TALKING PICTURES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 125, 8 March 1935, Page 3

TALKING PICTURES

CHATS ABOUT THE CINEMA. (By "Spotlight.") All the pomp and pageantry, the picturesque costuming and lavish settings of the court of Louis XV. of Franco are recaptured in the Warner Brothers' attraction "Madame Du Barry," release in Ashburton. The story concerns the period following the death of Madame cle Pompadour, when the du.Barry succeeded her as the King's favourite. Her humble origin was offset by her shrewdness and beauty, which led her to a prominent position in the court. This colourful role is ably protrayed by Dolores del Rio. who is supported by Reginald and Victor Jory.

RKO Radio Pictures "The Life of Vergie Winters" is a dramatic story of iife in a small town, with the plot centring about a beautiful but illfated romance which becomes a subject of malicious gossip. Overseas critics consider it to be the strongest vehicle of Miss Ann Harding's brilliant career.

Gorgeous spectacles and lavish ensembles,- bright songs, and delightfal comedyi situations, interwoven with a refreshing story, make the musical production "Dames," entertaiurent of a high standard. The story has the familiar background of a struggling playwright endeavouring to stage his "show." The chorus scenes are magnificently staged, and the "tunnel of living beauty" number is a triumph of screen photography. Another scene which is remarkable for its spectacular lavishness is the "tapestry of living girls" number. In one scene, the whole chorus appears as a garden ot living white waterlilies, and in another a series of clever designs is formed bv the bevy of attractive young ladies. A' feature of outstanding merit is the clever "girl at the ironing board" scene, in which the chorus is led by Miss Joan Blondell. The romantic interest in the story is provided by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, and the former is particularly good as the energetic and ambitious playwright, Jimmy. Joan Blondell, as the attractive and somewhat unscrupulous "Mabel," acts splendidly and sings two of the songs in a most fascinating manner. The comedv is provided by Zasu Pitts, Guy Kibbee. and Hugh Herbert.

Joe E. Brown, the famous awning lipped comedian is starred in the highly amusing First National Comedy, "The Circus Clown." Joe is back to his first love, for he started his career at the age of nine with a circus, and travelled with it for several years before he gave it up to become a baseball player, and later a theatrical and screen performer. Once famed as an acrobat, Joe is said to perform almost entirely under the "Big Top" at the winter quarters of A!. G. Barnes Circus, near El Monte, California, where the company spent several weeks in location. The circus is used throughout as ai background for the hilarious stunts of the picture, which, however, has its own well-defined plot and romance. The picture deals with the intimate life of the circus folk behind the screen, and also during the giving of a show. The tangled love affairs of the circus folk come into play, in which. Joe becomes so .involved'that his plight becomes ludicrous. Patricia Ellis has the leading feminine role opposite Joe, while others in the cast include Dorothy Bur. gess, Gordon Westcotte, Charles Wilson, as well as a score or more famous circus performers.

Walt Disney is considering making a full-length coloured cartoon, based on "Snow White." If done, the picture will cost over £50,000, will include nearly 200,000 separate drawings, and could not be completed before the end of 1935 or the beginning of 1936.

During the production of Cecil B De Mille's most recent film, "Cleopatra," at the Paramount studios in Hollywood, someone with a penchant for plain and fancy statistics unearthed the following choice tit-bits:—

More than 5000 persons were employed on the picture, -which stars Claudette Colbert as "Cleopatra," with Warren William and Henry Wilcozon. This includes, of course, the technicians, leading players, extras and Lie players. The feather of 600 pheasants were used to make up the fans of the Egyptian dancing girls in one scene. A total of 185 pounds of clothing was worn by Claudette Colbert, as Cleopatra, and Henry Wilcoxon, as Marc Antony, in one of their love scenes. Wilcoxon's armour weighed 110 pounds, and Claudette's beaded gown weighed 75 pounds. It took 600 ostrich feathers to make up the solid feathered arch before which ctood Cleopatra's couch.

The kidnapping scare has so frightened screenland parents that many of them are having burglar-proof nurseries installed in their homes. Joan Blondell and her husband, George Barnes, are taking no chances against childsnatchers. Their elaborate nursery :s intricately wired, and doors and windows are so connected that a single touch will blast forth warning. Eddie Cantor, banjo-eyed clown, who last year cavorted among chariots and lions" in the Home of the Caesars in "Boman Scandals," this year invades the land of the camels and Pyramids in "Kid Millions," which United Artists will shortly release. Prominent amongst the circus acts in "Circus Clown'' are tlio following: "Poodles Hanneford, famous bareback rider; Mamii Ward, chief of the Flying Wards: The Clarkonians and the Flying Cordona Family, all aerialists; Ruby Woods, the trapeze artist; Dolly Jacobs, the girl with the iron jaw; Bill King, stilt walker; Bertha. Matlock, aerialist, Charles (Spud) Redrick, noted rband leader, and several famous clowns, including Milt Taylor, Curley Phillips, Pat Kling, Jack MacAffia and many others. Paramount's wardrobe department had a hard time making Claudette Colbert's gowns for "Cleopatra" appear ancient. The styles which the Queen of Egypt wore 2000 years ago are identical with 'the new 1934 streamline designs.