BRITISH FILMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 335, 21 April 1928, Page 16

BRITISH FILMS

SOME NEW RELEASES ANTHONY ASQUITH’S DEBUT Among new British films recently trade) shown were “The White Sheik,” based on a dramatic story of the Riff country, and “Shooting Stars.” The last-named is based on a story by Mr. Anthony Asquith, son of the late Earl of Oxford and Asquith, who thus enters the film industry. The plot revolves around scenes in a cinematograph studio, and has many original turns. This picture was shown to the public for a special run immediately after the trade show, and has been favourably reviewed. The new subjects scheduled for production cover a wide range of themes, including film versions of plays, such as “The Ringer,” “The Silent House” and “White Cargo”; subjects of more definitely British character, such as “Widdicombe Fair,” “Drake,” “Cromwell,” “The Campbells are Coming” and “Gretna Green.” The number of war films is limited, as it is felt that the demand for war films is not so strong as it was, but the few war pictures are likely to be very good ones, including “1918,” “Tell England” and “Vimy Ridge.”

Clarence Badger will direct Bebe Daniels’s next Paramount picture which is titled “She Wouldn’t Say Yes.” The cast will include among others William Austin, George Kotsonaros and Johnnie Morris.

One of the largest and most authentic castle interiors ever constructed forming the background for hundreds of extras costumed as Scottish chiefs and clansmen, is to be seen in “Annie Laurie” Lillian Gish’s starring picture for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.* The great hall, keep, and other rooms in the stronghold are of gigantic proportions and the walls are hung with ancient weapons and trophies of the chase. In every detail, the castle is an exact replica of the famous Glencoe castle. Norman Kerry, Hobart Bosworth, Patricia Avery and many other well-known players are included in the supporting cast.

In the film version of Tolstoy’s “Resurrection,” which will soon be seen in Auckland, every human emotion described in Tolstoy’s immortal classic of love lost and regained is depicted. Rod La Rocque is the star and Dolores Del Rio the featured player. Count Ilya Tolstoy, son of the author of “Resurrection,” assisted in filming the classic novel. The joyous, care-free spirit of youth is to be found in the opening scenes wherein the prince falls in love with the peasant ward of his aunts. Then in rapid succession come despair, abandonment, buoyant humour and utter indulgence, life, death, spiritual rebirth following degradation, imprisonment, exile, bitterness and yearning, sacrifice and “Resurrection” itself. The gamut of emotions in the part of Katusha Maslova are run by Dolores Del Rio in “Resurrection,” while Rod La Rocque has the dramatic role of Prince Dmitri.