THE “STAR”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18644, 22 December 1928, Page 24 (Supplement)

THE “STAR”

NEW ZEALAND’S OFFICIAL FILM NEWSPAPER

By

“ THE MOVIE MAN ”

OFFICIAL FIRST RELEASES IN EACH CENTRE FOR NEW ZEALAND. . .WEEK COMMENCING DECEMBER 24, 1928.

GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

Ramon Novarro, that most popular young actor, supported by a bevy of fair women, including Renee Adoree, Marceline Day and Carmel Myers, plays the title role in “A Certain Young Man,” which will be the leading attraction at Everybody’s Theatre next week. This is light romantic drama, of a very different type from the serious stuff which this young actor usually plays in. In it he proves that he can handle with sophisticated deftness \hose situations usually accredited to Adolphe Menjou and Clive Brook. He has a sense of dangerous humour, a wicked eye for all lovely ladies, and enjoys, in his role, a great reputation throughout Europe as a wrecker of hearts. It is light and amusing, but the certain young man meets his Waterloo, at the end of a long and merry day, in the person of Miss Marceline. 1C 55 X That dry comedian, Harry Langdon, has the lead in the principal picture to be screened at Crystal Palace

Theatre next week. It is entitled, simply and sympathetically, “ Heart Trouble,” and is an ailment from which many unhappy humans suffer. But after seeing this very quaint comedian going through his paces, one wonders whether all young men suffering from heart trouble have such a merry time as this hero. Everything he puts his hand to turns to gold, metaphorically speaking: but he, in turn, bungles everything, so that the comedy, originally very humorous, turns into a sparkling farce that is as thrilling and 6peedy as it is amusing. A sc 5: A fine cast interpret the characters in “ The Honeymoon Express,” the picture to be presented at the Grand Theatre next week. Willard Louis and Irene Rich have the maturer roles, while their ultra-modern children are played by Helene Costello, Virginia Lee Corbin, and Jason Robards. Holmes Herbert is the wife’s understanding friend, and Jane Winton, as beautiful and as dangerous as ever, is the husband’s friend. “ The Honeymoon Express ” is a peppy, up-to-date comedy romance, that yet succeeds in striking a somewhat serious and dramatic note in parts. The story is sound, the mounting admirable, and the acting first-class. Different sort of entertainment that should prove popular. :: :: “ Phyllis of the Follies,” with Alice Day as that celebrity, and Lilyan Tashman, and Matt Moore as two other amazing people, and Edmund Burns as a young man with a leaning to Mr Zeigfeld’s pretty ladies, are the people in ** Phyllis of the Follies,” one of the pictures at Everybody’s Theatre next week. This is a feast of merriment, frightful mix-ups with everybody’s husband and wife lost or forgotten for the moment, and a pair of lovers who poke their nose into everybody’s business and increase the trouble. It is a sparkling little comedy with a piquant flavour, a rich setting, and a happy ending. Should be seen. 55 55 55 It seems ages since Tom Mix was last at Liberty, he and his indispensable horse, Tony, his gav garments and his nerve and his smile. Next week, at Liberty Theatre, in “ The Horseman of the Plains,” he will be seen going through his familiar paces of dispatching villains, saving the girl, performing divers hazardous feats, and generally lending a gallant tone to a picture that is rich in adventure, romance and comedy. “ The Horseman of the Plains,” has action in every foot, thrills in their hundreds, and a very clever plot. Sally Blane is his leading lady. X X n " Rookies,” that wonderful laughterraising film, is to be shown at the Strand Theatre to-day. It is difficult to say when Karl Dane and G. K. Arthur ever did better work. The picture is one that can do with being seen twice, for it is so full of funny incidents that they can hardly be all assimilated at one session. The other feature at Strand this week is “ High School Hero,” a fast moving college comedy drama, with any amount of laughter in its sequences. 55 55 55 Special sound sequences are being made for the van Dine mystery story, “The Canary Murder Case,'* which will be completed shortly at the Paramount Studios. William Powell, Jean Arthur, Louise Brooks, James Hall are featured.

“ Sunrise,” the great Fox film made in Hollywood by W. F. Murnau, is soon to be seen in Christchurch. Janet Gavnor and George O’Brien have the leads, with Margaret Livingstone as the heartless vamp. The story is simple, and is not involved in anything like what the usual modern picture indulges in. The story of a peasant pair, husband and wife, it has little humour or romance, two quantities that are generally regarded as being indispensable to the good picture. But “ Sunrise ” is gloriously artistic, told with calmness, almost coldness: no trimmings, nothing but the bare, dramatic facts, which hold the audience in breathless suspense, until a logical conclusion is reached. Janet Gaynor excels her work as Diane as “ Seventh Heaven ” in this picture. Shortly in the New Year, “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin ” will be presented at one of the leading theatres in the city. It is now’ some years since this famous story has been handled by stage or screen, and this picture, for sincerity, tenderness and great sets, has all other productions left far behind. The act-

