CINEMA NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 219, 28 June 1947, Page 2

CINEMA NEWS

(By “Spotlight”)

AROUND THE LOT HOLLYWOOD MOVES TO SING SING It was an extremely subdued movie company that began working in SingSing recently. Before the cast and crew of the 20th Century-Fox company filming the thriller “Kiss of Death” starring Victor Mature, Brian Donlevy and Patricia Morison could work in the famous penitentiary, they had to spend, a whole day being processed, exactly as incoming prisoners are. They were fingerprinted, their Bertillion measurements were taken, they filled in the regular questionaries, and were taken to the “Rogues Gallery” and photographed. The only difference between the treatment occorded them and that of incoming prisoners was that the movie people were allowed to wear their own clothes. That is every one but Vic Mature. He plays an inmate, so he got the complete treatment, and was fitted with the regular prison garb. COLD WAVE FOR GENE LOCKHART After f.O years on the stage and screen, Gene Lockhart, who made his professional debut at the ripe age of three, suffered the indignty of his first permanent wave for his role as the “Vicomte D’Arcenauk,” father cf Maureen O’Hara and Vanessa Brown, in 20th Century Fox’s “The Foxes of Harrow.” “When I came home with the cold wave tresses one night v this week after making tests for the picture,” Lockhart reported, “the dogs barked threateningly, the maid laughed uproariously, my daughter. June, shrank from me. and my wife remarked in a slightly strangled voice: “Well, it does something for y,ou!”—But she didn’t say what!” “RAZOR’S EDGE” MELODY FOR SINATRA “Mam’selle,” the haunting strain from the musical score of Darryl F. Zanuck’s “The Razor’s Edge,” which was written by the director of the picture, Edmund Goulding, will be introduced in published form by Frank Sinatra on his Old Gold air show. Public clamour and praise from the critics prompted Zanuck to assign Mack Gordon to write lyrics for the music and Sinatra will be the first to sing it in its new form for public approval. Goulding’s music was used in the picture during the highly dramatic French cafe sequence and thousands of letters were received by the studio inquiring its source and requesting that the tune be published. ‘‘FOREVER AMBER" IN 24 TONGUES “Amber” Lull carry on her romances in virtually every language in the world, it was revealed recently by Twentieth Century Fox. The picture will be either dubbed or substituted in twenty-four languages so that it can be shown in as many countries as possible shortly after its' release in America. The languages “Forever Amber” will carry besides English are French, German, Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Italian, Czech, Finnish, Polish, Dutch, Hungarian, Turkish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Hindu, Afghan, Greek, Bulgarian, Siamese and Javanese. This will be the first time the Twentieth Century Fox has used so many foreign tongues for one of its pictures, which will give you a good idea of how important the company considers this Technicolour production.

FILM FLASHES Talented Elizabeth Taylor can say more with a single flash of her eyes than many veteran actors can with several pages of the finest dialogue. Her eyes, deep-set pools of blue that probe right into your heart and do with it as they wish, are one of the finest things you notice about Elizabeth. Director Fred Wilcox took note of those eyes for the first time while directing Elizabeth in “Lassie Come Home” and continues to take full advantage of them in her latest film, “Courage of Lassie.” Director Clarence Brown also learned a great deal about Elizabeth’s eyes during the making of “National Velvet” and he referred to them as her “key light,” borrowing a term which means the huge lamp used to flood a star’s face with light. This was just the effect of the actress’ eyes. Off the screen Elizabeth is a completely natural and unaffected girl. Passionately fond of animals, she spends a lot of time playing with, and training, her many four-footed friends. She also spends much of her spare time riding her adored horse, King Charles. This was the same horse she rode in “National Velvet,” which was presented to her on completion of the film. Elizabeth is always a perfect little lady, and even when she is wearing her favourite clothes —blue slacks, an old discarded shirt of her brother’s, and boots —her manners are impeccable. She does, however, also like wearing a well-fitting, simple party dress, and when so dressed is the picture of an aristocratic princess. This charming young London-born actress can safely look forward to successful screen career. Cood luck, Elizabeth!

Phyllis Calvert, home fom Hollywood and busy in her last film under the Arthur Rank contract, who warned more say in the films she makes, and more money, part-solved the problem by signing for one film a year for Paramount in America, the remainder at home in England. Now she has signed for one film a year for Sir Alexander Korda. Seemingly, Mr Rank will get what’s left —if he’s quick. ***** Frank Capra _ resumes his motion picture career 'after years in the U.S. forces with the Liberty Film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which stars another ex-serviceman in James Stewart, and charming Donna Reed. This is the novelty story of a man, who, wishing that he had never been born, has his wish granted and is shown what would have been the result. i