SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1928
THE CHINA MAIL.
THE FILMS
PROGRAMME FEATURES.
TO-NIGHT,
Curonei.-The Turning Point. World.--
5.16 p.u. The Pilgrim." ,9.16 p.m. "The Untamed." Star, Kowloon-God's Country
and the Waipau, and Pluuxuff's Restaurant. Grand, Wanchai-Grandma'a
Boy.
VERY LONG PLAYS UNPOPULAR.
NEW STARS FROM STAGE.
ROBIN HOOD.
A KINEMATOGRAPHICAL TRIUMPH.
of
PULLING PICTURES TO PIECES.
LONDON. A L'AMERICAINE."
WRITING UP · FILMS.
CLOSE UPS,
LORD RIDDELL'S VIEWS. This part calls for the star.
Director-Where is Miss Rolfy?
Cameraman-She sent word she'd
Those in the British picture be too busy to come to-day., She's making industry are only concern-going to write testimonials for ed in methods of lax-press public shampoos and lip-aticks. ity on broad lines of the prestige of IN PRAISE OF PRISCILLA... the kinema, and the way in which This dainty maid, too seldomi abon an occasional comment on British In Hongkong on the zaovia screen, achievement affects them; but as Is proud, vivacious, winsome, keen. It is obvious that, the public are. The Universal claima hor Queen bound to rely to some degree upon Of artists, and in every scene newspapers for "information re- Sho justifion that claim, I weėn. specting current films, British: Helen of Trov's a plain' "Hap artistes and their fellow-workers
been**.
are entitled to fair treatment front Compared with west Priscilla this direction.
Denn.
Some of the points of an address
delivered at the Stoll Picture The title-rôle in Ben-Hur is still Riddell, the well-known news are waiting until Jackie Coogan in Theatre Club, recently, by Lord unfilled. Is it possible that they paper magnate, are worthy of tall enough? special note. Lord Riddell.com-
of kinema buildings. He pleaded
and
MARY PICKFORD
MARY'S NEXT.
in The Love Light"
ing, whether in slowing down a pen, with which she signs a paper picture and as usual, in the full The kinema Foundation is the title WONDERFUL STORY COMING enliste. Giovanni is still at home.
it, this country had been left be
*
filta The kinematograph
Ridiculous incidents in current Fairbanks juRobin film-releases are given below- Douglas Hood," which has been shown
In Pilgrims of the Night, Lord ia Robe is 2 pieca work which has attracted a great No. II, Cavendish Square, London, of Ellingham (Lewis Stone) lives at doal of attention and is generally When we see him on his front door- reckoned the finest production that step preparing to enter his car, has ever
been achieved on the Big Ben and the Houses of Par-sidered that films were surrounded Mary Pickford bas offered a cash serven. When this is said, it has to liament are in a prominent position by an indicious air of unreality prize for a title for her next picture, be remembered in just what kinema on the other side of the road. No and false splendour, which was an Edward Knoblock story. work consists. The kinematograph need to say this is an American film!
even reflected inthe, magnificence cannot be literature. It can be arti
GENEROUS !
for more regard for the psychology launch a plan with the object of $20,000 lips been pledged to only to the extent that photography
The attorney in The Great Mo- of reality. British effort can bo art. As a didactic instri. ment, it can be useful and interest-ent bands "Nadine" his fountain- genius had evolved the motion establishing pictures as a fine art. rapid motion in order to show us annulling her marriage with Dela development and exploitation of chosen. There are signs that the very how a horse runs, or in speeding paper to the attorney, who looks it |val." Nadine then hands the long til play, designed to bil praca slow process so as to show us how aver, and walks out of the room, tically a whole programme, is falla flower grown. But didactically it leaving his pen on the table. ing from popularity. Some recant soon becomes a bore. Its chief use; failures of elaborate productions of is that of entertaining people's idle the "super" type have taught a hours, when they do not have to to the butler in Beside the. Ronnie When Mary Glynne gives a letter bitter lesson to exhibitors.