ing, that of the elfin Topsy, the ethreal Eva, the villainous Legree, and Uncle Tom and Eliza, is wonderful. It is told with humour, and a sense of pathos, and is one of the most entirely satisfactory pictures to come out of Hollywood in an age. 55. .55 55 Alice White, judging by advance reviews, has justified her being chosen as the star of “ The Show Girl,” a swift-moving story which bears out the promise of its title, very lavishly produced, with the little star interpreting the rollicking role with much distinction. Beautiful girls adorn the Broadway scenes, and one has provocative glimpses of night clubs, back stage life, the lures that mean Broadway, and the fluttering butterflies of Manhattan and stage life. Donald Reed has the colourful role of the Latin lover, a hot-

blooded Tango dancer, fervent enough to -please the most exacting flapper. The cast includes Gwen Lee, Kate Price, Lee Moran, Charles Delaney and other well-known players. “ The Show Girl ” will be released by First National. Among the freaks that have from time to time found their way into the Paramount studios are such monstrosities as a two-headed cow, a talking dog, and a horse with a leg too many. Needless to say, these freaks in question found their way back to the circus or showground. There is, however, a permanent colony of trained animals in Hollywood, and one of the largest collections is that of the brothers Spoffard. They have a trained bear, six trained dogs, a leopard, a lion and a flock of trained mice. The father of the brood, however, is “Archie,” a trained buzzard. One of their most difficult assignments was to produce an Alpine chamois for use in the Paramount picture, “ The

Wedding March,” the cast of which is| headed by Erich von Stroheim and Fay Wray. It took them three months to get one and train it. “The Wedding March,” which has been produced as a synchronised sound picture as well as silent, will be released in New Zealand next year by Paramount. Hugh Trevor plays the part of a cultured prize-fighter in “Beau Brdadway,” the latest Lew Codv-Aileen Pringle costarring production for Metro-Goldwyn Trevor was cast for the important role because he is the “Tunney type,” although he had never been a boxer outside of college amateur events. “Beau Broadway” is one of the most thrilling prize-ring stories ever filmed. Aside from its human interest appeal in the manly art of self-defence, it has appealing romance and presents some new sidelights on the much-discussed younger generation. Cody is seen as a prizefight promoter and Miss Pringle as a sophisticated woman of the world who gives him some uneasy moments before she makes up her mind where to centre her affections. In the supporting cast is the former world’s champion, James J. Jeffries. 25 55 55 Warner Oland has been added to the cast of “ The Tong War,” the Paramount production co-featuring Wallace Beery and Florence Vidor. The picture is now in the making at the Paramount studios, under the direction of William Wellman, one of the youngest directors in motion pictures, who has pictures such as “ Wings,” “ The Legion of the Condemned,” and “ Beggars of Life ” to his credit. 55 5*5 55 The story of the first Paramount sound picture to star the French musical comedy idol, Maurice Chevalier, has been selected and is titled “ The Innocents of Paris.” The production will be under the direction of H. d’Abbadie d’Arrast, and Chevalier will be heard not only in spoken sequences, but in many song hits, both in English and French. “My Little Irish Rose ” is the title of a tuneful and catchy song which will be heard in Paramount's sound version of the famous stage play, “ Abie’s Irish Rose.” It is sung by Charles Rogers, the star of the picture, who plays the character of Abie. Nancy Carroll, as Rosemary, will also be heard in both solos and duets. » 55 Emil Jannings, the great dramatic star of “ The Patriot,” says that he dislikes wigs and false moustaches when playing a role in a picture, and he never uses them except where absolutely compelled to do so by the nature of the character he portrays. In “ The Patriot” Jannings acts throughout with his face clean shaven. 55 55 5C The cast of the latest Esther Ralston starring picture for Paramount, “ The Case of Lena Smith,” includes James Hall, Gustave von Seyffertitz, Emily Fitzroy, Leone Lane and Ann Brody. It is being produced under the direction of Josef von Sternberg. X 52 55 Clara Bow’s latest picture for Paramount, “ Three Week Ends,” is nearing completion, and preparations are being made for her next, titled “ The Saturday Night Kid.” Production of the latter picture will start immediately following the completion of the Elinor Glyn story. The first all-dialogue comedy to be produced for Paramount will be titled “ The Dummy,” and will go into production shortly on the sound stages of the Paramount studios. The screen story is based on the stage play of the same name, the rights of which were purchased by Paramount recently. Robert Milton will direct.

“ Two Shall Meet,” an original stage play by Owen Davis, has been selected as the next Charles Rogers's starring picture for Paramount, following the completion of his present picture, “ Someone to Love.” Baclanova has been assigned to the cast of “ Two Shall Meet,” and Dorothy Arzner will direct. 55 55 Drury Lane conjures up to the old playgoer a host of alluring memories, and the mention of that great racing melodrama. “The Whip.” will associate itself with those nays when the famous old playhouse was considered the home of melodrama. With all the added facilities of modern studios for reproducing scenes and sequences on a spectacular scale, “The Whip” in its picture version by First National Pictures should prove most attractive. It has its share of thrills, and also great moments that are heart-catching in their appeal. Dorothy Mackaill, Lowell Sherman and Anna Q. Nilsson have the leading roles.

Feature. ' ' Make. Star. Town. Released by “ Big Killing.” Beery and Hatton. Dunedin. Paramount! Australasian. " A Reno Divorce.” v . ,. May IVTAyoy. Ch ri stchu rch. Australasian. Estelle Taylor. Dunedin. Ken Maynard. Harry Langdon. - .. L niversal. Universal.