GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17835, 1 May 1926, Page 20 (Supplement)

GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

IVfOVIE ANSWERS. N.Z.P.S.—“ After Six Days " is an Exhibitors’ 'Alliance release. ZPA.—Doris Kenyon has no regular studio address, being- a free-lance but has been appearing in 'First National Productions, United Studios Hollywood, California, should reach her.

The Sheik.—You evidently keep in touch with current events. Thanks for clippings, which are always useful: also for complimentary remarks with respect to the column. We aim to cater for all tastes so far as our limited space will permit. In this issue you will find some information in connection with the prize essay. Margot.—Ben Lyon, Biograph Studios. 807, One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Street, New York City. After a successful career in Broadway productions, he forsook the stage for the screen, and made his first appearance in “ Potash and Perlmutter.” His work was so good that he was immediately sought for contracts, and has appeared in quite a number of successful productions. He was born in Atlanta. Georgia, on February 6, 1901, and is not married. L-A.G.—Two or three addresses X am unable to supply. The. others are a s follow: Mae Murray, Antonio Moreno, and Mae Busch, Metro-Goldwyn Studios, Culver City, California. Milton Sills, Rudolph Valentino and Tom Moore, United Studios, Hollywood, California. Lois Wilson, Lasky Studios, Hollywood, California. Monte Blue, Warner Studios, Los Angeles, California. Patsy Ruth Miller. 1822, North Milton Place, Hollywood, California. La Doreen.—Margaret Quirnby has the leading female part in " Perils of the Wild” (Swiss Family Robinson). Gloria Swanson, Thomas Meighan, Betty Bronson and Betty Oompson, Lasky Studios, Hollywood, California. Dorothy Gish, Inspiration Pictures Corporation, *065, Fifth Avenue, New York City. Betty Blythe, rare Hal Howe, 7, Hast. 42pd Street, New York City. Lola Todd, Universal Studios, Universal City, California. Buck Jones and Edmund Lowe, Fox Studios, Hollywood; California. Bal?y Peggy is out of pictures. Some other addresses given in answers to other correspondents; those not given . are not available. F.M’X.—Norma Shearer, Lionel' Barrymore and Lon Chaney, Metro-Goldwyn Studios, Culver City, California. Norman Kerry and Frank Mayo, Universal City, California. Alma Rubens, Fox Studios Hollywood, California. Ruth Clifford, 7627, Emelfta Avenue, Los Angeles, California. Douglas Fairbanks, Pickford-Fairbanks Studios, Los Angeles, California. Pola Negri, Lasky Studios, Hollywood, California. Percy Jfarmont, United Studios, Hollywood, California. The following are the only episodes so for received by the manager of the Strand Theatre: (1) The Face in the Crowd: (2) Masks and Men; (3)- TheRope of Hazard; (4) The Death Ray; . (5) The Lost Story; (6) The Plunge Of Peril; (7) The Race of Terror. Maxine.—Of the addresses inquired for • the following- only are available: Bessie Love, Alice Joyce, Neil Hamilton, Lois Wilson, Billie Dove, Lasky Studios, Hollywood, California; Alice Terry, Metro-Goldwyn Studios, Culver i City, California; Colleen Moore, Dorothy Sebastian, Norma and Constance Talmadge, Lewis Stone, Doris .Kenyon, United- Studios, Hollywood, California. Frank Mayo, Universal Studios, Universal City. California. Clive Brook, Warner Studios. Los Angeles. California. Lillian Rich, Cecil do Mill© Studios, Culver City, California. Wanda Hawley,. Ray art Productions, ; 723, .Seventh Avenue,'New York City. Eileen Percy, 154. Beech wood Drive; * Los Angeles, California. Lefty Flynp, F. 8.0. Studios. Hollywood. California. Douglas Fairbanks, Piekford-Fair-banks Studios, Los Angeles, California. Claire Windsor and. Bert Lytoll have the leading parts in “A Son of the Sahara.” The next serial for the Queen's Theatre has not yet been selected. “ The Hunchback of Notre / Dame ” and “ Three Weeks ” have l been booked for re-screening at the. Queen's Theatre. “ The Phantom of the Opera.” and ".The Eagle” may be. Two good stars in a particularly good picture form the chief attraction at ‘Everybody’s Theatre