HERE AND THERE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20110, 31 March 1928, Page 15 (Supplement)

HERE AND THERE

Miss Dale Austin, winner of last year’s “Miss New Zealand" Contest, has already made ’several appearances in Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer films. The most recent news from Hollywood is that she has been given the feminine lead opposite Colonel Tim McCoy in his new film, “The Bushranger."

V 'l* Nora Lane has been cast as the second lead in Adolphe Menjou's new Paramount Picture. Evelyn Brent has t.ic feminine lead. The picture, titled “The Code of Honour” was previously known a.s “Captain Ferreol." ❖ * ♦ ♦

Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Sh on.’.-sack, who produced Paramount’s wonder picture, “Chang," have left for Africa, where they will make another wild life drama for Paramount. “Chang" was filmed in the Siamese jungle and took tw years to produce. It will be released in Auckland shortly, and judging from a review should be one of the most sensational films ff recent years. # * * ♦

Ferenc Molnar, the Hungarian playwright, has been signed to write a scries of stories for Paramount. He is author of “The Groat Song," “The Guardsman." and “The Play’s the Thing." The signing of Molnar is probably the most important authorproducer transaction recently consummated. Molnar has already begun .his first film story, which will probably be filmed with Adolphe Menjou as its star.

Richard Dix’s latest Paramount starring vehicle is to bo “Easy Come Easy Go" from a stage play by Owen Davis.

The Paramount wonder picture “Chang" will have its New Zealand premiere at the Regent Theatre, Auckland on April 13. This picture is at present playing in Melbourne and Sydney. * * * *

A new and novel title style has been used by Edwin Care we in “Ramona," with Miss Dolores del Rio in the principal part. Black lettering against a white parchment background replaces the white lettering against a dark drop. The effect is startling, says/an American critic, an/1 makes the titles stand, out with remarkable clearness. The photography, most of it in golden sepia tint, is beautiful. The film is a United Artists release. « « • • A new picture under the title of “La Paiva" commenced production at the United Artists studios on March 15, with Miss Lupe Velez, a Mexican, has had the most rapid rise to stardom of any star in Hollywood, and with only one comedy previously to her credit, has made a sensation with Fairbanks in “The Gaucho." This actress, now under a five years’ contract to Joseph M. Schenck, will be directed in “La Paiva" by Fred Niblo. «■ * * ♦

Coming attraction at the Grand Theatre are: “For the Loss of Mike.”

featuring Ben Lyon. George Sydney. Ford Sterling and Claudette Colbert; “Alias the Deacon," in which the, leading roles are played by Jean Hersholt and June Marlowe; “Rose of the Golden West," featuring Mary and Gilbert Roland; and “The Cat and the Canary," in which Laura La Plante is supported by an all star cast.

The latest addition to 4 4 The Patriot." a story of Russia starring Emil Jannings, is Lewis Stone. This will be Stone’s first appearance for Paramouni since four years ago.

Rumours that she was to leave Paramount are now dispelled by the oth- ■ ial intimation that Miss Florence Vidor has signed a new contract wit.li the company for a further year and ahalf. The new contract coincides with the announcement that she is to have an important part with Emil Jannings in “The Patriot," which Ernst .Lubitsch will direct. Miss Vidor’s latest picture was “Honeymoon Hate," and she is now appearing in Warwick Deeping’s “Doomsday," with Gary [Cooper as leading man. 1 * * # •

Miss Helene Dime, a Czeclio-Slova-kian actiess who recently played an important part in “The Cossacks’’— not yet released in New Zealand —has been added to the cast of “Laugh, Clown, Laugh." starring Lon Chaney. Miss Dime will play the role of an actress in the theatre scenes of the new picture, a story of theatrical life, with Chaney in the role of a tragic clown. Miss Loretta Young plays the leading feminine role and others in the cast are Nils Asther, of “Sorrell and Son" fame, Miss Gwen Lee, Miss Cissy Fitzgerald, and Bernard Siegel. ♦ ♦ • ♦

Evidently William Powell is trying to set another record for the number of pictures in which he has appeared in a single year. Every week or two appears to find him assigned to a new role. lie recently played the heavy in 44 Feel My Pulse.” At present he is appearing as an underworld gang leader in the new Beery-Hatton comedy, “Partners in Crime-” “Partners in Crime" is for release in New Zealand during 1928. * ♦ * *

The talents of the three greatest Swedish characters in the motion picture industry have been combined to • produce what is claimed to be one of the most sensational films of the year —“The Divine Woman." They are Miss Greta Garbo, star of the production, Lars Hanson, her leading man, and the director. Victor Seastrom. The casting of Miss Garbo and Hanson in "The Divine Woman," marks their first appearance together in principal romantic roles since they played in “Gosta Berling’s Saga,’" and will, without doubt, provide one of the most popular films of the year.

