically controlled the South African field, the firm taking over after Ben Wheeler's death. Their, run evidently has not been sufficiently lucrative to . warrant them

(By THE LIMELIGHT MAN.)

going on with the probability of powerful opposition when tho field became more settled. V ■ Corporal Harry Norman, stago manager for Bland' Holt for years, 'eft Australia at tho beginning of the year with Reinforcements. lie is now in France, and lias been promoted ser-geant-major. Tho Five Manehurians, described as acrobats extraordinary even for tho Oriental branch of their work, which, is always unusual, open at tho Opera House on July 31. They represent a powerful attraction! » Australia on July 31 is to see " The Battle Cry of Peace," the Yitagraph ' : Preparedness" picture which caused a stir in U.S.A. This picture was shown in Britain under tho title " An American Home." e » Tho films in Christchurch have had mere effective, and more artistic photography than " Tho Yellow Streak," which was at the Grand. The _ views of New York under smoke and taken into tho sun were a remarkable study. *»* Stephen Leacock has had a story expanded into a three-act comedy by Michael Morton. The play is entitled " The Barber of Mariposa." It is a sketch of life m a small Canadian town. Cyril Maude plays it. in America next season. * # * Ivy Close, the noted English actress, is to appear in a series of Kalcin onereel comedy releases. It is said that in Miss Close's contract tho Kalem Company stipulated that she should cross from England in a vessel flying the American flag. * Among recent re-issues of films that wero popular some years ago is a onereel Biograpk subject, '''The Unwelcome Guest," in which Mary Pickford appeared as a household drudge, a typo of character that won her many admirers. V Seymour Hicks is going into management again in London. He is taking over the Princess Theatre, at the head of Shaftesbury Avenue, and is going to work with farce and musical comedy at low prices. The scale of admission is to range from 6d to os. * • • Next Monday the Whirlwind M'Leans open at the Opera House. Peculiarly enough tho visit' to this country of Decime M'Lean have moved on a ladder of sevens. Her second visit saw her fourteen years of age and now she is nearly twenty-one years. Norma Talmadge, one of the most charming and most effective of [lie American screen players is in Australia in Triangle films, and should be here before long. . " The Children in the House" and "Martha's Vindication" are two films wluch have received enthusiastic praise. « « * Dustin Farmim, who is seen in "The Iron Strain," appears in " The Gentleman from Indiana"- (Bosworth). Tho picture is based on Booth Tarkington's well-known story with the same ctle. Three striking scenes are a storm, which introduces some novel effects, a country, circus, and the rising of the fowus-

people to out a coterie of crooks believed to have murdered the gentleman from Indiana.

Tho big hills arc out for " Cabiria," Oabricllo D~Anuunijio\s great film play. This hip picture has been a groat success wherever it has been "used, and advance opinions arc so enthusiastic that one can understand its attraction. D'Annunzio, by the way, is fighting for his country, practising what he bo eloquently preached in tho early stages of tho war.

A novelty to Australian audiences has been introduced with the Grand Opera season now on at the Melbourne Princess Theatre. It is the uso of paper scenery, which the company brought with them, and it has been in use throughout, their tour. Before it was allowed' to bo sot up on the Princess stage, it had to be painted with a compound of potassium and chloride of ammonia, which has the effect of making it fireproof.

Tho Actors' Equity Association of America, by an overwhelming majority, voted to affiliate with tho American Federation of Labour. The move has been found necessary, it is stated, in order to protect the interests of the actors. Some of the big managements look on tho move with favour, and are ready to grant tho association's demands, but others aro holding up the agreement, and may resist this bauding with tho big Federation of Unions.

• Granrillo Barker, who has alroadv given the English stage "Waste," ''The Voyscy Inheritance," "Tho Marriago of Ann Leeto" and "Tho Madras House," is turning out .inother play after a long silence. Hois writing a play around "The "Wrecker*," by R. L. Stevenson and Lloyd Osborne, making tho third Stevenson story to go into dramatic form. Tho other two are "Dr Jokyll and Mr Hydo" and "Treasure Island."

