The Picture World

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 57, 4 September 1926, Page 19

The Picture World

Alma Eubens, who hag scored such success in recent Fox productions, particularly in "Siberia," just concluded its Wellington season, plays a most dramatic role in,: the [ production on ■which she is engaged' at the present timei" Thisis '.'The Pelican,",or "Marriage License," as it is being called, in which picture she is first a.girl of 18 and then a mother 25 years later. Walter M'Grail plays opposite her. It is announced that Paramount will release and distribute throughout the world the entire product of studios of British National Productions, Ltd. This piece of news must.be received with a complete measure of interest. ; British National Productions,. Ltd., was founds ed last year by J. D. Williams and the Australian pastoralist, George D. Eaton, and in; the face of terrific odds s-'/ieed-i. v in building England's greatest motion picture studio, and in producing a : world-winning . picture, "Nell; GwyriV starring Dorothy . Gish., '■' The . first production will be '' London,'' from the pen of Thomas Burke, author of "Limehouse Nights," and starring Dorothy Gish, who is under contract to British National' Productions for a;.series 'of six pictures. 'Other stars are to be signed also. This operation of the'release of these pic-tmes-by Paramount is said to have solved the problem of film production' in Great Britain. . j Freckles are an asset to some people. For instance, they brought fame to Wesley Barry. They have proved a boon to but one woman, however, and she is Joan Standing, one of the members of the cast of Mrs. Wallace Reid's latest photo-drama, "Broken Laws." Miss Standing, a daughter of Herbert Standing and a sister, of Wyndham Standing, .uses no make-up while before the camera. She lets, her'freckles speak for ; themselves. Mrs. . Wallace Reid personally enacts the leading role in this new Master Picture attraction soon to be released in. Ne.w Zealand. ■■ According .to advice received from New York, two leading Fox officials have: sailed for .Europe to survey the theatrical1 and motion picture'field for suitable material for conversion into screen dramas. According to their views, .much valuable matter may be obtained from European stage presentations, and they anticipate returning with' ,plays which will create a sensation for the coming season's schedule. Two French plays are already on the programme, . being "The I.Monkey Talks," with Madge Bellamy in the leading feminine role,.and "The Lily," which Victor Schertzinger is . filming from the itbry by'Gastbn Leroux and Pierre Wolff. ■ Miss Dorothy Spensley, writing in the "Photoplay Magazine" in regard to the production of "Beau Geste," Paramount* great production just completed, says: "Modern science waved its wand and a'city of 2000 men arose from the scorching wilderness of an Arizona desert. Plank roads stretched across the trackless' wasteland: Water was coaxed ■ f rom ■ the ariid ground. Telephone* were, conjured up by magic. Electricity bowed to the will of the genii.. Ten thousand dollars worth of meat and, twenty-five thousand dollar* worth of groceries were devoured by the hosts of Aladdin. : And then with a puff of smol^e arid fire", the city disappeared, mirage-like, and there remain-' edonly the eternity of the shifting sands. This is the story of a colossal undertaking in the history; of ■ motion picture* when the burning sands and waste* of rolling wilderness thirty-five mile* south-west •of : Yuma was transferred into' a north African desert for the - locale.' of1 Paramount's 'Beau Geste.'" , Warners will present Sydney Chaplin in "The Cuckoo Js Nest," a Master Picture. •It is from an old English play. He has already completed "The Better »oie." .•:..'■■ Robert Frazer, male lead in "The Love Gamble,'' a Universal release, has a long list of' successful pictures to his credit, and they include "Men" and "The • Charmer,?' in.. which he played opposite Pola Negri. ; He also co-star-red with Mac Busch in "Bread," and recently opposite Miss Bebe Daniels in " Miss"'Bluebeard." "Married Alive,:'? adapted from Ralph Straus* 'a unusual novel, has just been finished by Director Emmett Flynh at the Fox studios. It is a satire in which Matt Moore arid Lou Tellegen have the/principal roles, supported by a* clever cast, embracing.Margaret Livingstone," Claire Adams, Gertrude Claire, Emily Fjtzroy, Marcella Daly, Erie Mayne, and Charles Lane. ;«Included in the material that will be used in connection, with the presentation of "The Wanderer" in New Zealand are some interesting items. A number of foreign Bibles have been collected, and the following tongues of the 577 different languages, in which the story of the Prodigal. Son has beenwritten, are in the Paramount Wellington office:—Earotongan, Siamese, Flemish, English-Bohemian,' Karanga, Yahgan, Iroguoia, and a specimen of the smallest readable Bible in the world. These Bible* were on display recently, at the New Zealand Paramount Convention held in Wellington, and they were a source of interest to the visitors. The Bible* will be displayed publicly prior to the release of "The Wariderin each and every town that the picture will be screened in. It is expected that-this picture will be released in about two months time. John Barrymore has shelved plan* to make, a Master .Picture, "The Tavern Knight,", by Sabatini, and substitutes "Manon Leseault." Dolores Coatello will have the lead.'- ; ; During the making ;of." Watch Your Wife," a' Universal. Jewel, Virginia Valli had.an unusual.honour conferred upon her. From'far off Cairo, Egypt, came' a letter telling her that her admirers had formed "The Virginia Valli Glub,".' with .Ahmed Rifat Rachid, one of the prominent men of ■ Cairo, as its president. ...'.' . ; 'F. W. Murnau. the noted German director, .has .been signed by Fox to make several pictures for their new season's schedule. Having «een George O'Brien, Margaret Livingstone, and Janet Gaynor in'screen presentations in Europe, Murnau cabled officials of the Fox organisation to the1 effect that hs wiajed them to be given consideration for hi* picture,- "A Trip-to Tilsit," which will be the first he is to make. Mr. Murnau will bring his own technical staff and cameramen who worked with him 'on '' The Last Laugh his latest ■ triumph,' and it i» anticipated that his productions will,.make a complete novelty in-screen presentation. The fir.st-sccne of "Revillion," the forthcoming ' Ernst-'Lubitseh Master Picture production for Warner Bros., have been shot, with Patsy Ruth Miller and. Monte Blue heading the splendid cast that has been for this famous comedy by Henri Mpillhac and Ludovic Halevy, which also includes LHyan Tashman, Andre Beranger, and Myrta Loy. Work continues rapidly. Pete Morrison, who will appear shortly in."Chasing Trouble," a Universal Western attraction, vows he will never make another picture without his dog, Duke, in it. The present picture had no pla,ce for the dog, which had appeared in all his previous attractions, and while the film was being made, Dnke sat on the sidelines and howled discon,»!«*to §i *« tile**! ■' ;.i;uXV—Uv\

