Films and Screen Stars

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 200, 24 August 1929, Page 5 (Supplement)

Films and Screen Stars

THE ANSWER CORNER.

REPLIES TO INQUIRIES,

iF.C. —Tom Tyler -was born on August 8, 1903, in Poi-t Henry, X.Y. John Mack Brown claimed Gothan, Ala., as his birthplace on September 4, 1904. Hugh Allan first saw the light of day on November 5, 1903, in Oakland, Calif., and Charles Farrell at Onset Bay. Mass.. in 1902.

K.D.—You say that Douglas Fairbanks is of Arabian descent. He is thoroughly American.

iB.M.—In the "King of Kings" Joseph Schildkraut played the part of Judas and Jacqueline Logan played the part of Mary Magdalene. JS.>Tj.'—You have been misinformed. Sue Carol and -Nick Sfcuart are not married , ,yet. Sue only just got her divorce j from Allan Keefer. Roland Drew :. was the- handsome Felipe in "Ramona." .William Haines is 29 years old and h'as black hair and brown eyes. JB&S VEGAS.—Both are to be found, care United Artists Studio, 1041, N". For- : jopea Avenue, Hollywood, California. : Vilma was born January 9, 1903. She < ?ft oft 6in in height, has blond hair ! oaod grey eyes. She married Rod la Rocque in 1927.

A questionnaire circulated among 100 miiorus girls in Hollywood brought out jiihe information that 94 were unmarried.

Owing to lack of suitable silent feaijburee to entertain the sailors, the United States Navy is contemplating -wiring its jfarships for talkies.

In an accounting to the Los Angeles .Court, Lita Grey Chaplin proved that 5t costs £2400 a year to rear Charlie Chaplin's two sons. The judge allowed flier that sum.

Walter Summers, the English producer, who created "The Battles of the Coronel and Falkland' Islands," has gone one better with his latest production, "The Lost Patrol," which is described by trade papers as an "Epic of the screen." Immediately after the first trade screening the picture was bought for England and America.

Will the talkies Tiave an influence on ihe new fasMbns? Ae the recording machine that registers the roices of the players, picks up the slightest rustle of the dresses and sends this noiee through the talking machines with terrific volume, it has become necessary to rreate gowns of soft, clinging materials. ■When these pictures are shown, will the audiences be governed by the dresses (they see?

Pearl Eaton has created several Original dance numbers for a screen [version of Ziegfeld's musical, "Rio Rita," now being rehearsed' at Hollywood. she entered pictures Mies Eaton nvas the only woman musical comedy [producer in Wew York. Dorothy Lee, Ann Greenway, Robert Woolsey, Bert [Wheeler, and Helen Kaiser have been

assigned featured roles in the supporting (Cast.

Beggy Wood, whose first role in iraoNbion pictures is in "The Wife of Stephen Tromholt," spends her leisure momente on the set reading, "prop" [books. Since most of these books are Buch interesting and timely works as 'Tie Report of the British Museum for #©02," "A City Directory of Cairo of 18S& ,, end "The Functions of the Thyroid Gland," we imagine the player has time of it.

Momice Chevalier, idol of the French jfttage, first learned to speak English from a, fellow prisoner in a German hospital camp during the war. This man was iiWorman Kennedy, a, British private, who ;remains to-day one of Chevalier's dearest .friends. Chevalier and Kennedy were spqeisoners during 26 months of the conmtib, Chevalier having been captured When -wounded and left for dead in front irvf the French lines during the first battle ©f the Marne,

When the first Straus operetta, In Hollywood," is Been and iieard, it will reveal the real successor jk> "The Merry Widow Waltz," in a inomposition by Dave Stamper with •lyrics by Harlan Thompson and titled "Dance Away The Night." It ie based bn an operetta by Oscar Straus, directed By Marcel Silver and with additional musical numbers by Dave Stamper. It 5s one of the most pretentious offerings vet attempted since the advent of talk-' ing pictures. j

The unsung heroes of the air of yeeierday are the movie thrill-makers of toflar. "They "crack up" 'planes for a pictufe with, all the sangfroid fatalism and idaredevilry with which they used tq 'climb into the air at the command of tlieir superior and give combat to enemy '/planes. Thug it has come about that in the search for new thrills f or_ motion Ipict-ure patrons, a new profession has developed—that of "cracking up" airplanes, as the stunt flyers call sending an airplane crashing down with the Aviator at the controls till he is extricated from the wreckage.

Lon Chaney. who- is making "Thunder;, a railroad picture, so ingratiated himself into the affections of veteran railroad men during his production, that he was presented with an honorary life membership in their union. The certificate given him declared, among other things, that the star had proved his Bbilitv as a driver of high-powered locomotives. On returning to Hollywood the second day home, he completely smashed his car in collision with ano! her Fortunately both he and the occupants of the other car were unhurt, but oh! the shock to Lon s vanity after all the nice things the railroad engineer eaid about his ability as a driver!

Sound has cut so deeply into the musicians in St. Paul and* Minneapolis, with. a. combined population of $50,000 that only one picture theatre there, now boasts an orchestra.

The talking and sound version of the thrilling stage play "The Wrecker" lias been completed at the Gainsborough studios and will be released at an early date. This film has been elaborately produced and authentic information states that the big wreck scene with real trains cost over £7000.

