'SUNRISE'

Evening Star, Issue 20135, 27 March 1929, Page 7

' SUNRIS E'

LONG RUNS ALL OVER THE WORLD .Reports have continually come to hand regarding the exceptional film 1 Sunrise,’ which Eox Films released in New' York recently. This film went well into its fifth month at the ‘ Times ’ Square Theatre, New York, and has embarked on its long season at the Cnrthay Circle Theatre, Los Angeles. ‘ Sunrise ’ has also been released in other countries, and has started its eighth week in Berlin, the. same in Amsterdam, and is in its fifth week in Sweden. According to a cable received from Berlin, a vote conducted by the newspaper ‘ Der Deutsche ’ in twentyfivo countries to ascertain the best pictures of 1927 has resulted in ‘ Sunrise •' as the choice, while ‘ AA’hnt Price Glory ’ is second. Although the technical secrets concerning the production of ‘Sunrise,’ which will lie shown at the Strand Theatre next Saturday, arc carefully guarded, intcreding items in connection with Fred AA'. Aluninu’s work have leaked out. Thoroughness is Murnau’s most noteworthy characteristic. After Carl Mayer had finished the scenario ol 1 Sunrise.’ and had come to an agreement with the director on all its points, the latter mastered it in detail, working out on paper the exact manner in which each scene was to be made, and possessing a rigid conception of how the whcic production would look in finished form. So thoroughly was this done that even the electricians were furnished in advance with written instructions about the lighting. Not one essential change was made in Mnrnau’s production programme from the time the first rushes were made until the picture was finally cut and edited. By schooling the principals in their parts for at least two weeks before they storied work on the. set he assured himself in advance of perfection on their part in appearance, posture, gesture, and even the stipulated dramatic action. Even when dealing with extras Murnan_ is particular about details. The first thing he does with a group of extras, however large, is to address them in batches of ten, using a conversational tone. This, lio explains, makes them, feel a degree of importance and responsibility, and prevents their regarding themselves as automatons. As a result he makes very little use of the megaphone.