work and do not yet want to sleep, Brier Bush, he turns to put it in the "To fill the bill of a local kinema with some picturesque story. theatre with a single play is to kill has been noticed that many a good ground.
letter-tack, but lets it fall to the the chief value of the screen as a novel looks perilously like nonsense later, he picks it up from behind the When he is asked for it popular entertainunent, For the when put on the screen. An ordin-table. How did it get there? bulk of the kinenia patrons am those ary draum may be drossed up, but RE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING RUNO who drop in" at any time. There is not half so good in pictures &P
When the reporter. are few stories so full of incident in the theatre. It is difficult, pariystery of the Yellow Room, climbs in The that all that is worth telling anothaps impossible, to depict the ladder to spy through the window, be told in an hour.
gradual unfolding of human charac, the last but one rung is missing. One of the exceptions is "Dr. er. Even pauses which have great On his descent, the rung is there; Mabuso," which stands prominently dumatic effect on the stage are in- but when, after a time, he again among
relenscs. It is tolerable on the screen. But, owing climbs the ladder, he ruug is miss exceedingly long-a two-part pro to the ability of the actor to enacting once more. How do you account duction. But it contains nothing their story whenever and wherever for this? superfluous. It is many detective it suits them, they can obtain effects stories in one. There is a now and which are inpossible ou the stage,
the
༣.
THE ELUSIVE LETTER.
THE HANDCUFF TRICK.
HERE.
funie market of Genon. In tiroo Antonio joins the army of his cout- try and a little later Mario slo
and Angela voices ber contempt at his apparent lack of patriotism: this decides for Giovanni that he should
the screen's influence, was getting have given Dr. Charles Jand, of the Americanised. He was more im- Chicago University, $5,000 for ex-The Love Light," in which Mary hin absence Angels cares for his hind.. Even Nature herself, through Will Hays and several producera
Frances Marion's original story, go, and be returns blinded. During mediately concerned, however, porimental uses connected with
had come to the conclusion that considered suitable matter, and he children. with what newspaper film columns educational films for public school, Pickford will be ecen at the Coronet gardens and also takes the light...
much of it that now existed was
Theatre on Sunday, is not only a house keeper's place, One day unique departure in the line of story forin of a sailor, a big, handsome Angeln comes upon the unconsciona extremely dull. He read several Chelsen, a poster describes the title
Outside a kinema in King's Road, for, the World's Sweetheart," but foreigner, who elning to have de- gave it as his opinion that it was bled Wives." extracts to prove his case, and of a film then showing: Borm gripping draina of unusual inter-serted his ship.
Angela falle in
of Trade matter instead of news due to the catalogue-like influence me.
Bad eggs, we pre-est. Briefly the story in na follows: love with him and they are married. Angela Carlotti presides over the A little Ister she hears of the death.
of her two brothers. also placed on inane trivialities
Antonio and Mario, in a little fal-Angela's country, and how Angela interest. Too much reliance was
house of her two orphaned brothers, stranger proves to be an enemy of How the
about obscure personalities. discussion which followed, de- Kathleen Mason, during the open
ing village bordering on the Mediter sacrifices everything in order to mnean in Northern Italy. Antonio | protect, not only her neighbours buť clared that the admitted short-presume. comings of film columns were due
aud Mario spend their days fishing her enemies, in prosented in a series to the newspaper editor's refusal
off the lightbouse, Augela caring for which naturally must be seen to be of startling and gripping situationa
to allot adequate space.
the little stone house, the barnyards appreciated. Hugh Croise, in
jand gardens. They are all young vigorous speech, complained that the ordin
ary Press neither understood the
going into the movies, but friends
Ho-Yes, I once thought of
dissuaded me.
She-Friends of the movies,
•
A movie, ad runs:
•
Jackie
Miss Pickford has surrounded
herself with a splendid cast, the and hoy-like, the brothers slip majority of the principal players
separate thrill every quarter of anand which are interesting or beauti-the handcuffs are placed on the difficulties of home production nor Board discloses the fact that it has much of the work as possible upon having been selected by Miss Pick-
huur.
star. ustal.
