GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18015, 27 November 1926, Page 22

GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. A -M— Ramon, Novarro, Lon Chaney Conrad Nagel and Lionel Barrymore, Metro-Goldwyn Studio, Culver City. California. Fred Thompson, F. 8.0 Studio, Hollywood, Californiia. Lewis Stone, Tom Moore and Richard Bar thelmess. First National Studio. Burbank, California. Percy Marmont Fa mo ti - Play- rs Studio.' Hollywo. d California. Hoot Gibson, I'niver Studio. Universal city, California. Ivor Novel io II Aldwych,,' London. W.C. 2. Englind Harrison Ford. <> U B. D-- Mill.- St-alio. Culver City, «' • r< ’ nia. The • . ..re free !a:v--<1 consequently have no fl.»ed st di r. ddres. es. F.A.J.—Hi rdo C -‘oz rnd Pola Negri. Famous ria;- :-s S’idio, Holly wood. ('■'! ifornia. Lillian Gish and Greta N ! en. Metro G -ldwyn Studio, Cvlver Citv, Cnl i rn' ■. Fred Thoms. n, F. B O Stdio. II -llywood C lif—iM. .1 •t" e. N ovale, Fox Studio, II llywood Californi i. Eva Novak is in Ait train. A 1 Her addt-eo-ed Care of “Ev. rv -ne’'-." Kv-l.n-v. should reach h-°r. Anna May Wong. 241. North Figuera Street., T,ns Angeles, Ca’ifor- • nin. Aileen Pringle. P’rpt National Sv-dfo Burbank. CnE'fornia. Fay Lanrhirr and Se- rne Ilayakawa are not in pictures. Sorry I cannot answer correspond tils by post. In reniv to my letter Ml- L. A. Quinn, Nr-W r-V-Pird manager for United ArtB'to v-T-'e. ns fellow'’.'—“The Son of phn«i : » W ns first, rei eas'd at .ho MiPi'm D< llo r • Tiif-h-f in Los Angeles 1- JnJv. and then nf the AL--k Strand Then fr« in New York. Valentino did attend tbe r.rrm ere, a”d -Iso four other - remieres. As a matter of fr.-M. that was the work o" w’-i-h he was eng- g-d when liis f-it-G illness over t-dc h«m. T do nor kr-w_ the evd da ;;e hot it was early in W?n .and i” b«-' Hv-en R) • rodn'etions of "The Eagle” and "The son of the Slick” he visited h-s home hi Italy n-d other continental places, and b-o-'ght h cM w T ‘h him most of the ward- tr nnings for "The Son of the Sheik” production. He had

previously visited England, although I do not know the dates. You may be interested t.. know that his next picture was to have been a story based on the life of Be veil ton Cellini, famous Italian sculptor, swordsman and lover. All | of the research work had been com- , pie ted. and the scenario was being arranged at the t.inn- of his death. Johnny Hines, one of First National s most popular comedians, stars in “ The Brown Derby.” the comedy drama to be shown at Everybody's Theatre next week. Hines has been seen in some great laughs recently, but “ The Brown Derby” eclipses them all. There is something delightfully spontaneous about its humour, its drolleries are of the wittiest, its action is breathless anci thrilling. The story of “The Brown Derby ” deals with the exciting happenings that come the wav of a good- ! natured young man when he finds him ! self the heir to a brown derby, be- | queathed him by an eccentric uncle. It seems the hero has an inferiority complex, and the strange powers of this chapeau chase the glooms away With the brown derby on his head and a case of mistaken identity under way, the fun starts at a furious pace and does not let up for one moment. A splendid cast, including the. beautiful Diana Kane, a sister of Lois Wil son, and Ruth Dwyer, a charming ingenue, supports the star. A picture with Gloria Swanson in the title role will be shown at the Crystal Palace Theatre next week, “ The Untamed Lady,” in which thi-> popular actress has the support of Lawrence Gray. This is one of the star’s most pleasing pictures, one of the best she has been seen in for a long time, a speedy comedy drama with a very novel twist. It. is the type of picture in which she specially shines, plenty of fire and action, and a blending of drama and pure comedy that make very palatable fare. Por traying the role of a wilful society miss, who causes consternation among her friends through her amazing unconventionalities, Gloria has several opportunities of wearing some beautiiul gowns, which she dries with her customary poise. In the main sup porting role, Lawrence Gray plays his part excellently. To lie shown at the Grand Theatre next week is Mary Pickford’s latest picture, “ Sparrows,” an appealing yet powerful drama of child life. This is certainly one of the most sympathetic and effective pictures ever made of Miss Pickford, and although it is vplete with humorous and childlike touches that make an instant appeal to children, yet its ringing message can only be fully understood by adults. Still, it is the one arid only Mary in her most mercurial character. By

!ll!ll!ll!l!!l!!!!ll!ll!li!l]l!lllllllliliill!lli!llll!llllliilil!lllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllll flashes she is merry and sad, tender and angry, a whimsical child of moods. As usual, her production is profoundly i c.alistic, and “ Sparrows ” will be a picture to live long in the memory. A cast of clever little artists assist the star in this film, chief of whom is Spec O’Donnell, who won unstinted praise for his acting in “Lillie Annie Rooney.” In “Sparrows” he does even finer work. As for Mary'—she is ust Mary. One of Vicente Blasco Ibanez’s stories will be presented at the Libeity

