PICTURE GOSSIP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19049, 28 June 1924, Page 13

PICTURE GOSSIP

Jim Mason, heavy in George Archinbaun’s now Fox producion, “The Plunderer,” has been nicknamed by the other members of the cast, “the fall *feller.” Jim takes one fall , after another in this production. He is thrown out- ’of a dance hall. He is knocked down by the leading man. He is knocked out by. the other heavy in the great production. Oh. this thing bf being a “fall feller” is great stuff.

Since', Anna. Q. Nillson bobbed her luxuriant tresses for ‘PonjolaJ’ the craze for shor: hair has been revived. When the girls see her in “Broadway After Dark,” with the most fascinating coiffures, they will want to change their minds again. Marguerite De La Alotte stands faithfully^ to long hair, and declares that neither the curly bob, the sleek bob, the boy bob. nor the shingle hove any attractions for her. Miss De La Motte will appear shortly in “Scars of Jealousy.” a master picture by producer Ince, which offers excellent entertainment and a goodly number of thrills.

Captain Ellis director of the State Forestry Department and other offici als of ihu department attended a private screening of the great Metro production “Heart's Aflame” recently. The screening took place at the Paramount head office Wellington. “Heart’s Aflame” is an adaption of the famous forestry story “Timber,” by Harold Titus, and is announced for release in New Zealand through Paramount at an early date. Great appreciation was expressed for the production by members of the Department present, and the picture will no doubt prove a valuable subject for those interested in forestry in this country. The feature has been produced on an elaborate scale in tint and colour. Perhaps Jthe most amazing event of this picture the disastrous fire, shows the wolves of the forest and the beautiful spotted American deer rushing to the lakes for safety from the fire. The scene is terrible yet fascinating. The cast of this Metro production includes Frank Keenan Anna Q. Neillson, Walt Whitman, and others. It wa Mrected by Reginald Barker who is known the world over as a master o2 out <|oor productions.

John' Galsworthy is perhaps the most popular author in England, and many of his novels have been picturised and are “best sellers.” “Tae Stranger.” adapted from his * story

“The First and Last,” for sheer dramatic strength will not be

equalled by any picture this season. There'is ' drama in every foot-length, ps-thes. heart-in orett, a marvellous love interest, and a most uncanny insight into the four roles that seem as if they were actually written for Miss Compson. Lewis Stone, Marshall, and Richard Dix.

The reception accorded “The Loves of Pharaoh.” a Paramount production, by Ernest Lubitsch. the master-creator of “Passion” and ‘'Deception.” and other screen classics, on its preimer presentation at the Criterion Theatre New York, on January 21. was emphaticaly enthusiastic. It was acclaimed a screen masterpiece by the public press, and af er showing at the theatre for eleven weeks to enormous houses, it appeared for a week each at the Rivoli and Rialto to re cord-breaking attendances. “The Loves of Pharoah” wil be released i n New Zealand by Paramount at an early

Rex Ingram has made another “discovery,” in Edith Allen, who played the second finale role in “Scaramouch©.” Before her appearance in that picture she was a cabaret artiste in. Chicago and New York. She has changed her name, for screen purposes, to Hedda Lind. She is half Swedish, and the name was chosen out of sentiment —the Hedda fnr the greater character in Scandinavian literature, and the Lind for the famous singer Jenny Lind.

Frank Hayes died December 28, 1923. Thereupon a great spirit passed on to other spheres. He was a Keystone Comedy cop . . . but all his life he had hugged to his heart a desire to play tragedy. When I cast “Greed” I gave him the role of Old Grannis, the pathetic . . .and his dream bid fair to come true, for his performance will be marked down as one of the outstandng character portrayals of all time. That he should have died before he saw himself in this role is one of the little and poignant tragedies upon which the ironic curtain of Life rolls down every day.—Eric von Stroheim in “Motion Picture’ Magazine.”

Shirley Mason has affixed her signature to a new William Fox contract and begins work soon in “The Strange Woman.” at the Companies’ West Coast studios “The Strange Woman” in which Elsie Fer-

guson starrred on Broadway some time ago gives Miss Mason the opportunity for plenty of emotional and characterization work. Her support includes Theodore Von Eltz, leading man; and Harold Goodwin, juvenile; Edmund Mortimer will direct.

Trains have dashed across the screen at varying speeds before the advent of “Westbound Limited,” a master picture, but invariably they have swerved accommodatingly to right or left. Not so in “Westbound Limited,” where the madly dashing express comes straight at you and continues right ever you. Emory Johnson, and his camera man literally “dug-in” between ties of the railway track to record this unusuual photographic freak.

“Can a Worsen be really free in the Modern Sen&v/’ is the question which is asked and answered in “This Freedom” the scicen adaption of A.S.M. Hutchinson’s novel. This master picture features Fay Compton, the talented London actress.

A British* Films Week was held recently in Eflgland, in which the Prince of Wales took a prominent part. It was inaugurated to give the public an opportunity of judging the British-made picture, and the whole of flic British film industry put their best work intd the programmes for that week. movement was an unqualified success in Britain, and the public was surpised at the enormous strides made by the home industry, and appreciated the clean, wholesome, artistic films provided for their entertainment. The time has now come for the Now Zealand public to say what it thinks of the English products. The public must be the final judge, and will undoubtedly support the Home product and give that sympathy which British films should receive from a British public. The following are British

productions which are certain to win through on their own merit:

“Dick Turpin’s Ride to York,” “The Hound of the, Baskervilles,” “The Bill of Divorcement.” “Harbour light§,” “Sonia,” “Jealousy,” “This Freedom,” “Diana of the Crossways.” “The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick,” “The Rotters,” “Sinister Street,” “A Lonely Lady of Grosvenor Square,” “Shirley,” “The Bachelors’ Club.” “The Battle of Jutland,” “Love, Life and Laughter,” “Squibs’s Honeymoon,” and “Squibs, M.P.” All these subjects will be released in New Zealand as master pictures.

Douglas Fairbanks in an interview with a Los Angeles Times carrespondent, printed last week, voluntarily praised Gloria Swanson’s new Paramount picture, “Prodigal Daughters” which will be showing at Opera House Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday next. During the course of his talk with the correspondent,he said: “Have you seen Gloria Swanson in ‘Prodigal Daughters?’ Don’t miss it: it is not only the best piece of acting Miss Swanson has ever done, but it is. I think, one of the most faithful film portrayals of contemporary social and family life that has been screened. “It should be preserved under seal for showing fifty years from now to let your descendants know just what this jazz age really is. Mary and I run off films every night at home. Of lato we have ben seeing old new reels made about fifteen years ago—the funeral of Edward VII of England, the coronation of King George and that kind of thing. They are more interesting than plays. Gloria Swanson’s new play, I firmly believe, will have a similar value fifteen or fifty years from now.”

From saloonkeeper’s daughter to British aristocracy. This is a big stride gracefully accomplished by Lois Wilson, featured player in the Paramount picture, “Ruggles of Red Gap,” now showing at the Opera House. Miss Wilson has the role of Kate Kenner, daughter of the proprietor of the Klondike Bar, one of the show places of the little town of Red Gap. An English earl, in Red Gap for the purpose of rescuing his kinsman, the Hon. George Bassingwell, from the clutches of a designing woman, himself falls victom to her charms. The situations leading up to their first meeting and the ensuing scenes are bits of the finest comedy ever screened. See this picture and be tickled. Edward Horton, Ernest Torrence, Fritzi Ridgeway, Charles Ogle and Louise Dresser arc featured in the principal roles, along •with Miss Wilson.