TALKING PICTURES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 241, 25 July 1935, Page 8

TALKING PICTURES.

CHATS ABOUT THE CINEMA, i (By “ Spotlight. 55 ) “Gold Diggers of 1935, 55 First National’s latest mammoth musical spefctacle, opens at the Majestic Theatre Saturday next. The picture is, said to carry more unique and unusual. numbers, greater song hits and more hilarious fun than any other musical produced by this company. Bushy Berkeley, musical comedy genius, not only created and staged the numbers,i but directed tlie entire picture. Winifred Shaw, the former musical comedy star, sings in tho show. Dick Powell sings'cateliy airs which were written by the famous song team of Warren and Dnbin. In addition to the regular oast, Ramon and, Rpsita, .dancers, and 300 beautiful girl's 'appear in the dance numbers. The screen play is by Manuel ,Seff and! Peter Milne.

Paramount’s new Zane Grey picture, “Rocky Mountain Mystery,” coming to the Majestic Theatre next week, was directed by Charles Barton:, young Paramount director, who was responsible for tlie successful/ “Wagon Wheels.” . Randolph Scott, star, of “Wagon Wheels,” beads t)ie. cast of “Rocky Mountain. Mystery,” with Charles “Chic” Sale, Mrs Leslie Carter, Kathleen Burke, Ann Sheridan and George Marian, Bm\, also, featured. . The picture blends the thrills of an adventure film with the absorbing drama of a murder mystery. ~ Also screening in the same programme will lie that uproarious comedy “Three Cornered Moon,” featuring Richard Arlen and Claudette Colbert.

Wallace Beerv, the only film star who holds a government transport pilot’s license, is regarded as one of the country’s best amateur flyers. Paul Lukas is likewise a famous Hollywood: flyer, taking to the air on every,free moment between pictures.

The popular American star, Charles Farrell, will be seen in a British production in the near future. The film is entitled “Falling in Love,” in which Gregory Batoff, Mary Lawson, Margot Graham© and Daono , Napier will also appear. British Empire Films will release the picture.

“Although I have played in a number of comedy roles on the stage,?’ says Charles Laughton, “I didn’t fully realise the difficulties of being funny until I began “Buggies of Redl Gap,” my new Paramount picture. For although ‘Ruggles,’ as written by Harry Leon Wilson, is an amusing figure in himself, ho has an underlying strain of dignity that must not be forgotten no matter how funny his adventures may be. It’s easy enough to play a sinister character throughout a picture, but comedy such as ‘Ruggles’ presents a different and more difficult problem.” ", Four Comedy Headliners. That there are plenty of laughs in “The Night is Young,” romantic netv musical hit, is insured by the presence in its imposing cast of net one but four comedy headliners! With Ramon Novarro and the lovely. English .star, Evelyn Laye, filling, the romantio leads the supporting contingent is enlivened by such well-known . laugh producers as the stony-faced Charles Butterworth, the rollicking. Unq,i Merkel, the inimitable Edward! Everett Horton and amusing Herman Bing. Butterworth not only plays a. comedy high spot in tlie picture, but he sings as well. It is the first time that .tho popular player has warbled on the screen. He and Miss MerkelUsing, a duet which is said to he something worth hearing! , ~

Eaeli year, Hollywood bestows certain rewards and.distinctions through tho Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. These prizes represent different forms and grades of merit and tho best , and highest have , been given to Miss Claudette Colbert and Mr Clark Gable for tbeir performance in “It Happened One Night.” In tliis class of personal distinction, Miss Colbert lias been placed before Miss Norma Shearer who was, first last year. Mr Clark Gable’s nearest rival was Mr Frank Morgan, who, it will be remembered, scored heavily in the Cellini picture.

“The Painted Veil,” Greta Garbo’s now . Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. picture brings tho glamorous Swedish star hack to the screen in. the twentieth starring production since her arrival in America less than 10 years ago. As a distinct contrast to her last .film, “Queen Christina,” Garbo returns once more to the fold of modern women in her characterisations. “The Painted Veil,” an adaption of Somerset Maugham’s domestic drama of marital ddsoord in China’s plague-ravished ■regions, tells the story of a modern woman married to a medical scientist 1 who thinks of his work before thinking of his wife. With the memory of her fine performances in the past, it will be interesting for admirers of Garbo to know that in her portrayals in this picture she gives one of her finest performances to date. Clive of India. With historical subjects rapidly gaining popularity for screen drama, Hollywood producers aro finding it advisable to consult tlie living ■dosc&ndr ants of historical characters rather than risk law suits and family disapproval. Darryl Zanuck asked for and received assurance that there would bo no family objections or law suits when he decided to produce “Clive of India,” starring Ronald Column. W. P. Lipscombe and It. J. Minney, authors of the stage play which enjoyed over a year’s run in London, brought permission for the film production directly from the Earl of Powis, present head of the house to which the great general gave his name, when they came to Hollywood to prepare the screen version..