THE ANSWER CORNER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE ANSWER CORNER.

HEADERS' INQUIRIES ANSWERED E.W.P. (St. Helier's Bay): Lon Chaney is forty-five years' old. He is still with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and will be seen nest in "The Big City," due for release in Auckland on October ■19. • 23. H. (Parnell): Charles Rogers will be eeen next in "Abie's Irish. Rose" and '"Varsity." Neither of these will be \ released in Auckland for several months. He is at present playing in "Just Twenty-one." His address is care of the Paramount Studio, Hollywoodj California. IXJI. (Tβ Kauwhata): Write Conrad Nagel at' the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio, Culver City, Cal. Richard Talmadge is not related to Norma and Constance, who are sisters. Hβ is not married. Fred Thomson — Paramount (see EM.). Fred was born in 1896. Hβ is married to Frances Marion, a scenario writer. "ADMIRER": Clara Bow, Charles Rogers and James Hall—Paramount (see E;M.). Lon CLaney has been in pictures- eleven years. Richard Barthelmess is.thirty-three years old. Gloria Swanson, Roland Drew, Dolores Del Eio, Charle3 Chaplin and Gilbert Roland—The United Artists Studio, 7100, Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, Cal. "SUNNIE": Baby Peggy's full name is Peggy Jean Montgomery. She was born in Merced, (Jal., on October C, 1018. She first came under the notice of producers by her work in a dog comedy for Universal. She was then €3evated; to stardom by the Century Kbn Corporation. Later she played ■with Universal, made two pictures •under Marshall Neilan, and played in .turn with First National and Master Pictures. She is now playing in vaudeville. She has jet black hair and eyes. Philippe de Laeey is a war orphan. His real , name is not known. His father was killed a few weeks before he was born ; and his mother was killed by a bomb when he'was two days old. He was rescued and raised by a nurse, Miss Edith de Lacey,' with •whom ho now lives. in. the house in Hollywood once occupied by Barbara la Marr. He is eleven years old. It is quoted that he "has played in more pictures than Lon Chaney has faces." It is recognsed that only the poore'st of the scenes in which he appears are .left in pictures. Directors know from experience that it is absolutely dangerous to pit him in an emotional scene with even the most famous adult star. Nobody would look at the star. Colleen Moore has black hair. Her eyes are odd—one is brown, the other blue. Write about Jackie Condon and Mary Ann Jackson to Hal Roach, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. (See NiH.)

Work is well advanced on "Moran of the Marines," Richard Bix's latest Paramount production. Linton Wells, famous newspaperman and globe trotter, wrote the original story. Ruth Elder, the Atlantic avatrix, is Dix's feminine lead.

Neil Hamilton has been selected for the lead opposite Clara Bow in the star's next Paramount Picture, "Three WeekEnds," an original story by Elinor Glyn, which will follow Miss Bow's present picture for"Paramount, "The Fleet's In." Chester' Conklin, the well-known screen comedian, will also be featured in the cast. ■ •

It is a remarkably true picture of Continental Biarritz that is presented in "No Other Woman." Dolores Del Rio is starred, and Ben Bard and Don Alvarado have the leading male robes. Every type is sketched, and their varying motives are-analysed with penetrating and illuminating brevity. The succsss of "No Other Woman" owes most of its inter--pretation to the masterly direction of Lou Tellegen, celebrated actor-director.

Annette Benson, one of the most versatile stars in the British film world, is to be seen in "The South Sea Bubble." Ivor Npvello, the. English" star, wellknown for his part in "The Rat," has the leading role. The numerous admirers of Ivor Novello will have a surprise when they see him in this picture, to be released shortly. Mr. Novello is takinjr the part of a demobilised officer, and for the first time, is seen with a moustache.

The adventurous life led by Reginald Denny, famous screen star, has been as colourful and exciting as many, of those he portrays in motion pictures. _ The star, whose recent comedy success is the Universal production "Good Morning, Judge," was an aviator with the British Royal Flying Corps during" the war, a professional boxer, an opera singer and a globe trotter. Mary Nolan plays opposite him.in his new picture, which William A. Seiter directed. Others in the cast are Dorothy Gulliver, Otis Harlan. William Dayidson, William Worthington, Bull Montana, Sailor Sharkey and Charles Coleman.

