The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

16 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS:: March. 31, 1923. Australasian Film Activities. Pictures and Personalities, From a Special Correspondent. SypneEy, February 1, 1923. _~q@ HE predictions for prosperity in the motion picture | industry during 1928—as advanced by a bevy of experts towards the close of last year—seem to be in a very fair way towards being realised: at least sc. far as Australia and New Zealand are concerned. In both of these countries new and exceedingly up-to-date theatres continuc to be built, and, as a natural corollary, older theatres which are threatened with the competition of these newer cdifices are making radical changes for improvement. Then, too, production of local pictures is going ahead in no mean manner, and several very worth-while ‘photoplays were produced towards the end of last year. *. %. * * A good proof of this latter is found in the fact that the Paramount organisation in Australia—the Famous-Lasky Film Service, Ltd.—is about to distribute a Longford-Lyell production bearing the title of ‘* The Dinkuwin Bloke.’’ The picture deals with two sections of Australian life—the poor and the rich— and features Arthur Tauchert, who will be remembered in the United Kingdom for his wonderful work in ‘‘ The Sentimental Bloke.’’ With ‘‘ The Dinkum Bloke ’’ accorded the wonderful distribution that Paramount pictures customarily obtain in this country, it will have advantages such as no other Australianmade picture ever had, and this should be a decided incentive to other local producers to put the best of their ability into their work. * % *% * There recently passed through this city; Miss Ruby Miller, on her way from South Africa to do screen work in Los Angeles. She is an English actress of note, and has also been seen on the screen. Her work with David Powell in ‘‘ The Mystery Road ”’ is very well remembered. In the course of an interview Miss Miller stated that she was going to appear in Par ‘amount Pictures for six months, and that she souls also appear in a D. W: Griffith picture. # # ¥ x Mention has already becn made in these columns of the Extended-Season idea so’ successfully introduced into this country. At the time of writing it appears that Sydney has been the most successful city to date. Of course, there is the matter of the 24 weeks of ‘‘ The Shiek ” at the Globe Theatre, but thinking of it rathcr hampers one’s sense of proportion when viewing the performances of the productions that have followed. However, since the beginning of the year we have had, and are having, the following IExtended-Season attractions : ‘‘ Blood and Sand,’’ now in its seventh week at the Globe; ‘‘ The Old Nest,’’ in its second week at the Crystal Palace; ‘* One Week of Love,”’ in its fourth and final week at the Piccadilly. Among the longrun features listed for early release are ‘* Manslaughter,’’ which will follow ‘‘ Blood and Sand,” and ‘* Dream Strect,’’ which is to replace ‘‘ The Glorious Adventure.” * *% * % New Zealand has barred all motion pictures produced in Germany. This means a big loss to a couple of the foremost distributors, and precludes the people of the island dominion from learning of what progress German manufacturers have made -so far as motion pictures are concerned. ) “Down Under.’ T. M. Coombe, Western Australia’s foremost motion picture exhibitor, is at present on a visit to Sydney. Mr. Coombe.is one of the real pioneers of the business, inasmuch as he was 0 only one, of the first men in the country to exhibit films, but resolutely believed in the future of the industry. * % % * In Australia there are three kinds of pre-release screenings the customary weekly ones for the Press, the trade screenings fof exceptional pictures, and the special screenings for production ’way above the ordinary. Last week witnessed two of the las} mentioned variety. One was for the first release of the newl formed Australasian Selected Super Films organisation, and production selected was ‘‘ The Rubiyat of Omar Khayyam.” received very commendable notices. The other was for th Paramount picture, ‘‘ Manslaughter,’’ which was screené expressly for the Traffic Police and the Safety First Associatjon, both of which bodies highly endorsed the picture from the standpoint of the lesson that it teaches in the interest of the safety of the people. ae * * * * The death of Wallace Reid in the latter part of last. monty was genuinely regretted throughout the lenath and breadth of the land, he being an absolute favourite everywhere. The newd came through by cable just an hour before the initial screening of his picture, ‘‘ The Dictator,” began. Strangely enough, th picture was being shown simultaneously in Sydney, Melbourai and Brisbane, and a morbidly-curious public thronged thk theatres: in all three cities for the entire week. There are ya three more Reid pictures to be released in this country : ‘‘ Nie People.”’ which is two weeks distant, '‘ Clarence,’’ and ‘' Thirth Days."’ : oe * x %* +. *& 4 ‘“ Grandma’s Boy,”’ the Harold Lloyd feature-lenoth comedy, was wonderfully received in both Sydney and Melbourne, the Auditorium in the latter city retaining it for a second week. The} exploitation which attended its presentation was most novel, ; and was very successfully-carried out. % * * : * A sensation was caused in the industry last week by the © Paramount organisation announcing, through the medium of the only Australian trade paper, their complete releases for the present. year. Not only were the names of the pictures given, but the casts and the actual release dates. This has never been done before in the history of this country, and, so far as the writcr knows, never before in the history of any other country: This is said, of course, only with regard to organisations that are releasing regularly overy week, % “% 5° x Lawson Harris, an American producer who achieved: moderate success with several pictures which he produced in f country, left for his native land by the last steamer. Ie expet to return shortly. with producing material that will allow hi greater scope with his activities. By the same steamer travellé Harry G. Musgrove, Australasian holder of the: First National franchise, and. controller of one of the biggest Australia y vaudeville circuits,