Greatest Factor is Screen Personality

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 146, 10 September 1927, Page 23 (Supplement)

Greatest Factor is Screen Personality

M-G-M ’s A t tractive L ist Personality is probably the greatest factor in the making of a motion picture star. Realisirg that important point Metro-Go dwyn-Mayer has assembled a striking array of stars and supporting players for the new season, Ramon Novarro and John Gilbert, both Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer stars, are outstanding examples of masculiije personality allied with brains and talent. The possessor of beauty arid brains. Norma Shearer has. in less than two vears, become one of the most popular stars on the screen. Lillian Gish, with

|| a different type of personality, is a ft fi r m favourite, - while 20-year-old Greta Garbo, from L Sweden, has bell come widely known Hi for fine work in her first three pic- ||| tures. if William Haines Igi is a breezy young man who was un-

mail who was unNorma Shearer known a year ago. In three successive pictures he showed a personality that could not be overlooked. In addition, there are Marion Davis, Jackie Coogan, personality at the age of four years; Tim McCoy, outdoor drama: Lon Chaney, personality, brains, grease paint, and strange disguises; Karl Dane and George K. Arthur. Lew Cody, the reformed heartbreaker; and Aileer.i Pringle will henceforth appear in modern, sophisticated fun-making pictures.

Principal among these is “The Big Parade,” which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer purposes sending to the hinterland in September. This production was scheduled to quit the Astor Theatre in New York on July 16, after having run continuously for 86 weeks, smashing all records ever made by a picture. lars, a sum never before equalled in so short a time. Eight road shows have been out, but the New York run alone brought in more than 1,500,000 dollars. •Of the 6,000,000 dollars gross, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer company will get about 2,000,000 dollars net. “The Covered Waggon” earned approximately 1,750,000 dollars and “Way pown East” 1,250,000 dollars. “The Ten Commandments” netted slightly less than a million. “Ben Hur,” said to be the most expensive picture ever made, will be available to exhibitors in October—