Friesc Greene, jun., son of the inventor of the '-kinematograph," who recently died in London penniless, has been responsible for the excellent photography in British International's super production, "Tommy Atkins," which was directed by Captain Norman Walker with the co-operation of the British War Office.. In a recent trade show in London tho ' Press were unanimous in their opinion in classing this picture as the / produced by a British company. Many are of the opinion that . "Tommy Atkins" ■will be the outstanding picture of 1929. This is one of Cinema Art Films' 1929 releases.

"The Physicians," from Henry Arthui Jone's play, is one of the many outstanding productions to be released by British Dominions Films. Miles Mander gives an unforgettable performance, and without doubt, he is one of the greatest artists in England to-day. The film- is mainly concerned with a clergyman's daughter's discovery that her temperance-reforming fiancee is a dipsomaniac. There is a succession o. powerfully dramatic situations, and fine acting from every, member of the cast.

The cast of "The Light Woman," starring Benita Hume, has just returned to England from Spain, where most of the picture was - screened: An exact reproduction of a famous Spanish night club was built at the Gainsborough studios, however, to enable the film to be completed. ". '

With the addition of the name of Bert Roach, the cast of "The Last Warning" is complete, and Paul Leni is quite relieved that it is so. Roach makes the twelfth player. The others are Laura La Plante, John Boles, Roy D'Arcy, Mack Swain, Burr Mclntosh, Margaret Livingstone, Carrie Daumery, Slim Summerville, Montagu Love, D'Arcy Corrigan and Torben Meyer.

A. factory for making Egyptian mummies was the strange' plant constructed at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, as an incidental to the filming of "Dotectives," the new co-starring comedy for Karl Dane and George K. Arthur. The factory turned out several dozen replicas of ancient mummies, with coffin-like cases and all details to furnish the weird subterranean grotto in which some of the, comical adventures of the heroes of "Circus Rookies" occur. Marceline Day, Tenen Holtz and Polly Moran are included in the cast.

One of the greatest thrilte yet snapped by the camera is the ski race in the Swiss Alps during the Alpine climbers' sports, in which thirty crack ski racers from all parts of Europe and Canada take part. In the down grades it is estimated that they attain a speed of .90 miles per hour. This thrilling ski race only forms part of the feats of climbing that are depicted in Uft's latest sensation, 'Teaks of Destiny," or, as the picture was named in Europe, "The Wrafh of the Gods." It deals with a story of friendship, not of a man for a maid, but of a man towards another man. It will be released shortly by Cinama Art Films.

Josef von Sternberg, the director of "Underworld," "The Last Command" and other great Paramount successes, will make "The Case of Lena Smith," the next Paramount picture, starring Esther Ralston.

Production of Thomae Meighan's nsxt picture for Paramount; "The Mating Call," has just been completed. The story is by the well-known author, Rex Beach, and the direction was in the hands of James Cruze. Meighan has two leading women. Eenee Adoree and Evelyn Brent.

Lane Chandler lias been assigned to the cast of "Dirigible," Paramourit's air special, which will tell the story of a giant air liner. John Monk Saunders, the author of "Wings," and Jean de Limur, a former French wartime aviator, are collaborating on the story; William Wellman will direct.

Mary Duncan, the American stage star, now possesses a William Fox contract. She will appear in four productions during the coming year to be made in Movietone, the new talking film. Fox executives saw her on the stage and at once realised her possibilities for Movietone. She was immediately signed by Fox on completion of her stage contract. She is said to be a "modern Theda Bara" and "Nazimova" combined.

When the filming was .about to start on Johnny' Hines , forthcoming First National picture, "The Wright Idea," Louise Lorraine, his leading lady, approached the comedian to discuss what sort of frocks she should wear in the photoplay. I

"I'm going to get a nice new gown, Johnny," she said. TVhat shade would you like to see me in?" "In the shade cf the old apple tree," said Johnny, fainting gracefully.

June Marlowe, the pretty high school girl who made a pretentious screen debut about three years ago, was selected after iu exhaustive search, for the • leading feminine role ir. "Grip of the Yukon," the Universal picture, because of her golden tresses. She is one of the few actresses of the screen who ha 3 , not fallen for the "bob." Others in the all star cast are Neil Hamilton, Francis X. Bushman, James Farley, Otis Harlan, Theadore Lorch and Burr McTntosh. Ernest Laemmle direcied the picture.

