TALKING PICTURES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 210, 18 June 1936, Page 8

TALKING PICTURES

CHATS ABOUT THE CINEMA. (By " Spotlight.") " Whipsaw." Tho wife of "The Thin Man" becomes a G-Man's sweetheart! Myrna Loy as the voluptuous secret agent of an 'international ring of jewel thieves, carrying a hidden fortune in smuggled pearls., ■ Spencer Tracy as a government agent who tries to trap her through romantic intrigue. That is a bird's- eyo view of "Whipsaw," a new Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer production, directed by Sam Wood, and opening Saturday at the St. James Theatre. Jt is the story of dramatic and comedy surprises, a story that moves with lightning speed and is replete with dramatic and romantic suspense. _ In London, rival gangs of jewel thieves mark down the purchaser of the famous Koronoff pearls. They track him across the Atlantic. On the docks at New Nork one gang is arrested and the other, of which Miss Loy is a member, steals the pearls. It is an international sensation. Tracy, a secret service agent, contrives to meet Miss Loy under circumstances that make him appear a criminal. Tracy hopes Miss Loy will lead him to the'"brains" of the gang, Dexter, played by Harvey! Stephens, who is in hiding. Myrna knows from the first that Tracy is an officer of the law. Thus begins the "Whipsaw." The rival gangsters follow Myrna and Tracy, also hoping the trail will lead to Dexter. The chase goes by airplane from New York to St. Louis, where Myrna calls Dexter in New Orleans. The gangsters trace the call, fly to New Orleans and learn that Dexter has hidden the jewels in the handle of Myrna's dressing table mirror. Myrna and Tracy have disappeared. The gangsters wait for her to call Dexter again.

Still trying to elude their pursuers, unaware they have already succeeded, Myrna and Tracy! leave St. Louis m the dead.of night in a stolen car.' A storm forces them to take shelter in a farmhouse where they aid in the birth of twins to a farm wife. This, plus their close association, makes each, of them forget their real-life roles to a certain extent; to go "straight." The story moves, romances begins; Myrna decides swiftly to an unexpected and thrilling climax.

The first coloureA motion picture was shown to the public on May 20, 1895, according to 'Paramount'9 research department. It was hand-tint-ed and consisted of only a few hundred feet of film. "Rose of the Rancho," the first big outdoor musical ever screened, enjoyed huge successes both as a legitimate production and in the silent pictures. It was first produced for the screen 'way hack in 1914 by Cecil R. De Mille. Rut this version—so copiously interspersed with music that it falls under the operetta heading—is by all odds the last word. Tho story is historical and deals with the old town of Monterey in the year 1852, two years after California became the thirty-first State to be admitted

to the Union. With California a part of the United States, land-grabbers swept into the territory, ruthlessly wresting the vast estates from the Dons and obtaining titles for themselves under American law. Miss Swa-rthout, whose surpassing beauty and glorious singing voice aro only equalled by her dramatic abilities is the daughter of one of Monterey's richest Spanish land-owners. At the outset we find her affianced to Don Alvarado, hut as tho war between the Spanish vigilantes and the predatory, brutal American land-grabbers grows more bitter, a, new romance comes into her life in the person of John Roles, sent into California as a secret agent by the Federal Government. Most of the action, as well as the singina, takes place out-of-doors. Miss Swarthout, incidentally, proves herself an adept horsewoman. And her "Sombrero Dance" during the great fiesta at Monterey is a joy to behold. "Rose of the Rancho," coming to the St. James Theatre Tuesday next, introduces a new comedy team to the screen in tho persons of Willie Howard and Herb Williams. Mae West is definitely finished with

Paramount. She is now busy writing tho first of two pictures which she will mako independently for Emmanuel Cohen. Tho two will probably earn her £60',000. "The Cuv'nor." Forsaking the costume field, George Arliss descends the social scale to don the tattered garments of a tramp, and, despite his satorial lapse, presents such a personality that the situation is not incredible. George Arliss is the mainspring of tho picture, investing his portrayal with those small details for which lie is so renowned. One instance is where, forced to dress in cutaway coat and elegant trousers, and ape the financial magnate, the instinct of the tramp prevails and he enters a palatial restaurant clutching tightly in his arms a parcel containing his tattered garments of the road. In "The Cuv'nor," which opens Saturday next at the Majestic Theatre, Arliss' co-star is Gene Gerrard, who is also attired in sundry rags and tatters. His shirt is a> thing of beauty, if not exactly a joy for ever. While the picture was being made, the famous comedian grew weary at last of continual questions in Regard to this garment. He overcame the difficulty by handing inquisitive admirers a card on which were printed a list of answers such as: "Yes, I bought it in Paris. Yes, if it has pups I'll save you one." And at the bottom of the card, "Oh, go to blazes!"

A block on Alpine Drive, Beverley Hills, is called "singers' row" because Gladys Swarthout, star of Paramount's "Rose of the Rancho," Lawrence Tibbctt and Nelson now occupy adjoining houses-

Ruth Chatterton in "Lady of Secrets" Two women—one worldly, one still living in her dreams! Four men—a tyrant, an idealist, a playboy and a lover! These personalities clash and clash again, in Columbia's stirring romantic drama, "Lady of Secrets," which opens Thursday next at the St. James Theatre. Ruth Chatterton, the screen's premier dramatic actress, returns to play tho part of Cclia Whittaker, in this tlirobbing story of a gallant lady who defied the tragedy of dishonour. Fleeing tho prison of her memories for one last grasp at happiness, she fights for a chance to live and love to-day—to-morrow—and to banish forever her yesterdays. A truly great love story demanded a, great cast, so Otto Kruger, Lionel Atwill, Marian Marsh, Lloyd Nolan and Robert Allen were assigned to the leading roles in support of the star, Miss Chatterton. "Lady of Secrets" was directed by Marion Gering. The story is by Kath< erine Brush, famed novelist and short story writer, and Joseph Anthony and Zoo'Atkins, Pulitzer Prize playwright, adapted it to the screen. They have banded together to mako the ultimate in screen ontrtainment!

Interesting personalities abound in Universal’s “Magnificent Obsession,” Treno Dunne’s latest picture, due at tbe St. .Tames Theatre on Saturday week. Trcne Dunne herself is wellknown as a. versatile and accomplished actress. Her lyrical soprano voice has

been heard on the stage and the screen. "Roberta" was her last big success, and she is now engaged on a revival of "Show Boat," Edna Ferber's classic story, with Paul Robeson in support. Robert Taylor is a popular young actor, wlio is good in any type of show there is. Ralph Morgan is equally popular. Charles Butterworth is in the cast, and so is the dainty Betty Furness. And last, but not least, there is that amusing Italian actor, Henry Armetta, whose antics are always amusing. "Grandad Rudd" Returns. In response to hundreds of requests received from all pa ids of Mid-Canter-bury from lovers of the famous Steele Rudd stories, that reeordr-brcaking Australian comedy, "Grandad Rudd," featuring that popular comedian Bert Rniley, has been booked for a return season at the Majestic Theatre, commencing Saturday, June 27. Betto Davis and Leslie Howard will play together again in "The Petrified Forest," adapted from Robert S'herwood.'s play, in which Howard has already scored a success on Broadway.