THE SCREEN WORLD.

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 230, 29 September 1926, Page 6

THE SCREEN WORLD.

FILMS AND THEIR MAKER3.

(Bj

Nemo.)

"SEX PICTURES."

One of the burning questions in conncction with th© film industrv is (that of ";sex" pictures, just that type of attraction which savors ot moral ill-health and social degradatbion, and must play a big part 111 distorting the mental outlook of oui' impressionable younger generation. We are all in hearty accord with th© censor wlio has no oonipunctin in ©liminating such prodnctions from th© category of tbo^e worthy ot our reoOption. So much oan b© said m 8'a.vor of the Chwches who justly condemn th© class of picture whose very therne shrieks defianee at our mora.l and social oode. And our own personal recejption oi thos© pictures? Happily Nw Zealand is blessed with moral ldeals ot $iigh order, and this is borne out ua the meagr© patronage accorded "sex" pictures — ©ven then, those who do att©nd them are principally prompted by euriosity and generalls feav© the entertainment with a teeJing of niiental nausea. No selr-re-specting husband wants to take Jns wife to such pictures— no young nian derives pleasure in "treatmg his lady friend to an evening's entertainment of tliat type— no tond ifathier wishes the minds of his sons ,and daugliters pollutod by the themo of these insidious moral destructors. ***** Should a young married couple iive within their income, or should they "put on a. big splurge," >as the saying goes, in order to get aheadr 1 his isThe prohlem on whieh "Early to Wed," a Fox Films production is based. The plot is cleverly worl;ed out, the situations are very real and (the pathetic humor is irresistible. Matt Moore and Ivathryn Perry are co-featured in the leaclmg roles and make a typical young American couple. The supporting cast is espeeially well chosen including Zasu Pitts, Rodnev Hildebrand, Ross Mc(Cutcheon , Arthur Housman, Belva McKay, Albert Gran, Julia Swayne Gordon, and Harry Batley. ***** "The Phantom of th© Opera bjlazes new trails in production, m a'cting, and in photography. Its pmportant sequenqes, including the ©laborate opera production and the great masked ball, are photographed in full color by a prooess which has reached absolute perfection. Nothmg lapproaching these scenes has ever been shown 011 tlie screen. Ihe Phantom of the Opera, Universal s ftremendous attraction, is due m Blenheim shortly. ***** Manv are the uses of film, but it is question able if anything niore practical has been provided than when Jo Davidson, American sculptor, was asked to make a bust of his friend, Reginald Vanderbilt, a deceased millionaire. Davidson undertook the task patiently, and, after weeks of toil, h© realised that the face lacked that spark of life necessary for the iperfection of the statue. The sculptor was at a loss just what to do, when he recollected that Y anderbilt had, some few years previously, acted in and directed a picture for his own amusement. The picture was obtained and screened in the studio of tlie sculptor. After manv screeninss with a" private projection machine, Davidson succeeded in getting the expression 011 the face of the man which he most desired. Tlie iikeness was pronounced excellent. ***** Thrills alternate with laughs to make "Sjpook R.anch ' ' one of the cJeverest and fasteet moving Westevns ever shown at#loca.l thcatres. Hbot Gibson is starred in this Fniversal Jewel production, which will have its local screening shortly. A thrilling rescue of a beautiful girl, good oomedy, and one ot the tinest horse pursuits ever filmed go to make this the fastest moving picture Gibson has ever released. He is admirably supported by Helen Fergus011, Robert McKim, Tote Ducrow, Frank Rice and Ed Covles. ***** One soeno in "Hell's Four Hundred," Fox Films adaptation of Vaughan Kester's novel, "The Just and Unjust," called for Wallace McDonald to choke Margaret Ldvingston, the star. "Choke her ! Choke her !" shouted Jolin Griffith Wray , the director. McDonald looked at JV^iss Livingston, who was at her prettiesti that day. "Aw, have a heart ! ' ' pleaded Wally, "Let me clioke Harrison Ford instead." Whei'cupon Ford made ,a discreet exit and Wallv had to go on with the business of choking the little titian beauty." "Hell's Four Hundred'' is to be seen shortly on the local screen. ***** "The Storm Breaker," a Universal jewel production starring House Peters, with a great supporting cast is a. wonderfully gripping story ot the clash of a domineering man with the elements of nature and an eqpalJy strong-willed woman. "The Storm Breaker" is one of those rugged picture plays that House Peters does so well. The cast includes Nina Roniano, in private life Mrs Lou Teljlegen. Ruth Clifford, Ray Flailor, Jere Austin, Lionel Belmore, Gertrude Claire, Ed. Brown, Emmett King. William J. Colvin, Mark FenEton and Lon Poff. The picture was directed hy Edward Sloman. ***** The huge seas of Biscay thundering on the wliile sands of Biarritz ; antimat© glimpses of historic London ; the beauty of * the north-West coast of France, and the misty loveliness, the lieather and liillis .oi Scotland ' are all parl of Marshall Neilan's new Metro-Goldwyn production. "The Sporting Venus.' After some thousands of miles tra.velling f roin Culver City, California, the production unit, including Blanche Sweet, Ronald Colman and Dew Cody, traversed western Europe from the Pyrenees to the Grampians, weaving manv of the world's most famous scenic spots into the background of Gerald Beaumont' s story of thrill and humor. The result is a picture of superlati ve entertainment, great charm and tremendous interest. ***** Zane Gr.ey is a popular author for screen production^. Tlie next to be seen hore will be "The Code of the West," which makes a good film opportunity for such sterling ac.tors as Owen Moore, Constance Bennett, Mabel Ballin, and David Butler. It is an outdoor jiicture and is tull oi scenic beautv. ***** Tiirown yiVerlioard 111 mid-ocean along with a satchel full of United States' bonds — left to drown in the Pacific rvhile ihe bundle of swag, with automatic flar attached,, is to \

