MAORILAND PICTURES.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXIII, 3 December 1920, Page 3

MAORILAND PICTURES.

j “DU BARRY.” ■ “Du Barry,” to be shown to-mor-row night, should prove a big draw. The dresses worn by Theda Bara are the most wonderful creations of the kind that have ever been brought together. For each scene a new frock was specially made, and the time and labour that has been put on was stupendous. In the first place, they were designed by a well-known artist and authority 011 the period of Louis XV. This man was constantly with Miss Bara, consulting upon this phase, of her work alone. When the creation had been planned and a painting made of it, it was turned over to Miss Bara’s expert on material. The whole world was looked to for the production of the silks, satins, brocades, and otliei materials tkat enter into her wardrobe. A special corps of dressmakers were at work for months upon these dresses, and they were at hand throughout the 'whole of the making of “Du Barry.” At times Miss Bara and her experts found that a certain frock, beautiful in itself, did -not enter into the ensemble, and it had to be discarded and a new one made. In spite of the fact that they were begun months before the actual filming of “Du Barry” took place, several of them were made at the last minute, simply because some inaccuracy became apparent which the eye of any other than an expert could not detect. “ON OUR SELECTION.” There are few better known books in Australia than “On Our Selection,” by Steele Rudd. It is classic in its simplicity. It is now being produced on the screen under the auspices of Mr E. J. Carroll, and makes another link in the chain of Australian iiic pictures, with “The Sentimental Bloke” and “The Lure of the Bush.” Raymond Longford, the producer, has made his particular aim to let the story repeat itself as closely as possible, depending on the situations created by the author to make their own appeal to the audience. There is HO need for foolish exaggeration or buffoonery to emphasise the points of the narrative or arouse laughter. The human note that runs throughout the production is so strong, so natural, that the interest of the audience is gripped from the start. It will open the eyes of those who are unacquainted with Hie difficulties which beset those big-hearted men and women who set out to wrest a living from the virgin busli, and those who understand and have perhaps been through its very truth and realism. “On - Our Selection” is one big laugh interspersed with tears, and must not lie confused with “The Waybacks” or “Hayseeds,” with which it has 110 connection in any way whatsoever. It will be screened at Otaki on Wednesday night next.