The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

June 9, 1923." WARDOUR’S NEW BIG-SUPER. Acting, Sets, and Direction of a High Standard. ) {.-; . N interesting event in the film A world .is the securing . by Wardour Films of a picture directed by Richard Oswald, ‘which has been described as one of the most surprisingly wonderful pictures produced anywhere since the war. Its title is ‘* Iniquity,”’ and ‘it is based upon events in the life of that attractive figure in Italian history, Luchezia Borgia. The lead is taken : by Liane Haid, who, by the way, is to be seen in ‘‘ Trapped in the Mine,” a picture of an entirely different style, in London next week. This fascinating actress makes -of her character a wonderful study ‘and invests it with a grace and charm that is. wonderful. | With her is acting Conrad Veldt, who also does well. a Richwrd Oswald, the producer of this picture, has directed the crowds in this film with great skill, and the finished picture shows how excellently he is ‘able to get the best out of his artistes. Ricnarp Oswatp. STRANGE FILM COINCIDENCE. UITE a romantic coincidence between Mrs. Hilton O Philipson’s election and a film comes to light this week ; with the commencement of the film called ‘t Squibs, M.P.’ ‘ “ Squibs ’ is a cockney film character made famous in kinemas by Betty Balfour, who has just achieved a personal triumph in ‘‘ Love, Life, and Laughter,’’ but originally the character was taken from a stage sketch in which Mr. Philipson (then Mabel Ruseell) appeared as ‘‘ Squibs,’’ and which was bought by Messrs. Welsh, Pearson and Co., Ltd., the film producers. The sketch’ was not actually filmed, but the character of ‘* Squibs ’’ was developed as the central figure in a series of British films which have become very popular, and some weeks ago, long before the possibility of Mrs, Philipson becoming a Member of Parliament was ever contemplated, Mr. George Pearson, the film producer, wrote another ‘‘ Squibs ”’ story, which he called ‘‘Squibs, M.P.,’’ and which dealt humorously with the adventures of this amusing young Miss getting into Parliament. The film was announced some time ago, and production scheduled to follow ‘‘ Love, Life, and Laughter.’’ Since then the Law Courts have created the vacancy, and many votes have flowed into the ballot boxes at Berwick to make Mrs. Philipson—some time ‘‘ Squibs’"—an M.P. A “* reel ” life romance indeed! THE LADY OF THE ‘“ LITTLE FEET SO ADORED.” To interpret the character of Paragot’s deeply-béloved ideal in a film based upon Mr. William J. Locke’s story, ‘‘ The Beloved Vagabond,” has been a very difficult task, for much of the story emphasises the smallness of Joanna’s feet. Tho search at last resolved itself into one like that of the Prince of the fairy story looking for Cinderella of the glass slipper. Miss Phyllis Titmuss is the actress who will be Joanna in the film. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, a magnetic personality, with something of the haunting quality suggested by the novelist—and small feet! She is playing the leading réle with Mr. Jack Buchanan in the revue, ‘‘ Battling Butler,’’ at the Adelphi Theatre, and is a great favourite with theatre-goers. This will mark Miss Titmuss’s debut as a screen actress. Any Night,”” and the THE FILM RENTERS! MOVING PICTURE NEWS. soe! ‘POSTERS OF DISTINCTION. ETERMINED. to do all within his power to advance the standard. of filmposter art, Mr.. F.W. Kilner has: had some exceedingly:.: striking designs prepared by the well-known artist, Val Prince, for his recent productions, the Sarah Bernhardt picture, ‘‘ It Happened in Paris,’ **Ashes,’’ ‘‘God’s Gold,”’ **A Woman's Business,”’ ‘Kilner Fine Art production, ‘‘ The Madonna in Chains.” The effectiveness: of these posters depend, as all good posters should, upon boldness, simplicity: and fine design. Where so many posters attempt no more than an enlarged reproduction of some important incident, the Kilner posters aim at conveying the central theme of the film, to arrest attention and stimulate the imagination, and the exhibitor who adorns the front of his theatre with these charming designs may be confident of siriking a bold and distinctive note that will certainly not fail to attract the passer-by. “DOG SENSE” PICTURES. HE crowds who have been flocking to the New Oxford Theatre to see Ideal’s Matheson Lang picture, ‘* Jealousy,’’ have been kept in a state of merriment by tho little one-reel picture, ‘‘ Dog Sense,’’ which preceded the feature. The human-like performance by a couple of dogs in it—whether they are smoking, with a philosophical expression on their faces, or mounting a horse, or finding lost children, or tearing down the blinds to prevent onlookers seeing the pair of lovers from the window—has been too much for the risible faculties of the publit; and laughter has been mingled with a sense of downright astonishment at the cloverness of the animals. In answer to inquiries, it may be mentioned that Dog Sense '’ is one’ of the Cameo pictures, produced by the Educational Films Corporation, of America, which Ideal Films, Ltd., have just started to release.