On The Screen

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18085, 19 February 1927, Page 22

On The Screen

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NEW ZEALAND’S OFFICIAL FILM NEWSPAPER

By “THE MOVIE MAN.”

OFFICIAL FIRST RELEASES IN EACH CENTRE FOR NEW ZEALAND.

WEEK COMMENCING FEBRUARY 21, 1927. Feature. Make. Star. Town. Released by lolling Home " Universal-J'w’l. Reginald Dennv. Auckland. Universal. The Texas Streak " Univorsal-J’w’l. Hoot Gibson. ' Dunedin. Universal. Moon <>f Israel" Paramount. Arlette Marchal. Auckland. Paramount. ‘Diplomacy" .' Paramount. Blanche Sweet. ‘Wellington. Paramount. '• Hold That Lion " Paramount. Douglas McLean. Christchurch. Paramount. "Wet Paint” Paramount. Raymond Griffith. Dunedin. Paramount. •‘The Lily" Fox. Belle Bennett. - Auckland. Fox. •‘The Lily” Fox. Belle Bennett. Wellington. Fox. "War Paint" Metro-Goldwyn. ' ‘ ' - Auckland. Metro-Goldwyn. “The Big Parade” Metro-Goldwyn. John' Gilbert. Auckland. Metro-Goldwyn. “His Secretary" Metro-Goldwyn. Norma Shearer. Wellington. Metro-Goldwyn. “The Framing Forest” Metro-Goldwyn. Ilene Adoree. Wellington. Metro-Goldwyn. “ Romola " Metro-Goldwyn. Lillian Gish. ‘Christchurch. Metro-Goldwyn. "Tin Great Love” Metro-Goldwyn. Viola Dana. Dunedin. Metro-Goldwyn. "The Night Cry" "Warner. Rin-Tin-Tin. Auckland. Australasian. “The Better Oh " Warner. Syd Chaplin. Wellington. Australasian. ‘‘Red Hot Tires” Warner. Monte Blue. Christchurch. Australasian. "The Clash of the Wolves" Warner. Rin-Tin-Tin. Dunedin. Australasian, FILM EXCHANGES ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST RELEASES MUST REACH THIS OFFICE NOT LATER THAN THURSDAY OF EACH WEEK.

