The Moving picture world (March 1925-April 1925)

April 4, 1925 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 481 WANDA WILEY Century Comedy star who still believes, along with Napoleon and General Pershing, that Infantry is the Queen of Battle. Three New Warners "Rose of the World," "The Golden Cocoon" and "Below the Line" Go Into Work Three pictures got under way this week at the Warner Bros, studio all of which are to hold important places in the Warner's 1925-26 program. Harry Beaumont started work on "Rose of the World," the novel by Kathleen Norris. Patsy Ruth Miller, who has just signed a contract with the Warners, Rockliffe Fellowes and Allan Forest have the leading roles with a strong supporting company. This is a story of California and much of the action will be photographed on locations described in the novel. "The Golden Cocoon," with Millard Webb directing, also went into work. This story, by Ruth Cross, tells of the Texas oil fields and of rural life before oil was discovered there, and has as its principals Helene Chadwick and Huntly Gordon. Supporting them are Richard Tucker, Frank Campeau, Margaret Seddon, Julia Swayne Gordon and Carrie Clark Ward. Hope Loring and Louis Lighton adapted the story for the screen. Also facing the camera was Rin-Tin-Tin in "Below The Line," directed by Herman Raymaker, from the pen of Charles Logue, who also made the adaptation. Featured with the "wonder dog" are John Harron and June Marlow. The supporting caist includes Viqtor Potel, Edith Yorke, Charles Conklin, Taylor Duncan, Pat Hartigan and Gilbert Clayton. "The Viennese Medley" First National has arranged for Doris Kenyon, one of its featured players, to appear in its screen version of Edith O'Shaughnessy's story, "The Viennese Medley." Anna Q. Nilsson had previously been engaged for another leading role in the production. Active production of "The Viennese Medley" is expected to get under way, about the middle of April, following Miss Kenyon's completion of "The Half-Way Girl," work upon which was delayed for two or three weeks due to Miss Kenyon's illness. Premiere of "Siegfried" Set For April 13 in Rochester, N. Y. THE American premiere of "Siegfried," the UFA motion picture super-production based on the theme of Wagner's importal opera, from the Norse sagas, will take place Monday, April 13, in Rochester, N. Y., under the auspices of the University of Rochester, by arrangement with George Eastman. "Siegfried," the second UFA production to reach this country ("The Last Laugh" preceded it), was widely acclaimed in Europe, and has been the subject of the most favorable comment by leading American motion picture producers and players who saw it abroad. The Rochester showing will be in Kilbourn Hall, hitherto devoted exclusively to music. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will play the accompanying score to "Siegfried." Musical Director Victor Wagner has synchronized the picture, drawing entirely from Richard Wagner's opera. As a result, for the first time in the history of motion pictures, a great composer's music will be used exclusively to interpret emotionally the plastic version of his opera. In agreeing to the Rochester premiere of "Siegfried," Frederick Wynne-Jones, managingdirector of UFA-USA, distributing arm in America of the Berlin organization, stated that he felt that he will thus reach into one of the most important centers of musical as well as motion picture activity in this country. "We feel that in no city could 'Siegfried' be given a more adequate premiere than in Rochester, unless indeed, the Metropolitan Opera House in New York was available," said Mr. Wynne-Jones. Fritz Lang, Germany's greatest director, produced "Siegfried." He d-ew from the opera and the Norse sagas. For the role of Siegfried, Paul Richter, a young, handsome blonde, was cast. Other important characters are Kriemhild, his bride; Brunhilde, "Queen of Iceland" ;'Hagen, the dark villain; King Gunther, the King of the Gnomes; Mme. the Armorer ; trolls, imps, courtiers, soldiers — and thedragon. These, living against a background of sheer beauty, whether in cave or castle, tell the story. Siegfried's ride through the Mistland; his thrilling battle with the dragon; the subjugation of Brunhilde; the scene on the castle drawbridge— these and many other marvelous "shots" will amaze the public. The "Manchester Gurdian," reviewing the London showing of "Siegfried," said, in part : " 'Siegfried' is the first film to challenge, definitely, the supremacy of older arts. It demands a serious viewing and a rigid criticism, because, for a rare once, the cinema has shown itself strong enough to bear them. Other films have played with materials of literature and music. We have had picturized novels and poetry 'adapted to the screen.' But in 'Siegfried,' for the first time, the matter and manner, both, have brought the cinema face to face with the acknowledged arts, stirring up thoughts of the master musicians, and the master poets, and expressing, at the same time, a very definite creed for the new art, this art of pictorial movement of which 'Siegfried' is a pioneer. "Wagner's 'Siegfried' is purely an operatic subject; only the layers and depths of music can satisfy it. Passion and Romance call out for musical expression. Lang's 'Siegfried' goes beyond Wagner to the mediaeval lay of 'The Nibelungs' — a stark and primitive story, never enriched or adorned, yet, for all that, rather of the eye than of the ear. "It is a simple treatment of an epic subject in which the fact that it is a film epic has never been forgotten. Everything has teen directed to speak to the eye, and it speaks all the more clearly, because it speaks so simply. The movement of the players is direct and beautiful, individuals and masses alike moving as part of the whole composition. There is no irrelevant detail to distract the eye. Colors are massed blacks and massed whites, each with their pictorial and their symbolic meaning. Emotions are dignified, and expressed in real beauty of line; the characters are vaster than human." Anne Cornwall Signed Anne Cornwall has been signed to appear opposite Monty Banks in his second production for Associated Exhibitors. The title of the new Monty Banks picture will be "Keep Smiling," and in addition to Miss Cornwall the cast will be headed by Robert Edeson. JESSE J. GOLDBURG Announces BILL CODY IN A Second Series of Red-Fire Westerns Ready for Release August, 1925 1925-26 State Right Release Independent Pictures Corporation JESSE J. GOLDBURG, President 1540 Broadway New York City