“STAR” MOVIE COMPETITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17013, 11 April 1923, Page 5

“STAR” MOVIE COMPETITION.

This week's competition is a Paramount one. To every person who tills in correctly tii" title of the picture shown on this pi.g© the company will give a photograph suitable for framing of one of the leading Paramount stars. The picture must be cut out and readers must fill in the title in the blank space in five reading matter beneath the photograph. The competition will < iose on Monday morning next at 10 o'clock. All replies must he addressed to the Moving Picture Editor oi : the ‘Star.’' Full names and addresses must be given. Probably it is because motion picture fans are keen in seeking out drama of an unusual sort that lias made them so enthusiastic in their praise of “ Wings of Pride,” which is now being presented at Greater Crystal Palace. As the title of “ One Wild Week ” would suggest the picture is brimful of comedv fast md furious. The fact that Bebe Daniel* is in the lead is a sufficient gua-raiilee of the quality or the picture.

Rex Tngram, who received the Yale decree for his production of ‘‘The Four Horsemen..” has hurl many further honour* conferred upon him for hie wonderful million dollar production, •• The Prisoner of Zenda.” This mammoth master-creation is being shown at the Liberty.

The Mira no Bros, will make three more appearances in Christchurch, as their season will conclude on Friday night. On their return to Sydney they will be joined by a third partner •low on his way out- from England, and the trio will then tour the Fuller circuit with an act they call “ The I lying Trapeze.”

That Rodolph Valentino is one of the screen’s most versatile actors is demonstated in “ Blood and Sand,” at Everybody’s. In the hull-fight scenes one cannot but admire the skill and courageousness of the toreadors, and so it happens that toreador Valentino is admired by a girl at the ringside. The subsequent love story in which Lila Lee has a delightful part, is a most interesting one to follow.

There is quite a Wagnerian touch in the music w’ ;ich is played by the Liberty orchestra during the screening of the splendid picture, “ The Prisoner of Zen da. 5 Coronation Marches, Bridal Marches, and other stirring composition* do their part in sustaining the atmosphere of the. Rcvnl Court created by the picture. The Bridal March from “ Lohengrin” is one of the most nopula r numbers, but there is a fine, dignified tone about the whole of the incidental music.

The performance given by Greater Crystal Palace orchestra this ' week of Rossini’s overture to “William Tell” is very pleasing from the first note to the Inst, and it is nightly redemanded. 1 This does not very often occur in a picture theatre, and it goes to show that the people of Christchurch are fond of good music, and that they car enthuse when they hear a good classic. All violinists should hear this performance. Berlioz (the father of modern, orchestration) is represented by the march from the “ Damnation of Faust,” which is a very gripping corn position. “ Forbidden Fruit ” is a fine dramatic story which maintains the interest of the onlooked from beginning to end. The picture is based on the story of Cinderella. Together with “The Lad cier Jinx,” a picture of lighter vein “ Forbidden Fruit ” makes a fine evening’s entertainment- at the Grand. j Almost everybody lias read some or other of C. T. Dennis’s lines, and if so these people will be looking forward “ The- Sentimental Bloke." which commences at the Theatre Royal on Saturday next. “ The Good Provider ” being shown at the Strand, is* quite a good class dramatic story written by the sumauthor ax “Humoresque.” Of a different nature is “ The Million Dollar Dollies.” in which the famous Dolly Sisters entertain and amuse with their comodv work «.nd graceful dancing swimming, and general deportment.

The Liberty Orchestra plays some loeeptabJe extracts from “ The Chooo late Soldier.” It is exceedingly plea ■»ant ti? renew acquaintance with the melodious strains of this opera, which contains not a few musical gems. Tin in© waltz air. “ Sweetheart, I Love You Only.” never fails in its. passionate appeal, an-d it is interpreted by he orchestra with very great skill. This air has been sung, whistled and >layed. for years past, but it is, given ;n its highest form when presented by a well-trained orchestra. ©