MISE FAY COMPTON,
.
ELEPHANT CHASES ACTORS.
MADDENED BEAST INJURES
TRAINER AND ATTACKS BYSTANDERS.
A maddened elephant acriously in- jured his trainer and sent three hundred motion picture extres flying at top speed in all directions, dur
scene for Maurice Tourneur's "The Brass Bottle."
to feel this.
отой
where newspapers had regularly indicated instances
and systematically exceeded the mere function of news giving laid down by Lord Riddell.
KINEMA IN SIAM.
Į
•
WORDLESS PICTURE.
FILM WITHOUT TIPLES.
DOUG AH FONG BANKS.
HONGKONG'S MOVIE COLONY.
ed in Hongkong, where Chinese "A movie colony is to be found picture plays written by native writers will be screened."
Coogan in Trouble." We'll war- tant it isn't financial trouble, In Isobel, featuring Jane Novak,
The official report of the Naval Mr. Russell Thorndike it in the inadequacy of verbal descrip and at the hero, and walks towards Listin
ful to see but would be wearisome villain's wrists. He glares at them endeavoured to assist it in any decided to discontinue its scheme Angela. They have only to remark while in Europe, where many of the apparently tireless shoulders offord and Miss Marion, her director, latest legitimate" actor to crosetion. from the footlights to the film.
for the supply of films to ships. No the waiting sledge. On his way be In "Robin Hood' we see the
F. A. Tilley asserted that the reason is stated, though it je that a certain job is too hard for the properties were also secured. Judged by bis vivid impersonations special possibilities of the kinema nos and picks up hin hat, and it is blame lay not on the film critics at obvious that it cannot be because any wroun and Angela flies at it of Eugene Aram and Scrooge, he developed to a high pitch of perfec fettered.
noticed that his hands are then un-all, who were able and anxious to of unpopularity.
The production is lavish in its and labours along while they recline settings and the wonderful photo- promises to be even more successful} tim. As Robin Hood is at best a handcuffs?
What happened to the write on film topics with a proper
in the shade, audibly marvelling at graphy is credited to Charles Rocher Be a screen star than us a theatrical semi-mythical character, there is no
sense of news and interest value. A husband in the balcony of a
her strength and cleverness. WHOSE STICKFAST?
who has photographed most of This is a reversion of the fault to find with the story being
As a rule, the critic who attempted kinema in Pittsburg shot and Angela is being courted by Gio-Miss Pickford's recent pictures. In the Tom Mix picture, Cupid's to do so was pulled up by his chief severely wounded his wife and her vandi Novella who is held in con- Stephen Goosen, noted art director, treated freely. It is made a good Round Up, the heroine's two port and ordered to write dope" which, male escort who were seated in the tempt by the fisher folk because in is responsible for the reproduction coherent, dashing tale, whierover mantena ure placed in the open it was wrongly assumed, was what stalls. Most of those famous in the every action has its signifiennca, and back of a four-wheeled trap, while the public wanted...
In all seven shote were stead of handling the nets and row of the Italian village and beautiful legitimate" turn to kinema acting something is happening all the time. the heroine sits in front. The Lord Riddell, in reply, denied fired, though, owing to the man's boats, he raises flowers for the per-interiors. cunly as a side line. They rely upon In semic effects we see ungni horses then, boit, and, after the trap that newspapers existed to help expert marksmanship, no one else their ready-made fure to carry them licences far beyond any possibility of has been several times almost cap. producers or the trade, or indeed was hurt. And then people say through. But now and then some theatrical stagecraft. Old English sized, it is stopped in the nick of for any other purpose but
that film-drama is exaggerated! of them realise their obligations to castles are the impressive vastness time by Mix. When once more at vide readable information. He the public.
