MOTION PICTURE PAGE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19240, 29 November 1930, Page 24 (Supplement)

MOTION PICTURE PAGE

News of Plays and The Players 1

THE “CHRISTCHURCH STAR” IS NEW ZEALAND’S OFFICIAL FILM NEWSPAPER. I

GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

AjrSWEKS TO CORRESPONDENTS. R. J. F*. —Alice Joyce was the actress who took the part of Mary, mother of the two children, in “ Sons o’ My Heart.” Letters which do not carry the sender's full name and address (not necessarily for publication) cannot be answered. ALL-BRITISH FILMS. An excellent all-British programme is now at the St James’ Theatre. “Greek Street,” the principal attraction, is a story of London’s night life. The picture shows the romance of a little cabaret girl and her struggles to achieve fame. This role is played by Sari Maritza, a new recruit to the talkies, over whom the critics were in raptures on the film’s presentation in London. Other artists who play leading roles are Martin Lewis, E. Stanelli, Rex Maurice, Peter Haddon and Renee Clama. Max Rivers's Sixteen Trocadero Girls also appear and give some tuneful numbers and terpsichorean effects. “ Greek Street,” whose atmosphere is redolent of the brighter side of London’s night life, tells the story of a homeless little girl who is befriended by a young Italian cafe proprietor. In gratitude for his kindness she sings in the little cafe at night time. Her reputation spreads, and an unscrupulous roue and cabaret producer invites her to appear in a big cabaret show. This is really the beginning of the action which is brought to a happy ending. “ Song of the Flame.” By all accounts, the most magnificent and colourful play with music so far made is First National and Vitaphone’s brilliant production “ bong of the Flame ” which will

be shown at the Crystal Palace Theatre next week. Four players in the large cast deserve particular mention because of their fine characterisa t i o n s and substantial contributions to the vocal sequences in the picture. They are Bernice Claire, the prima donna. Alexander Gray

who plays opposite her, Noah Beery and Alice Gentle, a foremost operatic star. “The Rogue Song.” Lawrence Tibbett, known as the greatest living baritone, is the featured played in “ The Rogue Song,” which is the current attraction at the Royal. Lawrence Tibbett needs no introduction to the public for his fame is world-wide and, in “ The Rogue Song,” an all-talking drama of the Caucasus, filmed entirely in techniicolour, he adds further laurels to those gained as an opera star. Tibbett sings songs ranging from those of operatic calibre, with a symphony orchestra accompaniment, to simple love ballads. He rides at breakneck pace through .varied adventures, while brilliant ballets, magnificent mountain scenery, and other interesting details are reputed to make this picture one of the most elaborate productions of the year. Tibbett is himself a romance. The son of William Edward Tibbett, former sheriff of Kern County, California, who died capturing the bandit, M’Kinney, Tibbett was born and reared in the West, and after attending school in Los Angeles became an actor. He was a success at this when his voice was discovered by Josef Depuy, and he was launched in opera. To-day he is one of the greatest Metropolitan stars. Thrilling Film. Hailed as the talking screen’s most thrilling picture/'The Storm,” Universal’s romantic drama of the human triangle, will be presented at the Regent Theatre on Monday. Lupe Velez, the clever and charming Mexican actress, together with William Boyd anl Paul Kavanagh are the stars. The human tuation in “The Storm” is sufticent in itself to furnish drama and suspense enough for any picture, but added to this there are natural thrills of a surpassing nature. “ The Dummy.” Heading the big double feature programme at the Liberty Theatre on Monday is Paramount’s all-talking melodrama, “ The Dummy,” starring Ruth Chatterton, Frederic March and Jack Oakie. This film is a sparkling, thrilling, laughable comedy melodrama, dealing with a group of kidnappers and a smart office boy who outwits them by playing deaf and dumb.

Showgiil in Hollywood.

Hollywood with all its joys, and all its heartaches is portrayed in realistic manner in “ A Showgirl in Hollywood/’ the First National and Vitaphone feature at the Majestic Theatre next Monday. Previous pictures connected with Hollywood have dealt with the lighter side of things as they prevail in studioland, but in this instance the author

has written and the producer has presented in admirable fashion a strong human story relating the troubles that beset a stage actress who secures a contract to appear in Hollywood. The plot rings true to life —it is unusually interesting. It carries conviction, and thc-ie is a moral to it which should be noted by young women who aspire to a screen career. Alice White and Jack Mulhall are featured. EE HI M 111 SI HI EE EE HE U !U 3 HI SI ® iU EE EE HI E§

