Films and the Stage.

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 181, 2 May 1925, Page 17

Films and the Stage.

Still another picture calls for encomiums. This is “Masters of Men,” a character study of adventure and romance during the late ’nineties, when the Spanish-American war gripped the nation with excitement. Morgan' Robertson, who .fashioned this tale x was always a vigorous writer, and he has supplied the story with the necessary essentials which intrigue the imagination. Interpreted bv a cast of players who are not only adaptable for their, roles, blit enact them with sincerity and feeling-, the picture is certain" to. score as one of the better documents.

With the critical eye of Ernst Lubitsch upon them, Willard Louis and John Roche are having their, hair marcelled every morning. It all happens because Louis is playing the part of a French counsellor, and Roche, a Parisian beau, in “Kiss Me Again,’’ and the refuses to permit wigs. Appointments with hairdressers are a little out of these artists’ lines, but "anything for art.”

A one woman picture! Louise Fazenda, comedy star, playing opposite to Rin-Tin-Tin, the dog star in “The Lighthouse by the Sea,” is the only woman who appears in the picture. The woman in the story walks _ unscathed through places _ where sin is supposed to be served in huge quantities, but through it all she maintains her child-like faith in an obvious villain, and through mistake upsets the plans of some well-mean-ing - boot-leggers. The clever doggie is' .leen to better advantage than in anv previous picture. His sensational dash to the rescue, up the steep sides of a cliff, is a- thrilling pjece of realism.

“I want mv comedies always to contain clean fun. I find it is what the public likes best and longest.” ■ So said Harold Lloyd, the comedahr, after he reviewed his latest creation, “Girl Shy,” which is to be released in the Dominion shortlv. .“Girl Shy” is so simple that a child can laugh ■at it; so clean that old-fashioned grandma chuckles over it without blushing; yet so subtle that philosophers chortle.

D. W. Griffith’s first picture to .be produced for Paramount will be “The Sorrows of Satan,” from the famous novel b.v Marie Corelli. It will be .interesting to see what the talent of Griffith will produpe.

A strange figure is sometimes seen In Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, at the time of night when the theatres are giving up tUpir crowds and playgoers are on their way home. It is that of a tall, dark-skinned man in a flowing robe, and with his long hair tied in a nob at the back of his head. On one occasion a policeman stopped the strange-looking man, and was astonished at getting a reply to ■ his question' in pure English. .Ashton Jarry, who is playing the High Priest of Rukh in the Guy Bates Post production of “The Green Goddess” at ’ the King’s Theatre, has 'to darken himself all over for his role, and finds that the removal of the. stain is a difficult proposition without the aid of a hot bath. So Mr. Jarry saves himself a good deal of trouble and inconvenience by simply walking out of the theatre and dodging into Little Bourke Street and then around the comer to his flat, where he has a warm plunge-bath which cleans off his colouring in the simplest and easiest possible manner.

Cecil De Mille has bought the luce studio, and will make liis pictures there .as an independent producer, releasing through the Associated Distributors. . o one as yet knows what his plans will be as a rival of the Famous PlayersLasky studio. A grand scramble for stars is expected, however. lhe contracts of Rod La Rocque, Leatnce Joy, and several other De, Mille “discoveries” are soon to expire at Lasky s. There is some question aS to whether they will go with De Mille or stay with Lasky,

Percy Mormont, co-featured with Doris Kenyon in First National’s picture, "Idle Tongues,” screening at the Tivoli Theatre this week, was a prominent actor on the London stage before he came to America and entered the movies.

Tom Mix, a horse, and a dog, share the, honours of “Teeth,” the Pox film how showing at the Britannia. At the present moment it is not quite clear whether the teeth in question belong to Duke, the dog,- who uses his fine set with dire effect on the villain of the .peace, or to Tom Mix, who performs equally deadly work on the heroine by means of a highly superior brand of smile. Most of us have a lurking weakness for « good horse and a good dog, and will be ra.tber glad to see them help the play to a happy ending, though it seems rather too much that their possessor should also be presented with a good wife.

liven Hollywood residents are irot immune to “movie thrills.” This fact was evidenced recently in the production of “Three Women.” Ernst Lubitsch, the director, suggested that thev shoot the scenes at night in order to avoid the inquisitive crowds that would gather in the daylight, but although they started' at midnight and worked until five in the morning, the company was by no means alone. A steadily increasing audience watched the camera grind scene after scene with Law Cody and May McAvoy.

