BATURDAY, JULY (14, 1938.
THE CHINA MAIL.
THE FILMS
PROGRAMME FEATURES.
TO-NIGHT,
Coronet Playthings of Destiny, Workl.-Midnight.
Star, Kowloon. The Great
Nicola.
VARIETY IN THE STUDIO.
One thing ie certain-there's no lack of variety in a picture studio. It would be a person difficult to
cover something to inngue his in- terest or arrest his attention in'one the big film plants, such as the
Paramount West Coast Studio.
SOME. CHATTER.
NEW FILMS.
HAROLD LLOYD'S HORN
SPECTACLES,
FILM TOPICS.
A GAUMONT PROJECT
14
COMMANDMENTS,
Said to be the largest truck train assembled since the War is the con
The Gaumont Company, Ltd., voy of 40 five-tau gas wagons now. announces that it will shortly pro-plying the 200 miles between Holly- scat an elaborate acrean version of wood and the 200 square miles of Victorien -Bardon's famous play sand dunes where Cecil B...De "La-Tones," with Italy's greatest Mille is building the world's largest | film actress, Francesca Bertini, in picture set for his forthcoming film the title role, made famous by ments," a Paramount picture.
Version of "The Ton Cominand- Sarah Bernhardt, Eleanora Duse, Madame Rejane, Madame Mojesko, Mrs. Barnard Beone, and Miss Ethel Irving,
The two score of tricks maintain a strict 18-hour schedule. They are checked in and out of three cities along their route, Calabasas, Von- tura and Santa Barbara, California. Their lands have not been prosaic. A principal feature has been twenty. five huge sphinxes, each twelve feet long, aix feet wide and ten feot
We have had many filme recent-| ly, all bearing some titular refer- ence to wives: there were "Foolinh Wives," "Rich Men's Wives," and Film plays are now being more several other kinds of wives, but of quickly released then was the case
The play was first produced in all I like best the latest "Poor a year or two ago. Only a
fow Paris in 1887, and has been fre. Men's Wives, a simple, human wooks have passed since
"Bho- quently revived in England up till story of the poor. While it "gets dowa' was shown to the trade" three or four years ago, while
excellently moral for the first time in England, Puccini's Opera, based on the play, high. These are glaring white in stuff, contrasting the indolence of but the Waiturdaw production, is a standard item in repertory per colour and have been an occasion of the rich and the drudgery of the after being presented at Brighton, is formances each year, and overy wonderment. to the automobilists poor, the sentiment is never forood, now being shown at the New Gal year, both in London and the prowl have passed them. aud impresses all the time. A roalary Kinoma, Regent-street. delight this
It should be a popular success, not only because of a dramatic story, but because of Lon Chaney's acting as the Chipman who "comes from
иегоня
B004
"Till We Meet Again" is simply a "blood and thunder" nothing more; and not avon the pleasing acting of Mae Marsh can do any thing to relieve it. The whole pro- duction is a throw-back; I, for one,
and goes back to the sea vivid character study, marked by perfection of make-up and range of facial expression.
vinoca
Italian cast to interpret the Italian The film has the advantage of an characters, and it has also been played in the actual locale of the stary with the magnificence of Romo as a background,
No mare powerful. drama has At a time when film-going is the screen, and with emotional acting, ever been played either on stage or
The sphinxes will form an avenue the city built for Pharoah Rameses leading to the huge reproduction of II, by the oppressed Children of Israel The set exceeds all size re. cards, being nearly three times the
famous "Robin Hood" Castlo. It is to bo the outstanding feature of story evolved around the Decalogue the Biblical prologue to the modern
large truck caravan is carrying tone Besides to huge sphinxes the of lumber and plaster, hundreds of
the Biblical scence. tents, and costumes for the nearly 3,000 people who will take part in
please, indeed, who failed to dis expected more of this clever actress. I hobby sad the recreation of so manyuch as one expects from 'Bortini, by Jeanie Macpherson.
