MAORILAND PICTURES.

Shannon News, 8 May 1928, Page 3

MAORILAND PICTURES.

WEDNESDAY—"THE DEVIL'S SADDLE." The immense popularity attained by . s 'the new western star Ken Maynard, by his notable | work in his preceding pictures, encouraged production offlials to go the limit in making "The Devil's Saddle," and as a result it i» hailed as the most noteworthy offeriug of the cowboy hero to date. > Studio atmosphere was regarded as too mild for the natural spirit required in the ripping adventure tale, so the Indian reservation of Flagstaff, Arizona, and the sequestered interior of Bed Rock Canyon, situated in the heart of the Mojave Desert, provided the important locales for practically all of the scenes. Production officials scored a . "scoop" on contemporaries when they obtained government permission to make scenes within' the heretofore forbidden confines of the Hopi reservation. More important was the fact that access here enabled Director Al Rogell to. film some rare "shots" of the genuine tribal dances, and the natural occupations of the Hopi. Red Rock Canyon, a jinx for a number of picture companies, in recent years, proved to be the contrary for the Rogers company. The dangers of the venomous rattluers were forgotten, af* ter the first day, in the discovery of unique spots located in the densest section of -the Canyon. With the exception of the collapse of one lava cliff, weakened by recent rains, the company experienced no cause f alarm during the ten day's occupation. Besides a handful of "extra" girls, Kathleen Collins, Maynard'a leading lady, was the only member to make the location trip. Other important members of the cast 'include Francis Ford, Paul Hurst, Earl Metcalfe and Will Walling. FRIDAY— REX BEACH PILMED. Wherever clean and virile stories ■, are appreciated, the- name of Rex Beach ranks high. The vast reading public -of the English-speaking world places him among the leading novelists of the day. With all the qualities that» make his works so popular, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has. transferred to the screen one of his finest books,' "The Auction Block," which will be seen at the Maoriland Theatre 6n Friday. Charles Ray and Eleanor Boardman play in the leading roleia, the former as. the likeable but indolent son of a" millionaire, and the latter as a beautiful country girl with whom he falls in love, Mr Ray's delicious drollery is an excellent foil to the deeper theme of the picture. . Miss Boardman acts with convincing sincerity the part of the 'girlish winner of a beauty contest, who is carried, away by the charms of the city youth. Her 'talented interpretation of an .exacting p ar t —one which demands the highest humorous and dramatic ability, is an exceptionally fine effort. Sally O'fceil. the new screen discovery or Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, who was starred with sensational success cin,this company s recent production, "Mike," is featured in an important role. She is cast as a foolishly romantic girl, who believed that all was fair in love, and acted accordingly. Other members of the cast are David .Torrence, Ned Sparks and Earnest Gillen. ,