Thomas Meighan’s next offering .will be “Tongues of Flame.” In this picture Thomas essays the role of a smalltown lawyer, who returns from the great war, only to find that his own maiTi street holds more thrills than the battlefields 'of France.

“The Lost World,’* produced by Earl Hudson, and shortly to be released in New Zealand, was seven years in preparation for the screen from the time the picture rights were purchased. Marion Fairfax speqt ten ■ months on the scenario of Conan Doyle’s story. Mr. A. S. M. Hutchinson’s novel, “This Freedom,” has been picturised, and comes to the screen, shortly under its original title. Critics the world over have raved over this author’s latest offering as the best work of his career, and many have ventured to predict that “This Freedom” will even prove more popular ,hau his last sensation, “If Winter Comes.” The “principal parts in the picture are allotted to two English artists, Miss Fay Comptoq. and Mr. Clive Brook. Betty Compson was recently seen in “The Enemy Sex,” one of the cleverest flapper stories of the year. Iler next offering will be “The Garden of - Weeds,” in which she is starred under the direction of James Cruze. This play has a "backstage” atmosphere in which Betty has the role of a chorus girl who is understudy, ing the leading lady of the show.

Barbara La Marr, who will be seen this week at the King’s Theatre in’ the First National picture “Sandra, from the novel by Bell Doles Wright, is off on a brief vacation to Europe, after completing work in “Heart of a Temptress.” C'n her return she will be starred in another production to be made under the direction of Phil Rosen. Berl Lytell and Claire Windsor are alos in the supporting cast of “Sandra.”

It is not infrequent that a woman, must give up the man she loves to another woman. But how different it all is when that woman is her daughter! Ernst Lubitsch. has created this unusual situation in “Three Women,” the Master picture screening at the Strand Theatre. Pauline Frederick, as the mother, is given an opportunity to show her ability' as a great emotional actress.

After a fox-hunting trip in the Adirotidacks, Doris Kenyon is back in New York ready to begin work in.her next picture, “The Half-Wav Girl.” Doris will shortlv be seen in New Zealand in Jier latest .picture, “A Thief in Paradise,” featuring Ronald Colman and Aileen Pringle.

Agnes Avres’ most recent offering is entitled “Worldly Goods.” It is a matrimonial comedy-drama through which there runs a vein of philosophy, in regard to modern marriage. A critic has described Miss Ayres’ role in this picture as “a girl who thought she was getting the world’s prize h-sband—but who found she was only getting', the booby prize.’

Probably the most popular sporting writer of to-day is Mr. H. C Witwer, who wrote the “Fighting Blood” series which appeared in “Collier s Weekly recently. This series has now been picturisedbv the author in twelve two-reel rounds, and will be presented shortly throughout the Dominion. Each episode is complete in itself, containing a ring battle, plenty of the kind of humour for which this author is famed, and a spice of romance.

Marie Prevost feels that the art of make-up remains an art only so long as it is appropriate to the time of day or evening, which means nothing more or less than that Miss Prevost, who is busy working in “Recompense, the adaptation of Robert Keable’s sequel to “Simon Called Peter,” believes that cosmetics when used during bright’, daylight should be of a much lighter texture than the make-up used for the evening.

Carolina Deas, the young Honolulu girl who won a contest started by Warner Brothers, on the island, will be seen for the first time on the screen in “Aly Wife and I,” a forthcoming picture. Aliss Irene Rich has the leading role in the production, and her opinion of the little. Honolulu girl is so great that she has decided to adopt her.

Wanda Hawley, who has been enhancing English productions of late, returns to the American screen in “Reckless Romance,” Al. .Christie s great laughing feature. While across the seas, this star appeared in “Fires of Fate” and “Lights of London. Hei latest American-made feature was “The Man from Brodney’sf.” Aliss Hawley has one of the two principal roles in “Reckness Romance,” which gives her a fine opportunity to prove that she is as good at farce as she is in emotional roles.

