Films and the Stage.

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 48, 20 November 1926, Page 23

Films and the Stage.

William Desmond—picture-goers to-day know him as a dark screen hero who once played opposite Billie Burke—is coming back to Australia. It must be fifteen years since he was in these parts with Katherine Grey in comedies and nearmelodramas. But when he returns, and Sydney is to see him first, he will put up at the Tivoli in that city in a sketch dealing with life in the “movies.”

The biggest motion picture announcement of the year came when advice was received that Fox Films had purchased the screen rights for “The Music Master,” the Belasco stage success bv Philip Klein.

"Syncopating Sue,” Corinne Griffith’s latest First National contribution, !s now completed, and ready for an earlv release. Judging, by the enthusiastic reception accredited the film when shown at pre-views on three occasions during the last week or two, Miss Griffith 'is again star in a picture that will fulfil her producer’s—-Mr. A. M. Asher—promise, to give the industry another "Classified.” Miss Griffith will now be working contihuously, first on "The Lady in Ermine” and then on •'Purple and Fine Linen.”

Big Bear Lake, a famous tourist resort in Northern California, provides a beautiful scenic background for many of the scenes in ‘‘The Man in the Saddle,” Hoot Gibson’s latest Western attraction for Universal. Gibson’s troupe, including Director Clifford Smith, and Fay Wray, Sally Long, Charles Mailes, Clark Comstock, Emmett King, Duke R. Lee, and others, spent two weeks at the beautiful lake, filming exterior scenes, and all hands enjoyed a pleasant vacation at the studio’s expense, without too much troublesome work to be done.

John Kirby, who hails from Dunedin, New Zealand, and who scored with the Fullers, is in the cast of “Tip-Toes” at the Winter Garden Theatre, London.

Oscar Beck, the handsome . young Norwegian tenor, appearing with the Midnight Frolics at Fullers’ Theatre, Auckland, is a vocalist of more than ordinary calibre. Although yet in the early twenties, he has had a wide and varied experience in grand opera. Following a long course of training at the Roval Music Conservatorium, Copenhagen, he joined the Christina Opera Company, controlled by the Government of Sweden, and for four years sang important roles in many operas. During his season with the Midnight Frolic’s Mr. Beck has been heard in many delightful numbers from his extensive repertoire.

An excellent acquisition to the Hector St. Clair Revue Company is the inclusion of Mr. Les. Pearce, who will best be remembered in Hugh J. Ward’s various productions, and recently as leading man in such plays as “The Rise of Rosie O’Riley” and "Jessie James,” which had such successful runs on the Australian stage. Possessing a strong personality and an excellent baritone voice, full of vigour and strength, Mr. Les Pearce received a warm reception at His Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday night, which was his first appearance in the Hector St. Clair company, having stepped direct from Australia, per the s.s. Ulimaroa, that day. The Hector. St. Clair Revue Company has already set itself firmlv and favourably in the hearts of Wellington audiences, and the company and patrons are indeed fortunate in having such an exceedingly' strong and finished performer' as Mr. Les. Pearce in their midst.

Norma Shearer and Lew Cody are featured in the leading roles of “His Secretary,” the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture at the King’s Theatre. The director, Hobart Henley, has treated a modern version of the Ugly Duckling fable with sophistication and subtlety, and has made one of the year’s most engaging light comedies from a story that depicts the romance of a business girl. Her role affords Miss Shearer «n opportunity of displaying her ability as a comedienne, a talent that has had no outlet in such dramatic pictures as "He Who Gets Slapped” and "The Devil’s Circus.” Other players are Willard Louis, Karl Dane, Mabel Van Buren, Gwen Lee and Ernest Gillen.

As everyone predicted (says the Sydney journal, “Just It”), the dainty Dorothy Brunton hit South Africa hard. The Guy Bates Post Company opened at Maritzburg, and, when the mail left, were to appear in October at the Theatre Royal, Durban. All praise, Dorothy. Ashton Jarry, who toured South Africa with Ada Reeve, got a terrific reception. Everything points to a successful tour.

