Motion Picture News

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10318, 29 January 1927, Page 4

Motion Picture News

NEXT WEEK’S PROGRAMMES. PALACE THEATRE. This afternoon, to-night and Monday night—“ Good and Naughty’ —Paramount, starling Pola Ni~ gri, Tom Moore and Ford Sterling. Tuesday afternoon and night and Wednesday night “Havoc’’— Fox, starring George O’Brien, Madge Bellamy and Leslie Fenton. Thursday afternoon and night and Friday night—“ The 'Only Thing’ —Metro Goldwyn, starring Eleanor Boardmari and Conrad Nagel. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. This afternoon, to-night and Monday night—‘lnfatuation’ ’ —First National, starring Corinne Grif-< fith. Tuesday night, afternoon and night—“ The Bandit’s Boy”—Master Picture,' starring Fred Thompson and Silver King. Thursday and Friday •— _ ‘Bustin Through’ ’—Universal, starring Jack Hoxie.

SCREEN NEWS. The Dempsey-Tunney fight for the -world’s championship will be shown at Everybody's shortly. The New Zealand Government film, “Fighting Fins,” depicting Zane "Urey’s exploits with swordfish and mako sharks will be screened at Everybody’s on Saturday, February 5. The famous German film, ‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” has been revived in New York, and has had a .(rreat run. The film is declared by reviewers to be as thrilling and important as it was on the day it was first released some three or lour years ago, thus showing that it possesses lasting qualities, and is not merely a film for the day. The engagement of Clara Bow, flapper actress of the films, and Victor Fleming, director, has been broken (says a Los Angeles message dated December 1). The breaking of this engagement marks Miss Bow’s fourth halt at the barrier of matrimony. A year ago :t was Gilbert Roland, actor. Then it was Robert Savage, and. next came Donald Keith,- an actor. Then, a few months ago, came Fleming.

The Hon. Anthony Asquith, son of Lord and Lady Oxford, recently made his dehut as a film actor, as an actress. In the British film “Boadicea” much comment has been aroused at the fearless way in which Miss Phyllis Neilson Terry, as the warlike Boadicea, queen of the Britons, drove her chariot over the rough ground in an attack on the Roman legions. Asquith disguised in a blonde wig and a long pale blue robe “doubled’’ for Miss Neilson Terry in the roughest parts of the chariot driving.

It is stated that Channing Pollock has set a picture value or £30,000 on his latest drama, “The Enemy.” Already £‘20,000 has been offered. but Pollock insists that the film rights are just as valuable as those of “The Fool,” for which a larger sum was paid. It is noteworthy that many of the big stage successes, when transferred to the screen, have been altered almost beyond recognition, so that, in most- instances, capital sums are paid merely for the idea.

“Harry Langdon,” declared Lothar Mendes, the famous German producer, who is at present in Hollywood, “is the only comedian on the screen who can approach to Chaplin’s crown.” This statement, made in dead earnestness, and coming from Mendes, carries some interesting reflections with it. Herr. Mendes’ prediction of Langdon’s place besides Charlie Chaplin merely echoes what many others have said, but the director speaks from a'thorough knowledge of and an emphasis upon artistic values. “Wings,” Paramount’s great epic of the air has already earned the title of “The Covered Wagon of the Air.” Flying officers of four nations are actively participating in the filming of the production under the direction of Lucien Hubbard at San Antonio. Baron Yon Hartman, who won his record on the Russian flying front, is in charge of the great fleet of aeroplanes, while Ted Parsons, and American flier who served with the French Air Service, and Capt. S. C. Campbell, a British airman, are the chief persons actually concerned with the stunts in-the air. “Wings” will be one of Paramount’s big releases this year and will probably be one of the most spectacular pictures ever made by virtue of the fact that some three hundred aeroplanes will participate. There is nothing primitive in the means of communication that the Red Indians have employed since the earliest days. Their sign language is a highly-developed and intricate ai t.Though the secret of its origin is shrouded in antiquity, and -the Indians’ only literature are the beauti? ful legends handed down from tribe to tribe, enough has been learned to make a fascinating study. An insight into the authentic sign-language is offered in “War Pa ini,” MetroGold wyn-Mayer’s picture of the Red Indian uprisings of last century, to be shown at the Palace in the near future. It is adapted from a story by Peter B. Kyne, the famous novelist, and was produced on the Red Men’s Reservation at Wyoming. Its star is Colonel Tim McCoy,' a picturesque personality who is regarded as the greatest living authority upon the Indians and then* customs. He is known to all the tribes of North America as “White Chief Eagle,” Friend of the Redskins. A 'unique distinction to be gained by any picture is that of being presented at the Albert Hall, London, noted Mecca of the world-famous concert artists. Such a distinction is held by the magnificent French film production, “Michael Strogoff.” whielr was elaborately presented in the famous hall to a distinguished audience. “Michael Strogoff” is from the book of the well-known author Jules Yerne, and will be shortly released by Universal Films in New Zealand. There are two distinct tribes represented in the ten Red Indians who are now in New Zealand in connection with Paramount’s “The Vanishing Race.” Thev are the Hopi and Navijo tribes. The names of the Hopi are: Chief Se-ump-te-wa (Blooming Flower). Tel-we-pe (Swift as Lightning). Sikia O-me-yoma (Red Fox), Num-ke-nn (Warm Welcome), Tech-a-we-na (Able to Scare). Ka-shon-kn (Pretty Parrot), Homi-a-si (Sand Paint), Du-wa-ku-ku (Sand Foot). The Navi ins are: .Leonard Manhammer and Nasjali (The Owl), the Indian boy star who appears in “The .Vanishing Race.”

