BIG MOVIE PLANS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 74, 18 June 1927, Page 23

BIG MOVIE PLANS

AUSTRALIAN THEATRES STUART DOYLE’S TRIPS

In 12 weeks, from Sydney to America and back, with visits to Omaha, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Atlantic City, New York and Los Angeles! Such were the quick movements of Mr. Stuart F. Doyle, managing director of Union Theatres, Ltd., who returned to Sydney recently.

. ■■ .. 1J His object was the inspection of the latest in picture theatre designs. Buildings that particularly interested him were the Oriental and Uptown, in Chicago; the Paramount and Roxy, in New York; and the Stanley in Philadelphia; the Chinese Theatre, in Los Angeles; and the Riviera, in Omaha. The Roxy, the largest theatre in the world, has a seating capacity of G. 400. NEW SYDNEY THEATRES “Pride of place among atmospheric theatres,” remarks Mr. Doyle, “must be given to the Riviera (Omaha). “Sydney will have a replica of this in the Hippodrome, to be entirely rebuilt, and called the Capitol. The perspective in the overhead ornamentation will be so contrived that the spectator will feel that he is looking at the blue sky, studded with stars. Similarly rich—with, at the same time, the impression of realism —will be the mural decorations. The wrought-iron gates and statuary, together with many other artistic requirements, are being imported direct from Italy. The Capitol will open at Easter, 1928.

“I was accompanied throughout by the eminent architect, Mr. H. E. White. Australian conditions were kept well in view. From what we saw —and the information placed at our disposal—we were able to complete the designs for the State Theatre, in Market Street, and a theatre of the same dimensions that we propose to build in Melbourne. Of course, these will be formal’ theatres—the word now used to distinguish the theatre as ordinarily known from the atmospheric theatre. “The plans of the State Theatre were submitted to a number of the foremost architects in America. In view of the fact that it is to incorporate the best in all other theatres, they were emphatic in the statement that it would be the greatest in the world in its completeness and sumptuousness.” YACHTING COMMODORE As the commodore of the Royal Motor Yacht Club Mr. Doyle was the guest of a number of the leading clubs in America, and had the honour of hanging his burgee in the Columbia Yacht Club, New York, between those of the President of the United States and Sir Thomas Lipton. Among its members the Columbia numbers Messrs. Morgan, Gould, Astor, and Vanderbilt. “Altogether,” adds Mr. Doyle, i had a splendid opportunity of learning a lot about yachting affairs that should be very helpful in the developments contemplated by the Royal Motor Yacht Club.” Jack Holt, Paramount player, in the title role of “The Man of the Forest,” from the Zane Grey novel, is surrounded by one of the strongest casts ever assembled fpr an outdoor adventure film. Having convinced the head of the West Coast Paramount Studio, by her portrayals in the “The Rainmaker” and “The Great Gatsby,” that she was eligible for more important parts, Georgia Hale became Holt’s leading woman. Warner Oland and Guy Oliver play important roles while El Brendel and Xom Kennedy interpret the lighter phrases. Bruce Gordon, who played “heavy” opposite Jack Holt in “Born to the West,” has a part as an outlaw. * * * John S. Robertson, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer director, has left the mainland for Catalina Island and the high seas to film sequences of Cosmopolitan’s “Captain Salvation." AfL-i the exterior scenes on fhisland, the entire company will spend two weeks at sea, living aboard a larg€i sailing vessel, which has been converted into a convict ship for the picture. Lars Hanson, the popular new Swedish actor, has the leading male role. B’eminine leads are played by Pauline Starke and Marceline Day. Other members of the cast include Ernest Torrence, in the role of the convict ship captain; George Fawcett, Flora Finch, Sam de Grasse and Jay Hunt.

A little military school cadet in a snappy uniform, puttees, rakish cap and belt is preparing to ’leave classes early each afternoon for a while to play a featured role in ““The Bugle Call." The story has to do with the activities of a lad attached to a United States cavalry post in the early seventies. There is Indian fighting, adventures on the frontier and roughing it galore. The lad is Jackie Coogan. The youngster, far outgrowing the role he had with Charlie Chaplin in “The Kid," is now a cadet, rapidly reaching the awkward, ungainly stage, but he is under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and will be starred. Jackie plays with the kids on the campus at the noon hour, does his classes then climbs into a limousine to hurry to the studio

Lillian Gish fulfils a six years' ambition when she plays “Hester Prynne” in Metro-Gold wyn - Mayer’s screen version of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s famous classic, “The Scarlet Letter." The star of “Romola” and “The White Sister” has played many famous roles. Coming of Puritan stock Miss Gish dedicated this picture to them, so that playing “Hester Prynne" was something of a religious and sacred rite to her. Every phase of her struggle against intolerance on to the thrilling climax is marked with perfect artistry. Lars Hanson, the Swedish star, makes his debut in the role of “Arthur uimmedsale,” and gives a good performance, full of understanding. Karl Dane, of “The Big Parade” fame, Henry B. Walthall, and a cast of other wellknown players, all contribute their best efforts under the direction of Victor Seastrom. The whole production has been staged on a most elaborate scale, and a complete Puritan village with houses, church, market place and even stocks and pillory were reproduced from authentic descriptions of the first Puritan settlement.