F-Mancha" series are up to the wondering how this or tirat horo of successful revival and strong attrad If the other parts of the "Dr. people, and when thousands are the film play should prove a vory standard of the first four one saw the kinon appears if out of the tion for those sections of the public trade-shown recently, the serial range of the camera, there are prob who appreciate good drama.. A thing that would bring & suile despite the histrionio deficiencies of excited by the fact that Harold "TRAPPED IN THE MINE." should be quite a thrilling affair,ably a good many who may be of amusement to the juco of almost the redoubtable doctor; he is quite Lloyd really has excellent oyesight, anyone was a backyard set for a retuiniscent of the wicked uncle of and that those hugo born spectaclea picture called "Fair Weak" starring pantomime at times. Joan Clark of his, so familiar in bis screen picture of unique interest, dealing Granger's will abortly present a Walter Ilions and directed by Robson “Toolis good."
interpretations, are actually without with the daily hardships and dan- Wagner. It is the backyard of a
glass. His chief hobby is dancing, gert which the coal miner has to hotel in a stuall town. And it is a ton relieves the deadly mediocrity He, had been engaged as a screen from the bowels of the earth.
Only the acting of Hope Hamp he is exceedingly keen on chess. face to win the bread of sustenance unkept, as filed with rubbish and of Love's Penalty," a moat ini-actor for seven years before he won
probable tale of revenge. The pic place as a star.
W
ne indescribable collection of junk, as could be imagined. Here a alle goes off with a bang and never girl bag & menugerio including halts in its flight until the end, so guineapigs, rabbits, dogs, cats and that you haven't much time to chickens. The set is a credit to the bother with the stupidity of the artistic ability of the Lusky set plat. It's just as well,
dressors.
Across the way is a massivo court- mom set for George Fitzmaurice's
•
CLOSE UPS.
A reward of £1,000 has been offered by a big "movie" producer, abolish eye trouble amongst artists in America for a preventive to in the kinema industry.
·
•
Joan Acker; beautiful sercon star and former wife of Rodolphy Valentino, has become engaged to the Marquis, Luis de Bazny Sandoval, of Madrid. Her marriage to bim will make her the Marquesa Sandoval and a subject of Spain. Valentino divorced Miss 'Acker in", Hollywood because she was "peevish"' and later married Miss Winifred Hudaut, New York beiress. The actress' engagement to the Marquis” followed a speedy courtship.
FUTURE OF THE FILM.
SIR HALL GAINE'S VISION,
4
buman knowledge and
COME TO STAY.
uncer.
It is a great love story, told in a
made all countries available to all humble mining village, and also in NEW NATURE FICTURE. the mino itself, hundreds of feet
people. It carried the most limid study picture will shortly be seen dramatic, and so lifelike, that it will A now Cherry Kearton nature below the earth, 60 human, so
sky, and took him down into the traveller up into the clouds of the in London-Wild Life Across the make an irresistible appeal to the
bowels of the sea. In a sense it. World. Cherry Kcarton is a emotions.
The process of constructing a pic.
Tho English kinema producer has made all the earth, as well as the nsturalist Gret and a film producer
ture involves the submission of the nothing but admiration and good-sky and the sea, his own possession. The great scene of the explosion actor to the rays of intense white will for the American producer, Perhaps in the time to come it "Love's Crucible, Victor Sea afterwards. He goes on his expedi- in the pit which is followed by a lights, carrying with them a million where, os in this case, both has been would be realised that no mechani strom's latest fihn masterpiece, istions into the wilds to study animal tremendous fire and the flooding of candle-power. Film producers have deserved, for in the brood sense the cal device, not even the great one of The Cheat," starring Pola Negri, introduced na 'n legend of the days life-not to kill, not to produce the mine, is likely to prove the sometimes seen the actors come American producer was first in the printing, liad o opened up, the Eiere the effect of great size and diguity is obtained by the use of gone by; of the days when super-ion pics. He has spent grestest sensation yet attempted on gropingly out of the brilliant glare field. He bas had longer and per avenue of plain walls, plain benches and when Love was a passion untram-little picture, even at comparatively
stition reigned supremo; of the days wecke of patient waiting to get some the screen. severely classical bronze desk and melled of the days of glorious long range, of some rare bird or life and experience of life, and so
and lift staring eyes unwaveringly hape better experience, larger cnjoyment. "Tropped in the Mine" is true to and even unknowingly to the sun. opportunities of practising his art, railings. It looks like the ideal of chivalry and of noble sacrifice of beast. There is never any suspicion the appeal will be not only to those
and, above all, more money to do it a hall of justice, yet the set in itself the days of undying batred. It is of "faking" about his productions.