Theatre next week. It is ' Torrent, ’’ a Metro-Goldwyn film, and tells a story of sunny Spain and gay Paris. Ibane invariably makes love his centr; theme, and it is love viewed esse tially from a rather fantastic, cynic point, very European in its adheren to the hard facts of life. It is iove generally tinged with tragedy', an there is rarely effected a realisatioi thereof. It is thus with “ Torrent.’ A young grandee, weak and vaeillat ing. and a peasant girl who lives anr. loves and hates with a strength that is in great contrast to her inconsistent lover, are the two main forces in thi-, great drama. Three times lie comes to her with bis love, and each time his mother or his lawyer talks him out of it. Then the girl goes to Paris and becomes a- famous singer. She returns to Spain, goes back to the old village, where one night she is incar ceratcd when the river that flows beside the town rises in flood, and sweeps, a mad, rushing torrent, across her path. Don Rafael comes to warr her, and again their love is revealed

and the following day he determines to take her to Paris. The next day comes, but no Rafael. Years after Leonora returns to Madrid for a season. Rafael comes to see her. He tells her that circumstances had always been too much for him, and the lovers part for the last time. Ricardo Cortez plays Rafael, and Greta Garbo plavs Leonora. x Marion Crawford’s famous romance of love and sacrifice, “ The White Sister,” a romance fit to rank with the great tales of history', will be presented at the Queen’s Theatre next week. It is a poignantly' moving and dramatic story of the love of Angela and Giovanni, and the jealousy of the former’s sister. The lovers plight, their troth, when Giovanni is sent to Africa. News comes through that he is killed, and after a nervous illness, the broken-hearted Angela enters a convent, and devotes her life to the service of the poor, sick and ignorant. Then one day Giovanni returns from Africa to claim his bride. All his burning eloquence will not turn her thoughts towards the world, and there is ended, in the midst of an eruption of Vesuvius, one of the most beautifu l romances of fiction. Lillian Gish plavs the title role as only she can. and Ronald Colman supports her. “She Wolves." a Fox production which heads the current programme at the Strand Theatre is a story- of women who rob other women of their husbands. Lueien D'Artois, is married to a woman who has no love for him. and who, moreover, scorns him for his lack of polish. lie goes to Paris to acquire improvement and dress and manners, and there is fleeced by r human wolves, pntil he is .bankrupt. The. principal roles are filled by Alma Ru bens,. Jack Mulhall, Harry Myers and Judy'- King. Something breezy: is provided by Jack Hoxie in “Bustin’ Through.” the second attraction. There is horse-riding galore, and clever horsemanship: while the end of the story, worked out under a cliff over which a runaway buggy containing the heroine would have been precipitated but for Hoxie’s quickness with the lassoo, is [ fitting and satisfying. I The latest production from the Pick- ’ ford—Fairbanks studios is "Doug s ’ picture, “The Black Pirate,” one of those roystering talcs that are fill©d with high-handed dealing among rascally buccaneers, swashbuckling gallants, and lovely ladies, a romantic adventure in celluloid that opens up before the ey'es a vista of what life meant to us in our childhood days. Fairbanks. in “The Black Pirate,” has succeeded in making what is undeniably' a splendid picture, and a remarkably' fine production, for some of the scenes in the new process technicolour are the acme ot tms particular art. A good cast support the star. The Grand Theatre will soon be exhibiting the United Artists’ production “The Bat,” a screen adaptation of the celebrated comedy-cum-mystery drama that millions have witnessed on the legitimate stage. Although the screen is prolific in all types of mystery plays, good, bad and indifferent, there has never been a more comprehensive screen document of clever thrills, shivery eeriness and rippling humour than this work of Mary Roberts Rhinehart’s. There is no sense of tragedy' about the story-, just a cohesive succession of laughs, shivers, and surprises . The cast brings before the public many old favourites, among whom is Jewel Carman, who play-s an important part. Next month the Grand Theatre will present Harold Lloyd’s latest comedy-, “College Days,” in which he again has the support of Joby-na Ralston. “College Days” marks another of .Lloyd’s advances in the comedy' field; if he follows this one up with even more laughable films he will soon be alone in the arena. This picture possesses what some of his later ones lacked, a really good story as well as possibilities for good acting. Playing a part that calls for much stumbling stupidity and a moonstruck attitude towards the girl, he creates a picture of particularlypleasing mirth. A simpleton is no good whatsoever in a college, particularly when that college is as sophisticated as the one in “College Days,” but of course the hero becomes a doughtychampion ljeforc the final fade-out, and the story ends on a broad note of comedy. It is one of the most spontaneous comedies yet seen and the likeable star is at his best in a congenial role. In the near future the Crystal Palace. Theatre will be showing “The j Blind Goddess.” a Paramount picture 1 with several stars play-ing the leading roles. This is a fine picture dealing candidly with a theme that has for long cried out for an impartial recognition on the screen, the question—seemingly impertinent—of Blind Justice v. Justice with her two eyes open and glancing in opposite directions. It

deals fearlessly with this question and weaves a drama of sterling worth around' it. The story- is, of course, intensely dramatic, but as even the ’arkest Lives are sometimes shot with gleams of humour, there is sufficient omedy in the picture to ensure an artistic ensemble. A very- clever plot is the foundation of the story-, which is as intricate and complicated as can be wished for. With remarkable cleverness the tangle is straightened out, and Justice is proved to be blind after all. Esther Ralston, Louise Dresser, Jack Holt and Ernest Torrence are some of the stars in the picture. Dorothy Gish’s next London-made picture will be “ Madame Pompadour.” “ Potemkin,” the Russian film, has been licensed by- the New York censorship board for public exhibition, but with eliminations and cuts which may rob it of important motivation and details.