GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18015, 27 November 1926, Page 24

GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

Tl\e Government’s series of films depicting phases. of life, .sport and industry- in New Zealand, will l:e shown throughout Australia under the title ci ‘ Australia’s Beautiful Sister Romantic New Zealand." Gilbert (Pcc-YVce) Holmes does some sol end id corned v relief work in the Universal Western attraction. "The Border Sheriff.'' starring Jack Iloxie ILolmes, who is reputed to be the smallest Western player in the film world, makes an excellent partner for Jack Iloxie. Colleen Moore will make four picture's abroad al the expiration of her present contract with First National Picturs.e She will make one picture in England, one in Germany, one in France and one in Italy. As far as conditions make it possible, foreign directors, staffs, cast and technical equipment will be used. John E. Ivennebeck. manager of Paramount’s department of exploitation. arrived from Sydney last week. Among the matters that bring Mr Kenncbeck to New Zealand is the finalising of the arrangements for the coming of the ten American Indians who will appear in connection with Zane Grey’s “ The Vanishing Race.”^ "The Last Laugh.” the Germanmade film, was originally made without titles, but the Australian copy of this photoplay has l>een titled. The Last Laugh" stars Emil Jannings heading a Continental cast in an in tense! y hurraan story of a hotel commissionaire. The picture, which had a tremendous run in England and America, will be released by* Master Pictures. One of the screen’s most successful corned-teams has been found by Universal in the combination of Reginald Denny', star, and William A. Seiter, his director. Their latest production is “ Rolling Home,” a Jewel production, which will be seen shortly'. Mr Seiter has already directed Denny* in “ V here Was I?” "What Happened to Jones” and “ Skinner’s Dress Suit.” The death of Valentino, and the consequent disrupting of the United Artist.*;’ programme, caused Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks to decide to abandon their European tour. Mary will start on a picture which presents her in the role of a shop girl, to be followed by two or three others. Doug3•>s, however, since the cutting short of his European tour has spoiled the plans he had for making a Crusader picture, has to look round for a suitable subject. “ Men of Steel.” a First .National production. with Milton Sills as the .star, has been released in Auckland. It is a ] story dealing with the steel industry, and the outdoor and indoor scenes have been taken in one of the largest steel concerns in the United States, every help being afforded the producer to get the real true to life effect. Milton Sills is ably supported by Doris Kenyon and others well known in the picture world, Lewis Stone is being "made” and remade in his latest screen appearances. For years Stone has appeared as the perfect gentleman or as a fastidious military officer. Recently-, however, he was given the leading role in a picture presenting him as a janitor, and now he lias been converted into a sheik in the First National production tentatively* titled "The Desert Healer.” The janitorial role was in First Nationals "Too Much Money.” Some time ago the Paramount Company, with the object of fostering. new stars for the shadow stage, formed a school for young artists. The most promising or these young people were put into a drama with a number of the hard heads, such as Thomas Meighan and others. The young people were starred in their own names the result of their efforts, entitled “Fascinating Youth,” is scheduled for screening in the Dominion early next year. Two “ Wampas Baby stars ” appear in the cast of “ The Man in the Saddle,” Universal's latest Western attraction, starring the popular Hoot Gibson. They are Fay Wray, who plays the feminine lead, and Sally Long. Both were chosen among the thirteen most promising young actresses of the screen by the "Wampas.” an organisation of Hollywood" writers and publicists, which annually selects its thirteen " babv stars” for whom is predicted kinema brilliance in the future. These who have seen the first previews of Richard Barthelmess’s new First National picture, “ The Black White Sheep,” say it is the most thrilling production he has yet given the screen. The story is of a cashiered British officer of an aristocratic family who wilfully submerges his identity in the English Army in Africa, and after a series of adventures wins back his spurs. Throughout, the attraction has been given a picturesque setting, which includes some wonderful desert scenes. Jacques Lerner, famous animal impersonator, has been signed by Fox Films for the role of the monkey in their attraction, “ The Monkey Talks,” which has just gone into production. Madge Bellamy was originally to have the lead, but her place has been taken by Olive Barden, the lovely young star of "Fig Leaves,” “Three Bad Men” and other Fox attractions. Jacques Lerner • has been giving simian impersonations for twelve years, and has a farm near Rheims, where he studies all the antics of the tree-folk at close News comes from Sydney that a great reception was accorded the big Fox special attraction, “ Fig Leaves,” at its premiere there. A song fox trot has been composed by Joe Edney, wellknown Aussie song-writer, named after and dedicated to the Fox film, and