next week. They are Lewis Stone and Shirley Mason in “ "What Pools Men?” Men may be equals among themselves, but it takes a clever woman to make fools of the best of them, and out of this grows the picture. It is the story of Joseph Greer, who thought he knew all there was to know about women, and how he realised that there was just, one thing more to learn, and the trouble he had in learning it. His world, the financial world, comes crumbling about him, ruin faces him, a defiant daughter, a set of fraudulent friends surround him, and he thought that all these fooled men, until the great moment came, and he learnt his lesson. Lewis Stone, imperturbable and immaculate as ever, is perfect as Greer, and as Beatrice. Shirley Mason has one of the most ambitious roles of her career. r a x What is the trouble with wives? Is it that they spend too much? Flirt too much? Nag too much? The answer will be supplied at the Costal Palace Theatre next week when Florence Vidor. Tom Moore, Esther Ralston and Ford Sterling appear in a merry matrimonial corned}-, “ The Trouble With Wives.” It is not a war picture, although the storm assumes formidable dimensions before it progresses far. mainly owing to the husband’s loqviacious college friend who delights in going back over past events, and with the appearance of. the husband's lady shoe designer and more reminiscences the trouble with wives starts in earnest. The blundering, friend, thinkng he is doing marvels, is really estranging the young couple, and many and mirthful are the situations that arise before a reconciliation is effected. Behind this scintillating comedy are gems of wisdom that might well find a rest- ; ing place in many thoughtful minds, but while a satisfactory answer is given ' to the momentous question, there is no hint of “ preaching,” and the ending leads one to think that in one home at least there will be no more trouble with wives. The acting of Florence. Vidor and Tom Moore in this picture is worthy of the highest praise, being serio-comic which tones well with the atmosphere of the story. Esther Ralston has a good role and Ford Sterling as the talkative one provides most of the fun and trouble. ♦*« 55 «*♦ Mat Moore can always be relied upon to give a good comedy picture when he sets his hand to it, and he' verifies this at the Grand Theatre next week when he will be seen in “ The Narrow Street,” a mirthful and mysterious mixup. Simon Haldane was a confirmed bachelor, very shy and secretly afraid of girls. Then one day a girl walks into . his house out of the storm and refuses to leave. He didn’t know a thing about her, not even her name, but she brought a whirlwind of romance, adventure and mystery into, his bashful, bachelor life. The perplexed and worried man then has the management of his office thrust upon him and troubles come in battalions. Besides being a , really good comedy, “ The Narrow , Street ” is a thrilling mystery play as. well, and has the audience guessing all the titne. Mat Moore is ably supported by Dorothy Devore, a well-known comedienne, whose whimsical humour fits in well, with the particular comedy of the picture, and the two combine in • giving a thoroughly satisfying perform- ♦.* Mary Pickford in her most human and delightful picture comes to the Queen’s Theatre on. Monday in “ Little , Annie Rooney,” » United Artists’ pro '• duct ion. Mary i s just as young, just as : much a tomboy in this story as in her ; previous ones, and being Irish, it is full of fights, brickbats and general melees. The story is long and thrilling, of the Pickford type that is so popular, humour and pathos mingling with discretion. fights that bring back the bow terous days of childhood and a happy ending after many tears and sorrow?. As the policeman's rollicking daughter, ; Mary Pickford is in her element, being the leader of a gang of young ruffians ; at constant war with a rival gang, and i the futa and occasional moments of j danger in which the young general is the central figure help to make a typi- , 1 cal picture for the little star’s particu- s lar art. Her adored hero in this film i is William Haines, who, masquerading ’ ;

