Motion Picture News

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10230, 8 January 1927, Page 4

Motion Picture News

NEXT WEEK’S PROGRAMMES. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. This Afternoon: “The Kid,” Six-reel Comedy, starring Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Googan. To-night and Monday Night: “Bluebeard’s Seven Wives”—First National, starring Blanche Sweet. JLois Wilson, Ben Lyon. Tuesday night, Wednesday afternoon and night: “The Bushwhackers” —Master Picture, starring Eddie O’Reilly and Stella Southern. Thursday and Friday: “Watch Your Wife”—Universal - Jewel, starring Virginia Valli. PALACE THEATRE. This afternoon, to-night and Monday night: “The Blind Goddess”— Paramount—-starring Jack Holt, Ernest Torrence, Esther Ralston and Louisei Dresser. Tuesday afternoon and night, and Wednesday night: “Long Live the King”—Paramount, starring Jackie Coogan. Thursday afternoon and night and Friday night: “Wine-of Youth” —Metro-Goldwyn, starring William Haines. Eleanor Boardman, Ben Lyon. OPERA HOUSE, Commencing Monday next: “The Iron Horse”—Fox superfeature, starring Madge Bellamy and George O’Brien. January 25: Charley’s Aunt”—Paramount, starring Sydney Chaplin. SCREEN NEV/S.

As Gilda, a girl of Bolivia, in “Upstream,” Miss Dolores Del Rio wears gowns worth 19,500 dollars. . * *

You’ll cease to wonder why harems were invented when you see the seven beauties who fight- over Ben Lyon in “Bluebeard’s Seven Wives.” Both the beauties and some fun will he revealed at Everybody’s Theatre tonight. * * Jr Lola Todd, one of the most charming yi linger actresses of the silent drama, won a starring contract through her fine' work in 'The Bells,’ to be released by Universal in New Zealand. She plays die part of Annette, daughter of Mathias, which difficult role is taken by the distinguished actor, Lionel Burn-more. * * *

Virginia Lee Corbin, who appears as tiie flapper in the Metro-Goldwyn picture “"Wine* of Youth,” which conies to the Palace Theatre on Thursday and Friday next, came into screen prominence in a series of kiddie features produced by Fox among which were “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp.”

All the romance, all the pathos and the humor of the real Australian bush is contained in “The Bushwhackers,” a stirring story of a friendship that "knew no obstacles. The film, which is to he shown at Everybody’s on Tuesday and Wednesday next, is an epic of the Australian bush and the men who brave the blinding heat and dust and drought in search of nature’s golden secrets, and of the brave-hearted women who cheer them on through adversity with cheerful endurance.

Irving Cummings, the Fox director, has left the fastnesses of the Canadian Rockies, scene of “The Country Beyond,” for the wilderness of tenements and canyons of New York, where exteriors will he made for “Bertha, the Sewing Machine Girl.” This old melodrama will be radically different from the heavyfooted thriller of a score of years ago. “Bertha,” Madge Bellamy, is a very modern person who, after losing lia r stitching job, steps out and becomes a lingerie model with a sense of humour. “Bertha” will he shown at the Palace shortly. * * *

With so many reviewers finding fault with the appearances of those who play newspaper men in motion pictures, Hollywood has finally decided to put one over on the. critics. In no less than :i score of pictures during the past year, reel reviewers have thrown up their hands in horror at the “actorish” appearance of those who' portrayed newspaper reporters in the productions. Therefore. when Director Victor Fleming reached the spectacular court-room scene in “The Blind God(less,” to he. screened at the Palace this afternoon and tc-night, he requested the Paramount casting department to secure for the role of the reporter an experienced newspaperman.. After a thorough canvass of every newspaper office in Los Angeles and Hollywood, it was decided that Jack Townley, ex-reporter of the Kansas City Star and now dramatic editor of the Hollywood News, filled the hill to an architect’s “T” and he is seen in the picture. * * *

“The Big Parade,” Mctro-Gold-wyn-Mayer’s screen epic and the most discussed motion picture in the film world to-day, was screened at the Government’s Publicity Theatre on December 21 in the presence of Cabinet Ministers and representatives of the Defence Department and Returned Soldiers’ Association, rand without exception “The Big Parade” was acclaimed to he “a splendid picture, particularly clean in character and absolutely free from the slightest suggestion that it asserted, in any way that America won the war.” This latter insinuation was levelled at the picture by a section of the press in London but it did not affect the great section of the fairminded British public who attended in such volume that “The Big Parade” ran to a season of over seven months at the Tivoli Theatre, and in doing so established, a record for the British Isles.

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A new motion picture company, the Moa Films (N.Z.), Ltd., has been formed in Aucklarid, with Mr. Lionel O. Olews as managing director. It is the company’s intention to produce shortly a picture entitled “Carbine’s Heritage,” a racing feature with a plot woven round a colt, the grandson of the famous Carbine. " The story tells how the colt is lost in a bush; to be found by an old farmer, who hands him over to a young trainer to put him into shape privately. The colt proves., himself a true race' horse, and the long and short of. the story is that he comes out on Boxing Day and wins the Auckland Cup. The finish of the Auckland Cup race was used in the film, and was taken on Boxing Day. The cast is headed by Mdlle. Lola O’Ormonde and Miss Queenie Grahame, and the producer is Mr. E. Couhrny. The jockey is Mr. Joe Paton. The horse to be used in the picture is a thoroughbred hr Lueullus— Capable.

