1923-04-19 — Page 9

THURSDAY APRIL 19 · 1933

THE CHINA MAIL.

THE FILMS

PROGRAMME FEATURES.

TONIGHT.

the city. The religious life, whe declared, when interviewed, suite her perfectly, and sho added that sho was on her way from one con- vent to another. "I have been in

AUSTRALIA'S PICTURE CRAZE,

THE CINEMA.

AS A FINE ART.

THE FIRST FILM:: DEVELOPMENT OF THE

PICTURE DRAMA.

Discussions of the cinomi have so

Mr. Denison Clift, the American fur gonerally been confined to its fitness for child audiences and ite Picture Theatre-Goers' Club at the film producer, addressed the Stoll educational value;-but veeful us these may be, there are other theatro, the other night on the sub- aspects of it which are also worth ject of "British, and American

Films.' consideration. Charlie Chaplin busi Mr. Clift claimed that the first compelled the admiration of all, and icon of motion pictures arose when though the German filters certain Senator Stanford in Cali Caligari, described in The New fornia, anxious to obtain a perman- Statesman some months ago, y ont record of his trotting-hone's a convent in Switzerland, near OVER 4,000 MILES OF FILM.be in a class by itself, there have actions, arranged that it should Friburg. she said, and I liked it!

been many films of late that have photograph itself by breaking Coronet Theatre.-"Too Much

so well that I am leaving to-morrow

As indicating the tentiable de, shown a very romarkable improve threads attached to a series of Викіпевн."

for another in the south. It did nesire of Australia's population for treated, the general problems of followed up this conception, and ment. So für however, no one has cameras as it passed them., Edison World Theatre.-William Furnungood, soul and body." Although

in "The Scuttlers."

refusing to say why she is making of the movie, over 22,392,847 foot of what a good film is, or would be, Cecil B. Mille and Jesse L. Lasky, Linge, Miss White claimed that cinematograph film was imported and of how far good films are prae- seeing the importance of introduc Star Theatre-Annette Keller-

the experiment was a cotoplete into Australis for the year 1922, the ticable in the present state of the ing the drains to the screen, adopt- nan in "A Daughter of the Gods."

access. She was scrupulous about total value of which was 2289,244 industry. The inherent vulgarity ed stage principles, and founded the all convent routine, It was a!

of most films in a phenomenon of no first studio in California. pretty hard life." The mdmitted. This was an increase of 5,714,031 real significance in dealing with The three main principles in was as six o'clock Mass every morn-[feet on the 1920 figures,

these problems, puy more than the making great motion-pictures were ing," The pious star clainis, how

Of this vast amount of film inherent vulgarity of most fiction dramatic power, imagination, and over, that this severe Leatment has 14,442,120 feet word dutiable, and has any real bearing on the possi-incerity. Cinematograph was the done her health good, particularly 8,550,427 feet were admitted free.bility of writing good Dovels. great art of the future, and the A Pocket Midas.

hor eyes, which had been injured by

There is, perbups, this lesson to be developments yet to be accom- her work before the searchlights of of duty. The film that was admit-learned from it; good films nust be plished were perfection of colour- This, is an age of child proiligies, cinema studion.

{ted free consisted of such items as of a broad humour and a strong, alms and stereoscopic feet. Talk- but if would be difficult to discover

The Gipsy Cavalier.

dimatic. travel pictures, - gazettes depicting | full-blooded",

interest.ing pictures were and always would. more astonishing example of

Georges Carpentier is one of the interesting happenings, and educaHorror of every kind, extravagant be impracticable, a considered best-known and most-admired per-tional pictures of all types. Over pageantry, and thrills can be first- that French and Italian pictures Juvenile talent than that of Juckie

sonalities of the day. His hand-one third of the film used in Aus class, and they are the only things failed to secure a world-market be- foogan, the eight-year-old screen

some appearance, quick wit and train is therefore of this variety, tradition of sentimentality that in which the artists indulged. The with suflicient "kick" to break the care of the wealth of gesticulation actor who has already amassed a

mentality, and outstanding personal while only two-thirds is devoted to forume of over £250,000. This wonder boy of the films plays the

charin have endeared him to the dramatic subjects and other und makes the cinema a subject of score Gerinana were out at present to For dominate the work, and were un- peoples of all untions. As a boxer ters, instead of the 99 per cent. that to many intelligent people. junt of Oliver Twist in the extra-

and sportsman he has been said by most people believe. ordins bereen picture of that

ame. Oliver Twist is a character many critics to have revived the classic, traditions of the ancient role which might have been especi-Greek athletes. Though best known ully created for Jackie Grogan, "For

na n boxer, Carpentier is an able the lovable, mallected personality of the youthful-star is especially

CINEMA .CHATTER.