PLAYS AND PLAYERS

'Ehe JXCotiie Fan

The six-year union between handsome Richard Barthelmess, screen star, and, diminutive Mary Hay, the dancer, has come to a definite end (says a New York message, dated November 29)..- . Dick and Mary, who have been separated for more than a year, soon will be divorced. They were going to prove to the world that a professional marriage could be a success and set a beautiful example for other stars of the stage and screen. Mary Hay to-day filed her suit for divorce in Paris. Her action was approved by Barthelmess, who crossed the ocean in advance of his wife to accept service in the suit.

Henry King, in cutting “The Winning of Barbara Worth,” his latest production for Samuel Goldwyn, is having the'services and advice of exGovernor Thomas E. Campbell, ot Arizona, one of the greatest living authorities on irrigation and reclamation. Governor Campbell is giving his servees as technical supervisor in order that the picture may be absolutely authentic in every respect. The story is a dramatic parallel, with the great epic of the desert’s obvious physical reclamation and the more subtle and spiritual reclamation of human characters in. the portrayals of Ronald Column and Vilma Banky, featured players.

Undoubtedly, the finest constabulary in the world are the Canadian North-West Mounted Police. Their exploits in lonely wastes of lawless country have thrilled thousands. No writer is as competent to record their history or achievements as James Oliver Cur wood, author of many excellent novels of adventure in the Canadian wilds. His notable book, “The Flaming Forest,” has been made into a magnificently thrilling picture by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and its blending of historical fact with a romantic story is a superb screen combination. It breathes of the great outdoors, and the open spaces of the west. Antonio Moreno, Renee Adoree, Bert Roach, Claire McDowell and Tom O’Brien are the principals in the cast..

A sketch, “Twelve Just Men,” written by Charlie Chaplin in the days before wealth and fame came to the great comedian, is to be produced as a full length play in London soon, according to the London “Evening News.” Chaplin sold the sketch to Ernest Lotinga, the comedian. Mr. Lotinga, with the permission of the author, has now made a full length play of the little sketch, and a London company is busy rehearsing for production soon. It is understood that the Savoy Theatre, London, will see the silent drama’s leading comedian’s name emblazoned in electric lights as the author of a spoken drama. The producers of the play plan to have the London opening at the same time as Charlie Chaplin in “Tlie Circus,” his newest United Artists Picture, has its London premiere. That will bring Chaplin to London in two media.

It is an established fact that the motion picture has aided most materially in the building of towns and cities. It enhances the value of real estate wherever a motion picture theatre stands. „ It stimulates_ local trade. Wherever a motion picture theatre is erected —what is the result? Immediately there springs up right next door a confectionery shop, a cool drinks establishment, and a refreshment room. The fact of a valuable building being erected immediately instils confidence in local capital, with the result that speculators are attracted, and the locality, made important by a pretentious edifice, together with the several shops mentioned above, becomes popular. Cars draw up outside bringing patrons to the theatre. But they want petrol to drive them. So an enterprising garage man opens up. His building costs quite a heap of money, and “so further progress is reported. Thus the scheme of things goes on. Before very long a thriving business centre is the result, and all because of the motion picture theatre.

MAORI INVITATION TO INDIANS Herewitn is a translation of the official invitation of Maori chiefs at Rotorua to Paramount’s Red Indians in New Zealand in connection with Zane Grey’s “The Vanishing Race,” a Paramount picture : WELCOME TO OUR ILLUSTRIOUS VISITORS FROM BEYOND THE SEAS. W-innm thou Se-up-te-wai! And the representatives of the Hopi" and Navajo tribes of the North American Indian race. GREETINGS TO OUR DISTANT KINSMEN. “We members of the Maori race, living in our island home, ‘Aotearoa (land of the Long White Cloud), from times immemorial extend to you a hearty invitation to visit our shores and sojourn with us for a while before you return to your tepees in America. The gates of the villages of Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa are opened wide to you in the most sincere of Maori welcomes. That you come and partake of the hospitality of the Arawa people, and let them show you the wonders of their beloved country, is the unanimous wish of all our chiefs. Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! It will give us the greatest pleasure if you accept this powhiri, and we can assure you that a most cordial reception is awaiting within - the domains of your Maori relatives. Good luck! May the God who dwells in the Unseen World guard and protect you. That is all. Greetings! “For and on behalf of Wiremu Te Pukuatua, Mita Taupopoki, Henare Mete Amoliau, W air emu Te Waaka, Taiporuliu Te Mapu, W. M. Eretara and A. Wiari.”