WITH THE MOVIE STARS.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17242, 29 October 1927, Page 17 (Supplement)

WITH THE MOVIE STARS.

Centenarian Sees His First Film. William Bradshaw, of Campville, U.S.A., negro and former slave, said to be 101 years old, witnessed the showing of a motion picture for the first time in his life last month. He did not wear eyeglasses.

Connie Gets “Friendly” Divorce. Constance Talmadge, the screen actress, has been granted a divorce from Captain Alastair Mackintosh. It is stated that the respondent is a personal friend of Hie Prince of Wales.

Constance Talmadge began the proceeding on September 22 at Edinburgh. She had previously declared, " marriage and movies don’t mix. Marriage interferes with my career, so we are arranging a friendly divorce." The petitioner was uorn at Brooklyn, New York, on April 19, 1900. She began in moving pictures when 16 years of age.

She is a sister of Norma, who is three years older than Constance. Norma began in moving pictures at 14, with no previous stage experience.

Found Fortune In Failure

Ronald Colman, a British actor, who is earning from £6OO to £7OO a week, is now running close to Jack Gilbert for the position of the leading juvenile on the American films. Yet in England he was hardly known. Then, when he went to act ill America, he got a job to appear .in a play with Ruth Chatterton.

Although the play was a failure, Colman, whose face pleased a film man in the audience, was chosen for the pictures during the play’s last week. Lilian Gish wanted a leading man for “The White Sister.” Colman went with' her td Italy. The rest is history.

“Rose Marie” Film in Colours. “Floating lenses” arc the secret of the latest and strangest effect of the screen. Minute crystals, so liny that their shape and form can be distinguished only under a microscope, (lying about between two panes of plateglass, are the secret of the strangest ray filter ever devised. This odd invention will he used in filming some of the elaborate colour effects on “Rose Marie," M.-G.-M.’s screen version of the famous comic opera, with Renee Adorec in the title role, and Ralph Forbes in the male lead.

The entire picture will be filmed in tcchnicoiour.

Controversy over Film Rights

Indications of a controversy l which will be watched with interest in film and theatrical circles have follow'Cd the announcement of a forthcoming British film of “ The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel.” The film is to be directed by Mr Herbert Wilcox. Mr Mathcson Lang is to play the famous role of Sir Percy Blakcncy, who is also the central character in Baroness Orczy’s earlier book “ The Scarlet Pimpernel.” Mr Fred Terry and his wife, Miss Julia Neilson, who acts with him, are the owners of the rights of “ The Scarlet Pimpernel,” and their play is extremely popular all over the country, where they have toured with it for some years.

A question has now arisen as to the ownership of the film rights of the play, which arc claimed by Mr Terry. Questioned at Sheffield, Mr Terry said: “1 cannot discuss the matter because of its legal aspect. My solicitors have been instructed.” Miss Julia Neilson concurred.

The Fool for 1000 Nights!

For more than 1000 nights Basil Radford, seen last night in “The Ghost Train,” has played the fool. The end of 1927 will sec Ihe end of his second consecutive year in the part of Teddy Deakin. When the play was produced in London about two years ago, Mr Radford was cast for the part in the English provincial tour. On the conclusion of this, , he was engaged by E. .T. Carroll to appear in the Australian production, and, after some seven months in the Commonwealth capitals, is now touring New Zealand for time.

Coloured Combination for Tivoli. Harry P. Muller, . San Francisco hooking manager for the Tivoli, has signed up a coloured combination for a season in Australia. The act consists of a full secondpart revue and is comprised of Sonny Clay’s Plantation Band, Dick Saunders, master of ceremonies; Ivy Anderson, soubretto; and the Four Covans, dancers. In addition, the Coloured Emperors of Harmony, at present playing the circuit, will link up with the offering. The act will open in Australia early in the new year. English Actor’s First Visit. Leslie Palmer, an English actor, seen in “The Ghost Train" last night, is making Ins first lour of New Zealand. He has played prominent parts in America for several years, and was associated with .1 dim Barrymore in “Richard HI.” When a boy. it was Sir Henry Irving who gave him his first experience, and an uncommonly good speaking- voice is undoubtedly due to early training in this school. Leslie Palmer played in “Smilin’ Through,” “Wedding Bells,” and “The Young Visitors” in New York produc-