PERSONAL AND GENERAL. (Supplied by the Film Exchange Association of New Zealand.) WELLINGTON, February 17. Mr Barrie Marschel, general manager of Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer, Ltd., is at present in Auckland on business connected with “ The Big Parade,” which opens in that city shortly. Mr J. C. Jones, managing director of First National Pictures, Ltd., arrived in Auckland from Sydney by the Niagara on Monday. Mr Jones was met by Mr Mason, and on Tuesday these two gentlemen left by car for Wellington. They will spend a day or two fishing at Taupo. and are expected in . the capital city on Saturday. The Tom Mix special attraction. “ The Great K. and A. Train Robbery," released by Fox Films, has been booked to open at the Queen s Theatre. Wellington, on March 4. From the previews of this picture, it seems that the Haring stunts accomplished by Tom Mix are more breath-taking than any he has previously attempted, and the fact that he was injured during the filming of this picture proves that he does not use doubles. Mr Beaumont Smith, managing director of J. C. Williamson Films, Ltd., has returned to Wellington from Auckland, accompanied bv Mr John Tait.. who is visiting New Zealand. While in. Auckland. Mr Tait was shown over the new Regent Theatre, and is of the opinion that this theatre compares favourably with any theatre in Austra'lThe Wurlitzer organ recently installed in the Regent Theatre. Auckland, and played by Eddie Horton, the noted American organist, is proving very popular with picture patrons. Mr W. E. Greenfield, manager of the Regent, informed the writer that, despite the extremely hot weather and many counter-attractions, the capacity of the Regent has been exceptionally good also. Despite two big theatrical counterattractions in “Is Zat So?” and the Humphrey Bishop Company in the same week. Mr Walter Gray, manager of the Palace Theatre, Palmerston North, opened to excellent business with Universal’s super-production, “The Midnight Sun.” Mr Gray considers “The Midnight Sun” the finest Universal production he has seen, and that a good test of its popularity is the manner in which its business held up against such opposition in a town of 15.000. Mr R. M. Stewart, secretary of the Film Exchanges Association for New Zealand, visited Auckland during the week. Mr W. Surrell. First National travelling representative, visited Auckland on Tuesday to meet his chief, Mr J. C. ) Jones, and was delighted when informed that he had been granted three weeks’ holiday. Mr Surrell is the only member of the First National staff who has been with the company since its inception. The British picture, “ Mademoiselle from Armentieres,” is playing to big business at the Strand Theatre, Auckland, and the general opinion is that it is one of the finest British pictures vet made. Mr Alan M’Gowan, general | manager of Australasian Films, advises that this fine attraction is heavily booked for some months to come. The New Zealand finals of the P.D.C. screen quest controlled by I* irsf National commence at the National and Lvric Theatres, Auckland, on February 24, when the winners from the four centres will compete. The winner of the New Zealand quest will proceed to Melbourne at an early date to compete in the Australasian finals, the winner of which will go to Hollywood tinder a ten weeks contract. The partv of American Red In-, dians who are appearing with great success at the Regent Theatre. Wellington, in a .prologue to 'The Vanishing Race, . leave bv the, Marama on Friday for Sydney, where they will connect with a steam- ’ er for America. The fifteenth anniversary month to lie celebrated bv Famous Lasky Film Service during March tends to.be an outstanding success, and the. Para- 1 mount staff at Wellington and Auckland are working at high pressure arranging bookings and despatching publicitv matter to the many exhibitors w ho’are celebrating this anniversary by booking extra programmes. Mr Errol Fuller, Auckland manager of First Xational. is expected in Wel- . lington on Saturday. Mr Fuller will shortly be joining the ranks of the Benedicts. Mr Manny Aarons, the talented organist. who will take charge of the big Wurlitzer organ at the De Luxe Theatre, Wellington, arrived from Sydney bv the Marama oil Tuesday. * The Makura, which arrived at Wellington on Monday last, brought to United Artists two prints of the big Samuel Goldwyn production, “ The Light of Love,” starring Ronald Colinan and Vilma Banky. ihis picture will be released by United Artists in the very near future. FILM PERSONALS. A rear ago Fay Wray was appearing in comedies. Then Erich von Stroheim discovered her and made her one of the feminine leads in his big production •• The Wedding March.” Low she has been selected to play-the leading feminine role in “Glorifying the American Girl, ' which Paramount plan to make one of the most gorgeous productions of the year. Harold Lloyd is a splendid example of success. Not many people know that only a few years ago he was almost penniless, lying on his back in an hospital, badly injured, with specialists despairing of his regaining his eyesight. He was working in a studio when a “ prop ” bomb exploded prematurely. Ilis new starring vehicle for Paramount will be “ For Heaven’s Sake.”

When Emil Jannings, whose first Paramount picture will be “ The Man Who Forgot God,” was a youth of twelve years he ran away to become a sailor. ‘ I wanted to wear a beautiful uniform with brass buttons, to stand at the wheel of a ship and sing chanteys at the top of my voice,” he explains. Instead, they gave him a pair of dirty dungarees and told him to shovel coal! Tim. M’Goy, a very young man, has crowded into his life an extraordinary number of adventures—as explorer, soldier, athlete and expert horseman. Metro-Goldwyn-Mavcr stars him in a number of special productions dealing with outdoor romance and adventure. The first of these is “ War Paint,” a spectacular story of Red Indian warfare. While making the picture he was stabbed by an over-excited Indian. Then he was accidentally shot. Some time later he was thrown from his horse and kicked into unconsciousness. Then, to cap the lot, he was severelyburned by an exploding cartridge. Agnes Ayres, who recently' signed on with ITal Roach to appear in short length comedies, has a distinguished career as a feature star, her greatest fame having been attained in “ The Sheik ” and “ The Son of the Sheik,” in which the late Rudolph Valentino was starred. She also appeared in “ Gappy Ricks ” with Thomas Meighan, “ The Love Special ” and “ Too Much Speed ” with the late Wallace Reid, and was starred in a number of productions. She appeared in the William de Mille pictures “ The Marriage Maker ” and “ Don’t Call it Love ” and the Cecil Be De Mille production “ The Ten Commandments.” London, Paris and New York idolised , Beatrice Lillie as the star of**’ Chariot’s Revue,” a famous musical comedy, and “ England's Lady of Laughs.” as she is known, soon became one of the most popular footlight figures. She makes her first venture into motion picture work in , “ Exit Smiling." an original comedy produced by Metro-Goldwyn* Mayer, with Jack Pickford as leading

