GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18467, 19 May 1928, Page 25 (Supplement)

GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

by Fox films. No player has had a in ore sensational rise than Miss Gaynor. In the last year poignant delineations have established her as one of the greatest actresses in the world of films. Her first triumph came in “Seventh Heaven,” under Frank Borzage's direction. She reinforced her popularity in “Sunrise,” Murnau’s first effort in America. Recently she completed "Street Angel,” also fashioned by Borzage. and is said to have scored again in fine, intuitive, emotional acting.

The Roxy Theatre, New York, which recently completed its first anniversary, is one" of the greatest enterprises in amusement history. During the year world records for attendance and receipts have been broken. Approximatelv six and a half million people have passed through the doors of the Roxy since they were first opened and more than five and a half million dollars has passed through the box office. A record for one week's receipts was established during the presentation of “What Price Glory." when 144.267.30d0l passed into the box office windows and 176.26 G persons were entertained at the Roxv. The record for a day's receipts was in connection with “A Girl in Every Port.” when 29.463d0l was paid by patrons. The Roxy Symphony Orchestra. which numbers 110 musicians, is one of the largest theatre orchestras in the world. A London correspondent, throws some light on the censorship in England:—Mr T. P. O'Connor, Tay Pay. as he is affectionately called, is the censor of British films and at eighty years of age he is still adaptable to modern ideas. This is not a Government censorship, but one designed by the cinema trade to obviate Government interference, and its control can be exercised only over the theatres belonging to the cinema group. That is why films that are banned by the censor are often shown in theatres —Covent Garden, Daly's, etc. His jurisdiction does not extend beyond the regular picture house. Tay Pay does not view every film himself. " God forbid.” he said to me when I asked him. “ There are four assistants, three men and one woman, and only in cases of doubt or disagreement am I called in. My word is final. It’s a terrible job.” he added. I wonder how they retain their sanity.”