Stars of the Screen

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19848, 17 January 1920, Page 3

Stars of the Screen

stepper in tho cabaret of the famous Rite, New York. Mabel's latest release in America is “Jinx,” a circus story. Douglas Fairbanks has secured Kathleen Clifford as leading lady in his next production. D. AY. Griffiths has finished his first great special for First National. It is called “ The Greatest Question,” and is a wonder of beauty and a rival to “Hearts of tho World." The new British Studios at Harrow Weald aro now in course of construction. This company is financed up to £1,000,000- Sixty thousand feet of glass aro to he used, and 210 tons of steel. ; The Harold Lloyd comedies are wellknown in America, but arc not seen here. His popularity has become so great that producing companies ougau to bid for bis services. Patho secure him at, it is said, £3OO -a week and a quarter interest in a series of comediesAccording to an American magazine Fatty Arbucklc has a. contract with a firm to produce a couple of two-reel comedies, and two live-reel films, for a matter of throe million dollars. Tho contract expires in three years- It is further stated that this actor is to got 125,000 dollars for each negative. The announcement is made that GB. Snmnelson, the well-known British producer, s taking out a company to make British pictures in 'California. Aladgo Tit-herndge will be leading lady, and two of Die films to be produced aro “ Love in tho Wilderness,” adapted from Gertrude Page's novel, and a verson of Bidgewell Cullen’s “ Night Haiders.” “ Animal scones aro invariably popular,’’ recently remarked a noted English producer. “But the public dues not always realise how difficult (hey are. 1 wanted to show a cat in a certain way in a new film recently, and it took me four hours and 1200 feet of negative. Tho finished result takes up 15 feet of the film and lasts only a minute or two.” An astonidiing fcaluretto lias courts to hand in New Zealand. It is a propogandist film of Hie German Government- and shows tho work of tho famous lyhont 35 taken from the deck of Die I--boat itsell. I hero is a dreadful fascination in watching the British and American steamers, several of which we know out hero, slowly diving to the depths of the sen. ('able advices received from Die States show (lint Die great hirst Naiiuuai organisation of big theatres is •filll. growing, no less than five great chains of theatres haying joined in the last month. 1 his giant- concern will, lieiorc Dm year is out, control five thou--'■and theatres. 1 he constitution is truly democratic, each member holding ■' Duncii!sc. ’llie New Zealand Picture Supplies is a “ground floor” member. ,lbo Brat ’ is the first of Nazimota s screen impersonations that present her as an American girl. 3 he story relates the whimsical romance ot a nameless child of Dio charity institutions wuo had drilled, into Dio chorus "f a musical show, is insulted and then •iadn.'l io Dm night court on a tnimpeciU|j charge. An aiuhor who happens in ; k A JQ i'-i Dm •• type ” of a novel lie is to v. rite. Alter manv trials amid her muiiiiu- <;f love, "ilic brat” triumphs. .v-muiova s. aciing in ih’lo!,' is ;■mi (•■>•.! am! her adroit character-i’s,',-;n:i is heightened hv Die gene rail’, hu-ioron- qmdiiv of Dio sub-idfs -.ii,.; convey “the brai's” odd col if»M of j~!l 1 10>T>T>llv. liie ( apitol. New newest and most pretentious picture, theatre, utu

in life or on the “ movies ” was such a natural girl as this, with her innocent exquisite taco, her slow, dazzling smile, her big lucent eyes, her tender gravity, her quick gaiety, her melting pathos, her winsome air of being queen of all the roses and lilies in the world's garden of girlhood. "Will it shock her admirers to know (hat Mary Piokford is the cutest little business woman in two continents, that her solo aim in life is to accumulate by her art ns much of the root of all evil as her dainty hands can pick; that she is the hardest- of shrewd bargainers and the most cautions of investors? Here is the- story of her life at first hand. It may help to reveal why site looks like an angel and thinks like a money-maker who is dissatisfied with the moagrcucss of his first £1,000,000. Mary is earning a bare £300,000 a year now. ami is still desirous of bettering herself. The best known, best loved, best paid girl in tlie world to-day began life in a factory at Chatham, Ontario. Mary was Gladys then—Gladys Smith. The stage- names came later. At Chatham, there was a. cinema centre; and the child from the factory spent every leisure minute there, till sho was as well known as the permanent pianist. She gave imitations before iter mother and the family friends of things sho saw on the films- Those impersonations were quite wonderful, as may he imagined, and the manager of the Chatham kiuoma was not long in giving her-a chance. Alary (no one has any use for the Gladys now) made good from the word go. Canadians are quicker spenders Hum Englishmen for good investments, and in a little while the new prodigy Was making £IOOO a week. She did not get vainglorious or extravagant. Siio had her lunch every day in a cheap little restaurant off Broadway. It was a restaurant frequented by film artists, but they paid no attention to .Mary Bickford. although they knew perfectly well who she was and what kudos and dollars she was making, and sho paid no attention to them. An enterprising American manager, Sam (Shannon, asked her how much sho would require to appear in “ Odds ami Ends.” Her telegraphed reply was a model of keen-edged terseness:— '■. Mary Piokford would consider £2OOO a week. Salary for her personal staff. Managers to provide all costumes and guarantee fifty-two weeks; £-10.000 to he deposited ns guarantee of good faii,h.'’ In her early twenties Alary Piekford is empress of tho kinema world, a world greater than that conquered by Caesar or Napoleon. Tn remote Burma, on the verge of tho African jungles, away in mysterious, unknown China, she sways her millions of subjects. She is proud of tin's, hut she is just as proud of swinging her millions of dollars. 1 am told that Mary Pick Ford ha-- not, a cent involved in kinema proyiovijes outside her own immediate orbit, and that all her .capital is in New A orl< bonds, ft- has been bin tod that she is p, stiff bargainer. She. is so insistent- on having her due monetary rights that she lights for them tooth and nail, and in the event of coming across a harder negotiator than herself siio complains that sho is being robbedIt lias been rumoured from time to timo that Mary Piokford is leaving Dio kine;na_ stage. Possibly she is con-‘■enlr-ilaug on a fortune that will cover a hmg life of leisure and luxury. Ttys difficult to imagine, however, that such a vivid and terrific worker and financier will ever contentedly seek a garden and eat, lotuses with expensive gold tips.

A v>:i!ic’il in an Irish Inn-ili- asvlnin d'.i'd ami h'li a Mini of iimnrv to ho I’,{ t*i ;* lli.i imnui.-o <;l" svovMiji-.; "i; 1 oj-lainiiicnl.- fo;- im idling patients.