man. This picture is very convincing proof that comedy- does not need slapstick. Its subtlety brings endless laughs, and its bright burlesque of oldtime stage life with its screamingly funny- incidentals—such as forgotten cues and drop curtains that won’t drop —provides a veritable feast of enjoyment. « Florence Strauss, scenario editor for First National pictures, paid a handsome compliment to Colleen Moore the other day at a luncheon in New York of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers. Miss Moore was to have been a guest of honour, but was confined to her hotel with a severe cold resulting from two days of work filming scenes from the top of a Fifth Avenue bus for her next First National picture, “ Orchids and Ermine.” Mrs Strauss said: “ Aside from being a great artiste, Colleen is the nicest little girl I know. She is absolutely devoid of conceit. -She is just wholesomely ambitious and interested in her career. Vanity is the bane of this business. And so it is a great relief to meet someone who is so unaffected and genuine as Miss Moore. Latest London files to hand report the serious illness, at Paris, of Betty- Balfour. She was taken ill following a strenuous day's work on a picture which she had been making on the Riviera. She had remained in water for almost an entire day. and also was exposed to an icy blast for the purposes of the picture. On the following day she became ill, her temperature mounting to 104 degrees. She was taken to Paris, and for two weeks her temperature varied between 104 and 106. Congestion of the lungs and muscular rheumatism complicated what seemed at first to be a bad attack of influepza. Miss Balfour is 23 years of age and a native of London. She has been in motion pictures for six years and is frequently compared to Mary Pickford. being of much the same type. Among the pictures in which she has appeared are “Satan's Sister," “Cinders.” “Sister of Six,” the “Squibs” Series,, and “Monte Carlo.” When

taken ill she was engaged in making a picture to be called “Little Devil. May Care.’’ GENERAL FILM GOSSIP. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Marie, —Adelqui Millar was Prince Seti, and Maria Corda Moon of Israel. r am unable to supply their addresses as I have no publication on the cinema I in France. Olive Hasbrouck played opposite Jack Hoxio. Address, Universal Studio, Universal City, California. Colleen Moore, 21. Lloy'cl Hughes 27. Marian Nixon 22. Pola Negri 211, Laura Da Plante 22. Marion Davies 27, Richard Dix 32, Antonio Moreno 3S. C.B.—Robert Frazer, 1005. Wilcox Avenue, Los Angeles, California. Jack Holt, Famous Players Studio, Hollywood, California. Hoot Gibson, Universal Studio, Universal City, Cali- j fornia. Tom Mix, Fox Studio, Holly- I wood, California. Jackie Coogan, Mae Murray and Marion Davies, Metro-Goldwyn Studio, Culver City, California. Vilma Banky and Jack Pick ford, United Artists Studio, Los Angeles, California. Rod La Rocque, Cecil De Mille Studio. Culver City, California. Elaine Hammerstein retired from pictures on her marriage. Molly.—Lilyan Tashman, Cecil Do Mille Studio. Culver City, Cali forum. Louise Fazenda and John Patrick, Warner Studio, Los Angeles, California. Harold Lloyd, 6640. Santa Monica Boulevard. Hollywood. California. Ivor Novello, 11, Aid wye h, London, W.C.2, England. House Peters, Universal Studio, Universal City, California. Buster Keaton. United Artists Studio, Hollywood, California. Betty Bronson. and W. C. Fields, Famous Players Studio, Hollywood. California. Paulette Duval. Metro-Goldwyn Studio, Culver City, California. See answer to ‘Tot.” Those omitted are not available. T know nothing with respect to Mr and Mrs Jack Piekl'ord other than was stated in a recent paragraph. John Patrick married Mildred La Rue, a dancer. Anita Stewart is Airs Rudolph Cameron. Betty Bronson is not married, nor is Louise Fazenda, so far as I can learn. Jewel Carmel, I understand, was married in France some eighteen months Tot.—Carmel Myers, Norma Shearer. John Gilbert. Antonio Moreno, Pauline Starke, Greta Garbo and Marlon Davies, Metro-Goldwyn Studio, Culver City. California. Betty Compson. Ricardo Cortez, Percy Marmont, Neil Hamilton and William Collier, Fam-ous-Players Studio, Hollywood, California. Cofistance Talmadge and Gloria Swanson. United Artists Studio, . Los Angeles, California. Laura La Plante and Eva Novak, Universal Studio, Universal City, California. Beatrice Joy and Lillian Rich. Cecil De Mille Studio, Culver City, California. Viola Dana and Edna Murphy, E. 8.0. Studio, Hollywood, California. Alma Rubens and Virginia Valli, Fox Studio, Hollywood, California. Gilda. Gray and Bebc Daniels, Famous Players-Lasky Studio, Sixth and Pierce Avenues, New York City, New York. Monte Blue Warner Studio, Los Angeles, California. lan Keith, Jack Mulliall, Milton Sills, Ben Lyon, Warner Baxter and Tom Moore, First National Studio, Burbank, California. Raymond M'Kee, Mack Sennett Studio, Hollywood, California. Phyllis Haver, 3924, Wisconsin Street, Los Angeles, California. Ruth Roland, 3828, Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. California. Estelle Taylor. Barbara Hotel. Los Angeles, California. Lloyd Hughes, 601 S, Rampart Street, Los Angeles, California. Cullin Landis, Associated Studio, 3800, Million Street. Hollywood, California. Helene Chadwick, Hal Roach Studio, Culver City, California. Unable to supply the others. Stills arc not on sale in Christchurch. Write the managers of the firms at Wellington. Inquisitive.—Ramon Novarro, MetroGoldwyn Studio, Culver City, California. John Barrymore, United Artists Studio, Los Angeles, California: Adolphe Menjou, Famous Players Studio. California. See answers to other correspondents. Jeanette.—Gertrude Olinstead and Lew Cody, Metro-Goldwyn Studio, Culver Citv, California. Harry Langdon, First National Studio, Burbank. California. Ronald Colman, United Artists Studio. Los Angeles. California. William Boyd, Cecil De Mille Studio, Culver City, California. See answers to other correspondents. J.B. —William Boyd (Feodor), Elinor Fair (Princess Vera), Victor Varconi (Prince Dimitri), all Cecil de Mille Studio, Culver City, California.