A great cathedrals. From battle-
D. W. Griffith is negotiating for usu in point is that of Miss Fayments high in the air we look down still in the centre of the back por- by the public and the normally in-producing base when muking his
a standstill, the portmanteaus are felt that more attractive matter
would always be acceptable, both film studio site in Torquay of his Compton. When she first appeared on men dwarfel
the smallest tion. Were they glued on? as a film actress her playing was dimensions below. Crusaders tants
telligent editor. Representation forthcoming films. His plans for In a few weeks' time (writes a woak, undefined. She realised this become pavilions such as Solomon
by the screen was a real and vital production are well on the way Landon correspondent) we are to berself. She got to work to improve never dreamed of, and armies may
thing, and the public should be led towards completion. The story see the first English. "wordless" herself with all the humility of a he seen deploying over the plain into
will probably be of a religious film, made by Herry Edwards for novice. And now she stands in the enormous distances.
The lighting
The Chairman, Monsignor Pro-nature and titled "The Brother- the firm of Hepworth. From be Soon, says the Sydney Sun, we first rank of kinema actresses affects are more interesting and
vost Brown, congratulating the hood of Man."
ginning to end the story is told will be crowding to see the sheer ability, not on name, as those wonderful than any that can he
speakers, who inve seen her in his Free achieved on a stage. The change of
entirely in pictures. There are no Chinese Dong Ah Fong Banks in A suggestion has been put for letters shown on the screen, extracte his celebrated dare-devil classic dom" will agree.
scene and continuity of action are
ward advocating the reissue of the from diaries, not even a name writ-picture, "Oh Clif Henri Bataille's play The also far beyond the possibilities of
film "The Battle of the Somme,"
Scene 1A cabbage garden in Scandal, which had only a made.stagecraft, and there is a lavishness
ten over a shop to help identifica- all the proceeds to be devoted to the tion. America, which, has, lately Canton. Doug Ah Fong Banks. rate sucrees when produced by Miss in the "Robin Hood" production
alleviation of distress sunongst ex-sent as one or two films without watering cabbages. Enter Water Sybil Thorndike at the New Theatre which again may not be art, but
servicemen.. sotne tuonths ago, hins been adapted which impresses the spectator in the
titles, has never been as drastic as Board mandarin, arrests Ah Doug this. for the screen hay, Graugor's. The came manner as the vastness and
Having, apparently, exhausted Bepworth says, "that titles are mandarin into the liquid manure.
"I do not suggest," Mr. for wasting water. Ah Doug tums three Chinese somersaults and tips scenes, have been photographed in disciplined training of the crowds the most beautiful parts of Southern fund the magnificence of the archi.ing the filming of a circus parade SCENES IN. TEAK FORESTS. Louis Gsenier is turning his atten- the Beginning of a series. But it
the subject of Wives" in filmland, doomed, or that this film is to prove Title:-" Whaffor?” France, including Nice and Grasse.tectural illusions. Scenes which it
tion to Mothers-in-Law,
Scene 2-Mary Ah Pick, the That's is by no means a mere curiosity I Chinese flapper from the bright Arrangements have been made by must have taken weeks to prepare,
The soene was to be one of the The Chiengmal correspondent
the title of his new picture, any have always held that the ideal ple- lights of the Canton Broadway, is Hepworth's to film Helen Mather and infinite trouble to rehearse, per most spectacular of the new produc of the Siam Observer writes to that way. well-known novel "Comin' Thro in few seconds. A great sweep of tion. Charlie," the elephant, pre-paper
ture will be titleless-some day. At seen converting the Chinese the Rye." In order to provide arch is constructed in order that a ceded by his trainer. Curly Joe
present we must be content with gardeners to the worship of Con~ Mr. McRac and many Siamese Sir Alfred Pickford, a lender of titles in nine pictures out of ten to fucius. Close up of Mary Ah local colour" for the pictures a crowd y pour through it for a Stecker, was heading the movie actors and three actresses arrived Boy Scouts, like most notables, has dispose of necessary but uninterest Pick's famous smile. field of rye has been sown in the orent. A castellated background circus parade down the long "set here on the 18th inst., in connection bis daily bunch of lettere from heroing material. This film is an object- Scene 3-Brutal Englishman neighbourhood of the Hepworth and a splendid array of borse and while men and women cheered him with certain film work. Many worshippers. One youngster trusf-lesson in the possibilities of the captures Mary Ah Pick and is studios at Walton-on-Thames. fool are created for a casual arrival. from either side. The gaudy pro pictures of places of interest were ed that little sister Mary was wall fature, showing how smoothly and carrying her off in his limousine
Of course, it also runs into onorcossion was suddenly halted when taken and many scenes in their and happy with Doug."