Laura La Plante heads the imposing array of players . that Universal has given “The Midnight Sun,” its great Super-Jewel for this year. This picture, which is now showing at the De Luxe Theatre, presents Miss La Plante for the first time in her career in the role of dramatic artist rather than in that of comedienne. The action of the picture takes place in Russia in 1913, before the advent of Bolshevism, and displays all the luxurious life of that period. Pat O’Malley, who has thousands of admirers throughout the country, displays his versatility in a tole entirely different from anything he has ever before attempted, that of a Russian Grand Duke. The cast also numbers such well-known players as Raymond Keane, George Siegmann, Arthur Hoyt, Earl Metcalf, who plays the Nihilist brother of the hero; Mikhael Vavitch, Nickolo Soussanin, and Medea Radzina, three of Russia’s foremost players; Cesare Gravina, noted Italian actor; Nina Romano, one of the most beautiful women on the screen; Victor De Linsky, William Von Hardenberg, and Charles Hancock.

Albert Rav, Fox director, has. just finished work on “Whispering Wires,’ a tense mystery drama which is said to. contain more thrills, shocks, gasps, giggles, and breathless suspense than any other picture of similar type. Anita Stewart, Edmund Burns, Arthur Houseman; “Heinie” Conklin, Frank Campeau, and Mark Swain are in the leads. The tense mystery drama has been enhanced by a delightful comedy touch.

Rin-Tin-Tin, the wonder dog, comes to Wellington shortly in his new Master Picture, "The Clash of the Wolves, a melodrama of the south- vest cattle lands. A spec’* ular forest fire, in the high Sierras is the big feature. The cast includes June Marlowe, Charles Farrell, Heinie Conklin, f’at Hartigan and Will Walling

The big Milton Sills First National classic “Men of Steel” is due for first release in Auckland this week. It is a storv dealing with the steel industry, and the outdoor and indoor scenes have been taken in one of the largest steel concerns in the United States, every help being afforded the producer to get the real true to life effect. Milton Sills is ably supported by Doris Kenyon and others well known in the picture world, and judging from the criticisms that have reached this country from America it would seem that these two famous stars have once more scored in their respective lines. This picture will be seen shortly in Wellington.

In these days, when a few wellknown players in a cast call forth the name all-star, it is a wonder just what term would lie applied to the cast of "Beau Geste,” which is to be shown in Wellington shortly at the Regent Theatre. Ronald Colman heads the brilliant list of players as Michael Geste; Neil Hamilton and Ralph Forbes are the brothers, Digby and John. Alice Joyce, Mary Brian, Noah Beerv, • Norman Trevor, William Powell, Victor McLaglen, George Rigas, and Donald Stuart are the other players. That is a real all-star cast. P. C. Wren, who wrote the book, is a well-known English writer, with a distinguished war service, and also service in the Legion. “Greater love hath no man” is the underlying theme of this picture. A brother’s love, the death of one in battle and the sacrifice of another so that the remaining one may go back to the girl who is waiting, are the big points in the picture.

Sydney Burchell, who was the juvenile with the Moon and Morris Revue, Company on the Fuller circuit in New Zealand, is in the cast of Hugh J. Ward’s musical comedy, “Mercenary Mary,” in Sydney.

"The Wedding March,” directed by and featuring Eric Von Stroheim, will bring this star back to the screen after an absence of some months. All the splendour of European Court life is depicted in this picture. The glittering pageantry of the Austrian Court at Vienna is shown in sharp contrast to the sordid life of the peasants, for Von Stroheim has not altogether abandoned his penchant for stark realism.

Nellie Stewart’s mother, Mrs. Guerin, was Sydney’s original Maritana at the old Victoria Theatre. Pitt Street. This was on April 19, 184‘J. J. Howson was Don Caesar, F. Howson was Don Jose, and G. H. Rogers was the king, with his wife as Lazarillo.