“ Variety ” has already established itself in Christchurch, although it will not be screened until Monday- at the Grand Theatre. No’ amount of publicity- will establish a film if it has not at first the necessary qualifications, and “ V’ariety ” possesses everything calculated to stir the emotions and elevate the thoughts of everyone, irrespective of opinion. The drama is immense, the suspense is aching; it is not so much the story-, for that is a simple but powerful one, but it is the way in which it is told. There is not a scene or an action in this picture which does not carry its own deep significance, its own shaft of emotional strength and thrilling intensity. Emil Jannings is magnificent in the leading role, Lya de Putti is brilliant in her part, and Warwick Ward, the famous English actor, creates a lasting impression in his portrayal.

George Eliot's celebrated romance of Renaissance Florence, “ Romola,” is to be shown at Everybody’s Theatre next week, with Lillian. Gish playing the title role, and her sister Dorothy playing Tessa, the youthful and pitiable plaything of fate and Tito. Set in a period which is famoys for its learning and art as well as for its shameless intrigue and laxity of morals, “ Romola ” has always beep a firm favourite with all classes of readers, for it possesses every essential of perfect entertainment. It is unalloyed drama for the most part, with some spectacular and melodra-

matic flashes, particularly the taking of the merchantmen! by pirates in the Mediterranean, and the savage execution of Savonarola. There is romance of two orders, one pure and sincere, the other selfish and sensual, while a scholarly wit brightens the action of the play. The film is magnificently presented and Lillian Gish plays with her customary clear artistry. William Powell is thoroughly effective as the i villain Tito, while Ronald Colman is I convincing as the artist Carlo, who wins the love of 'Romola at the conclusion of the drama. The. latest comedy of the one and onlv Douglas Maclean, T hat Lion,” is to be shown at the Crystal Palace Theatre next week, a purely farcical comedy with a few bright shafts of drama through it. and an j enormous amount of thrill, besides a gay and laughable quota of human interest. To win the girl—there is always a girl to be won in a picture--our doughty hero has to capture the most unsociable lion in all Africa. I‘roxri nis name one gathers that this delightful ! young man is of Scotch extraction, and it is onlv in “ Hold That Lion ” that he broadcasts the pleasing intelligence. When his tuxedo trousers were ripped in a crowded ballroom, and he was about to be presented to the only girl in the world, he found at his hand a brave pair of Scotch kilts, so he filched them, and paraded the room as a son of MacTavish. and to save himself from embarrassment when he met the original MacTavish whose garments he was wearing, he fled to Africa, all the way and still in the kilts. And it is in this portion of the merry tale that he goes Stanley and Livingstone one better. Constance Howard is the —ad- | mg lady, Walter Hiers appears m the cast, and there are a number of clever supporting players. Monte Blue and Patsy Ruth Miller star in " Red Hot Tyres ” at the Liberty Theatre next week, and this thrilling and cleverlv amusing comedy drama is one of'the swiftest pictures of its kind ever screened. Ihe action, which is of the boldly breathless sort throughout, starts off at a great pace, and never slackens for one moment, even although both hero and heroine often find themselves in gaol, and while awav the time by flirting through the bars, while a sympathetic gaoler, of the comic opera type, blissfully puffs a pipe. Monte Blue is certainly at his best as a comedian, and his touch has a pleasing freshness and originality about it. The plot of “ Red Hot Tyres ” is simple enough, but it is the witty and speedy complications which lend' it the most humour. After Marriage ” is a very realistic I story of. as the title suggests, life after marriage and the disillusionments which accompany it. It is mainly