drama were shot." The dresses
dramatically the action of the right to family prayers, when Doug Ah the elephant cavorted and charged. etc., of the actors and actresses
kind of story can run when there is Fong leaps through the car win must be undertaken as a commercial Stecker, in his efforts to quietste, have aroused much curiosity among Valentino's scheduled role of "The interuption. The plot is developed the now useless motor car down a Tony Moreno plays Rodolph nothing in the nature of verbal dow snatches Mary up and huris MARY PICKFORD BUILDS enterprise, it there in animal, was seized and lifted high the population. The scenes taken Spanish Cavalier" in Don Casar de perfect clarity: the illusion is precipice. Brutal Englishman still
other great splurge. But ample scope for an artist who deale in the air. So tightly was bo hold for the drama included a scene in Bazan, which stars Pola Negri in grand effects. As for the acting, in the claphant's trunk that two ribs fail and another of the execution
never broken." it is excellent the kinoma, style.
field. Real jailers, policemen and That Choplin can be serious when chance to form its own.opinions on ice-cream parlour. Mary Ah Pick
Soon the public will be given the A city that rises on a roof. This The heroine is as beautiful as could The climax came when the executioners took part in the act be chooses, parts of The Kid show-theordless Alm, and in meantime pathma, Los n Enter may sound preposterous, but it is albo wished for, and there is no need screaming best drew Becker's head and the play was so read in tied us clearly In his first ten-reel there is an interesting little picture dope-fiend. Seos Mary Ah Pick condition that is rapidly becoming to say that Douglas Fairbanks is in its mouth. Carl Stecker, a bro-many onlookers, believed that an studio wliere Mary Pickford has bo-"stuuta that are thrilling beyond bis fife by remaining on the scone It was only when the heroine makes hie bow as author-director of one on a circular tour of London. Fong, snatches up cash register fact at the Pickford-Fairbanks dashing as the hero. He does some ther of the trainer, probably saved actual execution was to take place. production Public Opinion, Charlie from the mame studion which takes and embraces her. Enter Doug Al gun work on her forthcoming now all possibilities of "fake, and so and beating the animal with a stick arrived that these people began to new type of problem drama, beginning, early in the day, on on and forces it down the mouth of understand that it was merely a speaking of this venture, Chaplin omnibus in Piccadilly and ending the brutal English ice cream, fiend, photoplay. Of all the unique sets tions are created where the audience
kinema play. The execution, says. "I believe Public Opinion will outside the Houses of Parliament leaps with Mary Ah Pick in his ever built in Hollywood, nono, it is sympathises with Mr. Boffin in his
sword, however, was not drawn be the most important work of my somewhere about midnight. said, has ever equalled the quaint anxiety to read the next chapter of
without some real bloodshed, for career. I am trying to portray an old Spanish city now growing out of the "Decline and Fall" in order to the roof of the Pickford stage. The discover whether the Emperor Com roof is 50ft. high, and for the sake modus escaped from the Pretorian of the film represents the summit Guards. There is a welcome decline The heroine, wild-eyed, wes flee of a hill in an old Spanish city in the "close-up" abomination, and ing, a revolver tightly gripped in her
The film stars Edna Purviance, and Surmounting the bill are a church, the single one that occurs in the little fist; the villain pursued; the
many of its scenes are laid in Reveral dwellings, and a number of action that of a woman's grimaces hero, all unconscious of the sad turm
France, Adolphe Menjon and Mal-That ingenuous maveyor and pro- trees, A burro path leads from the under torture might well be left of affair, was sleeping on the tuossy
vino (late Malveon) Pelo bead a ducer of film comedies, Al Christie, ground to the roof of the stage, and fout. As to how many million dol bank of a stream,, gentle breezan
strong supporting cast during the taking of the scones lars the thing cost to produce, or flicking his curly locks.