Among the films showing in Dublin kinemas at tho time of the recent rising were " Hearts and Flames," "Garrison's Finish," "Modem Outlaws," "Whoso Diggeth a Pit" and "Ashes of Revenge." One of tbo effects of martial law in Ireland was to prohibit all public entertainments, but this was relaxed subsequently, and Dublin picture houses opened between the hours of 2 and 7 p.m. In the conflagrations which attended the revolt one Dublin moving picture theatre was totally destroyed, and others much damaged.

"Too many cooks" is slated for production by the Kamilton-Tamiehill company under J.C.W. direction. lb enjoyed a good run in New York last season. It is an uproarious farce, with the novel setting of a house in the course of erection. The first acr, shows the foundations in, .the second the walls half up, and the third the completed structure. But between the first and the last a whole heap of amusing things happen, through the quarrelling of a wife's relations to the calling cut of all the labour employed on the iioiise, leaving the much-harassed owner to finish it for himself—which he does. V

Miss Lena Ashwell made a return to the London Coliseum on Monday, Juno 19. She is to be seen in a new playlet, entitled " Tho Maharani of Arakan," founded on a story by Sir Rabindra Nath Tagorc, the distinguished Indian poet, who was awarded the Nobel Prise in 1918. The adaptor, George Calderon, proceeded some time ago under orders to the Dardanelles, and has since-been reported "missing." The principal feature of the following week's programme at Mr Stoll's big house was the appearance of Mr Arthur Bourchier in a condensed version of Footc's famous old comedy, "The Liars."

Willard Mack and H. A. Vachell seem to bo ruuning neck and neck for the honour of being the most prolific playwright. Three years ago Mack was an actor in American vaudeville, then ho did "Kick In," a melodrama which was produced by A. 11. Woods and was a big. success. Then came "So Much For So Much," and for the next New York season he has four plavs slated for production: "Jane O'Day from Broadway," "King, Queen, Jack," "Gentlemen, Thiuk It Over." and "Alias Santa Glaus." Another is on tho stocks and is also to be put into commission next season under the title of "Common Little Things." Seven plays in about two years! W. Somerset Maugham has a record in having had. four plays runnings simultaneously in Loudon.

As the result of a trial for a thrill, in which Helen Gibson, the Kalem railway girl, was to be the central figure, officials of a railroad company from which an engine had been hired, intervened and stopped, proceedings, on the ground that its repetition for a "take " would probably wreck tho engine. Miss Gibson essayed to climb, hand over hand, along' a bar used for shunting cars on parallel lines to an engine. 'J he bar was to be thrown from a moving locomotive to a runaway car, and the girl to cross as stated. Despite protests from the railway men, Miss Gibson persuaded the director to make a trial. Tho outcome was nearly a tragedy. When tho bar was thrown to the runaway, the tender left the rails and ploughed up the track for some distance, while Miss Gibson narrowly ebeaped! being thrown under tho car.

It was interesting to look on " My Baby. - ' at the Grand Theatre, this week.' This is a re-issue of a film produced by the American Biograph at a time when the A.B. pictures led the van. The picture reveals at least four well-known stars of.the screen: Henry B Walthall, and Misses Mary Pickford, Mao Marsh and Lillian Gish. It was produced by D. W. Griffith', and has in its cast also W. Christy Miller, the old man who has done a lot of work on the films. While photography has improved and the treatment is broader, ir. is surprisng to find, on looking into tnis old film, that tho actual acting has not really advanced very much. There was then a restraint which many of the players of the present time do not seem to value. This lack of restraint is the keynote of most of the American failures. I hope to sec more re-issues of the A.B. stuff.

