MOTION PICTURES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19990, 5 November 1927, Page 15 (Supplement)

MOTION PICTURES

SCREEN ARISTOCRACY WTT.T.TAM HAINES—A NEW STAB Only the favoured few of screenland reach that coveted inner circle of ‘‘stardom.’ 7 Many seek the honour in vain, and these upon whom it is conferred are fortunate indeed. The latest member to be admitted to this screen aristocracy is William Haines, and it is safe tn say that no more popular choice has ever been made. Though only a comparative newcomer to motion pictures, Mr. Haines has been consistently brilliant in his performances, and with each appearance has added thousands to his legion of admirers. “Mike,” “Sally, Irene and Mary,” “A Slave of Fashion. 77 all showed him to be an actor of distinction, but it was not until the coming of “Brown

of Harvard 7 7 that he was revealed at last as his inimitable self. It was this portrayal that won him stardom. His newest and most striking role is in “Slide, Kelly, Slide. 7 ’ au exhilarating romance of the baseball field. It is only comparable to “Brown of Harvard” in its hilarious moments, genuine sporting flavour, and epic thrills. Breezy titles, a east of clever comedians, and a story that lacks nothing luat excellent entertainment demands.

Sally O'Neil, who won so many idDiirer a with her portrayals in “Mike,” “Don’t,” “Sally, Irene, and Mary” and “Battling Butler,* 7 is the leading feminine player of this picture. This film comes to His Majesty’s Theatre next Wednesday.

ROYALISTS AND REBELS MALLON DAVIES SUPREME The colourful background to “The Beautiful Bebel,’ 7 Marion Davies 7 new l tarring picture for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is a war between Boyalists and rebels. The story of the picture takes ihe form of a delightful romance of young lovers, one the daughter of a wealthy landowner and the other a da.hing soldier. The players in these respective roles are Mi>s Davies and Harrison Ford, her leading man in a recent Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer success, ‘Zander the Great.’ 7 The girl shows a romantic interest ! n a handsome slave her • father has bought, and as a punishment is packed off to the city, which is seething with open rebellion. In the exciting events that follow the breaking out or hostilities, the lovers are first brought together and then separated by a succession of enthralling adventures. Until their final re-union comes, the suspense is intensely exciting. It is an adaptation of Paul Leicester .ord’s novel “Janice Meredith.” and ntroduces as one of its many thrilling Episodes the midnight ride of Paul Revere to arouse the sleeping countryside, stirring battle scenes lend actionful excitement, and the continuity of interest s maintained until the entirely satisfactory conclusion. In earlier Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer productions of this year Miss Davies has shone as one of the screen’s most delightful comediennes. fc>h e has a strongly developed flair for comedy, and invests all her pictures with a charming quality of humour. It was this addition to the dramatic element in “Lights of the Old Broadway 7 * and “Zander the Great 77 that proves so popular, and in “The Beautiful Bebel 7 ’ it will be just as welcome. The new picture will be screened at His Majesty’s Theatre on Wednesday. At Cockermouth, George Sim, lithographer, Carlisle, was fined 40s for having thrown beer bottles out of a motorcoach at Cockermouth and striking the Occupant of a passing car. “It is a dangerous and nasty practice.” said the chairman of the Bench, Canon Sutton* ♦

A DOG ACT CLANCY'S CLEVEE CANINES Clancy’s Clever Canines is a vaudeville act with a big reputation and should draw a big house to His Majesty’s Theatre to-night, when it is being staged for the first time in Wani ganui. This is a real dog circus, and includes praying dogs, laughing dogs, somersault dogs, leaping dogs, tumbling dogs, and clown dogs. Although chiefly an act for the children it is one that delight all lovers of animats. WESTERN THRILLS “BUCKING THE TRUTH. ’’ Lovers of action will receive their fill of pictorial excitement when “Bucking the Truth,’” the UniversalLariat Production, opens at His Majesty’s Theatre, starting to-day. Assurance of a good picture is given at the mere mention of the name of the star, the innocent victim of a chain of circumstantial evidence, is at his best in thi o newest delineation of the present-day West. Once more is pretty lone Beed seen in his support. The Morrison-Reed team is already one of the screen’s favourite combinations. “Lightning,’ 7 Morrison’s famous horse, again appears with his master. He plays an important role in effecting the release of the hero from the marauding bands and is a deciding factor in the gradual unfolding of the plot. A cast of sterling players appear in support of the star. Some of the important names are Brinsley Shaw, Bruce Gordon, William La Roche, Charles Whittaker, O. Robertson and Vester Pegg. ‘ ‘ Bucking the Truth, ’ 7 was adapted from the screen original by J. Inman Kane, and was directed uy Milburn Morante, one of the most capable directors of outdoor porductions. PROFESSIONAL CRIPPLES “THE STREET OF FORGOTTEN MEN.” Just a professional beggar—ragged, dirty, a PLEASE HELP THE CRIPPLED sign around his scrawny neck, Slouching Fifth Avenue curb, a steady stream of motor-cars humming in front of him. A limousine passed, a beautiful girl lolling in the tonneau. Suddenly the eyes of the beggar, catching sight of her, -tared, his lips twitched, his head dropped. She glanced at him idly as she sped by, shuddered a little, and was gone. For how could she know that all her wealth, luxury and happiness had come from the tin cup that this beggar he'd in his hand? That he was the very man whom she had kissed good-bye that, morning! See “The Street of Forgotten Men,” the drama unforgetable. Coming to the Municipal Pictures next Saturday.