Coming events cast their shadows—or their sunshine —before.. Pauline Frederick’s forthcoming visit to New Zealand is heralded by her latest production, “Smouldering Fires,” a Universal film now showing at the De Luxe. Pauline has always’ despised Huffy flapper roles, and in this prohiction plays„ the part of a strongminded business tsoman who finds tllat one husband is harder to manage than ’’alf a dozen factories. Laura La Plante, the “butterfly” girl has the -ole of the littlq, sister who gets her ■wfi wav with everything and everyone, md Malcolm McGregor is the young usband who, between 'the two of them, finds himself in serious trouble.

<‘Peter Pan” is now sbow.ing on Broadway, New York, and its reception to date is said to be second to no picture excepting “The Ten Commandments,” which is now in its second vear in America's greatest theatre spot. “Peter Pan” will be released this ■year in New Zealand. The role that was made immortal by James Al. Barrie, is being tfaken by Betty Bronson, a newcomer to the screen.

Frank Lloyd produced a number of unusual scenes for his motion pictuie version of “The Sea Hawk,” released through First National Pictures, and now playing at the Princess Theatre. Among the unique photographic and dramatic scenes of the big production is a night sea battle between the large English frigate, the Silver Heron, commanded bv Sir John Killigrew, and the Moorish gallease, commanded by Asad Pasha, of Algiers, and bearing as passengers Sir Oliver and Rosamund, his sweetheart. Sabatini’s description of the attack and the chase which followed amounted to a brief paragraph, but to give action to the event in the making of the picture required many hours, the time And assistance of .more than seven hundred men, two ships, a smooth sea, the wind from the west, and a full moon, not to mention an innovation in motion picture photography. But Air. Lloyd’s version of the moonlight battle in “The Sea Hawk” was real, and so stands out as. one of many noteworthy achievements in the visualisation of the drama...

Air. Guv Bates Post, who is appearing at the King’s Theatre, Alelbourne, in “The Green Goddess,” considers that Australia is the best-catered-for country in the world as regards theatrical productions. “Australia,” said Air. Post, “only gets the plays which have proved successful in other countries. The very cream of theatrical attractions is placed before Australian audiences, and then only after they have stood the critical test of a lengthy run; whereas playgoers in New York and London, for example, have to put up with productions which are good, bad, or indifferent—or worse—and have to pay just the same to see the failures as the successes.”

“I don’t think that the motion picture will ever supplement the drama,” said Mr. Guy Bates Post to a Melbourne interviewer. “They are totally dissimilar, and their appeal is quite different. Moreover, the film scenario, as a rule, is an ephemeral creation’ that is not to be taken too seriously from the point of view of dramatic value. The motion picture has, to a large extent, created a public all its own, but there are many people to whom the spoken word on the stage can never give way in preference to the silent shadows on the

screen, .as a matter of fact,'drama is as popular as ever, if not more so, and the standard 'is getting higher.” The “Know Your Own Country” series of pictures of the Australian Commonwealth will \ shortly be released in New Zealand; they are said to be very fine. Warner Bros, announce that the title of their third Lubitsch production, now well'under way at the Hollywood studio, is “Kiss Me Again.” The scenes are laid in Paris, and in it the director takes the eternal triangle and handles it in a humofous vein. In fact, he has obtained an entirely difI ferent twist in unravelling a domestic situation, in which a husband, wife, and lover figure. Marie Prevost, who is playing the lead, is said to have a good part, and Monte Blue, as a jealous husband, who wakes up., to find his wife in love with another man, also has opportunities. In searching for a type for a rather frolicsome role in the production, Lubitsch was , able to secure Clara Bow, “the perfect flapper.” Looking about to fill two other important roles, Lubitsch came across John Roche at work, .and cast him for a part after watching the young actor in several scenes. On the same day Lubitsch picked Willard Louis, who won such wide praise for his acting as the Prince of Wales in “Beau Brummel” with John'- Barrymore.

Ever since D. W. Griffith declared that in Alonte Blue who was then portraying Danton in “Orphans of the Stormj” the screen had one- of the finest actors yet discovered, the young star has been steadily advancing. Last season he lived up to Griffith’s prophecy by his characterisations in the leading roles of “The Alarriage Circle,'' “The Dark Swan,” “The Lover of Camille,” “How to Educate a Wife,” and four other productions.