+---

FOOZLE OR FLIRTATION?

the public will take strong teal doubtedly America's most serious and ontimont, but delicacy or rivale. Some of the pictures were ende

Films of a dutiable nature in bilety in a film will pass by un-wholesome, yet brilliantly con comedies, and cartoon pictures.

dramas, comedy-drumus, headed, for unlike good books a coived, and it was possible that Approximately over 5,000 people good film cannot rely on a limited before long some would be exhibited in London, though America had re- actor, an accomplished singer, are employed in the industry in public of cultivated taste. poet and dancer-a man of unusual Australia.

Taburlaine" and the "Spanish fused them.

In the British Tales lay every intelligence, who is a patron of the

Tragedy" were the two portents In America the motion picture which showed the way the Eliza thing suitable for the making of The noted Frenchman industry occupies third place among bethan drang was to go Bload good pictures, scenery, historical Charlie Chaplin and Pola Negri, who are still engaged. Here they a has shown remarkable dramatic the industries. This, of course, in Jackie Coogan in a still higher ability, finesse and intelligence in chides the many people connected and dialed the dramatist to attain to the Continent. Yet British-pro- and display were then the forces backgrounds, the coast, proximity the exacting part of the title role with picture theatres, of which

Perhaps "Dr. Call-ducers had not taken advantage of in "A Gipsy Cavalier," which calle

there are 17,000 in the United

to great art.

suitable for the reflection?” on the screen of Dickens'.inanortal-charac ter. In "Oliver Twist" we see

phase of his amazing clevernes on The sercem. He is more than the

who had caught some of the greni etstredian's skill in eleaving so finely the line between patlios and medy. As Oliver Twist he stands. ale is the first child actor to inter- prot with wonderful fidelity the dramatic characterisation of s world-famona novelist.

fine arts.

these characters..

at gólf-arid they are not quarrelling-

THE PIPES OF PAN." clover protage of Charlie Chaplin.for his appearance in three charac-States. The amount of money in- gari is the "Spanish Tragedy" off this fuct; they did not spend enough| terisations-a dilettante aristocrat,vested mans into billions. In Ger, the films, though one hesitates to mouey, many of them lacked meturesque sipsy, and a Spanish many the industry has made rapid suggest that Robin Hood is technique in a dramatic sense, and grandre. He differentiates skilfully strides. There are over 200 produc between the pre-Shakespearean the ease.

others regarded their audiences as FANTASY IN SCREEN PLAY. ita Tamburlaine." The analog ultra-conservative, which was not between the morals and traits of aliing companies working. Their

Muny pictures founded

To nuggest fantasy in a screen on Dickens' books and Barrie's output, though, is almost exclu-stage and the cinema world of to- sively for Central Europe, the day is amazingly close: there is the plays, for instance, ought never de play is a far greater achievement Dues' sequel in "The Three majority of the pictures, being quite mainly worthless, but very popular when done they were not by any drama or wild farce. That is what sade vust productiveness of plays, have been done in Anserica, and than the production of rousing the kama necessity for the brandest

The means wholly successful. appeal, the same staff of nauces strength of British pictures lay in Mr. Cecil M. Hepworth has suc- backwriters,patching together jerry-individuality, and in the fact that ceeded in doing in "The Pipes of built plays na best they can. Dure

they differed from American films. we hope out of this confusion for a cinemu Shukespeare?

Elinor Glyn's Advice. "No girl who has stage aspira. tion, who would follow in the foot- ety of Bernhardt, Duse, And Mar- Losse should take up the trials of maintaining a livelihood behind the footlights unless she is certain that she is not only blessed with per- Suality and charm, but possessca real ability. This is Elinor Glyn's advice to stage-struck girls.

Cinema Star In Convent.

to take the veil, has returned to

"Twenty Years After,"

Musketeers of that name has been unsuitable for other countries. produced as a serial by M. Henri Diamant-Berger. The film version, which is regarded as the greatest screen play produced in France, had

company acress.)

