Pictures and the Picturegoer (Jan-Dec 1924)

MARCH 1924 Remember this, O ye film-struck ! The Kineraa Club Benevolent Fund was therefore founded, and the first donations were secured through a Boxing Tournament held lately at the National Sporting Club. The fund is being carefully directed and administered by responsible men of the industry, and all those at the Carnival are glad to know that a substantial sum has been realised towards the relief of some of the most pathetic instances of professional hardship. So they turned up in force to support the Carnival organised by the Kinema Club. And so did many well-known figures of the stage, and a good muster of the public. A few mistakes in identity were made, but no one, so far as I am aware, mistook a waiter tor a film hero or asked unknown members of the Press for autographs. I think the reason for this was the fact that our stars are getting more and more popular every day and consequent ly more easy to " spot," even if they don't wear " make-up " in private life. It was fine to sec so many of them in the flesh in the costumes of some of their recent parts. Victor McLaglen, with his wonderful smile, was magnificent in his M'Lord of the White Road attire, and Gladys Jennings assured me that her Marguerite de Valois dress (soon to be seen in Henry, King of Pict\jre s and P/chjre Ooer Navarre) did not make dancing uncomfortable. John Stuart, as I ieorgC Douglas m Mary, Queen <>f Seot.<,. Nina Vanna, looking like a figure ill lKth Century porcelain in her Man Without IK-si), • costume, Sir Simeon Stuart in his tartan, Marie Ault as in East of Suc~, and ("live Curne as Danny Mann in Colleen Batvn, all seemed as it' thej had stepped from the screen and become endowed with speech and laughter. However, there is something to be said for evening dress. The personality of attractive femininity finds its most illuminating expression in what is worn, and this was confirmed by the many exquisite frocks of those screen [I'hoto Universal Photographic PfCSi The Blackford sisters whose combined ages total nearly ISO years. ■fi 13 ai tresses who had de< idi-d not to wear fancy garb. The toilettes were many and varied, and all looked so appropri i\<\ charming thai 1 am nol going to risk either my fn< ndship with anyo n e n o r m \ i g nor an ci dress technicalities by mentioning install ^ ii the immaculate even *££*.. The long and short of it. An impression by the " Picturegoer" artist of "M'Lord" (Victor Maclaglen) and " The Hunchback " (John de Frene). [Photo Universal Photographic Press. Gladys Jennings as " Marguerite de Valois. ing dress of the mere men was V effective ; for an arresting and attractive man never gets a greater amount of notice than when he is in polite glad-rags — or as Americans say, in the " fish-and-soup " which is one of the hall marks of our socalled civilisation. Certainly some of the most con spicuous male stars were in the recognised ceremonial apparel of an English gentleman. Stewart Rome and Give Brook were easily recognisable; and I was glad to givepersonal congratulations to Henry Edwards and Mrs. Edwards (Chrissie White) who had made this their first public appearance since their sudden marriage. Ivy Duke in a lovely peach frock, gave the prizes to the winners of iucky tickets, which Guy Newall, looking very harassed, drew out of a hat. Hilda Bayley, Valia (who, alas ! will shortly leave the screen), Florence Turner, Warwick Ward, Kathleen Vaughan, Henry Victor, Cameron Carr, Nigel Barrie, James Carew, Eva Moore, Fred Groves, Frank Stanmore and Rex Davis (a tireless M.C.), were some of the other wellknown personalities of filmdom to be seen on the dance floor and round about. Many of our leading producers were there, too, anl Louis Levy's band alone prevented my hearing some f their plans for 1924. In spite of a few croakers, British production is going ahead in the future, and anyone who doubts this should have been at the Carnival, when the question, "Are we down and out?" would have been answered (as the cameraman says) in the negative. P.L.M. The Conductor in action.