HOMAGE TO BEAUTY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 21, 16 April 1927, Page 19 (Supplement)

HOMAGE TO BEAUTY

'MISS NEW ZEALAND 1927’ We have heard a great deal about glorifying the American girl, and it is about time we sat up and glorified the New Zealand girl. She is every whit worthy of it. We are rightly proud of the Dominion’s achievements, proud of its men, proud of their prowess in the field of sport, and we are proud of its women. The present competition for the most beautiful and representative girl of the country will be of inestimable value in proving to

the big outside world that nowhere can such fine types be found as in far distant New Zealand. Under the best possible auspices the winner of the competition will be given an opportunity to make a great name for herself among the stars of the screen world, thereby achieving further fame for her native land. Reception in America The Mayor of Culver City, the home of the Metro-Ooldwyn-Mayer Studios, famous directors and a galaxy of film stars, will accord “Miss New Zealand 1927” a tremendous reception upon her arrival. Screen tests will be taken and should she prove suitable Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will have her taught the technique of the art of acting for the camera. While in Hollywood, Miss New Zealand 1927” will be offered a definite engagement to appear in a feature film, and will be paid £25 during the currency of the engagement. Lose No Time The contest lasts from April 2 to the end of May, and the sooner competitors send in their photographs the better, as the task of the judges is not going to be an easy one. Friends should urge the sending in of photographs where a girl is diffident, because she may be thought conceited about her charms; all should assist in voting for the girl best entitled to the great honour of becoming “Miss New Zealand 1927.”

It is a far cry from “the little boy who wouldn’t grow up” to a very grown-up young lady, but that is the achievement of little Betty Bronson. Those who remember her in the name part of “Peter Pan,” a Paramount picture, which brought her to the forefront of stardom, will recall her very charming boyish interpretation of the role. Now, however, in her most recent Paramount picture, “Paradise for Two,” In which she is co-starred with popular Richard Dix, she plays the role of a beautiful young lady in a manner equally as charming as that of the boyish character. The spirited and uproariously funny experiences of Harold Lloyd as a missionary in the slums of a big city, ending with his thrilling adventure as a distracted and much-harassed fiance — are the high-lights of the bespectacled comedian’s initial Paramount release, ' For Heaven’s Sake,” to be shown in Auckland at an early date. Those who have had an advance view at the film describe it as a typically hilarious Lloyd comedy that offers the bespectacled comedian the type of sympathetic characterisation in which he appeals so strongly to his legion of admirers. As in all of his vehicles, romance plays its parts in the development of the story. Jobyna Ralston, w ho has played opposite him in many °f his previous successes, is again the object of Lloyd s love-making. e * * “Is Zat So?” now under production at Fox Films West Coast Studios, "hould be a thing of realism. Alfred E. Green, the director, has had the constant assistance of Jack Dempsey, former heavyweight champion of the in developing the screen character of George O’Brien, who plays the prize fighter. Edmund Lowe, Playing the manager, went through a course of instruction by' Jack Kearns. former manager. • Others * n the cast are Kathryn Perry. Doris Lloyd and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. . A real relic of old London is shown ln the British film, “Every Mother s ‘ on,” which is to be screened in Auckland shortly. This is in the form of one of the first horse-drawn omnibuses. it has not carried passengers on the London streets for the last fifty ear j 8 * and was only brought out from "•* lon S retirement to give the exact atmosphere to a part of the film representing a scene in London many years K°. it is indeed a quaint sight to ee numbers of men in the odd-looking hi i of th at time, and women in r*i ü B, waitan K for and eventually clamber on to an old horse-drawn bus. tallest star in screendom made 1 ; 8 ,before the camera as a CoH mary in llis own right when Garry thn° Per ’ who has been in pictures less »h«? a year - appeared in the opening of his first Paramount vehicle, tjm ZOna Boun <L’’ Cooper is 6ft 2in fc ‘ A 1 Boasberg. who. in the past ol'h*t ars as act mired the reputation u, Deir, S one of the outstanding b*i^ 0l V lsts am °ng film writers, has a JL Bi ?’ rieci to a long-term contract as st J!l em j :)er of the West Coast studio 0l Par amount, according to an*S«? ement b y B * P. Schulberg, associate producer.

Lon Chaney, the ‘ Magician of Makeup,” when called upon to play the part of “Singapore Joe,” the one-eyed ruler of the underworld, in the new MetroGold wvn-Mayer production, “The Load to Mandalay,” underwent the discomfort every day of having one eye covered with a film formed a chemical being injected into it. This film could only be allowed to remain on for a very short time each day otherwise it may have affected the sight, so the making of “The Road to Mandalay,” was a very tedious procedure and showed the wonderful patience of Lon Chaney.

The million dollar picture is more often heard of than seen. Of the exceedingly few in this class before the public. Warner Bros, have one which will be released shortly. This is “Don Juan” with John Barrymore. “Don Juan,” has proved itself one of the most remarkable successes produced, and the popularity of Barrymore is more pronounced than ever. The supporting cast includes Mary Astor and Estelle Taylor.

The surest way to break into motion pictures is to start out in an entirely different line. At least, that has been the past history of those now prominent in the film world. Biographies of the stars and directors show that almost two-thirds of them starteef their careers by doing things entirely foreign to screen acting. For instance: Richard Dix used to be a bank cashier, Adolphe Menjou seemed destined to become an hotel manager. But there is an exception to every rule and here is this one. So far as is known. W. C. Fields, Paramount’s comedy star, had always been on the stage prior to entering pictures. Theatregoers will remember him in vaudeville and as an almost perennial feature of the Ziegfeld Follies.

Douglas Gilmore, bebe Daniels’ leading man in her latest Paramount comedy, has been given an important part in Clara Bow’s new starring vehicle. “Rough House Rosie.” This is Gilmore’s second picture under his new Paramount contract. His first work with iMss Daniels in “A Kiss in a Taxi,” is said to have revealed him as one of the most promising of the :r actors.