GREENWICH VILLAGE ROMANCE.

In one or two recent films there

Pan," by George Dewhurst, which was shown privately at the Alhan - bra Theatre recently.'

naturalness.

Kathleen Chifford

Kathleen Clifford is one of the two noted actresses med-" tioned by Geraldine Farrar in her New York divorce action.

COMEDIAN TURNS TO CHRIST.

been dedicated, with her permission, a unique filu token of this visit to fa Sarah Bernhardt. The permis Bolle Isle.. It shows the divine

The mind of a writer or painter sion was given on the occasion of Sarah, lying on a couch in the open acknowledges almost instinctively pictorial design, such as the cinema

The producer has succeeded in 31. Berger's visit, with a company air surrounded by the film muske the peculiar aptitudes of his art and

nust find for itself, if it is ever to of 50 film musketeers, to Madatne teers in their picturesque costumes. orders the material of his imaging; become an art. This has been introducing a whimsical charm-into Bernhardt at her home in Belle Isle. "The Kid's" Successor. tion within them. But the writer effected in the case of the Ballet by the picture something of the (Madarne Bernhardt learned that Now that Jackie Coogan las of cinema play's has special difficulty synthesis of the praction of great Barrio touch. her old friend M. Berger was pro "Grown up and is commanding a in seeing his artistic problem clear-artists; in the cinema Mr. Chaplin The play is a blend of conflicting Miss Pear! White, the cinemaducing in Brittany and invited the salary of his own. "Charlie" has ly, by reason of litemry preposses is the only artist whose contribution eclebrity, who left Paris some weeks company to visit her, the producer found another child actor in alons, which he cannot avoid, can be clearly recognized, for he stones.. There is a lonely little boy age, announcing that she was going chartering a special bout to take the "Dinky Deans, who is quite as Further, many films in the past alone has learnt to subordinate the who goes out into the woods to find 1 wandering There is now good is his predecessor. There have been founded on books, und mrrative interest of his films to that fairies; there is

Here the tinker's daughter who eqmes sud- were many who said the film this has added to the difficulty.of his movements. comedian would never find another Films, are not, or are very rarely, approximation to the Bullet techni-denly into riches; there is the love small boy like the one who made his thought out directly as filins; thatque in more marked than need be affair of a defaulting company scere- mame in The Kid," and some is why they contain so often loog in hing of the narrative type, but tary and a scheming widow. And all appeared to think that Chaplin series of pictures which convey there is room for a type of filin thees widely contrasted themes are would be afraid to introduce a fresh nothing more than literary ideas by hardly attempted us yat in which brought together in a delightful one. Not only is there a successor a process of crude symbolism. To the whole appeal, as in the Ballet, way. to Jackie Coogan, however, but he take an instance from a recent film, will be pictorial.

The scenes combine perfect : isplaying an important role in pictures of a man and woman driv

technique with artistic vision. As Chaplin's forthcoming picture,ing through Alpine scenery and have been signs that some attention the little boy, the pipes of The Pilgrim. The newcomer's looking into each others. eyes are has been paid to this essential dreams, Leslie Attwood, quite a real name is Dean Franklin Reis- merely tedious, unless the drive it-factor of "pictorial significance.' ner, a film villain who appeared in self has some special dramatic signi- True, in the averago super-film, of tiny child, acts with engaging against Lou Tellegen.

many have appeared "The Kid." According to Chaplin, ficance. It is far better to tell the which so "Dinky gives promise of great spectators that he loves her in lately, these are moments of real things.

