Films and the Studios

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 874, 18 January 1930, Page 25

Films and the Studios

/ P.rPHIAW FLIGHT American theatres are showing “Around the World Via Graf Zeppe- ! fin,” a pictorial description of the flight of that airship. Sound effects iiavo been added to this photoplay, wherein eleven days of actual flying have been condensed into a few reels. There are scenes taken inside the great ship as well as shots of those lands over vJhicli the dirigible passed. • • • i THE MAO HATTER A number of the characters from “Alice in Wonderland” will make their talking screen debuts in “Playboy,” Harry Richman’s first picture for United Artists, in which Joan Bennett acts the leading feminine role. The Mad Hat- , ter, the March Hare, the Red Queen, the Walrus and the Car- i oenter will all come to life as part j of a phantasy in a revue scene. • * * i ramove Rcssi,\y Having finally completed his screen picture of Soviet reconstruction, “The General Line,” after many interruptions, S. M. Eisenstein is reported to be preparing for what may be the Most difficult job of his career. The great Russian director has been instructed by the Soviet authorities to make a film based on “Capital.” the economic work by Karl Marx, sometimes described as “the Socialist Bible.” * * • PHAYHIZ LV tHrXKSH Chinese who witness Universal’s Shanghai Lady” will hear, spoken in Chinese, the words of the Lord’s Prayer. When the film came up for revue the censors demanded a translation forthwith. A frantic message was sent, from the New York office to Carl Laemmle, jun., who obligingly set. out to get an English translation of the Chinese. Finally, the Chinese who spoke the lines was located, and said: “I used my own judgment. They told me to say a few words in Chinese, so I said the Lord's Prayer.” * « V y EW-.STYLE LOVER A new technique in loveiyaking is being brought to the screen by William Powell in "Street of Chance,” chatters an American gossip writer. By a subtle combination of tenderness and cruelty he has worked out a system guaranteed to reduce a granitehearted Amazon to tears and smelling salts. Patterning his courtship on the trustworthy old third degree used bv the police, he skilfully and quickly alternates a kind word with a brutal one, a caress with neglect. After a dozen caresses and a pint of tears the young lady subjected to this treatment in “Street of Chance” feels ready for the psychopathic ward. Kay Francis Plays the role.