The box plan for “ The Sentimental Bloke” opened at The Bristol this morning. The beholders of the astonishing feats performed by Richard Talmadg l in “ Watch Him Step ” at Greater Crystal Palace cannot but admire thisdaring athlete. In the character played by Talmadge be is madly i, love, with a pretty girl and he lead: a pretty dar.ee those who endeavour to prevent his meeting with the girl The director of “ Perjury ” \vn Harrv Millarde. who also ' directed “Over the Hid.*’ “Perjury” is being shown at the Queen’s. the piano at the age of two and a half years (mothers, take notice !) composed the work “ Prospering.” which is being plavecl bv the Greater (>vstal Palace orchestra this week, and which contain* music which seems to cling to one long after they have heard it. Godard is so well known iu New Zealand by his Second Mazurka, but I apart from this how many people have heard much else bv this musician? “Contes <lc la Veiliee ” is one of his numbers charmingly played by this or ohestra. which, consisting of twentytwx* players, is filling a long-felt want in ( hristchurch. and is being appreciated by its people.

Included, in the cast of “ The Sentimental Bioko *’ is Herbert Walton, a comedian who won popularity in Christchurch originally with Mr Edward Branscombe’s Green Dandies eleven years ago. The Dandies’ manager on that occasion, by the wav. was- Ms Claude Haigh, at present in charge at the Liberty. Allen Doone and his company are due. in Christchurch on April 23, and the season will last till May 5. Lupino Lane, the William Fox big comedian, brother of Barry Lupino, well known in Australia and New Zealand, is engaged in making a new comedy under -be title of “ A Friendly Husband.” Optimism is the keynote of “ The Custard Cup.” a William Fox production featuring Mary C-arr, remembered by all for her wonderful role in “ Over the Hill.” In this big production she plays the part of “ Penzie.” the cheerful and optimistic little woman who is always ready to help he** friends.

Henrik Ib.se-ri i» possibly the foremost figure in the art of modern drama and more discussion has been caused by his plays than all the works of the last half-century put together. On the Continent even his plays were •'©fused showing, and for many years iu England the conservatism of the authorities completely banned him. “ A Doll’s House ” with its claim for woman’s place in the world, was on© of those that created much trouble. Its picture version with the brilliant Nazimova in the main role will be shown at the Liberty on Saturday. Motion pictures are becoming equal to a course in geography. They cover the world. Some of the new Paramount pictures furnish examples of this. Tliere is “ The Covered Waggon.” which traverses the western plains from Missouri to Oregon and California: “The Tiger’s Claw.” laid in India: “My American Wife,” Gloria Swanson’s recent picture, laid in South America; “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine." starring Mary Miles Min ter. a southern mountain story: Pola Negri in “ Bella Donna.” with an Egyptian hnclijpround ; and “ The White Flower." starring Betty Comp-, son. filmed in Hawaii. “ Acting,” says Mr D© Mille. th-veil-known picture producer, “is ar ■»rt. not an emotion. Good acting reproduced by p body and a brain ir nerfect control. Excitement meam loss of this and consequent lo*< of interpretative efficiency.” “ The Shooting of I)an M’Grew.” ■ ‘amous poem by Robert W. Service, n il jhe told in picture form in a Meh--1 hotnplay. All new Metro pictures will J he handled in New Zealand by Famous J La sky Film Service (X.Z.). Ltd., distri . butors of Paramount Pictures. | In order to sign bis contract witl I Universal, Joe Bonomo turned down a >pportunity to play Goliath with a eon? oany which is forming to go to Pale® ine to enact “ The Wandering Jew.”

Vera Pearce, the Australian rev u<Jar, was so conspicuously successful i: her first pantomime in Great Britair -hat she has been signed on by the bit: English producers, Wylie and Tate, fc wo years, to follow on a season i 1 South Airica shortly. Miss Pearce \vi.’ leave for South Africa on April 0, an 1 her mother will remain in England unti her return. Bebe Daniels has been transferred t he leading role in “Contraband” ii • lead of Agnes Ayres, who will now aj j>ear in “The Exciters” with Anton; Moreno. Miss Daniels, who was suffei ing from appendicitis, was unable to commence in “ The Exciters.”

