NEWS OF THE DAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 288, 25 February 1928, Page 14

NEWS OF THE DAY

THEMES FOR PICTURES The news of the day is fast becoming the major inspiration for successful motion picture material. It appears that the time is at hand when the successful producer will base his orders to his writers and scenarists on the contents of the front page of his favourite morning or afternoon newspaper. At least three pictures have been made by Paramount to capitalise the tremendous world-wide interest in aviation —“Wings,” the story of the air pilots during the war, “The Legion of the Condemned,” a sequel to “Wings,” and “Now We’re in the Air,” anaviation comedy starring Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton. Even the casual theatre-goer can recall pictures of th€> past that have ben based on new stories of other days, but more and more it is becoming evident that the happenings of contemporary times are inspiring the story writers of Hollywood. “Survival of the funniest—and may th© best man win,” is the slogan of the comedy field for the new season of 1928,” declares A 1 Christie, pioneer comedy producer who has aligned his organisation with Paramount in the biggest comedy programme yet undertaken by any of the film organisations. During the 1928 season 36 ParamountCliristie comedies will be released in New Zealand. “The fact that the public makes the comedy stars just as they make the stars of other pictures, will never be more clearly demonstrated than during this year, when there will be a race on for popular favour. Mr. Christie continues, “it has been pointed out by leading executives in the field of picture selling that as a rule the most successful comedians do not come directly from the stage to pictures, but are developed and brought up through the picture school itself.”