t£] ££! Lfi I*l l*i I*l 121; l*! SI till I*l I*l L£l l2u LSI Kj !*1 IS “ Afterwards.” “Afterwards,” featuring Marjorie Hume, is the current attraction at the Strand Theatre. The story has a prologue centring around an English party’s hunt in India. Having ridden ahead of the rest, Dr Anstice and Hilda Ryder do not know what to do to kill time' until the others appear, when Hilda recollects that they must be near one of the most sacred and closely guarded shrines of the Orient. Her womanly curiosity overcomes the doctor's better judgment, and they stumble across the shrine, and are then surrounded by fanatical priests. When the hour of torture approaches, Anstice, at Hilda's request, shoots her so that the fanatics are cheated in tlieir intention of inflicting upon her a more violent and horrible death. As Hilda bravely expires Fate launches a thunderbolt—the men of the hunting party arrive with soldiers, and rescue Anstice ! The rest of the story depicts the vengeance of Hilda’s fiance, Bruce Cheniston, on Dr Anstice, the aggrieved and unreasonable lover following Anstice to England to bring an amazing number of social and professional troubles into the doctor’s life. Sophisticated Story. “The Lady Lies,” a sophisticated story of to-day, of parents, of children, of lovers, in fact of life in general, will open at Everybody’s Theatre on Monday. Three of the talking screen’s most popular artists will appear in tfle cast— Claudette Colbert, Walter Huston and Charles Ruggles. This is a particularly frank story of a widower and his two young children who resent the appearance in the house of a lady evidently destined to become their step-mother. They have no hesitation in telling their father their opinion of the lady.

SILENT!

Hollywood film colony is anxiously awaiting the release of Charlie Chaplin’s “ City Lights,” Many expect this to be a sort of test film in regard to the possibility of the return of silent pictures. In a way, this is placing something of a handicap on the Chaplin which will have no dialogue, picture, and may cause many persons to see flaws in the »film which might otherwise be overlooked. If “City Lights” proves successful there is no doubt that many other stars will immediately start the production of films having no dialogue. L‘~ — ■ -A

ARTIST SUES POLA NEGRI FOR £IOOO. WRAITH OF VALENTINO WANTED, HE DECLARES. (Special to the “Star.”) PARIS, October 12. While the divorce proceedings instituted by Pola Negri against Prince Serge Mdvani have been indefinitely postponed in the

Paris Courts, the Spanish painter, Beltran Mases, has filed a suit against the film actress for the recovery o f £IOOO which he alleges is due to him for painting her portrait. Miss Negri filed a reply to the artist’s complaint. stating she had never really engaged him

to do her portrait, but he had begged permission to paint her. Notwithstanding, she offered to pay him £2OO for his work, which he refused. Senor Mases insists the actress came to him and ordered the portrait with specific instructions that a shadow form of Rudolph Valentino be painted in the background. Before her marriage to Prince Serge Mdvani, Miss Negri was reported to be engaged to Valentino, and she was said to have stated in Press interviews that Valentino was the greatest love of her life. The Spanish painter declares the portrait with Valentino’s wraith in the background was ordered after her marriage to the Prince. After Miss Negri started divorce proceedings. Prince Serge Mdvani announced his intention to marry Mary M’Cormick, the American opera singer, as soon as the decree was granted. Then came a reconciliation between the Prince and his actress wife. The divorce proceedings were indefinitely adjourned, and Miss M’Cormick said, “It is all for the best.” DOLORES COSTELLO HAS FINISHED FILM CAREER. According to advices received last month, Mrs John Barrymore (Dolores Costello) has decided to remain off the screen permanently. Mrs Barrymore, according to friends’ statements, will dedicate the rest of her life to her home and motherhood.

FROM FACTORY TO GREAT FILM STUDIO. YOUNG GIRL’S ROMANTIC “ MOVIE ” INTRODUCTION LONDON, October 3. When a strange man spoke to a pretty girl of eighteen in a Chiswick street a few months ago he was met with a cold stare, and w’hen he persisted in asking for her name and address he was invited curtly to mind his own business. Polite persistence brought its reward, however, and the pretty girl was asked to call and see Air Sinclair Ilill, the film director. She told her mother, and next day a doubting and indignant parent telephoned Mr Hill and demanded to know “What’s all this nonsense?” This is the way in which Eileen Pallant, who is in “Such Is The Law” with Lady Tree and other notable people, became a film actress. She is a Chiswick girl, and two months ago she was working in a Chiswick factory. Every morning on her way to work she passed Mr Sinclair Hill’s house. He was attracted by an elusive quality in her. He noticed her beautiful walk, her dainty manners, the neat way in which she clothed her charming figure. Training Needed. Then he asked his chauffeur to speak to her one morning, and it was the chauffeur whom she greeted with a frozen stare. Subseqtiently Mr Hill himself convinced her mother that Eileen had a future in films. “Eileen,” declares Mr Hill, “is the most promising screen find I have made since I engaged Madeleine Carroll for her first film. “She photographs like an angel. With training there is no reason why some day she should not be a great actress. “We have no stock company in the Stoll Studios, but I hope some one will be sufficiently interested to give Eileen the training she needs.”