Margaret Livingstone, who appears in "Hell'sl Pour-Hundred," to be released here next week, has the "leading role in the comedy-production, "A Trip to Chinatown." "The Honeymoon Express" 'will be the next of the Warner Bros.' Master Pictures to get under way during the present week, and will be a starring vehicle for Irene Rich, with Willard Louis playing the leading male role opposite her.- As a legitimate stage production, "The Honeymoon Express" proved an exceptional attraction. Alec. B. Francis, one of the best-loved characters of the screen, will be seen for the first time in his long and varied career in the role of a railroad engineer in "The Trans-Continental Limited," a Universal release.' In his part as the guiding hand at the throttle of the flatal flyer, Mr. Francis has one of the strongest and, most sympathetic roles he has ever played. Anita Stewart and Wolf the dog, are the featured players in.the Master Picture, "Baree, Son of Kazan," now screening at the Empress Theatre. "Bustin' Through," a Universal Western attraction, presents Jack Hoxie as the star in an' exciting role. The big thrill comes when Jack ropes a waggon drawn by a pair of runaway horses. In • the supporting . case are Helen Lynch, William N. Bailey, Alfred. Allen, and Georgie Grandee. Huntly Gordon went on the screen after being a failure in business in his home city, Montreal. Beginning with role of the father in "The Famous Mrs. Fair," he rapidly became, one of the most popular of screen players. His latest starring , vehicle is '' The Wife Who Wasn't Wanted," a Master Picture production, in which he is cast as a district attorney; Kenneth Harlan has severed his conI nection with Warner Bros, and •will free ! lance. Mr. Harlan is featured in the Master Picture, "Bobbed Hair." The cast of the Master Picture, "The Passionate Quest," which J. Stuart Blackton is making for Warner Bros., is now complete. May M'Avoy is the star, and the cast features Willard Louis, Louise Fazenda, Gardner James, De Witt Jennings, and Frank Butler. Bob Wagner, former president of the Writers' Club in Hollywood, has been signed by Warner Bros, to title Ernst Lubitsch's Master Picture production, "So This Is Paris." Photography has just been completed on the picture. The cast is, headed by Monte Blue, Patsy Ruth"Miller, and includes Lilyan Tashman, Andre de Beranger, Myrna Loy, and Sydney d'Albrook. . , • Willard Louis has been chosen to play a prominent role in "Don Juan,", the Warner Bros.f Master Picture production in which John Barrymora will be starred. Louis will be seen as Pedrillo, probably the most important £ br which this,actor has ever been cast. Mary Astor has the leading feminine part in the picture. ' Two Warner rßros.' Master Pictures were released recently*. They were "The Social Highwayman" and "Hell Bent: For Heaven." In the former production' Dorothy Devore and John Patrick have the leads, and the supporting cast includes Montague Love, Bussel Simpson, Fred Kelsey, and Charles Hill Mailes. In the latter production, Patsy. Buth Miller and John Harron have the leads, and are supported by Wilfred North, Evelyn Solbie, Gardner James, and Gayne Whitman. Willia Beaudone is credited with the direction of the former, and J. Stuart Blackton with the latter.