4 4 Hold Everything," an original story by John McDermott, will be Bebe Daniels' next for Paramount. Clarence Badger, who is directing 44 Red Hair" for Clara Bow. will direct Miss Daniels’ new film. “Hold Everything" will be released in New Zealand this year.

Donn Byrne’s Irish story, 44Hangman’s House," is to be brought to the screen. This romance will be one of the big pictures of the year, with William Farnum playing the picturesque role of the citizen. June Collyer appears in the feminine lead.

A Pinero vogue seems to be following the Tolstoi vogue in screen circles. Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer recently acquired the motion picture rights to “Trelawney of the Wells," as a starring vehicle for Miss Norma Shearer, to he titled “The Actress," and now announces that it has also secured the screen rights to Pinero’s tragic romance. “Ins." No further details regarding production of the latter have been announced hut 44 The Actress" is nearing completion under the direction of Sidney Franklin, who mad*e “Quality Street," the Barrie play, with Miss Marion Davis in the principal part.

While .he was in Europe last summer, Winfield Sheehan, vice-president and general manager of Fox Films, arranged with Henry Bernstein, brilliant author of the play, “The Thief," to write two originals directly for the screen. He also contracted with Carl ■Mayor, who w*ote the scenarios for 44 Sunrise." and 44 The Four DeviS." to continue writing for Fox Films. **“ * *

Another picture that promises well is 44 Lady Cristilinda. ’’ a story of Italian circus life now being filmed by Frank Borzago, with Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell in Ihe leading roles. These three were responsible for the groat success of 44 Seventh Heaven," and it is expected that this now picture will be a. worthy successor. ♦ ♦ ♦ •

Lon Chaney appears as a Scotland Yard detective, ferreting out a mystory amid ghosts in a haunted manor, in “London After Midnight." As a detective he uses many weind disguises. and utilises hypnotism to trail a criminal in a creepy drama. * * * *

In 44 Quality Street," the screen version of Sir J. M. Barrie’s stage play, Marion Davies makes a brilliant contribution to the fine things of the screen. Marion Davies takes the part of Phoebe Trosscl, and Nagel that of Dr Valentine Brown. Their romance from the eve of the Napoleonic wars, throughout his ten years’ absence, until he returns again and wins her the second time is told with much merriment.

Secret panels, hidden trapdoors, trick chairs, unseen elevators, and other weird accessories of gripping mystery play an important part in the Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer production “The Thirteenth Hour. Napoleon, a wonderful new canine star, and well-known players included in the cast are Lionel Barrymore, Jacqueline Gadsen, Charles Delaney and Polly Moran. This picture is to be released shortly. * * * *

Virginia Valli, the star of many successful productions, is featured In “Ladies Must Dress," a story of the eternal question of women and dross. The idea back of the story is that .% beautiful woman in dowtdy clothes is like a diamond without a setting. Miss Valli is well cast in the leading role. • # •

It has been decided to change the name of the film, working under the title of “Grandma Bernie Learns Her Letters," to the more appropriate one of “Four Sons." The story revolves round a German Mother whose four sons fight in the Great War. three for the Fatherland and one for America, his land of adoption. Three of the boys fall in service, and; the fourth, the one who least appreciated his mother’s love, lives to bring her joy and comfort, in her desolate years*. Margaret Mann. James Hall, Francis X. Bushman, junr., June Collyer, and Earle Foxe are in the .leading roles. • * * • In addition to purchasing “The Dollar Princess" aud “Don’t Marry" th Hungary, Mr Sheehan bought the picture rights to the novel, “The Richest Alan in the World," by Franz Herozeg, and also arranged to produce a .picture with the aid and support of the Hungarian Government- Part kt will be mad# in Jfungu»y MiMteda; in i