“THREE HOURS’

TRANSITION FROM PLAINNESS TO BEAUTY. “Three Hours.” the First National picture which begins an engagement at the Grand Theatre to-night, give Corinne Griffith, the star, an opportunity for dramatic acting somewhat similar to that offered in “Black Oxen,” one of her most successful vehicles. In “Three Hours” the heroine’s transition from plainness to beauty is one of the headlights of the attraction, but, whereas the transition in “Black Oxen” was due to pathological rejuvenation. in this instance it is brought about by fine clothes. Paul Bern wrote the continuity from a story by May Edginton and James Flood directed. The supporting cast includes John Bowers, Hobart Bosworth, Paul Ellis, Ann Schaefer and Mary Louise Miller. The picture “Beggars of Love,” is the Pola Negri picture originally called “Sunkissed. ” “Figures Don’t Lie • is the next starring picture of Esther Ralston, previously called “Heaven Help the Working Giri.”

“ROLLED STOCKINGS” A YOUTH PICTURE “Rolled Stockings,” Paramount’s “youth” picture, has everything —a thrilling college crew race, some exciting automobile scenes, snappy comedy, a good love story and pep. it is healthy young man and womanhood at their best. See it at the Municipal Pictures. The youngsters cheered and laughed at the opening show, and the oldsters chuckled. It is happy entertainment by a snappy cast of youngsters. James Hall and Richard Arlen, hardly along in their twenties, typical college undegraduates, have the principle male roles; Louise Brooks, brunette beauty, who has been seen in a number of well known pictures during the past year, is the heroine; and the vamp is blonde Nancy Phillips. She plays a featured part for the first time. Two brothers, one a gay young philanderer (James Hall), the other a seri-ous-minded youth with athletic ambitions (Richard Arlen), fall in love with the same girl. Complications ensue. When the crucial moment arrive, Hall steps into the breach, faces expulsion from college, and saves his brother from disgrace. At the same time he makes it possible for Arlen to win the big race. Believing the intensely dramatic moments of the story is a policeman (El Brendel), who blusters and threatens the young violators of the town ordinances, but whose heart remains in the right place. It is one of the best comedy characterisations he has done since entering pictures. “THE POOR NLT” A STUDY IN BASHFUL STUPIDITY The film version of Elliot Nugent’s famous stage comedy, “The Poor Nut,” occupied the feature position on the Capitol screen for several weeks. The story has lost none of its original wit in its transfer from the stage to the screen and Sunday’s audiences laughed their appreciation continuously. The theme is built around a single character whose bashfulness approaches stupidity at times and gives rise to a number of comical situations. Jack Mulhall plays the title role of the “the poor nut” whose days at college are spent in studying cactus plants and other botanical monstrosities under a microscope while all about him swirl rhe parties, dances and similar frivolities that go to make up the movie-col-lege campuses.

Teamed with Mulhall is pretty Jean Arthur as the co-ed who secs past his tousled hair and studious demeanour and loves him for the fine things that lay dormant within him, apparent only to her eyes. Another co-ed from a neighbouring college enters the hero’s life and for a time wins away his affections with her breezy manners and flirtatious ways. The plot moves along to th<‘ climactic college track meet in which the hero redeems nimself and goes back to his first love, ending the story with a complete reversal in which he becomes the aggressive heman.

This film is slated for the Grand Theatre.

