GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18938, 7 December 1929, Page 26 (Supplement)

GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Varna.—Dorothy Burgess In “In Old Arizona,” and Mary Duncan in *• Through Different Eyes.” A Film Fan.—Thanks for remarks with respect to the motion picture page. They are fully appreciated. Laura La Plante and Joseph Schildkraut, Universal Studio, Universal City, California; Ivor Novello, 11, Aldwyoh, London, W.C.2, England; Mabel Poulton, Nettlefold Studio, Walton-on-Thames, England. Nothing is known yet regarding the production of the picture mentioned. Interested.—Sorry I cannot supply anything definite with respect to the automobiles. My inquiries lead to the belief that they are either hired or are the property of the producing companies. Also, I cannot ascertain anything with respect to motor laws in America, as each State appears to have its own laws. Laura La Plante, Universal Studio, Universal City, California; Clara Bow, Paramount Studio, Hollywood, California; Alice White, First National Studio, Burbank, California. Sue Carol and David Rollins had the leads in “ The Fox Follies.” Address Fox Studio, Hollywood, California. William Haines and Joan Crawford are, perhaps, the most pair, when teaming together, appearing in light ecreen comedies to-day. They will be seen at Everybody’s Theatre next week in “The Duke Steps Out,” in which they are supported by a good cast, including Eddie Nugent, Gwen Lee, Karl Dane and Tenen Holtz. “The Duke Steps Out ” tells of a young man of wealth and leisure, who, tiring of his flighty existence, takes up prizefighting, under the pseudonym of “Duke Wellington.” As his real self, he meets with Susie, played by Joan Crawford, who is annoyed when he refuses to attend her college party, which is the date of his big fight. It is a light and amusing story, told in. witt} r sub-titles, bright incidents, and is plentifully besprinkled with typical Haines smart-talk and smart-acting. Joan Crawford is decorative, and Eddie Nugent is one -long scream as the college sheik. The supporting picture at Everybody’s Theatre next week is “ The Far Call,” from the widely-read novel by Efison Marshall. In the leads are Charles Morton, Leila Hyams and Ulrich Haupt. The story is clever, with no unduA sentimental romance, no scenes of smart life, and no fashionable characters. The picture opens in a Chinese dive on the Shanghai waterfront, and it is very cosmopolitan, typical of its setting and of the east-of-Suez crowd that go there. In that place a plot is hatched by three adventurers, sailors of fortune, to raid the Island of St Paul, slay the seals there, and carry off valuable furs. From Shanghai, to the • Alaskan waters the freebooters, by a ruse, gain control of the island, and the radio station, and insinuate themselves into the confidence of the commandant and his daughter. From here on, “ The Far Call ” assumes exciting and dramatic guise. It is splendidly directed, is well acted, and is faithfully staged. “ Thunderbolt,” an all-talking picture starring George Bancroft, will be screened at Crystal Palace Theatre next week. Fay Wray and Richard Arlen have the romantic leads. This is the finest picture, silent or talkie, that Bancroft has yet made, a strong, vigorous, he-man drama of a gentleman killer of the New York underworld being his role. “ Thunderbolt ” Jim Lang, wanted by the police for murder and robbery, sees his girl go straight, and fall in love with a bank clerk. Thunderbolt frames the clerk, sees him accused of a hold-up and murder, and watches him go to Sing Sing. Thunderbolt himself is captured at the same time, and swears that he’ll “ get ” the boy in prison. It is a powerful drama of an insane jealousy, and a bitter piece of plotting for revenge. There are some tense, scenes in Sing Sing, and a climax that is the last thing in tingling drama. It is an all-talking picture, and Bancroft’s voice fits his personality. Fay Wray and Richard Arlen are accent’ess, and play their parts pleasingly. 55 55 At Liberty Theatre next week, “ The Hole in the Wall,” an all-talking film, will be screened. This is the first talking picture that has featured, for its plot,, the cult of spiritualism and mediumistic expression. Claudette Colbert and E. G. Robinson, two favourites of the New York stage, have the leads. “ The Hole in the Wall ” has a cast that is recruited exclusively from the stage, and all the players go through their paces with a judgment and an appreciation for drama that is good to watch.

