Evening star., 1926-05-30
The Moving Picture
By Robert E. Sherwood

4 NEW, lustrous. shimmering star
was revealed in the movie heavens
when Gilda Gray made her debut at
the Rialto Theater, in New York, in
"Aloma Of the South Seas"
Miss Gray, in person. had not been
precisely an unknown quantity up to
this time. Since her first Broadway
years ago, the gilded Gflda has been
going on with the dance from Santa
Barbara to Biarritz, from Denver to
Deauville, and has managed to earn
handsome dividends in fame and for
tune alike.
Her amazing sense of rhythm and
her well controlled muscular equip.
lnent have eXerted profound infiu-
ence on the modern dances of Amer
ica-flrst in that vibrant adaptation.
which was called the shimmy, and
subsequently in variation of the
Polynesian Hula-Hula.
After several seasons in the Follies
and other revues. in cabaret and
vaudeville shows. Miss Gray started to
make personal appearances in the film
parlors-and with startling success.
Working on some sort of percentage
haSis, she managed to collect unto
The officers of Famous Players
i.asky saw that Gilda Gray constituted
an enormous popular attraction, and
decided to sign her up for q movie
contract. They didn't know whether
she could act on the screen (she had
only appeared once, briefly. In
movie), but they did know that her
name in electric lights would attract
the crowds.
Accordingly. they purchased the
film rights to "Aloma of the South
Seas" q rather sensational emotional
drama then current on Broadway, and
assigned the title role to Miss Gray.
They realized that in such a part she
would at least look well. and that at
stated intervals she could go into her
dance and save the situation. To
make up for the stars possible de-
tlciencies as a dramatic artist, they
surrounded her with a talented cast
that included Percy Marmont, Warner
Baxter. Julanne Johnston and Harry
T Morey.
C1ilda Gray has surprised her EN-
ployers and her public as well by an
exhibition Of genuine talent as an ac.
tress. Indeed, the entire value OF
Aloma Of the South Seas is depend
ent on her She makes the veteran
movie actors who support" her ap-
pear like so many wooden images. She
displays, besides obvious physical
beauty, an appreciable amount OF
nerve. naturalness and restraint.
Aside from Miss Gray's perform
ance. "Aloma Of the South Seas" ts
beautiful but dumb. 1t has only spas
,nodic dramatic interest; its attempts
at thrills are patiently artificial ana
generally ineffective.
Its photography is gorgeous beyond
words, and Miss Gray must share
some of her numerous honors Win VIII
the director, Maurice Tourneur, VINO
selected the backgrounds, and with
the camera man, Harry Ftshbeck, VINO
recorded them.
"Alo1na Of the South Seas was
first shown at q special midnight per
formance at the Rialto Theater. This
was followed by a gigantic party az
<;flda Gray's studio on Sixtieth street
that started at o'clock in the morn
ing and began to get good about ..
1t may still be going, like the ceie-
hrated debut OF Lorelei Lee, as
described in Gentlemen Prefer
Blondes"
In connection with the showing Of
her picture, Miss Gray is making
personal appeara noes. doing her
South Sea dance, assisted by a troupe
"f royal Samoans. II prov'des al
appropriate prologue for the film.
incidentally, the Rialto is now at.
tractins crowds the like Of which that
theater has never known before
The current vogue for college wit,
college jazz music and college clothes
has spread to the movies. ard there
probably will be a swarm Of college
pictures next season. Harold Lloyd
already has touched this subject in
The Freshman" and Metro.Gold-
. Wyn in Brown of Harvard Both
productions We're enormously popular.
On schedule just at present are
Richard Dix in The Quarterback"
Red Grange in '"The Halfbaok." 'The
college Widow" a collegiate" series
uf two.reelers produced by Universal,
and "Forevere After" (Which COM
bines college life and the great wary.
There will be a great many others.
beyond all question. Possibly one of
them will be q really realistic picture
of college life; there has been none
that answered that description as yet.
1t is rumored here that Irving
Thalberg, brilliant young Metro Gold.
wyn executive. will marry Rosabelle
T.aemmle, daughter of Carl. Thai
berg was originally Carl Laemmle's
secretary and appointed by him to be
general manager Of Universal City.
There is also said 10 be R romance
budding between William Haines and
Mary Brian, and another between
Ben Turpin and an anonymous ste
nographer.
Even Hollywood doesn't seem TO lie
immune to the insidious influence Of
Spring.
Following 1.-THE Volga Boatnlan,"
which has closed at the Times Square
'rheater. New York City, Cecil b. De
Mile has started a bargain blu at that
playhouse. composed Of ''Silence" and
THE Prince of Pilsen." silence"
with II. b. Warner in the featured
role. is hit.