“THE WAR HORSE” A TRIBUTE TO THE CAVALRY. American horses, scarred by service on the fighting front in the Argonne and about Verdun, but still drawing carts and ploughs in fields once torn by German shells, inspired Buck Jones, Fox Films horseman star, to write a tribute to “The War Horse” and it has been given to the screen with Jones and his famous horse, “Silver,” in the starring roles. This is Jones’ first effort as a picture playwright and the inspiration came while he and Mrs. Jones were touring the battlefield areas in which Buck served with the American cavalry. Lambert Hillyer directed production with a cast which included Lola Todd, Lloyd Whitlock, James Gordon, Stanley Taylor and Yola D’Avril. “The War Horse” will have a three days’ showing at the Grand Theatre commencing on Wednesday. Noah Beery bought a million and ahalf trout, recently from Government fisheries to stock a fishing club preserve in the mountains near Hollywood.

HERE AND THERE SHORT PARAGRAPHS OF FILM DOINGS. The beautiful wedding-gown which Janet Gaynor wears in the Fox masterpiece, “Seventh Heaven,” originally belonged to the “divine Sarah” Bernhardt. She wore this in some of her greatest roles, and it was bequeathed to relatives of Charles Vical, technical adviser on the Fox lot. When a gown was required for Miss Gaynor’s wear in “Seventh Heaven, 77 Vical brought this creation along to the Studios, where it caused much admiring comment. Although he had refused many offers to buy the lovely gown, Mr. Vical was so impressed with the manner in which Miss Gaynor admired it that he bad no hesitation in presenting her with the frock. « * * * Although most of the interior scenes for the Fox production of “Mother Machree,” were made in Hollywood, the exteriors were all photographed in Ireland, where the authentic background of the Green Isle does much to enhance the charm of the story. The fine emotional acting of Belle Bennett invests the character of the Irish mother with much nobility, and few actresses on the screen to-day are capable of the depths of emotion so faithfully portrayed by her. * * * * “Very Confidential” is the intriguing title of Madge Bellamy’s latest production to be commenced at the Fox Studios. Patrick Michael Cunning plays the male lead, while others in the cast include Mary Duncan and Marjorie Beebe. “Very Confidential 77 is the work of a former New York newspaper columnist, James K. McGuinness, and is stated to be exceptionally clever, containing a well-devised plot and snappy sub-titles. * * « •

The next Olive Borden feature, which Fox Films will release shortly is “The Secret Studio, 77 a thrilling episode in the life of a flapper who becomes a model in the famous Gre-enwich Village. Iler beauty and general attractiveness make her an instant favourite and through the painting of one of her portraits, a notorious artist becomes the talk of New York. Rosemary’s mother is so disturbed by the picture of the girl that she, together with the rest of tbe family, decide to go to New York to see what is happening. The result of this visit brings the picture to an unexpected climax with Miss Borden given the opportunity for much dramatic fire. * * • «

A close up shot of a tiger leaping directly at the lens of the camera is one of the most startingly effective shots in “Chang, 77 the picture that was made in the jungles of north eastern Siam and which is being released by Paramount. The picture was taken by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, who spent eighteen months in the jungle country during its filming.

Adolphe Menjou wants to he a director. Not for a long time, because ne’d rather act. But when he finishes his last role before the camera he has plans to get behind the lens and tell th G other actors how to do it.

HOLLYWOOD DIFFICULTY YOUNG MEN WANTED FOR LEADS Unless something happens to relieve the situation, motion picture producers likely will offer a bounty on the head of evety young man brought iu alive who looks as though he might do leading roles in photoplays. Never has there been such a dearth. The difficulty in obtaining suitable young men to play leads is emphasised in a message from a Hollywood correspondent. “Pretty” Youths. The picture-makers are not seeking merely “pretty” youths. They want some who can act. The boulevard is ■ lined with sheiks * ‘ beautiful but; dumb,’ 7 who eat at lunch counters and ! wonder why their pristine loveliness is ■ not roped, hog-tied and dragged into : films. Directors have seen them as 1 ‘extras ’’ f marching daintily about the set.s as devoid of talent as one-humped camels in 1 a zoo. The fact that recently First National I

i out of 14,261 screen tests got only a 1 possible three or four prospects indiI cates how few know the difference be- | tween posing and producing. Right now Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is j searching for some one to play the leading masculine role in “Rose Marie” opposite Renee Adoree, one of the choicest plums of the year. The character is of a complex nature —a man with a poet’s soul plus the fighting ability of a viking from the great outdoors. William Nigh, director, is at work on screen tests. In all proi liability someone with experience will Ibe chosen, but if a newcomer arrived who could fill the role, the company literally would ‘ ‘ fall on his neck. ” Inspiration Pictures and Edwin Carewe are searching for two who can portray Allesandro and Felipe in ‘ ‘ Ramona,” which will star Dolores del Rio. Application flood the office of Carewe, but none has yet been decided upon as up to requirements. Don Alvarado and Nils Aster, both foreigners, are being considered.