be picked up by a rum-runner — that was tlie trouble in which Johnnie Walker found himself in "The Mailman," Emory Johnson's latest Master Pictilre. * Ten.se drama, written around the most dramatic of all living beings, the man who delivers mail to hundreds oi faniilies every dav of the year, is "The Mail-Man" in which Ralph Lewis proves to be a prime favorite, botH to tlie adults, who appreciate his supreme artistry, and to the children, who love the genial actor for his beaming smile and kindly eye. ***** Tliose who have seen "Lorraine oi the Lions," a. Universal- Jewel starring Norman Kerry, which is coming to Blenheim shortly, have proclaimed it to be one of tlie most iascinating out-of-doors pictures ever filmed. It deals with the life of a feminine Tarzan and is full oi thrills and wonderfui animal scenes. Patsy Ruth Miller plays the titi© role in the pioture story, which was written by Isadore Bernstein. Edward Sedgwi'ck directed. ***** Some of the most gripping _ situations ever inoorporated in ,a Western thriller were photographed by J. G. Bly stone for "My Own Pal," the Fox Film version ot Gerald Beaiunont's stirling tale of police life in a big city. Tom Mix is cast as a figliting membor of the mounted — and he battles to save a tiny. cliild — thus winning the lo\re of beaiitiful Olive Borden. The cast includes Tom Santschi, Jay Hunt, Virginia Marshall, Bardson Bard and others. ***** Anita Stewart will l>e seen shortly cast as Sybil Hamilton in "Rustling for Cupid," Fox .Film's latest production ro reach the screen. George O'Brien has the masculine lead as Brad Blatchford, in this Peter B. Kyne drama of ranch life. Miss Stewart and O'Brien give tlie picture a good laugh at the start, as (thev are just 'across tlie aisle in a Pullman bound for Sycamore Creek, New Mexico, wliere she is to teaeh school, and near wliich O'Brien's f athol' owns the famous Swatika Ranch, The porter cxchanges their grips and starts the romance, which runs th rough a lot of heart throb vicissitudes to an "all's well that ends well" finish.