Therefore, there was no is an inexpensive one, far less costly the story of Ursula, pledged to a
It is believed that, unless some with. But the British kinema in-tainty that, the kinema had come to than some of the more ornate and hated marriage with old Anton, the Central and East Africa, India, appreciate the labour and danger the screen for ever.
His intest travels took him to but to all those who realise and may lose some of its favourites from the British kinenis prosincer. Some by the pretentiously unimaginative. who toil beneath the earth's surface remedy is soon found, the public dustry is cuming along, and with it stay. It was sometimes sneered at less convincing courtrooms some sculptor, though her heart was Borneo, and part of ties built for picture purposes,
America involved in the mining of ecol
of our British producers have com- and smiled upon by the unhappy given to youth."
Altogether be has tramped a dis
manded admiration not only in sufferers from intellectual pride. It tance of 50,000 miles through some.
Britain but also in America, and was easy to laugh at its early crudi- Work on this fini is already well of the wildest parts of the world in advanced, and some interesting search of nature pictures.
more would speedily do so. The tice, but the beginnings of nearly coaching secnes were taken recently
time is perhaps near when Ameri. all human efforts had been crude. can and British producers might! It was possible that the first nows- in which the leading charac- tors featured prominently.
recognise each other as confrères of paper was a crude enough produc was impossible to find a coach of the
From a kinema advertisement-equal talent, almost equal exportion, and certainly, if we might period which could be transported JUDGE AND AN "AUTOCRA-
"THE MAN Wuo--"
ence, and equal opportunity. The trust the first chapters of Genesie, with any degree of safety to the TIC" WATCH COMMITTEE.
A Comedy Drams supported by life of the kinema industry has thus the fimt crilic was a ridiculous studio where the film is being made,
far boom a abort, one! If it is not rudity. No wise friend of the an exact replica has been built for
still in the teens, it has not long kinemia industry would deny that attained its majority Hardly any sonte of its operations were laugh the purpose.
industry in the world has achieved able enough; "that some werd such results in so brief a time. The course, some stupid, and some
it has already travelled far. most supercilious critic of the vulgar. But the art of the kinema
him pasa through the streets of any greatly. It has recreated history in kinema could not fail to realise that hna justified itself. It has told great Let stories, and sometimes told them city, any town, almost any village reproducing great spectacles.
Then we turn a corner and enter bathroom And such a lovely bathroom, with all the most ela Dorale inventions in the way of toilet accessories, Pratical too But no one ever takes a bath in these tubs unless it's part of the story as when Pola Negri had a milk bath a la the late Anna Held, during one of the earlier scenes for "The Chest." Of course it was only suggested aftor all!
A
#
As it
BANNED FILM.
'BLOOD AND SAND."
A museam for filma has been opened in America. It is probably to be followed by a museum for old revue jokee.
"A Broken Doll
The celebrated novel, "Blood and Sand," by Vicente Blasco Ibanez, author at the tremendously success- ful Four Horsemen of the Apo Paramount: Rodolph Valentino ie calypso," has been picturised by the star, and Lila Lee and Nita Naldi are featured.
Some comedy dramas we have sean have depended upon even more This is an announcement of in- fragile support than this. terest to book-lovers and those who follow the artistio advance of the
For "Blood
A PHENOMENAL SUCCESS.
