NEWS OF THE CINEMA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 153, 10 April 1941, Page 3

NEWS OF THE CINEMA

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PRODUCTION PARS.

“ ONE NIGHT IN THE TROPICS.”

Samuel Goldwyn’s latest production “The Real Glory,” is reported ’to be the best action picture produced since “The Lives of n Bengal Lancer.” Sixfoot he-man Gary Cooper and* the lovely dark-tressed Andrea Leeds provide tho romantic interest, in this stirring story of tho .Philippines.

TUNEFUL MUSICAL COMEDY. America's greatest living composer, Jerome Ivern, furnished the musical score of five original numbers in Universal’s romantic comedy feature, “One Night in the Tropics.” A reunion of star and composer was marked when Allan Jones was assigned a stellar role opposite Nancy Kelly in he new film. Jones made one of his initial hits in the 1936 Universal film version of “Showboat,” which boasted one of Kern’s most memorable scores. In “One Night in the Tropics,” Jones sings three of the new numbers by the veteran composer of the scores for “Sally,” ‘‘‘Sunny,” “Roberta” and many other successes. “You and Your Kiss,” “Simple Philosophy” and “Your Dream” are the numbers sung by Jones . Tho “Farandola” is the theme of a huge production number featuring Vivian Fay, noted ballerina, the Theodores, famous dance team, # and an ensemble of 300. Alary Boland, Loo Carrillo, "William Frawloy, Nina Orla, Richard Carlo and Don Alvarado are others in tho east.

Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette are together again in as tunful, entertaining and action-packed a western as has reached the screen in “Ride Tenderfoot Ride.” * <C * * Leo McCarey, whose direction of Irene Dunne and Cary Grant in “The Awful Truth” won him tho Academy Award in 1936-37, is reunited with the two popular stars in 1t.K.0. Radio’s romantic comedy, “My Favourite Wife,” which was produced under his guidance.

Ann Sotliern, Eleanor Powell, and Lionel Barrymore share top honours in “Lady Be Good,” musical which was listed to go before tho cameras on February 7 at Metro. Alfred Freed produces and Busby Berkeley directs.

“These Are The Lads,” yarn by Louis Golding, is receiving attention from Metro as a possibility for early 1941-42 release. British novelist recently arrived in America, with official sanction of the British Government to peddle his screen story. It deals with the war, culminating with the evacuation of Dunkirk.

Clark Gable and Hedy Lamarr are slated to co-star in “The Uniform” at Metro, with Clarence Brown producing and directing. It will be Gable’s first appearance before the cameras in several months.

THE LIGHT HORSE IN ACTION.

“40,000 HORSEMEN.” The “Sydney Sun” reviewer writing of “40,000 Horsemen” after the preview said: “It is good speedy, spectacular entertainment—culminating in some of the finest action I have ever seen on the screen. It blends adventure, spy melodrama and romance into the great history of the Light Horse in Palestine in the last war.”

“ FLORIAN.”

THE WONDER PICTURE. This is one of the wonderful pictures, a treat from every angle. Never before lias that noble animal been seen in such beauty and intelligence on the screen, and not only one, but many horses, all exquisitely beautiful and splendidly trained . Robert Young gives one of his top performances as a trainer at the Lippizan stud farm in Austria, where he specially trains the foal Florian to the acme of perfection, falls in love with an archduchess of the House of Hapsburg, Helen Gilbert, and actually marries her, An important ingredient of the story is that which introduces Irina Baronova, a- loading world ballet dancer, to the screen public. She is a beautiful woman and a thrillingly beautiful dancer, besides being a fine actress, brought to America from Covent Garden. All scenery, backgrounds, interiors, etc., are of first-class quality, and the music by great Viennese composers, will fill you with delight.

“ PRIVATE AFFAIRS.”

HAS ANGLO-AMERICAN CAST. Boston, the locale of Universal’s new romantic comedy, ‘‘Private Affairs, must he a mixture of America and England. This much at least is indicated by Nancy Kelly, Eobert Cummings, Roland -Young and others in the picture, who are almost equally divided as natives of' Groat Britain and the United States. Miss. Kelly hails from Lowell, Mass., while Young comes from London. Herbert claims Binghampton, N.Y., as his birthplace and Cummings is a mid-westerner from Joplin, Mo. Montagu Love comes from Portlimouth, England, and Mary Forbes, like' Roland Young, is a Londoner. Dick Purcell is from Greenwich, Conn., and Jonathan Hale from New York. The one Bostonian of the cast of this story is G. P. Huntley,, jnr.

“A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN.”

GLORIA JEAN’S LATEST. Gloria Jean who sky-rocketed to stardom in “The Under-pup,” appears in another Pasternak production “A Little Bit of Heaven.” Six other players from the easts of the earlier success are present in tin 1 coming feature, including C. Aubrey Smith, as Gloria’s “Grandpa;” Nan Grey, ns her older sister; Butch and Buddy, Billy Gilbert and Frank Jenks. In addition the east includes Eobert Stack, Hugh Herbert as Gloria’s “Pop,” Stuart Erwin, Eugene. Pallette, Nana Bryant, Tommy Bond and others. Eight famous oxstars of the screen are also cast as Gloria's “uncles.” The list includes Charles Bay, Maurice Costello, Monte Blue, Kenneth Harlan, Noah Beery, Pat. O’Malley, William Desmond and Fred Ivelsoy. Miss Jean sings five numbers, including an impressive finale rendition of “Dawn of Love” (“Eli, Eli”), with a huge choral and orchestral background.

NAZI “ TRICKERY ” 'NOTED.

Not relying merely on their own produett, the National Socialist doctrinaries in South America are using United States films to point their arguments, says Nelson A. Rockefeller, co-ordina-tor of cultural and commercial relations between the American republics. Mr Rockefeller explains that the Nazis ask Latin Americans to see certain North American films, and to see in them examples of a “decaying and puerile democracy.’’ He points out that Columbia’s “Mr Smith Goes to Washington” has been used in this way. In Canada, tlie Dominion Film Board is turning the table on tlie Nazi propagandists. The Board recently announced that “very substantial” quantities of film made by the Germans for use as propaganda in the United States 'and South America had been seized at sea and elselvhere and that some of the matrial, after careful editing, had been sent to the United States lor counterpropaganda purposes.

“THE MORTAL STORM.”

Taken from the novel that eight nations banned, unchanged, unpurged and unforgettable, a stirring dramatic document comes to the screen in Motro-Goldwyn-Mayer's “Tlie Mortal Storm,” with Margaret Sullavan. James Stewart, Eobert Young and Frank .Morgan heading an impressive east ol screen personalities. The screen play, adapted from the novel by Phyllis Boitome, tells the story of a family torn asunder by political'forces. It is a frank, truthful presentation, completely irco from exaggeration or any attempt at sensationalism. Tt is truth picturiscd, not fietionised.

» * * * Charlie Chaplin was born in London on April 10, 1889; began his stage career by touring in juvenile companies; and linked up with pictures in America in 1913.