who has made fun out of almost much of the action will show not how many millions profit it has It was a gripping moment in the
every human sport, emotion, and only the mules, but many people on made by being shown how many feature, photoplay being shows of Suez an intoxicated gentleman ing in Chicago, Douglas Fairbanks covering an entirely new sort of among the cabbageot endo
There is an epidemic of pan-anew characteristic, has succeeded in die the trail and on the roof. Intorven-tipos to how many people in how Spooner's Theatre, and the audience after being ejected from a moving bae promised to give his bow and film race. In abort, it in a race be- topside day." ing, the buildings which constitute many towns and for how long at as pole and breathless. a replies of one of the streets of the time, all these things have a pure The baroine furned despairingly seated on the door step of the back arrows (used in Robin Hood) to tween two Bat-bottomed river Spanish city, rise between the ly commercial interest. The film and pointed her revolver at the cameras and the top of the stage, topli ocems to represent à culmina-villain. thus completing the illusion of the tion in this sort of development of At the payohological moment distant hill. In one section of the the kinema play. There is eliminaBang" went a toy pistol in the town baing erected on the ground tion, to be noted as well as achieve pocket of Joseph Cohen, 18 years will be stream of water, running ment,-an appreciation of the pass old, a spectator. The audience rose beneath picturesque bridges, and onsibilities of the modium in which these one man, the spell of the picture which will float amall water craft, work is done, as well as of ile in- still on them, and there was some The story, as yet unnamed, deals adequacies and impossibilities. To thing like hysteria waktu with Spain during the Empute use the journalist's stand-by A cop took little Joseph away. He period from about 1800 to 1820. matka an epoch in kinematography, said it was scoidental,
A CITY.
isous expense, of production, "and
were fractured.
TO THE RESCUE.
I heard that accidently the heroine intelligent and sincere story, and received a cut on her hand while there will be originality in both attempting to rescue the hero treatment and acting. Originality.
occurrence nearly spoiled the is Chaplin's middle name, anyway the play.
REAL CHIVALRY.
At a place "somewhere east of
picture theatre, was discovered.
pursues her.
Scene 3-Interior of Chinese
Brutal Englishman, now a sundae
arms through the plate glass, win- dow, and conceals Mary Ah Pick in one of the Chinese coolie's vegetable baskets while he hides
off.
NOVEL FILM RACE himself in the other. Coolies trots
Title:Welly heavy cabbagee!” - Scene 4-Title:"Back on alice same old farm."
Chinese gardener tips out Doug and Mary Close-up of gardener. Close up of Dough Fong Banks and Mary Ah-Pick embracing
Title: Have got of welly
entrance, with large bouquet in the writer of the best essay on stoniners, chauffeured by rival nig his arms. A policeman arrested Archery Doug is keenly interest-gers who are making a desperate him, die Wered in the Bay Soont movement, and effort to win a yellow-gal" bride.
· Bowel Complaint in Children...... "Did he give any reason for his since he became an arcber himself The race was run on the Sacramento
"Durity-thean mmer, montha motheri extmordinary behaviour asked big strongly sdrocuted this ancient River, and the film Roll, Alang the magistrate, r
sport from a health point of view has already become known inhould watch for any uppstural loomber His speech was a bit indistinct, for everybody. The bow, will need America as the black faced of the child bowalks: When kiven prompt attention at this time serious your Honour answered the police a well-developed youth to draw it comedy" because the whold of the role may be avoided. Chamberlain' man "but from what I could gather. It is a worthwhile trophy, though, artistes, including the stars, Jimity Collo and Ciserboes Remedy cat always he was waiting to see Mary Pick and every Fairbanks fan in the city Adams and Babe, London, upper be depended upon. For me by all
is entering for the contest,
1ast nigges
ford houts.
Chemists and Strokespe