TALKING PICTURES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 301, 3 October 1935, Page 8

TALKING PICTURES.

CHATS ABOUT THE CINEMA. (By “ Spotlight.”) Commenting on “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” the London film production commencing at the St. James Theatre on Saturday next, the film critic of the “Observer,,” states: “I unhesitatingly give the accolade for the year’s best picture to ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel,’ and it is rather comforting to find, after all the hard things we have had to say from time to time about our native product, that a British production scrambled into 1934 with a ten-day moving, sensitive and consistently entertaining of the year’s films.”

At last there has been produced a picture that makes one proud of every drop of British blood that flows in one’s .veins; that stirs every heart with a patriotic’ fervour, and brings “the glory that is England” fully before one. “Drake of England',” British International Pictures’ ambitious historical production, opening at the Majestic to-morrow (Friday), is filled with the fighting, pioneer spirit that built the great British Empire, and made England mistress of the seas. Matheson Lang, the famous actor-manager, who scored! such a brilliant personal triumph in “The Great Defender,” plays the title role as Sir Francis Drake His daring, swashbuckling presentation of the famous admiral leaves nothing to be desired, andi this fresh triumph places hint at the head of his profession in England and throughout the world. In “Drake of England,” Athene Seyler fills one of the most impressive roles she has ever undertaken' that of Queen Elizabeth. One'of the most complex figures in English history, Elizabeth Tudor, had a manysided character that takes careful playing, and Athene Seyler makes Elizabeth’s greatness a thing of reality.

Thirty-five thousand pounds for' a film scenario. It sounds fantastic, but that is the record' price which Samuel" Goldwyn is reported to be paying for the right 'to screen Sin-flair Lewis’s well-known novel, “Dodsworth.” Competition to secure “Dodsworth” has been exceptionally keen every producer in the industry having made a bid for what is considered one of the’ most valuable screen potentialities of recent years. As a stage play “Dodsworth” ran for two'years in Ameica, andi has made much money for Sidney Howard, the adapter, as well as for Lewis. IhC cast of the screen “Dodsworth” is to he of all-star calibre and will be announced shortly.

For her -role in her latest Paramount starring picture, “I’m. No Angel,” coming Thursday next to the Majestic Theatre, Mae West has to put her blonde head in a real lion’3 mouth. And Miss West wrote the part for herself. She is the author of the story from which the picture was made, and assisted with fhe direction. Cary Grant who appeared with her in “She Done Him AVrong,” is again seen in the lead-, ing role opposite Mao AVest.

AVarner Brothers are negotiating for the screen rights of “The Petrified Forest,’’ Robert Sherwood’s play in which Leslie Howard is at present appearing on -Broadway. AA arners have offered £23,000 hut still have not got it. If they do, Leslie Howard! will repeat his stage performance in the film.

A most realistic hare-knuckle fight can be seen when “The Scarlet Pimpernel” is released by United Aitists. The fight is held in a strawstrewn ring in the corner of a field, with a picturesque farmhouse in the background. Carriages and wagonettes are drawn up to form grandstands. The referee, who is the local innkeeper, bangs bottles together as a signal for the fight to commence. The combatants, stripped to the waist, punch and throw each other in the style permitted] in those days. Many of the scenes in “The Scarlet Pimpernel” were made in the open air. A unit spent several days at Lalaham-on-Thames shooting scenes of the escape of the Pimpernel from Pans i A long, tree-lined road with rough and dusty surface was found, and the great coach pulledl by four horses, was driven, at break-neck spec . i - Scarlet Pimpernel’’ was produced by Alexander Korda and stars Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon.

Only' three of the original 30 “.Search for Beauty” discoveries remain with the Paramount studio. They are Ann Sheridan and Alfred Delcamhre and Colin Tapley.

A film that should appeal to all types of audiences, is “Broadway Bill,” co-starring Warnel Baxter and Myrna Loy It is th romance of a man and a gir, imbued with the love of horses and a roving nature. Drama, pathos and humour are said to be blended m the screen play with the deft Capra touch., The story, according to reports, offe Warner Baxter his greatest role since “In Old' Arizone” and presents Myrna Loy as-a new and intriguing personality. In. the supporting cast are Waiter Connolly, Helen Vinson, Lynne Overman, Raymond Walburn, Clarence Muse, Margaret Hamilton and many others.

In “Love Me Forever,” Columbia’s elaborate new production, starring Grace-Moore, the noted soprano has three leading men —Leo Carrillo, Michael Bartlett, well known operatic tenor, and Robert Allen. Other members of the cast include such prominent screen and musical personalities as Merola Gaetano, Spring Bvington, Luis Alberni, Gavin Gordon, Harry Barns, Olin Howland, Edmund Burns, William Worthington, Thurston Hall andi Douglass Dumbrille. Reginald Le Borg, technical, director of “One Night of Loee,” again acts in that capacity. In her new production Columbia’s brilliant songbird has many opportunities to display the wide ranges of her wonderful vocal powers, which thrilled those who heard her in “One Night of Love.” 1 '