,A group of films which is now in the course of construction will contain such pictures as “Peter Pah,” with the new star, Betty Bronson, “Aladame Sans Gene,” which Gloria Swanson has just completed in France. “Sackcloth and Scarlet,” “Modern Babylon,” “The Dressmaker from Paris,” with Beatrice Jov and many others. The featured stars will be Pola Negri, Richard Dix, Rbdolph Valentino, Betty Compson, Thomas Meighan, Theodore Roberts, and Bebe DaniSls.

According to announcement, Anna 0. Nilsson is to have the leading feminine role in “One Way Street.”

To tell the storv of “Squibs’ Honeymoon,” the Master picture now screening at the Empress Theatre, starring Bettv Balfour, would be to spoil the element of surprise in the film\ Sufficient is it to say that on deciding to get married, Squibs quickly disposes of the cares of the milk business she acquired in “Squibs, M.P.,” and brooking no interference or argument fromher sweetheart, ex-P.C. Lee, names the day and makes all arrangements for the wedding. This wedding is probably the simplest, yet at the same time the most impressive, wedding seen in q film. As for the bride, a well-known" film TorresDondent described " Mrs. Charlie Lee (nee Squibs Hopkins), easily the happiest bride ever seen in films. After the ceremony wild scenes of happiness follow, and then off to the Continent, where the fun begins in earnest, and the action proceeds with the speed of the express train carrying Squibs on her greatest adventure. “The Lady,” (Norina Talmadge’s latest First National .photoplay, reveals this popular star tn a new guise—that of a pert and vivacious soubrette of a musical- show of the “Gibson Girl” period.

Gloria Swanson has returned to America after having completed “Madame Sans Gene,” the screen version of the play of the Napoleonic p'eriod which was written by Victorian Sardon. The translation of “Madame Sans Gene” is Madauie Devil May Care,

What A. E. Coleby doesn’t know about horse-racing, no trainer or bookie could tell him. “Long Odds,” Iris big snorting Alaster picture, now screening at ’•Ahe Strand, will probably provide quite a shock for racing men, and teach'them something they ought to have known. It is part of the story that “Black Beauty” wins a big race against the very long odds of the title, but racehorses aren’t trained for film work. Sam Marsh, well-known jockey, was mounted on “Black Beauty,” but failed to win for the first time. The second time it was a dead-heat. At the third attempt, “Black Beauty” satisfactorily won by a neck, and Mr. Coleby was delighted.

Warner Bros, announce they have engaged Constance Bennett and Tom Ricketts.for “My Wife arid I,” the film version of the Harriet Beecher Stowe novel, which is in production under the, direction of Millard Webb. This is the next starring vehicle for Irene Rich.'

Douglas Mac Lean, of “Hottentot’’ and “Going Up” fame, has done it again. This time the happy-go-lucky young actor has made a picture in which he appears as an ex-service man, who was previously reported killed. He returns to his home town, which he left . penniless and unappreciated, to claim the girl he loves, and how, after many adventures, including the wrongful accusation of having kidnapped a child, comes to' his own. “Sunshine Trail” will bring at least oA hour’s sunshine into the life of everybody.

The American War of Independence is a very long time ago—so long that most English people have clean forgotten that their ancestors had an inexplicable desire to own the land of the Stars and Stripes. By this time we are perfectly satisfied that the loss of America was all for the best, as far as England is concerned, so our feelings won’t be hurt bv Griffith’s picture, “Love and Sacrifice,” now showing at the Artcraft. Carol Dempster, a girl after America’s own heart, has the. part of the heroine, who helps in holding a ■fortress against the British, and Neil Hamilton and Lionel Barrymore play hero and villain respectively.

Announced as the most up-to-the-minute storv of city life, fashion, and pleasure 'is “The City that Never Sleeps,” a Paramount Janies Cruze picture, featuring Louise Dresser, Ricardo Cortez, Kathlyn Williams, and Virginia Lee Corbin. It will be screened at the Queen’s this week,

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