Included in the United Artist offer • rigs this year are the second version of less of the Storm Country,” with Jury Picklord. and “Robin Hood.' .vith Douglas Fairbanks. The latter ! picture is to V>e released in New Zea mii in few weeks, and will mark an itlier milestone in the romance ol mo 1 ion picture classics. “ Stars as extras.’' might almost be applied to the engagement of thirty or forty players whose only work will be appearing as courtiers and ladies in the salon of Madame Gondelaurier in “ The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” which is j now being “ shot ” at Universal City These prominent players include Harold Miller. Stanhope Wheafccroft. Frank Kingsley. Dorothy Ponn. Lawrence Hughes, Malcolm Waite. Bert Hadley. Harriet Alexander. Anna Jordon. (lor don Dumont. Marion Gray. Gladys M’Laughlin, William Butts and about thirty others equally prominent. “East and West.” starring Connn Talmadge to he shown here soon it ; perhaps the most original picture in which this poular little stai ha« beer v featured, The picture contains a mucli stronger element of real drama than has been associated with her previou r-hierements. The story covers a wide locale, beginning a« it does in Chinn and ending in the Chinatown District of San F'rancisco. That modern day daughters are liable i o err from the desires of ambitious ' parents is shown in “ White Shoulders" Katherine MacDonald’s latest offering. Thig is the story of a beautiful girl whose maternal parent literally places her on the marriage market t-o be old to the highest bidder. But the girl had other ideas and in receiving he attentions of a millionaire with ! frigidity she did a natural if unconventional tiling. For there are not many young women oi the present day ' who will turn aside the attentions of the moneyed man. Yet the heroine of this story did it-—but there was a rea- ; could ascribe. Heralded as the greatest- American turf drama “Garrison's Finish,” star- • ring Jack Pickford, is presided under the banner of United Artists. This j is a story oi' racing' love and millions, j and the picture includes several shots • of the Kentucky Derby, the Metro j politan Han die p at New York an i ! other scenes at £»i, Francisco. Aladge j Bellamy is in the leading feminine role r«a charming as ever. Eddie Barry, famous for his splendiu ! comedv work' with T’mversal. Christie. j Educational. Roach and ether his i companies, ha« returned to the Centur, Company, after an absence of nearly a year. Barry it known as a j veteran of the comedy field, and has ! a host of followers among lovers ot clean comedy. He is nearly six teot i in height, slim, virile, anil lithe. He belong?, to the new school of comedians ( who never smile. His first picture for j Century will be Brownie’s picture nonin the process of making. TO-NIGHT’S SHOWS. Liberty—• Th* Prisoner of Zen da.” Everybody’s—" Blood and Sand.” Grand—“ Forbidden Fruit” and “The j Ladder Jinx." Strand—" Th«i Million Dollar Dolliss,” j "The Good Provider.” and "You i Wouldn’t. Believe It.” Greater Crystal Palace —" Watch Him ; Step ” and " Wing? of Pride.” Queen *—" Perjury.” Opera House—Walter George s Sunshine Players and Vaudeville. “ Garrisou’s Finish,” the great American turf drama, is to be released in New Zealand won. The picture was hailed with in America and the 'critics declare that it is unequalled as a turf story. -Tack Pickford has the leading role. The Bert La Blanc Revue Company j which will be coming to Christchurch shortly, i» bonded by those two popular J Hebrew comedians, Bert La Blanc and ’ •Take Maok. Other members of the j Company include Mark Erickson. John ; Pastor, Alan Shrimp ton, ♦Winifred j Knight Marjorie Daw and others. j Joe Bonomo. the Apollo of the j screen, has been signed on by Universal an-d is on route from New York | to Universal City. Bonomo’s first work will be in “ The Hunchback or Notre Dame.” and after that he null undoubtedly be used in serials. Bonomo's broad challenge is that lie can do any stunt- in the movies which any other actor has ever done, not excepting Douglas Fairbanks or Dick j Talma dge.

The Universal Company has pur- ' chased “ The Co-Respondent.” a play by Rita Woiman and Alice Leal Pol- : lack, in which Virginia Valli will j doubtless star.