PLAYS AND PLAYERS

. ON THE SCREEN

By The Movie Fan

Claire Windsor has a collection of artistically costumed dolls. When it’s wet Claire takes them all oaf and makes new dresses for them, and whiles away many an hour. *- * * Neil Hamilton has begun acting as Brian, the grown-up son iu “The Story of Mother- Maclireo,” which John Ford is producing for Fox. Philippe de Lacey plays Brian at‘the age of five * * * * Bebe Daniels has discovered that she may have a claim to a title. Charlie Paddock was awarded some kind of handle of nobility by a Balkan Government and so, when Bebe marries him she will he entitled to use it. * * * Peter B. Kyne, the noted author, has now completed a second original story as a further starring vehicle for Colonel Tim McCoy, the romantic new star of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s thrilling outdoor pictures. Colonel McCoy’s first production was “War Paint,” an adventurous narrative of the Red Indian uprising of the 70’s. , * * * Jfc * * An,' • alnrian Films have received word of the despatch from London of a ve-.r fine Eng’ish production ‘Madame Mademois-.ile from An mtloros." This is a nano which had many associations during the late war period. The picture has been splendidly done and should be seen in the Dominion very shortly.

FIRST NATIONAL WANT N.Z. GIRL AS STAR.

TO PLAY PART OPPOSITE ROD

LA ROCQTJE

Cecil B. de Mille, director of “The Ten Commandments” and “The Volga Boatman,” is now working on the scenario of another big picture for completion during 1927. For this picture First National Pictures (Australasia) Ltd. arc looking for either a New Zealand or Autralian girl to take a prominent part opposite 'Rod la Kocque.

“I can gee no reason whatsoever,” said Mr. Mason, “why we cannot get the right type of girl from Newi Zealand. Other countries have their quofa. of stars in the films, and there is absolutely no reason why New Zealand should not have representation.”

When asked how he proposed finding the right screen type he said the plan had been formulated by which every girl in every corner of New Zealand would have an equal chance. A casting office had been arranged a i First National headquarters in Wellington, and each and every girl in the country was invited to send a photograph with full particulars of herself, and from these a certain number of promising types from each province would be selected. A special committee would then bring this quota down to a finalist from each of the four centres and then these girls would be brought together and a final choice made.

The New Zealand girl chosen would then be sent to Australia, all expenses paid, to compete against girls representing each Australian State. The winner of this final pageant would then he given a ten weeks’ contract in Hollywood at £2O per week to act in a picture directed hv Cecil B. de Mille, and would be assisted in every way to further her career by such well-known stars as Leatrice Joy, Viola Dana, Elinor Faire and Vera Reynolds. She will he given this contract before she leaves Australia, and return fare back for herself and chaperon. Naturally, a further contract will depend entirely upon her ability displayed. “It does not necessarily mean,” said Mr. Mason, “that good looks are essential, although no doubt they will count. VVe want a screen type of girl, and a girl that will emerge successful before the movie camera will be well in the running. Stage experience is not necessary, as many wellknown stars such as Gloria Swanson, Vera Reynolds and many others 1 could mention never saw the stage before they entered the motion picture business.

“It is, to my mind, a wonderful chance for the girl who emerges successful from the Australasian contest, and I am sure from what I have seen of New Zealand girls, New Zealand will more than hold her own.”

The Casting Director has arrived in New Zealand to discover the girl who will go to the Green Mill Palais, Melbourne, to contest the Australasian final, and the method adopted will be: That from all the photographs received throughout New Zealand the Casting Director will pick suitable screen types. These girls will he required to appear at a picture theatre in their nearest centre (whether it he Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, or Dunedin) for one week from approximately January 28th to February 3rd. Each night one member of a competent committee (who will he a specialist in a particular 4 e P ariment )will be present, in addition to a First National representative. At the end of the first week the seven most suitable girls will be selected, and during the following week they will again appear at the theatre, whilst films of them will he shown on the screen. The whole of the committee will then allot their points for screen appearance, deportment, figure, personality and beauty, and at the end of the second week the local winner will be announced.

She will be transported, free of all cost, to Auckland, where she will contest the Dominion final against the other three girls, the ultimate winner sailing to Melbourne, via Sydney, from either Auckland or Wellington, with her chaperon, on March 10th. All expenses will be paid by First National pictures.

This is a genuine offer, and it is not possible for the public to vote on admission tickets to the theatre, thus obviating any girl being bought by votes.

The candidate who desires to enter must secure a copy of the following form from the Casting Director, Fivst National Pictures, 13ox 1308, Wellington, and send it with a head and shoulders portrait by January 15.

Name Address Present Occupation Age Height Weight Complexion Color of Hair Color of Eyes Married or Single? Can you Swim? Can you Ride? Can you Dance? Stage or Ballroom ? What special qualifications which you think might help you in a Moving Picture Career? In submitting this entry . I'•.undertake to-accept the judges’ and asting Director’s decision as final in the selection of suitable types-to contest-the competition, -and .appear in screen "tests.. ■■ .>.: : ■" -'.i