plain print on the screen and to use pictorial interest have seemed pure- Village Blacksmith Filmed. the pictures for showing something ly accidental; but take, for example, I don't suppose it was possible more visually interesting, than to the film recently shown dealing that so popular a figure the Vil-show the actors expressing love with the life of Byron, "A Prince lage Blacksmith could for ever bide with all the reticence and half ex- of Lovers." It was quite worthless hin light under the proverbial pressivo glances of absolute realism from an artistic point of view, bushel. Not, at any rate, while the through yard after yard of the dull except for two moments; in the camera men are about. Fox intendest film over takon. This criticista entry of Byron into Lady Jersey's producing the filui version of Longis based on a real but perhaps ex-ballroom after his disgrace, and in follow's immortal poem. It will treme example, but similar trest the announcement of his death by soon be shown in England, when it mont of entirely unfilmable matter the Greek Patriarch at Missolonghi, will be possible to determine how is being used overy day. This is the producer realised that the purely far the big impression that it has not to say that love-making is un-pictorial was the shortest and best created in America is justified. filmable matter, but that the raethod of getting the der ed In fact, he was That masterly director, Jack Ford, realistic method, as it is understood dramatic, effect. was there a year or so ago, and spent nowadays, cannot portray it in a ispired to pictorial significance, some weeks, exploring old-world manner suitable to the cinema. and, the effect was completely sue villagos of Kent and Surrey. If he At present it seems that hope lies | cessful." The same attitude with should have succeeded in gething in simple plote with plenty of regard to the expressive composi- the atmosphere of these into the action, and no complicated or de tion of pictures could be observed film, then it cannot be other than a tailed psychology such as literature in the Master of Craft a film masterpiece.

has learnt to portray. Blood, adapted from a story by W. W Speed!

pageantry, and thrills are ingredi- Jacobe. This is the secret, too, of ents most suitable for such films. Mr. Chaplin's pre-eminence. He Without a doubt, the film actor's Here again a word must be said of knows quite well that the merit of in a fast life. In connection with Dr. Caligari," a film where the his best and most amusing films lies. the filming of Sir Arthur Conan whole plot is the detailed hallucine in the purely visual appeal of his Doyle's "Fires of Fate, Wands tion of a madman: but even in this acting, and has little or nothing to Hawley and Nigel Barrie have film the paychological point is usell do with the story. The film "Dr. daily established a moord in travel- merely sa a frame or setting for the Caligari again is a good example. ling to location. Here is a record fantastic story within it. This Here, pictorial effectiveness, com of Mias Hawley's “hustle.

raises interesting question as to the bined with, and to a great extent Leaving Lice Angeles a day later possibility of entirely subjective dependent on, ntally unrealistic than Nigel Barrio, abe said good. Blon, where the picturon show the setting, was used not merely at bye to Hollywood on Monday the mental imagery of the character, odd moments, but throughout the 22nd January, arrived in Now York rather than his external life helped wholo production. Every scene had in the following Friday evening, out by close-ups of facial expression, value and on importance of vits sailed on the White Star liner the usual medium for incidental own, and the combined roult may Celtic" at noon on Saturday, land-psychology in ordinary narrative be justly termed a work of art; the ed at Liverpool at 9 am, Monday, alma. But more practically epic only one, perhaps that the cinema February 4, reached London in the stones which involve broad simple has yet produced, unless we admit afternoon, attended the Cinema characters with readily understood on an inferior plaas some of the Carnival at night, spent Tuesday paychology, beroos whose lives are comic cartoon pictures. For and Wednesday buying clothed for mainly external and give every these, too, have an appeal, which is Fred Stone, world-famous comedian, has turned to Christ o the film in London, left for Paris opportunity for the three ingred purely visual, and being made from reaffirmed his filth in the Methodist Church, in Butte, bontana, afa sings are in no way bound to a meditating on life in the hereafter, while snowbound for a week ku and Marseilles at 11am on Thursants, blood, pagantry and

and -embarked

alaviak: irhitation:: ature--sleeping care He has pledged himself to give one-seath of fin estima

the pose lities of the said to be $125,000 a year to Christianity Stone said in Sendte hie Friday evening for Port Said

Bagenuine form, one would remain on the stage. A man can be a good actor and a gom which they should have reached on

Nis

scoons la more important Christian at the same time, he said. I have always been a fun Wednesday, February 14.

thousand complete failures maker, but I have seen to it that my fusmaking has been clean thousand miles in three and a chal

wholesome wooks is not bad travelling →→in 1932, fordoned deching

Mrs Radu Bellaw. mbaro

The charms of Greenwich Village, New York's Bohemian quarter and the lure of the motion picture, ut, combined to bring about the romance that culminated in the marriage of Miss Anna Ray Chatman to Radu Beliani; formerly of Bucharest, Rumania, but now of New York City Beliant came to America to seek his fortune as a motion picture actor About the same tmvies Churman left her home for Boston day-morning Massachusetts, with the same general idea in view. Mrs. Belian is the grand-daughter of the late Governor Oliver Ames and is socially prominent in Boston and New York. Belian served with distinction in the Rumanian army to the World War and was several times decorated for gallantry in action.

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in which the