when, this was played at a big “Fig Leaf ” ball organised in Sydney in aid of charity, this dance number created much enthusiasm. Copies of the song will be available in New Zealand tc coincide with the release of the film, which is expected to take place in December. A varied aiid interesting assortment of theatrical personalities is included in the cast supporting Laura La Plante in her latest Universal-Jewel picture “Her Big Night." Nat Carr was a vaudeville and burlesque'comedian of note; Cissy Fitzgerald was a famous musical comedy star; Lee Moran and I Mack Swain are veteran screen comedians; John Roche and William Austin were both luminaries of the stage; Tully Marshall is an old-time stage and screen character actor; Einar Hansen, before his importation, was one of Europe’s leading film stars. Paramount's fifteenth birthday month greater movie season will be celebrated throughout New Zealand and Australia during the entire month of March next. " The greater movie season ” has been instituted by Paramount pictures, to take place at certain periods. Its object is to stimulate the moving picture business generally, and the movement has gained considerable success in this regard. The moving picture industry has now come to be one of very great importance, and it is through such movements as these that this effect has been brought about. A year's searching and testing for the parts of Diane and Chico in the great Fox production. “Seventh Heaven,” has ended. The choice has fallen on Janet -Gaynor and Charles Farrell. Superb histrionic range and distinct types were specifics required for. the parts of the tragic girl of the underworld’ and her volatile lover. Janet , Gaynor first came .under the notice of critics for her work in “ The Johnstown Flood," the Fox production with George O'Brien in the leading role. Charles Farrell .was given his first chance with Madge Bellamy in “ Sandy,” then he was loaned for the lead in “ Old Ironsides.” These two young players thus emerge from the ranks to the high places among the stars. P. F. Wren’s "Beau Geste” is the big Paramount picture chosen to open the new Regent' Theatre, Wellington, next month. From this story of the French Foreign Legion has been made one of the real screen classics of the year, and no better subject could have been found for the opening attraction of the Regent. As a novel " Beau Geste ” has been one of the year’s best sellers, and the picture will earn a place among pictures similar to that which the book holds in the literature of the present year. Ronald Colman, Neil Hamilton and Ralph Forbes are cast as the three Geste brothers, Noah Beery is Adjutant • Lejaune anc| other important roles are assumed by Alice Joyce, Mary Brian, Norman Trevor, William Powell and Victor M’Laglan. "Paradise,” adopted from Cosmo Hamilton’s novel . of the same title, is Milton Sills’ latest picture for First National. The star is supported by a brilliant cast which includes Betty Bronson, Noah Beery, Kate Price, Charles Murray,. Lloyd Whitlock and Claude- King. The. story* is laid in London and on an island in the South Seas, and is a beautiful romance carrying with it much fast-moving action, comedy and many real thrills, including a great fight between Sills and Noah Beery. The South Sea island sequences are said to be really unusual in that they were all filmed right in New York and_ on City Island, within an hour from New York. Real natives were secured for the atmosphere and the clever property’- men and set designers did rest. One of the most unusual demonstrations of sentiment known to film annals, took place at Universal City during the illness of Carl Laemmle, head of that organisation, while'he was in London Isays “Picture Play”). Laemmle

is very* much beloved by everyone in the Universal companv,' and is often referred to with pride as the “ little Napoleon of the movies.” During the critical part of his illness, a meeting of his employees was held at the studio m order to pray for his recovery*. Several hundred actors, directors, camera men and studio hands were present-at the ceremony, which was conducted byHenry M’Rae, director-general of the establishment. One of the most interesting circumstances in connection with the ceremony-is that Laemmle’s rallying toward reeovery is. said to have been almost coincident with it. Mr John W. Hicks. \jun., managing | director of the Famous Laskv Film i Service was in New Zealand last week. I Air Hicks has just returned from a trip j to the United States, and during his ! visit there was in the studios during j the making of several of Paramount’s 1 big coming attractions. He saw. D. W. I Griffith at work on Marie Corelli’s “The | Sorrows of Satan,”,and declared that! the creator of “ Intolerance ” has found a new zest for work since he com- j mence’d to make this picture. “ Grif- 1 fith is as happy as. a schoolboy.” said I Mr Ilicks. “because in this picture he ! has got something reallv big to work ! m, and ‘ The Sorrows of Satan ' is a subject with which his artistic mind is in full sympathy.” Mr Ilicks went on ! to say that “ Old Ironsides ” would be *>ne of the most costly pictures ever nadc. for a whole fleet of sailing ships j ivas-built lor this epic story of.the sea.

l!l!lllitHillllll!llllllllllliiiillllllllllllill!!l!liil!llliiliilllllilllllllllilllll!lillllIIIII!llllil| Wilton. Welch, producing director for ! Louise Lovely Film Productions, who recently left Melbourne for London and New York, is seeking a market abroad for Louise Lovely pictures which are planned for next year. Before departing Mr Welch said that he had received several cable messages from big releas- ' ing organisations in New York inviting him to a personal conference regarding his plans for Miss Lovely’s next year’s pictures. " Jewelled Nights,” his first big Australian-made film, was- at pfei sent in London . One of America’s most prominent cutters has been engaged to edit the picture and trim it down to-English running time. "It is 1 my intention to build a modern style studio on my return to Australia early - in the year,” said Mr Welch. " There is no doubt that pictures equal to those :>f Other parts of the world can be made in Australia, but we must work hard to gain the desired results. We must have proper organisation, proper equipment and sound finance to back our venture.”