under the fine name of Kelly, wins the little Rooney girl for ever.

On Monday “ Glorious New Zealand’’ will be screened at the Liberty Theatre for the first time, and should create a record for attendance. 7'he film is produced by the Government Publicity Department and goes forth with the enthusiastic blessings of every patriotic member of Parliament. There can be no doubt about it. this is a great film; it cannot be anything else, for it has everything in it to make it great . beauty, uniqueness, weirdness, personal interest and touches of romantic history— all this made in New Zealand by New Zealanders and soon to be shown throughout the world. The picture takes one from top to bottom of the Dominion, every place of interest is shown, parts of the country where Heimre is living the peaceful life of his fathers before the advent of the pakeha, way tip north, “ the land of lots of fish and lots of time," in fact, “ Glorious New Zealand.” the picture, is a celluloid epitome of glorious New Zealand, the country. If this film were shown as another country one might be pardorted for scouting the idea that such wonders and beauties existed, but as one knows that they actually are in our midst, the film should be patronised as befits a pictorial story of this fair land. Occasionally scenic films have not the same interest as fiction, but it can be averred that this one is different, and will be enjoyed and appreciated by all tastes.

The current programme at the Strand Theatre consists of “The Outlaw’s Daughter'’ aud “Curly-top.” The former is a Universal production with Josie Sedgwick in the leading part. The story concerns the adventures of a daughter of a killed outlaw. At the opening of the story she declares vengeance against the man she believes responsible for his death. However, she is shown the error of a vindittive nature and turns upon her own outlaw's to save the life of the man she has learned to look upon as her mortal enemy. “Curlytop” is a story of the Limehouse district, London, and is written by Thomas Burke. Shirley Mason as “Curlytop,” the little waif of 1 the wharfs whose beautiful hair captivated the heart of Bill Branigan, sheik of the slums, shows once again that she is an actress with a wealth of draniatie gifts. She goes from light carefree comedy to dire drama with a smoothness of technique that only an experienced player could be capable of. 'Wallace Macdonald, as Branigan, give* an excellent performance and Warner Gland, he of the slant eyes and ominous countenance, acquits himseUj with distinction as usual.

» » « A glittering and gorgeous picture is “The* Count of Luxembourg,” which, will pooh be seen at the Liberty Theatre. Th<t popular George. Walsh makes a welcome re appearance in this picture, supported by Helen Lee Worthington, and these two artists as Rene and Angele respectively, give a brilliant andi romantic portrayal of thevse two famous characters. ‘ The Count” is a faultless adaptation of Lehar’s wellknown opera, which has held the boards with remarkable persistence ever since- its first appearance many years ago, and as a film it increases in beauty and brilliance, excitement and ro-

MiiHiiiiitHiHtiiUiiiiiyHUUuuHtfmiiHiuuu'.iiumuiiiHu.mimMumimimtipitiim mance. The settings of the Students’ Quarter of Paris, the gorgeous masked ball on the Riviera, the thrilling duels and its general atmosphere of intrigue and daring, bring back to old theatregoers the fascination that “The Count of Luxembourg” has always had. The story has about it a simplicity that characterises European authors when they take to libretto-writing, but the delightful music and the magnificent manner in which the picture is costumed give it a sptendour rarely seen on the screen. The two principals act with admirable discretion and artistry, and leave a pleasant memory of romance and gallant fighting. « » n In “The Pony Express,” a big produetion from the Paramount Studios, Ricardo Cortez, who is co-starred wita Betty Compson, makes a remarkable, divergence from his usual roles, and plays to perfection the debonair gambler who becomes a pony express rider This is a fine story centring round the days of Abraham Lincoln, before the Civil War and the pony riders who, braving untold dangers, carried news from the Eastern States to California and served as a binding link at a critical time in the history of the United States. Weston, the role taken by Cortez, is the bitter rival of Slade for express honours and Molly Jones. Slade is unscrupulous in everything. and plans to announce Lincoln's defeat in California, so that the West will swing to the Southern cause. Lincoln is elected, and a thrilling race begins between Weston and Slade to get to the West first. In a good picture the unexpected always happens, and “The Pony Express" is one long surprise. The story is full of lively incidents, plots and Indian fights with just the correct amount of love interest to make it human. Betty Compson and Cortez are ideal as the lovers and Wallace Beery lias a far more congenial role than usual, being content to leave the mischief-making to others. “The Pony Express,” on its arrival in Christchurch, will be shown at the Crvstal Palace. a a a According to official statistics, fi.760,000,000 admission tickets to cinema theatres were sold in America last year. It is stated that Charlie Chaplin, who brought Jackie Coogan before the public in “ The Kid.” has secured the lad for a prominent part in his (Chaplin’s) new picture, “ The Circus.” 2S «« Gainsborough Pictures, a British producing company, have purchased the Famous-Lasyk studios at Islington, near London. Four directors are work ing upon stories for this company at the present time. A wild-eyed hermit, played by Frank Rice, is one of the colourful characters in Jack Hoxie's latest starring picture. “ Two-Fisted Jones,” a Universal Western. He is the man with the. secret Hoxie is trying to discover Kathryn M'Guire plays the feminine lead. x » In the Master picture, “ The Man on The Box,” Syd Chaplin, who is being starred, impersonates a flirtatious maid in one sequence, and is said to have piled up even a higher percentage of high voltage laughs than he did in his female disguise in “ Charley's Aunt.”