Phenomenal has been the success
-
It
At Westminster County Court AÐ nction to recover £25 for the hire An Egyptian tomb effect at a lote Queenie Thomas has not yet of the film "The Confession" was Been for
"Bluebeard's Eighth enacted the screen" scene, but it brought by the Ashley Exclusive photo-play. Wife," a Sam Wood Peramount is anticipated that this should make Films Company, Great Newport- Sand, an exotic, colourful story to demonstrate, onco more that Douglas Fairbanks's son said: "I production starring Gloria Swanson; one of the most interesting incidente street, W., against Mr. E. Strong. of Spain, is said to be even more acting isn't necessary in the movies, and like to act but I can't." And, just udres King Tut's lust home in in the film. weirdness as well 48 beauty.
proprietor of the Alexandre Cinema compellingly interesting than was he was given a $1,000 a week con Idealized of course-and with mern-
Theatre, Coventry. It's an historie. hat, the wide-
ite great predecessor by the same tract. hers of lovely Egyptian dancing brimmed sombrero
Mr. Atkins, for the company; author,
or hamlet; in Europe and America, has taken us to the ends of the earth which the said the film was banned by the girls. Nubian slaves, etc.
and he was told Asia and Africa and into the cruel heart of war. It popular Monto Blue-wears in Coventry Watch Committee. Ec Ou another stage is a wealthy
also, and he would find the kinema has torn aside the veil which pre- Now no longer, little star, hona: interior, a ballroom and Mary Miles Minter's Intest Gau-Roman Catholic town and this film Moonlight and Honeysuckle," was told that Coventry is largely a
Do I wonder what you are,
theatro everywhere. It hung out its vonted one-half of the world from Christmas fets in the jazz fashion ont "Realart feature. For not dealt with the story of a priest.
Since your face so oft I've men sign at every available portal. It knowing how the other half lived. of to-day for a picture called only did the ox-cow-punoher leading
of IT. A. Brow's "Hunting Big
As a close-up on the screen.
has often supplanted the public. It has shown us the daily life of the "Children of Jazz" directed by mal wear the noble chapeau in the was exhibited in other towns, and Camera." It was anticipated that difficult to photograph a wart hog: lected churches.
Judge Sir Alfred Tobin: This film Game in Africa with Gan and
houses, and sometimes the unappre- very poor, which we so often hear African game bunters found it ciated theatres, and even the neg-about and so rarely see, Jeretne Storn. Hers all the arte days when he used to chaperon it is very hard on a renter because the recent heat wave would affect the wort hog is evidently under no critics might eay of it. they were and only the coxcombs would laugh
Whatever its of the set decorator are brought into woolly steers on the Bar Lazy S. the Watch Committee of a partithe box office returns, but, to the illusion as to what he looks like.
These are great achievements. play to devise ultranovel gew-gawe Ranch of the Flathead Reservation, cular town takes action. Is there astonishment of everybody connect and tinel oddities-ballrooms pier-but it is also a veteran of many any appeal from an autocraticed with the exploitation of the pic-
compelled to admit that it was at them. But the cinema will go ced by feathers, grotesque figures inotion pictures. Blue wore it with Watch Committee?
universally in being, that it was still further. Already it is in the and figurines, monstrosities called Douglas Fairbanks in "Wild and
Masao Inouye, known sa then immense industry, sild could schools, and very mon it will be in dolls, but which would frighten a Woolly"; in Cecil B. de Mille's
Mr. Hart (for Mr. Strong): No. away at both afternoon and night will sail from Yokohama on August
ture, hundreda bad to be turned Douglas Fairbanks, of Japan," bardly fail to be of vast influence. the universities. The churches will child into fits; crazy dances and Squaw Man"; in "Rustling a on the facte before him he bell that
Judge Bir Alfred Tobin said that showings.