A London cable, dated November 21, states that the Economic Sub-coinmit--t-ee of the Imperial Conference passed a resolution , recognising “that it is most important that a larger and increasing proportion of the films exhibited throughout the Empire should be of Empire production.” It commends the matter to the consideration cf Governments with a view to taking early and effective action to deal with the serious situation now . existing.” Possible measures to alleviate the position were suggested' in a ’’report,' which emphasised that Government- action could not be effective unless Empire producers showed sufficient enterprise, resource and adaptability to market films of real competitive exhibition valu.x A second essential condition' was the development. of effective distributing arrangements throughout the Empire, ever possible. It, vn-: sugg- : .t o. j li:.n a useful, purpose, would be served if the Governments arranged for an exchange of the production of films in their territories. Mr John W. Ilicks, jun., managing director of Paramount Pictures, who was in New Zealand last week, interviewed by the Press, said in regard

j to British pictures:-—" There is an open j door for British film when it contains j a universal appeal. If American pro- | ducers have gained a monopoly they j have gained it on their merits. The public govern demand; and. they must be satisfied. They will turn "to- the j British. Picture as soon as it is .able to satisfy their requirements. There, is an English production. ” Nell Gwynn,” of its world-wide appeal, and there , is a German film. “’Variety.” also doing well. They are not breaking records as did “ The Ten Commandments, / but they are proving a greater draw; than the average American picture.” Air j Hicks has recently returned from j America, and.he gave .some interesting details in regard to the film industry jin that country. He spoke in very j optimistic terms in regard to the ini dustry generally and declared that it j had a very great future in. store for it. I ilma Bank}*, the “ Hungarian rhapsody,” plays two roles -in “ The j Winning of Barbara 'Worth.” the j Samuel Goldwyn picture to be released ! by United Artists. Miss Banky appears j in the prologue of the production as J young Mrs Jefferson Worth, mother of j the infant Barbara. When little Barj bara has become the beautiful ladv sought bv the Easterner. Ronald'Co’lman, ancl the Westerner, Garv Cooper, that role is also portrayed ’ by Miss j Banky. The announcement is particui hirly interesting, .since Rudolph Valentino's nirture "Thr* S.,n ih,:. ”

-1 (in which Miss Banky was leading lady) Valentino played the part of father and son. Other United Artists members also have done this in the past. Gloria Swanson played mother and daughter in an earlier film, and Douglas Fairbanks plavcd Lather and 'son in “Don (j. Son of Zorro.’/ However, Miss Banky does not appear on the screen as mother , and daughter at one time, since the portrayal' of- the young mother is only given at -the beginning of the film, and the rest of the picture finds Vi lin a Banky as Barbara Worth, daughter of the modern West. • Mr J. W. Ilicks, jun., managing, director of Famous Laskv* Film Service, .Ltd., who was in New Zealand last week,' received '.a cable from Paramount's New York office to the effect that it had been decided to send ti>e Indians who are appearing in Australia in connection with “ The Vanishing Race ” to New Zealand. There are in all ten Indians under the chieftainship of Sum-te-wa, one squaw and one

juvenile, Xasja. who is also appearing in “ The Vanishing Race.” This little boy is perhaps one of the most interesting of the group, and he has endeared himself to the public wherever he has appeared in Australia. It is anticipated that the coming of the redskins will be something of a spectacular nature, for in all probability they will arrive in their full war paint, as was the case in Sydney, on the occasion of which they wore accorded a civic reception. “The Vanishing Race” had its premiere screening in New Zealand last week in Dunedin, and showed to capacity houses. It is expected that the picture will be screened in other centres at an early date. In connection with the coming of the Indians to New Zealand. John Kennebeck, exploitation manager of Paramount, recently arrived in the Dominion. Numerous photoplavs (savs a writer in the “New York Tribune ”) have been adapted to the screen from popular stage, attractions. Some persons have said that before many moons stories written especialh* for the screen would be adapted and brought to the stage. It seems to me that the latest Raymond Griffith picture, " You’d Be Surprised.'* bears these persons* out. " You’d Be Surprised ” is a unique film in that almost the entire action of the piece takes place in but one scene. One critic said that this was monstrous; but to me it was not in the least. True, there was an over-abundance of titles, but Griffith’s performance left nothing to be desired. His pantomime was ex-