The death is announced from Bombay, India, of Miss Connie Milne, at one time with the Pollard Opera Company, Williamson musical comedy, and costume comedy companies in Australia and New Zealand.

Percy Marmont does some of the finest work of his career in Mrs. Wallace Reid’s “Broken Laws,” the Exceptional Master picture. His scenes with little Jane Wrav, who plays the .part of Ins daughter, are human and touching and show this favourite of the films in an entirely new role. “Broken Laws” is played by an allstar cast and is delighting audiences wherever shown.

Gus Dawson, a versatile young Auckland artist, formerly of the Diggers and the Futurists, has completed arrangements with Billy Maloney to appear for the summer season at the Austral Gardens, Adelaide. He will probably stage the musical numbers and have charge of the ballet.

Cheered at the conclusion of the performance was the unique and pleasant experSice of the Midnight Frolics < on the opening night at Auckland last week and phenomenal business has obUffitd eve/since. '‘The greatest show that has ever been to Auckland accorded “the most wonderful recep tiou that any company has ever ha is the Press report on this brilhan combination of “all star” artists, which goes on to describe the revue as just one thing after another, worked that fast that vou haven t got time to ap Saud an item before another one is before you, and evidently the Auckland audience on the opening night were not to be outdone, and saved up their ap plause till the finish, when three hearty British cheers were given the P erfor “ ers. As Eric Edgley himself says never in all their history have they had such a reception. And tvell they deserve it, for the paper goes on to sav that not only are the sketches goo , but the singing, dancing, scenery, wardrobe, lighting effects, and general atmosphere is something altogether different from what the Auckland publ c have been having. The lighting effect, in particular are exceptionally brilliant and intensify the beauty of the wonderful scenery carried by tins company “Fast, I have never seen anything faster,” is the opinion of one Auckland critic, and the company’s appearance in Wellington can only be waited for with what'patience one may possess.

Following his splendid work in recent C. B. C. productions, Robert Fraser is cast in the leading supporting role in ‘The Foolish Virgin,” a Master Picture, a fascinating and thrilling story of a young lady who emerges with a clean and wholesome soul out of the klums in a big city. Fraser is the type of clean-cut American who persuades by personality as well as histrionic ability. In r ‘The Foolish Virgin” he is'cast opposite Elaine Hammerstein and does some dramatic acting that explains why Pola Negri called him the screen’s greatest 'over.

Douglas Fairbanks has long been noted for his lavish and ambitious picture productions, but in “The Black Pirate,” which is to be shown here later,, he is reported as fairly having outdone his own previous efforts. It is a faithful, thrilling epic of the golden days of buccaneering near the end of the eighteenth century, and depicts vividly and colourfully the hectic life of the dare-devil roamers of the Spanish main during that era. In every way it is the most stupendous production that Doug, has ever attempted,, and from end to end it is filled the unique athletic feats that place a Fairbanks picture in a class by itself; in fact, in "The Black Pirate” the star has thought up a number of new stunts that are as thrilling as they are novel. The cast supporting Fairbanks as usual is a notable one. The leading ladv is the lovely Billie Dove, and the leaders are supported by .such actors as Donald Crisp, San de Grasse, Anders Randolf, Charles Stevens, E. J. Ratcliffe, Charles Belcher, Roy Coulson, and John Wallace.

Rex, who acquitted himself so nobly in “The King of Wild Horses” last rear, is again to be seen on the screen. Hal Roach, producer of that film sensation and the proud owner of the wild horse he saved from an outlaw’s death, tamed, trained and made a motion picture star of, has written “Black Cyclone” to fit the marvellous talents of the horse. It is a Master Picture and will be the feature attraction at the Empress Theatre this week. “Black Cyclone” is a story of the wild lands, where herds of wild horses roam the hills and plains.

