South African Pictorial - Volume 17 (Jul-Dec 1923)

| November 10, 1928 The Girl on Page Nine. Miss Betty Compson needs no introduction to readers of Tug Picroriau. This is not the first time she has figured on Page Nine: although this week’s reproduction is from a new photograph of the popular star which has just arrived from America. Miss Compson will be ‘‘ featured ’’ at the Johannesburg Orpheum next week in what is said to be one of her most successful parts up to now—that of. Lady Babbie in the Paramount film-version of Sir J. M. Barrie’s ‘* The Little Minister.’’ She is supported by a sound cast, including George Hackathorne as Gavin, Edwin Stevens as Lord Rintoul, Nigel Barrie as Captain | Halliwell, and Mary Wilkinson as Nanny Webster. _ Filming “ Ben Hur.” ‘The long-awaited announcement of the name of the director of the motion-picture of General Lew Wallace’s immortal ‘“‘ Ben Hur ”’ has just been made by President F. J.. Godsol, of the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, and A. L. Erlanger, the American theatrical producer who originally staged ‘* Ben Hur.’’ Charles Brabin, one of the oldest directors in the business, whose most recent pro. ductions have been ‘“‘ Six Days ”’ and ‘‘ Driven,’’ has been commis| sioned to this important assign| ment. Mr. Brabin will work in the closest ‘association with Miss June Mathis, who will assume the editorial directorship of the gigantic motion-picture entérprise. Edward Bowes, Vice-president of the Goldwyn Company, and Mr. Brabin have sailed for Europe. They will be followed shortly by Miss Mathis and a _ complete technical staff from the Goldwyn Studios in Los Angeles. After considerable speculation and _ experimentation, it was decided that the entire production of ‘‘ Ben Hur ’”’ will be filmed abroad. Nothing, not even the interior ‘‘ shots,’’ will be made in American: studios. Models of the settings for the picture have been made, and these will be taken abroad to be constructed on a vast scale in Italy, Egypt and the Holy City. It is estimated that the construction of settings and actual photo graphy on “‘ Ben Hur ”’ will last.about a year. The first three months will be spent by Mr. Bowes, Mr. Brabin, Miss Mathis and their technical staff in preparing the groundwork, contracting for locations and cementing diplomatic relations in the various countries—necessities for the smooth management of an enterprise as vast as the-mobilisation of the army of a principality. When the construction of the ' great stadium is completed and the historic chariot race is about to be filmed, Mr. A. L. Erlanger, through whose association and co-operation the Golden Company is enabled to produce “‘ Ben Hur,’’ will join them. Mr. Erlanger will also supervise the filming of the sea fight in which Ben Hur, the galley slave, rescues Arrius from drowning. , Hard Work. Ramon Navarro (the Rupert of Hentzau of ‘ The Prisoner of Zenda ’’), who plays the title-réle in Rex Ingram’s latest AS COQUENARD IN “VERONIQUE.” Mr. Victor Crawford in the last act of the particularly fine production of ‘‘ Véronique’? now running at His ‘Majesty’s Theatre, Johannesburg. Photo by M. Edward. GougH APRICAN PicTORIAL. | 5 production, ‘‘ Scaramouche,’’ can go oii record as the hardest worker in Hollywood’s film colony. During the-six-months of continuous production on Rafael Sabatini’s stirring drama of the French Revolution Mr. Navarro was called .on to appear day after day without a break in one scene or another: This while the other principals, among whom were Alice Terry and Lewis Stone, did not have to appear often for days atatime. But Mr. Navarro remarked recently that he didn’t mind it a bit. ‘‘ Not so long ago,’’ he said, “‘ I could . not even persuade directors that they needed me at all.’’ | Never Insulted. | George Siegmann, who portrays the réle of Danton, the .great hero of the French Revolution, in Rex Ingram’s monu >? mental Metro production, ‘‘ Scaramouche,’’ recently sent a young man, who sought to become a film actor, around to the various studios in search of an opportunity. Several days after the young man met Mr. Siegmann, who asked how he had fared. ‘‘ Badly,’’ replied the young man. “I was insulted at every place I visited.’’ ‘“‘That’s strange,” replied the famous actor. “I have been an actor many years. During that time. I have been spoken to roughly, taken by. the scruff of the neck and pitched downstairs, and I don’t deny that I have been rolled in the gutter, but insulted, never! ’’ The young man, chastened, apparently tried again, for several days after he was working on a “‘ lot,’’ and to-day he is one of the best-known leading men, Independent Producers. _ For a number of years the filmproducing and_ film-distributing markets in ‘the United States have been more or less controlled by the big producing companies, such as Paramount, Goldwyn, First National, Fox, Universal and Metro. Within the past few months, however, several independent concerns have _ been struggling into existence, and it is probable that some of their pictures will be seenin South Africa in the near future. Easily the most important of the independent film-producing companies —not a new concern, but one that has been for some time firmly | established—is that of Warner Brothers, several of whose pictures have already been screened out here. Warner Brothers have now succeeded in persuading no less a person than the great David Belasco to supervise their productions, and the African Films, Ltd., have acquired from them the South African rights of ‘‘ Tiger Rose ’’ (with Leonore Ulric in the .title-réle, which she created on the stage), ‘‘ The Gold Diggers,’’ ‘‘ Babbitt,’’ “‘ The Printer’s Devil ’’ (with Wesley Barry), ‘‘ Daddies,’’ “* Beau Brummel,’’ and several other pictures. A New Film Exchange. Talking about independent concerns, I notice that Jack Sneider’s Film Exchange, a welcome addition to the realm of film suppliers in South Africa, has now commenced operations, and is guaranteeing the supply of films to bioscope proprietors desiring to screen the latest American productions. The new exchange has concluded arrangements with the Independent Film Manufacturers of America to distribute their productions in this country. Among the various organisations whose films will be distributed and shown is the Arrow Film Corporation, one of the largest independent film distributors in the world. Exhibitors and those intending to enter the film industry may get into touch with Jack Sneider’s Film Exchange at 97 President Street. ‘PHONES 1375/6, BOX 4755 (MANAGER, B. W. B. DOCKRALL),,