The announcement that P. C "YWI- - Ltd . has disposed of its South African interests is not Kurprisintr. South Africa has boon :i troubled. State ever since iho bib; Australian management entered the theatrical world" there. First there were the labour riots, followed by martial law, and close upon this came tho Boer rebellion. The "Williamson management bewail under the direction of Air Harold Ashton who retired to ioin the Australian directorate as associate director. Tie wa3 succeeded in South \frica bv Mr Richard Stewart- Australian and English actors have formed the South African companies that h-'vo been entertaining South African The purchasing company '-/ the South African Trust, a powerful money organisation whose chief enterprise hitherto has been moving pictures and vaudeville. •••

The of Mr Fuller as governing director of Mai-low, Ltd., which has Wnn auspiciously at the Adelplu with the Wish "Wynne engagement, promises to continue bnsidv. On Saturday last a new musical burlesque company opened with the Follies of Pleasure. Murry J. Simons and Walter Johnson, two producers identified with American burlesque, arrived on the Sierra, and will take turn about in producing some hundred musical sorpts. Simons wall have charge of tho Follies of jPleasurc, and Johnson's first production will bo " The Flirting "Widow." The principal?, who also arrived by the Sierra, include Melon io Cain f prima donna).. Helen ,\li!,"u icharaoti-r woman;,

Moore (soubrette). Lew Dunbar (Irish comedian), and the Four Duquaines (singing comedians). On the American boat there also arrived under engagement to Fuller's, Wilfred Lu liois, a tennis ball manipulator; the Le Groiis, a lady and gentleman described as

"real twi&ters"; Judge and Dura, who talk, sing and tumoJe; and Harry Tsuda, a Jap whose balancing act has a great vauucvilie reputation.

A voting' competition, held by the Melbourne "Herald,'' returned Mary Picki'ord at the head of the poll for drama, with Olgo Petrova next, and Pearl White third. Robert Warwick led the men, followed by William Far3inia, Francis X. Bushman, J. Warro't Kerrigan and H. B. Walthall. Charles Chaplin romped away with the comedy vote, polling more than twice the- votes for Ihe other candidates. Mabel Xorniand carried the ladies' comedy vote, exceeding even Chaplin's figures. Fay T'inehor was third. *•• A FEW ANSWERS. Ivy D.: Arthur V. Johnson was with tho A.B. aims when they headed tho field. He cLed this year. Elaine: Pearl White is twenty. I don't think she is married. K.L.P.: Cast for " Niobe " :—Xiobo, Hazel Dawn; Peter Ames Ihmn, Charios Abbe; Caroline, Maudo Odcll; Helen, Mario Leonard; Cornelius, Leigh Denny; Beatrice, .lre.no liaismaiJii; Tonip.';iais, William Merkyl. Clara K;inba.ll Young played Hope in " Hearts in Exile," and Monmgnc Love was Xicolai, the chief of polite. Uustin Farnnm and William Farnuni are brothers.

One fears (says '"'Curados," iu the Loudon "Referee- ") it is of no use to argue with madmen—and the German attempt to exercise proprietorial rights with a. view to a future legal claim on Shakespeare is, of course, only a. form of national monomania blinded to its own stupidity. If it were otherwise I would most readily recommend to Teuton perusal Mr Henry Arthur Jones's pamphlet, " Shakespeare and Germany," lb is described as "written during the battle of Verdun." Presumably this d'ocs not mean that Mr Jones was actually engaged in tho battle at the time of writing, though thcro are passages that but for tho tiiuiider and havoc of their attack might well be likened to an " intense artillery preparation." Apart from his characteristically forceful rhetoric the particular value of Mr Jones's little book is that he speaks as an expert dramatist. As such, he proves, from what wo may call technical evidence, that Shakespeare's most famous patriotic passages represent his personal felings because they are draggtd in against the needs of the drama. In "King John'/! though Lymoges, Duke of Austria, is England's enemy, selling the yet uuconquered England to his ally, he must yet burst into tho noble lines about that '"' water-walled bulwark," like Balaam beholding Israel. Again, John of Gaunt's rhapsody " blazes out, from a commonplace level of j:ngling platitudes, with no cause for ignition. On tho contrary, it is when England is at its worst — u bound in with shame/' and '"' very much in what the Germans suppose to ba the state of England' today " it is at " this opprobrious moment that Shakespeare chooses to lavish upon her the utmost ecstasies of his love and devotion." In the same way Mx Jones shows that wherever Shakespeare can get in a nasty hit at Germans he does it regardless of literary expediency unci obviously ou his own personal account. Mr Jones notes that the Germans have aptly chosen ''Macbeth'' for their solemn tercentenary production at YVeimer.- Maebcib, like <Vrin:<ii\, had " oaten "i the rwi.