It is a clever play of the genuine and the false, ingeniously developed, and with a strong romantic interest threading it. Claudette Colbert is peculiarly suited to the role she plays, and that of “ The Fox,” both villain and hero, is in the hands of E. G. Robinson. A Harold Lloyd comedy will be the principal feature on next' week’s programme at the Grand Theatre. “ For Heaven’s Sake,” in which Lloyd has Jobyna Ralston as leading lady, is the story of a young millionaire who becomes amusingly entangled with a missioner and a gang of crooks. In the hands of the irrepressible Harold this theme is worked out along hilarious lines, brimming with jollity at every scene, with plenty of thrills and farcical fights to liven things up, and generally a most humorous affair from start to finish. The famous comedian has never made a more enjoyable comedy than “ For Heaven’s Sake,” and it is safe to say that those who enjoy a really good laugh will delight in this picture. The second picture at the Grand is “ Tilly’s Punctured Romance,” which has a great comedy cast. Three starring comedians are in this picture, Louise Fazenda, W. C. Fields and Chester Conklin, and among them they make the story a merry, speedy affair. The locale is a Continental circus, with all the glittering impedimenta of the show, -sand the story that goes on behind the scenes, and sometimes before the footlights, is screamingly funny. Louise Fazenda, as the child of circus parents brought up without knowledge of her birth, and who, despite all efforts, gravitates towards the circus, is brilliantly amusing, and Chester Conklin and W. C. Fields are a show in themselves. The principal film on the current programme at the Strand Theatre is “West Point,” in which William Haines plays the role of the average young man going through college preparatory to stepping on to the highways of the world. His bravado and swollen-head-edness at the famous West Point Academy, lead him into endless trouble, so that a touch of drama develops side by side with thrills and roniance. The story is unfolded with irresistible interest to a sensational conclusion. Youth, love, adventure, heart-throbs, sophistication, hot-heateded impetuosity—all that is typical of Youth to-day, is revealed in this picture. Joan Crawford is the heroine. The second attraction, “ Romance of the Underworld,” tells the story of a girl who gains her living as an entertainer in a cabaret. The cast is headed by Mary Astor, Ben Bard and Robert Elliott. 5: “ Lady of the Night” is stated to be the best picture D. W. Griffith has yet done. This statement is made on the authority of the Hollywood “ Filmograph,” one of the leading trade journals in. America. For this film Irving Berlin wrote “ Where is the Song of Songs for Me ” especially for Lupe Yalez. It might be mentioned that this song was sung by Gladys Moncrieff. “ Lady of the Night ” opens at the Civic on Thursday, December 19 Mary Pickford has been called “ the World’s Sweetheart ” for the reason that the charm of her work and characterisations found a response in the hearts of the people. To hear her talk is to understand why Mary has such a heart appeal. In “ Coquette ” an entirely new role has been found for her. The picture is taken from the stage play of the same name, and Mary Pickford has the part of the coquette of the village, Norma Besant. “ Coquette ” will be screened in the near future at the Civic Theatre. “ The Bridge of San Luis Rey ” opens at Everybody’s Theatre this month. The picture is adapted from Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize Novel of 1928, and has made a remarkably fine film. The Peruvian settings of the eighteenth century are very accurate, and the character acting is most effective. The strange, fatalistic story, the tragedy that encompasses the Five as they are crossing the bridge, are excellently portrayed on the screen. This must have been supremely difficult to accomplish, for “ The Bridge of San Luis Rey ” is of an emotional and psychological nature. But readers of the book will love the picture as much as they did the original. The role of Camile, the light dancer of Lima, is in the hands of Lily Damita, the French actress. Uncle Pio is played by Ernest Torrence, and the Viceroy by Mikhail Vavitch. Other well-known players in the picture are

