METRO-GOLDWYN SEASON.

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

METRO-GOLDWYN SEASON.

ATTRACTIONS OF 1927. If the successes of 1920 may be taken as any criterion of the popularity of screen actors, then MetroGold wyn-Mayer has for its 1927 programme the most dazzling array of stars in screen history. Lillian Gish, j star of “ The White Sister ” and “ RoJ mola ”; Lon Chaney, whose magnifi- | cent achievements need no rccapitulaj lion; Jackie Coogan, John Gilbert, Ramon Xovarro, Norma Shearer, Mae ; Murray, Marion Davies and Buster i Keaton, will all be starred in noteworth}* productions. In the army of other important players to be featured are Eleanor Boardman, Sally O’Neil, Renee Adoree, William Haines. Lew Cods*, Carmel Mvers, Antonio Moreno, Alice Terry, Claire Windsor, Conrad Nagel. Lionel Barrymore, 11. B. Walthall. Owen Moore, Charles Ray, Pauline Starke. Joan Crawford, Francis j M’Donald, Greta Garbo, Mareeline Day, j Roy D’Arcy, Karl Dane, Lars Hanson, i Ralph Graves, and hundreds of others. From this it will be seen that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will feature in its productions the most talented and most popular players of screenland. EARLY RELEASES. Among the motion pictures to be re leased early in 1927 none is more prominent than the special Lon Chaney production, “ The Blackbird.” In this baffling mystery of the London underworld. the famous star has a very remarkable dual role. He attains the ultimate in fantastic and enthralling

screen entertainment, and adds the greatest to his amazing list of chaiac terisations. “Brown of , Harvard ” will strike a new note in pictures of school life and sport. Its star is William Haines, who. is supported by Mary Brian, Jack Pickford and Francis X. Bushman, jun. The. famous ..University of Harvard is its locale, and the picture’s romantic interest is heightened by thrilling sporting events, filmed in an astonishingly convincing manner. The first few weeks of the new yea: will also see Buster Keaton in his greatest comedy, “ Battling Butler.” This was adapted from the amusing musical comedy of the same title, and in screen form is an endless succession of convulsing laughs. Saily O’Neil, “ the screen find of 192(»,” is co-starred with Keaton, and together they are responsible lor an exceptional comedy. STIRRING SEA STORY. Vicente standing living European author, and the writer of that now famous drama of the Great War, "The Four Horsemen,” has written a further story of the world conflict, entitled "Mare Nostrum.” This has been produced ir. screen form by MetrorGoldwyn-Mayer under the direction of Rex Ingram—who also produced “ The Four Horse men ” —with Alice Terry and Antonio Moreno in the main character roles There is no phase of a sailor’s life that this epic production leaves untouched; its pieturisation of war’s grim realities in the sea fights waged on the blue Mediterranean are tremendously vivid; its portrayal of a man’s love for the sea, and his love for a beautiful enemy spy, is brilliantly conceived and enacted. No praise can l>e too lavish in respect of its artistic qualities. The unprecedented success that attended “The Four Horsemen” has already been duplicated, and will probably be ■ surpassed, by that of " Mare Nostrum.” It will lie among the special 1927 releases of Mctro-Goldwvn i Mayer. A X TXT ER N ATI OX AI, POSSESSION. There is an international value at- ! tached to the motion picture “ The Big Parade,” that places it at once upon a sentimental and artistic equality with anv memorial to those who fell in the Great War. It will be released in Australia and New Zealand in 1927 by: Metro-Gold wyn Mayer.'-With the simplicity of true greatness; and the terrible realism *of actuality, it tells a story of the. war and of three young soldiers whose counterparts could be found in any of the armies of the Allies. It has no parallel in art or fiction, and no equal in contcm- | porary screen achievement. ■ John j Gilbert and Renee Adoree in the lead- i ing. roles, ".the former as. a care-free] young adventurer, and the latter as a ! French girl,-cease to be mere actors, and become living characters in a I real life drama. i