Screen actress Alma Reubens has been removed to the Californian State Institute for the Insane after threatening to commit suicide at her home. Miss Reubens "was declared a drug addict some months ago, and her incarceration is to effect a compulsory cure.

The immortal military epic "The Valley of Death," previously named "Balaclava," has been completed. The story of this production centres around the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at .Balaclava, and the regiments of the Ist. King's Dragoon Guard's, the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and the Royal Artillery were actually used in the graphic Crimean War ecene.

"■A picture laden with laughter," thus a London newspaper critic describes Walter Forde's new comedy "Would You Believe It ?" The story tells of a young inventor who is. always becoming involved in the most humorous situations. When this young man finally arranges a demonstration for his radiocontrolled army tank and the tank gets out of control—well, the fun becomes eo fast and furious that laugh eimply follows laugh in one long roar.

The '"Xew York Herald" , comments as follows concerning "Coquette," Mary Pickford's first all-talking picture: ''The greatest Pickford! Mary Pickford long' the leading figure in moving pictures and immortal in their history, renews her leadership with her first talking picture, "Coquette." Stepping away from the lighter roles Miss Pickford has given to the world a new Pickford, a greater.Pickford, a lustrous Pickford, a Pickford of achievement now. She has triumphed in poignant tragedy."

John Barrymore qualified for the mountain climbing feats he performs in "Eternal Love," a story of the Swiss Alps. When the company which made this production went to film scenes on some of the most dangerous locations in the high Rockies, the professional Swiss guides were amazed at Barrymore's skill in scaling the dangerous peaks until they learned that he is one of the few Americans to hold a certificate from the Swiss Government for his feat in ascending Mont Blanc. Barrymore made the famous Mont Blanc climb in 1921.

FIRST RELEASES IN AUCKLAND. WEEK COMMENCING AUGUST 29. Picture. . Star. . Type. Make. ll Hit ot . *£ e Show " Gertrude Olmsted. Drama. R.K.O. "Redskin." Richard Dix. Drama. Paramount. ' Our Affair." Margaret Livingstone. Drama. Paramount. "On to Reno." Marie Prevost. Drama. British International. "Picadilly." Gilda Gray. Drama. Universal. "The Lariat Kid." Hoot Gibson. Drama. P.D.C. ,

The Vice-Prcsidcnt of the United States is paid a salary of £3000 a year. Jack Gilbert, Corinne Griffith, Al Jolsoii and John Barrymorc are paid that much overv week and a-half.

Florenz Ziegfeld, the most famous of Xew York's revue producers, has gone to the talking films. Ziegfeld has gone into partnership with Samuel Goldwyn for the production of musical playe on the screen.

Herbert Wilcox, maker of the much discussed picture "Dawn,"' is responsible for the first all-British talking , picture entitled. "Black Waters."' which reproduces the thrilling story told , in the novel 'Tog.' , "Black Waters" has already arrived in Melbourne and has been trade shown in that city and at Sydney.

Robert Edeson, veteran of the old screen days and formerly one of the most famous stars of the American stage, will play the role of the general in "Marianne," Marion Davies 5 new starring vehicle. Edeson recently proved himself an excellent talking picture player in W. De Mille's short feature, "The Man Higher Up."

What is reputed a new way of telling a trial story is used in "Through Different Eyes," a murder mystery. In this all-dialogue picture the crime for which a man is on trial is presented from three different angles—first as seen through the eyes of the defence attorney, then through the eyes of the district attorney, and finally as it really occurred.

Edward Royce, regarded as one of the foremost directors of revues and musical melodies on Broadway, etaged the many numbers that go to make up "Fox Movietone Follies of 1929," the first musical revue ever produced for the sound screen. Royce is also a dancing master of no mean skill; originating many of the chorus numbers liberally sprinkled throughout the "Fox Movietone Follies of 1929."

In the British talkie, "High Treason," a story of London in 1949, an extraordinary set is one representing the interior of the proposed channel tunnel, which, according to Elvey will bo built within the next 20 years with automobile, train and pedestrian routes. A terrible explosion in the tunnel wrecks a train. This scene is said to be realistic, the photographic and sound recordings clearly suggesting the chaos resulting.

Screen stars and players are spending more time this season on the novelty details of their frocks, hats and shoes than upon the general outlines. Interesting pleats, unusual sleeves and accessories of all sorts are demanding attention. For instance, Joan Crawford is paying particular attention to her shoes. One pair are of gunmetal kid with the heels and back part handpainted in weird futuristic designs. These have high-standing buckles of bright gold.

With the arrival by airplane from Baltimore of Irene Rich, production has started on "They Had To See Paris," Will Rogers' first all talking production for the screen. Miss Rich was hurried from the eastern city where she was playing vaudeville and will play the role of the wife of Rogers in the picture. "They Had To See Paris/ , is based on the etory by Homer Croy, dealing with the sudden rise to wealth of an Oklahoma family and the desire of all of them, especially the "Missus," to see Paris.

Playing together for the first time, Dolores Del Rio and Charles Farrell give remarkable performances in the starring roles of "The Red Dance." Separately and together these two young people hold picture-goers 6pellbound by their fine characterisations. She, as the peasant girl, who becomes the famous "Red Dancer" of the Revolution; he. as the Grand Duke Eugene, whom she tries to save from the vengeance of the people. Another great performance is that of Ivan Linnow, the giant Russian, who as a private soldier woos Miss Del Rio, but whom, when he becomes a "Red" general, saves her lover from the firing squad.