The exploits of the German cruiser Emden, under Captain Karl von'Muller, and her ravages on British merchant shipping during the early months of the World War, have been realistically picturised in a film made under the aegis of the German Admiralty, "The Exploits of the Emden," which will be shortly releaeed by First National. Widely acclaimed by English critics for the fairness of its treatment, Jiie picturo makes no attempt to minimise the ultimate burning and defeat of the enemy cruiser, and the scene showing the Emden and the Australian cruiser Sydney actually at grips is a remarkable sea battle.

"Sailors Don't Care" is certainly a "sea" picture of the day. It is full of delightful humour. The action of the story takes place between 1014 and 1918—all the same, one could not call it a war film, inasmuch as there is a great deal of naval comedy in it, and also a strorfg ,romantic basis. The climax is exciting. There is a thrilling engagement between a Q-ship and a Üboat. The Admiralty have given every assistance for the making of this picture. The cast is a British one. In this production you will see many favourite English stars. Estelle Brody and John Stuart, both seen in "Mademoiselle from Armentieres," provide the romance. Mary Brough, with her twinkling eyes, and consummate art, supplies much of the humour. Shayle Gardner, Auckland's screen star, is the villain of the piece. ■

"Sins of the Fathers," the latest Jannings' production for Paramount, was written by a 23-year-old . university graduate, Norman Burnstine. ._ This is Burnstine's first original screen story.

According to a .New York paper Charlie Chaplin's next picture will show him as the shabby little vagrant against a background of wealth, with an opportunity to see how the other half lives. The comedian will both play and direct the new film. It will be finished.'tfef are the end of the year.

By arrangement with Metro-Gold wynMayer,. Conrad Nagel, under contract with that organisation, has been loaned to Fox Films to play, the stellar role in "Husbands Are Liars," now in production and directed by Raymond Cannon. Two of the most beautiful of the younger featured feminine players in Hollywood have prominent roles in the same picture, June Collyer and. Sharon Lynn.

A flower shop belonging to Marion Nixon was used in filming "Jazz Mad," Universal's production. Miss Nixod, who plays' a featured part in the production, conducts the business as one of her hobbies. Jean Hersholt is starring and George Lewis plays another featured role. The famous Hollywood Bowl Orchestra • and its conductor, Alfred Hertz, are prominently featured.

Maurice Elvey at the present time is engaged in producing "Palai3 de Danse." 1500 members of the public danced before him, and they took their instructions from this famous producer with intense delight. There were fox-trots and the "Blues." It is a fascinating .scene of beauty, music and rhythn.. Mabel Poulton, Robert Irvine, Hilda Moore and John Lougden are playing in this interesting film.

Ramon Novarro has a new type of role, that of an aristocratic young bachelor in London, a young lion in the social whirl, in "A Certain Young Man." In order to find the peace which London cannot give, the young bachelor trips off to the Continent, only to meet the right girl, and from this juncture the romantic handling of the story by Novarro will stir all hearts, especially as the unexpected happens before a thrilling conclusion is reached. Marceline Day, Eenee Adoree, Bert Roach, Huntley Gordon and Carmel Myers are five favourite players.who support him.

In the studios in Hollywood there are vast storerooms, known as the property department. Collected together here, is a multitude of pieces of furniture, hangings, carpets, imitation jewellery, in fact, every conceivable article of human use. Staffs of mechanics are constantly employed in" these departments, and should they not have a particular piece of property it is speedily constructed. A company on location, however, has to forego these advantages. In that case properties have to be obtained locally, and a special property man accompanies the party. A location company left the Paramount studios recently to .film "The First Kiss," starring Fay Wray and Gary Cooper. They travelled 3000 milrs to a small fishinj? village. Several of the houses of the fishing folk were' loaned for. the production, and a search was made-for suitable antique furniture. It was discovered that the village was a treasure-house of rare old pieces and their owners were only_ too glad to loan the furniture for use in the picture..

Jack Oakie and William Austin, Paramount featured players, have been cast in "Just Twenty-one," Charles Rogers' second starring picture for Paramount. Mary Brian will play the lead opposite Rogers, and Frank Tuttle will direct.

Four British regiments stationed in Egypt, including the famous Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, take part in British International's production, "Tommy Atkins." The New Zealand screen actor, Shayle Gardner, plays an important pjirt.

Earle Fox, who recently stepped out of comedy roles in the interest of more serious screen portrayals, has won the title, "the most satisfactory villain in Hollywood,"- In "Hangman's House," Fox Films production, this versatile player runs the gamut from larceny to arson, in one of the most spectacular performances of his career. He has many dramatic scenes with June Collyer, Larry Kent, Victor McLaglen and Hobart Bosworth in the screen version of Bonn Byrne's novel.