dramatic, with the ever-interesting sequences of New \ ork night life to , give it its spice of levity and wit. Mari' garet Livingstone plays the title role, and although hitherto she has been sociated with comedy roles she shows in this picture that she has a fine flair for emotional acting. Reginald Denny, who ranks with the best of the light comedians of the ‘ screen, is the star in " Rolling Home,” j a Universal production which heads I the current programme, at the Strand ' Theatre. This is without doubt Denny's j funniest picture since he stepped into feature comedies. Situation piles ! upon situation, with the comedy growing at each new scene until the spectator begins to wonder how the hero is going to extricate himself from the hopeless tangle in which he has become involved. The other featured film is

“ Lazy-bones,” a Fox production. It is the story of a young 'mail who appeared to have been born lazy, but who proved when occasion demanded he could meet any- emergency. Buck Jones is the alleged lazybones. Harold Bell * Wright’s widely read novel, “ The Winning of Barbara Worth,” is soon to be released by United Artists, and will be shown at the Grand Theatre, with Vilma Banky and Ronald Colman in the leading roles. Wherever the book was read, and it was translated into many languages, it was extremely popular, and the picture production has retained all the inherent charm, and all the virile realism of the story. Never have Colman and Miss Banky been better cast, and they are assisted by a large collection of distinguished A colossal spectacular production, “ The Midnight Sun," based on a Russian drama of the Czarist Court, is soon to be released at the Grand Theatre, and is one which is said to surpass any other production made along these lines. From the Universal Studios, directed bv a Russian and having Laura La Plante and Pat O'Malley in the leading roles. “ The Midnight Sun ” is a story of intriguing interest and exquisite beauty. There is comedy mingled with its sterner drama, and a I brilliant love story- runs through the piece. George Siegpian. the clever character actor, adds to his laurels by his masterly- portrayal of a sinister, unsympathetic character.

That England should make more use of the film was urged by the chairman of the Xew Zealand Association of British Manufacturers ajid Agents (Mr G. 11. Scott}, when speaking at the luncheon tendered to the Prime Minister (Right Hon J. G. Coates) on Wednesday. Mr Scott said he was glad, the film question had been touched upon by the Imperial Conference. The film was one of the best educative channels—and one taken along the wrong lines to-day— being missed as far as England was concerned. Children, were growing up with ideas emanating from American picture films, and that was

not to. be tolerated. The boys and girls should have p.ctures which would imbue them with ideas British. (Applause. > Alec B. Francis makes a very lev able character from the part of Peter in “The Return of IVter Grimm." the Fox production shortly to l>c released in Xew Zealand. “The Strong Man" is Harry Langdon's latest release The philosophy ot this most engaging comedian is that “ tragedv is what happens to the other fellow Although " The Strong Man "

is frankly burlesque, it has human qualities that are very appealing, and is full of laughs. After an absence of a year and a hah. Marion Nixon returns to work in the Fox Studios. This charming little lad\ appeared with much advantage opposite Tom Mix in "The Last of the Duanes." and many other Fox attra tions. and her present role as the daughter. Ruth Levi, is eminently suited to her capabilities. « >: A huge forest fire, which demolished an area of several hundred square miles, provides a realistic setting for some thrilling scenes in “The Serappin Kid. Universal-Blue Streak Western starring Art Acord. The fire which ap pears in the picture was a real one. and occurred in the forests near the Panamint Mountains in California The entire company rushed to the scene of the fire to get the scenes, then helper! forest rangers to extinguish it.