DOROTHY SEACOMBE IS TRUE BOHEMIAN. WRITERS ENTHUSE OVER ACTRESS’S MANY TALENTS It is a fair far cry from the days when Dot Seacombe played small parts with old John O'Hara, during his season in Australia, to the present, when she is one of Britain’s leading screen actresses. English writers enthuse about the diversity of her talents and one scribe in particular says:— Dorothy Seacombe is probably the most athletic film actress in British studios, she writes. She has more energy than the whole band of income tax collectors, autograph hunters, poor relations, and traffic “cops,” who are almost always hot on her heels. (She has been arrested forty-nine times and a half, I think, for upsetting the gentle meditation of London drivers.) She spends this energy right and left; by swimming in the Serpentine (and bathing afterwards, please note) ; by skating at Grosvenor House; and bv riding that distinguished horse which boarded a taxi, according to certain reporters, and killed the unfortunate girl who wasn’t used to his light-hearted ways. Dorothy learned to ride in Australia, of course. Out there she was used to cow ponies and stock saddles like the ones you see on the screen. The first time she got on to an English saddle the horse got tired of her and bolted for home. She landed on a rock or something and broke her collarbone. Dorothy speaks a piece on behalf of herself. “I am a true Bohemian,” she says. “I do what I like and I don’t care a damn what anyone thinks! When I m not working I dress in the oldest clothes I can find. I'm always in debt. I run out of dye and my hair grows dark where it’s meant to be light. I live like a tramp. “Nothing matters so long as I have a good time. Maybe the gas doesn’t work, maybe the furniture breaks in pieces, maybe the wallpaper peels in great long strips, but I don’t care! “I’m always happy. I haven t got time to think of my debts, or mope, or brood, or break my heart when my love affairs go wrong! Life is such fun on the whole. I’m not w’hat is known as ‘immoral/ It doesn’t amuse me, that’s why. “My friends can do what they like, commit any crime for all I care, but they’re still my friends so long as they’re kind and generous. I never criticise them. So why should they criticise me?”

@ @ a is a h ® @ ® a b a @ ® b @ a ® ® ® Scotch Romance. The splendid Scotch romance, ! “ Bonnie Prince Charlie,” will be shewn at the Grand Theatre on Monday with Gladys Cooper as Flora MacDonald, the Highland lassie who helped her Prince in triumph and trouble. Paramount’s powerful drama/ 4 The Patriot,’’ j starring Emil Jannings will also be !

IS H ® a SI E a ® [*] g g] gg g] [g S! g ® IS @ IS Comedy Drama. 11 The Little Wildcat.” an entertaining comedy-drama, starring Audrey Ferris, James Murray and George Fawcett, is the second feature to be shown at the Liberty Theatre next week. There are many laughable situations in the film hinging on the jealousy of two sisters.

a m in m m m m m © m es si si ® ® ® ® ® CHILD S ACTING BRINGS TEARS TO ACTORS’ EYES.

Already a film star at eleven, and a friend of Jackie Coogan, little Mara Spiegel, a Russian-born prodigy from Berlin, has arrived in London. He revealed his great talent for reciting and acting when he was only two, and his reciting at a party given for him by Miss Sophie Tucker brought tears to the eyes of an audience of actors and others. Mara and Jackie Coogan saw much of each other when Jackie was in Germany. But while Jackie wanted to see toy shops and ride in the Row during his London visit, Mara is a football fan. and his ambition is to see the Arsenal play. E E © m E HI ® SIS HI a ® EE SB ® EE HI B ® S

Any Pupils? Mrs Patrick Campbell, famous English actress, will make a three month** tour of the United States and Canada commencing January 1, 1931. Mr* Campbell will lecture on ‘’Beautiful Speech and the Art of Acting.” Hope she gets some pupils in Hollywood!