"The Ring" was exhibited recently at Berlin's latest picture theatre, the Titania. The British Ambassador attended the performance, and the reception accorded to Britain's youngest producer, Mr. Alfred Hitchcock, was most enthusiastic. The principal players, Karl Brisson'and Lilian Hall-Davis, who appeared in person, were also given ovations. The German. Press gave most generous criticisms, and went as far as to state: "This is a British film which any Broadway cinema manager could book for a certain three months' run." Cinema Art Films will release "The Ring" during the coming year.

The idea for "Thanks for the Buggy Ride," the Universal-Jewel production, was suggested by the song of that title. Laura La Plante, at her prettiest, and Glenn Tryon, at his funniest, are the two lovers who face the cold world without a penny and decide to get married as soon a they can make a few thousand pounds in a grand clean-up. The youth- is a genius and knows it. The tirl who love 3 him does not doubt it. The world, however —well, you know how the world is? He gets a brilliant idea and they decide to buy a house with it and settle down. But this leaves them as far as ever from being able to settle up. All that follows mu3t be seen to be laughed at.

From Universal City-comes the news that Laura La Plante is going to play Magnolia, in "Show Boat." Harry Pollard will undoubtedly cover her beautiful blonde tresses with a wag. Tests in dark hair have revealed an altogether unsuspected side to .Laura's ' admitted beauty.

Walter Byron, the English actor, will be Gloria Swunson's leading.man in her latest picture, "The Swamp," a story ■ written- : by Eric von Stroheim, who will direct the picture. The locale is German East Africa, and- the picture will have dialogue sound scenes, in which the voices of Miss Swanson and other players will be heard.

The recent honour bestowed upon the clown Grock has been responsible for a tremendous amount of controversy among the English-speaking races, but it remained for the eminent English writer, G. K. Chesterton, to state that in laughter there is something not .only highly dignified but divine. Grockj who enjoys tremendous popularity all over the Continent, Britain and the United States, is regarded as the world's greatest clown, and Cinema Art Films have been very fortunate in obtaining for an early release in New Zealand his first and only motion picture, to date, entitled ."What For?"

The idea of equipping merchant ships as war vessels, and sending them out under their original innocent-looking guise to cope with submarine warfare, first occurred to three naval men as they sat in an old-fashioned public house in a remote English port. Little did they dream that their idea would eventually be the salvation of Britain's food supplies coming from overseas, and would very effectively scare the German, submarines. The romance of how the idea gradually took practical shape, and the thrilling battles of the ships thus equipped is reproduced in "Q Ships," to be released by British Dominions Films. Apart from the thrills which the reconstruction of the facts connected with the "Q Ships" will give fans, it is understood that the film also contains many strong dramatic moments. Farl Jellicoe appears in the picture in the reconstruction of the incidents which took place at his meeting with AdmiraSims. Farl Jellicoe has seen the section if the film in which he makes his screen -lebut, and has approved of it.

Mystery has always exercised a strong attraction for the patron of the moving shadow show, and of late years a surprising number of the best stage successes have had a deep, dark mystery as the basis of their plots. One of thes.o will be recalled by the picturisation of the stage success of George Pleydell Bancroft's "The Wars Case," a British production, which, in the legitimate, gave Sir Gerald Du Maurier such a powerful role. On the screen Stewart Rome, a favourite British actor, has been entrusted with the leading role, and gives' a splendid performance. Thn story has been treated in an even more interesting manner upon the screen, excitement being retained at fever-heat right up to the climax. Manning Hayes, the director of this British production, from First National-Pathe, is to be congratulated on his achievement, the production of a film which in many ways out-distances the ordinary American film An exact replica of the Old Bailey, the renowned criminal Court, adds increased interest to the remarkable trial scene 3 which impress themselves upon the memory.

Hoot Gibson, who has just completed "Clearing the Trail," will arrive in Chicago .soon as the honour guest of the Chicago I Rodeo. While there, he will shoot scenes for his forthcoming picture, "King of the Rodeo," by B. M. Bowers.

Over 20,000 people . talce part in British International's super-production, "Moulin Rouge," which will be seen in New Zealand in the near future. It was produced by E. A. Dupont, the man responsible for "Variety," while the wellknown comedian, George Gee, playe a small vivid part..