If I am asked what this rapid not disdain to use it as a help in the music descendants of the Congo Bride" in "Romance and Ars the film was perfectly it to be drama filmed amidst the natural moos. He will return, home in May the simplest of natural laws the illustration of the abstract specdies 16 aboard the "Suwa Maru! for growth has been chiefly due to I telling of the Divine story. Parlia All this goes to prove that Germany to study kinemo perform would say the operation of one of ments will find it an enlightening. tribes--
Around the corner again and an member, only discarded it once for ment for the company for £25.
bella"; and, so far as he can ro- exhibited, and there would be indg-surroundings of Central Africa; next year. Inouye is an actor of law that created the love of a story of statesmen. office appears- beautiful office Grifith's "Orphans of the Storm." with Louis furnishings; a hit fur-
with unconscious artists in the form the new school, and appeared on The love of a story is universal.paign will in the future be fought ther on, a prison cell and jail Minter se ele inspected the vener-Mr. Strong was arranging to test it crowds in such number as. to rival
Mr. Hart said that it was the first of lane, tigers, elephants, and other the movie stage a few years ago; "Tell me a story has been the cry without it. Even the administra rounarked Mary Milee time the point had been mised and beasts of the jungle, can draw following a trip to America. corridor; then the great workshops able hat, "I believe every word you in the High Court.
of the human family in all coun- tion of justice will call in its nid in where other things for other seta am say about its age."
tries, among all races, and in all the elucidation of the mysteries of even the attractions of the Wembley being turned out with speed and
Cup final. precision.
A BETTY BALFOUR PLAY.
"A never ending procession of now scenes a kaleidoscope of beauty and squalour, of ultra-modemnity and age; of loveliness and ugliness realism and the highly imaginative.
And the people!
"My,'
*
The Gaumont folk tell me that made so popular on the music-hall they will shortly protont elaborate screen version of Victorien Sister to Assist 'Er," has arrived in an stage in the comedy sketch, “A Sardon's famous play "La Tosca" film-land. Possibly, your have already that the
It is an interesting antiouncement Gaumont Company,
to have achieved ber fame owing to her speaking looks. A cynical bachelor remarks that women can- not even loep quiet on the screen.
No election cara-
A new continental film star is said ages. Never Los the story-teller crime, and the kinema film will not failed of an audience. Ho gathored much longer be a stranger in the his little crowd in the market-place courts of justice. of the city of the desert, and in the
Thon the film has a great future fo'castle of the ship at sea, and he as a contributor to the cause of with Italy's greatest film actress, met her on the music halls, but in Limited, has acquired the ex-
was just as surely welcome in the peace. The great ware of the world council chambers of Kinga and have been due not, more to bad Francesca Bertini, in the rolo made any case, you will be doubly inter-olusive rights of the new Welch," THE LIGHTS O' LONDON." Rouublics and in the libraries of kind than to their shoor ignorance Prime Ministers and Presidents of passions between the races of min- famous by Sarah Bernhardt, Eles-ested to meat her on the screen be Pearson production, Love, Life, A ball masque scene brings forth nara from the wardrobe-the character Madame Mojoska, Mrs. Bernard other adventures recorded by Mr. rights of all future productions.