lllllllllllllllllllllilll!llll!!lll!llllllllllllllllllllllllilll!!l!lllllllll!llll!llilllllllllllllllllll Raquel Torres, Henry B. Walthall, Emily Fitzroy, and the Twins are played by Duncan Rinaldo and Don Alvarado. 55 55 5*5 “Tin H'at6,” which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer made as a silent picture several years ago, is to have a musical version by the same company. When the “Tarzan ” pictures were the rage, Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan was a famous star. Of late he has been working as a waiter in a restaurants “The House of Troy,” a story similar to “The Student Prince,” but having a Spanish locale instead of Austrian, will be Ramon Novarro’s next starring vehicle for Metro-Goldwyn-RJayer. 55 “Juno and the Paycock, Sean O’Casey’s famous stage play, will be produced as a picture by British International Productions and will be released in New Zealand by Cinema Art Films. Elinor Faire, wife of William Boyd, sued for divorce today (states a Los Angeles message, dated October 16). They were married in January, 1926, their romance starting when they wsre playing leads in “ The Volga Boatman.” 55 55 55 “Hold Your Man,” Universal talking farce-comedy, is one fo the most amusing of Laura La Plante’s many triumphs as a screen cpmedienne. It gives her ample opportunity to demonstrate her talents, especially her genius for mimicry. “ The Vagabond King,” Paramount’s first all-colour romance has been completed at the Hollywood studios. Dennis King, former New York comic Opera star, plays the featured role of Villon. Jeannette MacDonald is cast in the feminine lead. It’s harvest time for musicians in the movie studios (writes a Hollywood correspondent). Orchestra directors get as high as 5000 dollars a picture. Players in orchestras get 10 dollars an hour, and hundreds find employment on the many musical pictures. The engagement of Lita Gray Chap* lin, former wife of Charlie Chaplin, to Phil Baker, musical comedy actor ,was announced at a party here last night (states a Milwaukee message). The wedding will take place it was stated, “ as soon as our contracts expire.” 55 55 55 Los Angeles, October 2.—Mabel Normand, once a star of the motion picture world, now in a Monrovia sanatorium, is making a desperate fight for life against tuberculosis, according to her physician, Dr Francis M. Pottlenger, who says her condition, is serious. 55 55 25 According to a New York expert who was in Hollywood recently, assisting in the making of a talking film: “ Wallace MacDonald, not only has the finest singing voice I have ever heard among screen actors, but one of the best I have ever heard. I heard him sing. It is the first real trained singing voice I have heard in the studios. His voice is wasted on the screen.” 1 “ Paramount on Parade,” a lavish musical extravaganza, is to be produced at the Paramount studios. Every Paramount star and featured player will appear in the 1 production. Every director, story writer, artist and specialist in set designing at the Paramount studios will have an opportunity to contribute. The production, will be termed a “ cinephonic festival.” Jack Mulhall portrays two parts of great power in “Dark Streets,” the First National gangster romance, in which Mulhall is called upon to characterise and speak the roles of a crook and a cop, who are brothers. This is the first dual talking role in any talking picture, and the difficult feat of having Mulhall shown twice in the same scene and talking to himself is achieved by Vitaphone. 25 55 55 Eddie Leonard, who stars in “Melody Lane,” Universal picture, was born in Richmond, Va., and started “out as a minstrel when he was about sixteen years old. He has appeared with all of the great minstrels, Haverly, Primrose, Dockstader and others, and in many shows of his own. He is famous as the composer and singer of such songs as “Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider.” “Coon, Coon, Coon,” “Roly Poly Eyes,” “Oh, Didn’t It Rain,” and “Oh, Anna.” Thirty-six sound and dialogue pictures will be released by Cinema Art Films during 1930, made up from fourteen British International productions, twelve from U.F.A., and ten from Tiffany. Among the extended season attractions to be released, “Blackmail” and “Atlantic,” British International pictures, head the list. Othern include “The White Devil,” U.F.A., from the novel by Leo Tolstoy, and “Devil Saint,” Emil Jannings’s first talking picture. “The Hollywood Revue,” Metro-Gold-wyn extravaganza, which is coming shortly, has tuneful music and a gorgeous array of settings illuminated by brilliant ensembles. Marion Davies sings and dances, accompanied by a six-foot male chorus, and John Gilbert and Norma Shearer appear together in a romantic skit, a modernised version of “ Romeo and Juliet.” Bessie Love, Conrad Nagel, Buster Keaton, Anita Page and Joan Crawford are others who will be seen in this production. Warner Bros, and First National have fifteen pictures for release shortly, some of them in colour. “On With the Show”. “Gold Diggers of Broadway” and “Sally” are amongst the first in the colour group. “Paris”, which has Irene Bedqni, world-famous stage star, and Jack Buchanan, famous English comedian, has some spectacular stage sequences, real Parisienne styles, faststepping dancing choruces, and a clever story. In “Footlights and Fools” the versatile Colleen Moore is at her best as a comedienne. “The Song of the Flame”, an all-talking and singing spectacle, has Alexander Gray, Berinee Clairs and Noah Beery in the cast. Los Angeles, October B.—Jeanette Loff, beautiful motion pic-

ture actress, had something different from the ordinary in divorce pleas to offer Superior Judge Sproul today. And it won her a decree from Harry Roseboom. Miss Loff solemnly testified that when Roseboom saw his wife kiss a man on the screen, he would fly into a jealous rage and stamp out of the theatre. This was bad in two ways, she added. It made it difficult for her to persuade her husband to join her at a picture premiere, and it caused disagreeable scenes at home when she returned home after attending such a show alone. All this, Miss Loff’s attorney argued, made a fine case of legal cruelty, and the Judge concurred. Owing to the film trouble between America and France, at the invitation of the Paramount Company a group of French’ journalists visited America to see just exactly how the motion picture business was run in that country. “There is no denying” (says an American motion picture publication) “that the film situation between the United States and France was pretty well tangled until it was straightened out a few weeks ago. Possibly if some organisation had had the foresight and the wisdom to invite a group of French journalists here long before this we should never have had the trouble we did have. At any rate it seems likely that Paramount’s very splendid invitaliiiiununiuaiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiumiiiumiiumiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimffiiiiiiiiniiiiuiiiuni]

iiiniunniiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiDiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiniiii tion to the Frenchmen will see to it that similar troubles never arise again.” Talking pictures offer many opportunities for the foreign-born movie “extra”, who is able to speak two or three languages. In the days of the silent film, an “extra” portraying a foreign type merely had to look the part. Now he has to speak the part also. In the Paramount all-talking production, “The Marriage Playground”, Michael Visaroff, who plays the role of a concierge at a cosmopolitan hotel in Europe, is called upon to speak three languages. He addressed one of the players, Fredric March, in English, a bell-boy in Italian, and a passing couple in French. For one beach scene seventy-five extras, representing many foreign were used for atmosphere. “The Marriage Playground”, which is in production at the Paramount Hollywood studios, was adapted from Edith Wharton’s novel, “The Children”. Mary Brian, Doris Hill, Kay Francis and Huntley Gordon and Lilyan Tashman are featured in the supporting cast. On the twenty-fifth anniversary of his entrance into the motion picture business, William Fox, at Fox Hall, Woodmere, L. 1., announced his programme for the next quarter of a century (.says a New York message dated October 13). In these twenty-five years he plans, by means of talking pictures, to institute a system of visual-oral education in every school in the country, whereby he hopes to cut school time in half and standardise teaching; to fill every vacant seat of the 75,000,000 church and parish house seats in the United States, and to assist in the dissemination of medical knowledge by having hospitals equipped with apparatus to photograph every major operation. The operation will be described simultaneously by a specialist and the talkie film, will later be distributed throughout the world fo!r the use of medical students, physicians and . urgt?pP3. To further this project, Fox said he is willing to contribute one quarter of his personal fortune, estimated to be approximately 9,000.000 dollars. Although allowing twenty-five years, he hopes to complete the programme within five. He .said, also, that the Fox organisation will soon enter

the home projection field so that at a nominal cost the layman will be able to project in his own home sixteen millimeter talking pictures, which he will select and rent from the film libraries that the Fox corporation will establish throughout the country. a a Twenty-five years ago William Fox made a modest start in the film business (says the “Exhibitors HeraldWorld” of October 19) This week 102 theatres in Greater New York and more than 1000 theatres throughout the country, the property of this man, are celebrating his silver anniversary in the motion picture industry. And with the celebration comes the word that still more theatres are being added to this colossal chain. Forty were added to it last week and the latest reported acquisition includes the 65 houses of the T. and D. Junior Circuit and the Golden State Theatres, giving him control of eight out of every ten motion picture theatres in the State of California. Two-page spreads in the New York press late last week invited the public to join the festivities of the silver jubilee when, for seven days every Fox theatre throughout the United States would observe “this event with a splendid entertainment befitting the attainment of a quarter century of remarkable growth.” The William Fox Circuit of Theatres is the largest in

the world. The vast Fox holdings are a monument to individual aggressiveness and enterprise. The man himself occupies, in his own industry, a position which is literally self-sufficient. His organisation is the largest and it includes practically everything in the talking picture end of the show business as we know it to-day. It includes great studios and the companies which manufacture the equipment for them; theatres and the firms which supplytheatre equipment, from reproduction apparatus to lighting fixtures, rugs, paintings and fancy tassels on this or that doodab; finance companies for the acceptance of commercial paper taken on every kind of equipment; Grandeur Film, for which all his theatres will be equipped eventually. For one thing only is he independent of his own organisation. That is the celluloid stock on which pictures are photographed. Soon, it is expected, he will acquire that or think of something new to replace it. :: « In using nothing but real jewellery in ‘‘Dynamite”, his initial production for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Cecil B. De Mille is following out a policy made early in his directorial career. “No matter how well done, paste does not photograph with the unmistakable richness of the real thing,” says the veteran producer. In De Mille’s case, however, there is no additional “overhead" for the purchase or rental of supervaluable gems. For years he has bought gems as an investment and as a hobby. He is reputed to have one of the finest collections in America. Included are “The Blue Lagoon”, a beautiful blue diamond, “The Green Temptation”, one of the largest green diamonds in existence, and also rubies, emeralds, etc., in strange sizes and shapes. One of his show pieces is a pearl in the shape of a fish, in the original shell. The oyster in question was unable to digest the fish, and made a pearl of the tiny minnow. The shell with its remarkable formation is said to be the only one of its kind in existenoe Jewels play a prominent part in “Dynamite”, particularly in the scenes of a party in the home of an heiress. Here diamonds and pearls glitter as appropriate background to strong dramatic scenes involving the principals, Conrad Nagel. Charles Bickford, Ivay Johnson and Julia Faye.