New Zealand’s direct interest in “Tip-Toes,” the new London musical comedy, consists in the fact that John Kirby, the accomplished and capable comedian, is one of the funny men in the cast. This musical comedy, which conies from America, has been produced at the Winter Garden Theatre, Drury Lane, and has met with the enthusiastic approval of the dramatic critics, who express the view that the piny will find public support for a year at least. :

Mr. Harry Gordon has received a, cable from Carter, the great magician, stating that lie will arrive in. New Zealand in December on another tour of the Dominion. Carter is at present in San Francisco.

"The Sea Beast,” an epic of the whaling days that are gone, starring John Barrvmore, preserves for future generations the romance of those days of 1840. In this hour yon Fve the lives of those sturdy advenlarers, you suffer their wrongs, ache in your heart for their lost loves ;nd glory with them in their triumphant battle with the sperm whale. “The Sea Beast” is shortly to be released by Master Pictures and will be seen at ihe- Empress Theatre.

"The Wilderness Woman,” the latest Robert Kane production for First National, now being screened at the Paramount Theatre, tells the story of an Alaskan miner and his daughter, who have .struck it tremendouslv rich in the Far North and set out for New York. The adventures that befall them when tliev come in contact for the first time with the conventions and restrictions of modern civilisation are productive of good comedy. In the roles of rich miner and his daughter, Chester Conklin and Aileen Pringle appear to advantage. The story of .Arthur Stringer is taken from the “Saturday Evening Post.” A feature of the picture is the New York cabaret scene, which shows to tage the famous singing and dancing' waiters and waitresses of the Owl Club, New York—the coloured company of entertainers whose work has made them famous.

“Moana,’’ Paramount’s wonderful film of .Samoa, New Zealand’s mandate in the Southern Seas, was screened privately to a number of prominent persons in Wellington last week., screening was held, tin the projection theatre of‘ the Government Department of Internal Affairs, and there were present Sir Maui Pomare, Minister in Charge of Cook Islands, the Hon. R. A. Wright. Minister of Education,'the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister .J' in Charge of Publicity, Mr. J. D. Gray, Secretary of internal Affairs, and representatives of the New Zealand Government Publicity Office, also. Lady Pq T mate, .The film’ "MoanaJ’ proved to be a most interesting story of the scenery, •life, and Customs of the Samoan people. The picture will be, released throughout New Zealand at an early' date by Paramount.

Moscovitch is to do ’Trilby” in Sydney before he comes this way, which probably will be early in the new year. He will be Svengah. of course. His son, Nat Madison, will be Zou-Zou (those who have read du Manner’s classic will remember) but Trilbv herself and Taffy have not yet been chosen. Claude Fleming, the musical comedy artist whom local theatre-goers know, has played Taffy: with, some first-class American companies.

“Honeymoon Lane,” a musical comedy in which William Valentine, a New Zealander, has a prominent role, pleased the critics greatly when produced in New York last month. One paper says it should run for two years.

New Zealand audiences are being given their first introduction to one of Europe’s most popular stars in “Her Big Night,” a Universal Jewel attraction, starring Laura La Plante. Einar Hansen, w'ho is one of Europe’s most popular actors, plays the lead opposite the comedienne. He is under long* term contract to Universal. Others in the cast of “Her Big Night” are Tully Marshall, Zazu Pitts, Mack Swain, John Roche, Lee Moran, Nat Carr, Cissy Fitzgerald. Melville Brown was the director.

Racing’along at a dizzy rate of speed, with Monte Blue in the lead,’“Red Hot Tires,”, a Master Picture, id be seen shortly. This picturisation cf the Gregory Rogers novel is one of the most entertaining comedies recently screened and has Wfills, laughs and romance gaily shaken together. Patsy Ruth Miller ’makes a charming little heroine, even when she dons a pair of size 12 heavy shoes and clomps through a haunted house. “Red Hot Tires” is wholesomely exciting fun.