Duse, Madame Rejane, cause the film adds certain of her and Laughter," together with the
philosophers and historians. of each other. Remove that ignor department over which presides a Beere, and Miss Ethel Irving John le Breton which there was not
Throughout the, ages he had been anco, and the dangers of war would The most popular of all the late the ever-welcome guast in whatever he consibly lessened. I right, for genius named Roy. Diam myriad strange figures. Clowns, lean and Paris in 1887, and has been fre
The play was first produced intims to depict in the stage version. Welsh, Pearson Company who have The Lights of London," originally no guise had he been so generally I had never set foot in their coun Among the few intimates of the Mr. George R. Suma melodramine, guise he had come, and perhaps in example, hats the Russian people if slippered pantaloons: harlequins quently revived in England up till bout between Mrs. May and Mira the opinion is generally beld that Princess's Theatre in September alm
Of course, the famous gin drinking soon Love, Life, and Laughter" produced by Wilson Barott at the welcome as in that of the camera try, if I were ignorant of their and columbines; queens and kings, three or four years ago, whilst Mull in the music-hall skotch is still this is far and away the best and 1831, is to be filmed by the well- argemted claim for the kinema conditions under which they lived, I desire to make no ex-language, if I knew nothing of the knights and ladies, priests and per Puccini's opers, based on the play, retained in the film, and the adven- biggest picture that Georga Pearson known Gaumont Co., Ltd., in The first thing the public said to the I had only a literary acquaintance sants, soldiers and citizens. And is a standard item in repertory pertures that are added are quite up has yet produced, and is certainly London. Wilson Barrett's part as film producer was, "Amuse me with their history, and thought of when the lunch order is given these formances each year and every year. to this standard, from the amuse- the biggest nigture in which Betty Harold Armitage will be played by Entertain me! Move mel Unless them as a race remote, apart, and pour forth upon the streets of Holly both in London and the provinces.ment point of view. wood, bent on staying the page of
Balfour has been featured. It has Mr. Nigel Barrie, and the part ofron can do that you can do different. But when I see them in hunger, the rynosure of touriste The features of these big super-
given her much greater opportuni- Boss Marks originated by Miss nothing" But win the mor- the stories of Tolstoy and Tur- eyes, but a mon cough sight to filme we have boen having in tows caught movie audiences on the re-satility and her power for emotional Wands Hawley
Barbara La Marr once more has ties to show bor remarkable ver. Bestlake will be played by Miss vellous roenhanical invention was geniev, translated into my residents and habitues of the wast-istely have undoubtedly been the bound. Fresh from her amazing acting, and it is certain that by her Miss Hawley and Mr. Barrie be seen moving about in photo and realise that they are buznat made whereby human beinge could language, or pictured on the screen, ern filan capital.
orchestral and other offects, and performance in Poor Men's work in this picture she will vary have just returned from Egypt,graphie picares the law of the beings in every respect like our Old and young, long and short, inve demonstrated that in the pro- Wives," she now plays the lead in considerably tighten har hold upon where they have been playing the buman heart which makes it love selves, moved by the same motives por hands they can either make or Gasnier's great production, "Hs the affections of the public through leading ports in the Gaumont Com a story received a startling develop with joys and sorrows identical wit mar a picture. The utmost credit Brother's Wils." ja a motion picture studio where all
This picture is on the world.
pany's film xermon of Bir Arthur ment For the first time it opened our own; when I am takon into kinds and conditions west and port Damm, who was responsible for the read the book, wand straight to the to be followed by a typical subject (based on The Tragedy of the everybody. The kinema film broke well as the houses of their nobles,
Love, Life, and Laughter", le Conan Doyle's play "Tires of Fate the ghost Book of the Warid foagir log cabins on the steppes and work-players who strut and effecto in "The Prisoner of Zenda" President of Preferred Pictures, and for Miss Balfour Squiba, M.P. Korgsko.") fret their houre upon the stage and and "The Four Horsement"; he is said-This is the goods. I'll write which the scenario promises will be
down the barriers of language, and and know their names and the thon go their several ways, or do it, undoubtedly a master of ins art.
Daganet's play gives opportunity made all-the great stories of the sgee names of their children, I am the aenario, I'll take the part of a screamingly fanny film from be for filming many familia parte of Boceamble to all the peoples of the brought into an atmosphere of to produce it, and Karl Strass to the latter aim is to bo commenced made to introduce several unique the drame, the poem, and the novel between my face and their face lose the brother's wife, I want Gagnier ginning to end. The production of London; and an attempt will also be world. It took an essential part of human sympathy which makes war 'shoot it.?"--
and appropriate effects into the film," to the doors of the millions, It likely and often quite impossible.
fat and lean, beautiful and ugly
A little world within a world--such
all over again in some other guise..
Bat interesting, varied, omazing
ly intriguing!
is due that gentleman, Vivian Van Barbara La Marrs very own. She
Mrs. May, the famous lady-char- woman, whom the late Fred Emney
immediately
OWE