SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 20056, 22 December 1928, Page 15

SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Edward Sloman has commenced production ou ‘ The Bargain in the Kremlin,’ purchased by _ Universal Pictures from Sir Philip Gibbs. Joseph Schildkraut will pl»y the leading role. . . ‘ The Darling of tho Gods,’ a thrilling drama of Japan, is to be screened. The film is to be made in Japan, with Miss Dolores Del Rio in the starring role, and in the leading male role there will be welcomed back to the screen that one-time idol of picturegoers, Sessuo Hayakawa.

The first sound sequences of the latest Harold Lloyd production, ‘ The Butterfly Chaser/ have been taken. According to the studios report, Lloyd’s voice has registered exceptionally well. That was to be expected, as the comedian had many years of legitimate stage experience before venturing into the field of motion pictures. Alassive studio sets, constructed in and out of doors, and rugged mountain sectors of one of America’s _ scenic beauty spots, provided the settings for ‘ Plastered in _ Paris/ Fox Films’ comedy production. The story tells of the adventures of two delegates to the Paris convention of the, American League, who work their way into a campaign against the Riffs, from whom they kidnap an entire harem. Sammy Cohen and Jack Pennick have the leading roles. . Alexander Korda is to A Tilton Sills in his next starring vehicle for First National Pictures. Tentatively titled ‘The Comedy of Life/ it is a story_ of Venice. Korda, the distinguished Hungarian director, has been responsible for such successes as ‘ The Private Life of Helen of Troy/ ‘ Tile Stolen Bride/ ‘ The Yellow Lily/ and has just completed ‘ Njght : Watch/ with Miss Billie Hove. Sills recently finished ‘ Hard Hock/ and ‘ The Cdnitdy of Life’ will be his first picture with a European background. A typical Valentino part is to bo played by Alexandre D’Arcy in his next production for British International. It will be made'by Norman Walker. D’Arcy will play the part of a Spanish nobleman’s son who falls in love with a local beauty, and rescues her from brigands on her wedding morning. The period is that of modern Spain, and most of the exterior scenes will be filmed in the vicinity of Toledo and Seville. _ A very original note is to be struck in this Spanish production in that there will not bo one bull-fighting scene.

Raoul Walsh is doing most of his talking in front of the camera at present. Ho has nothing to say when behind the camera, but waves a short cane up and down and over and back at certain junctures. Walsh is acting and directing ’in , ‘ The Caballero’s Way,’ a Fox Alovietono and motion picture version of 0. Henry’s story of the south-west. He plays the “ Cisco Kid.” When directing a scene, he cannot talk, as absolute silence must be preserved oh a Movietone set. So he indicates and emphasises points for the other players with his “talking sticks.” '

At the present time there are twelve Paramount, films in the making which will be seen next year by New Zealand audiences. • The final scenes for ‘ Redskin,’ the* Richard Dix picture, are being filmed in the studios. ‘Sins of the Fathers/ Emil Jannings’s latest picture, is nearing completion, as also is Adolphe Menjou’s ‘ His Private Life’; Clara Bow is working on ‘Three Week Ends,’ and the mystery story . ‘ The Canary Murder' Case,’ with William Powell and Louise Brooks heading tho cast, is well under way. Noah 1 Beery,, Richard Aden, and Clive Brook are appearing in the' Mason story, ‘ The Four Feathers,’ which-is being produced by Cooper and Schoedsack, who made ‘Chang’; and George Bancroft has started on ‘ The Wolf of Wall iitreU;.’