THE ANSWER CORNER.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 224, 21 September 1929, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE ANSWER CORNER.

REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. Y.W.—Richard Barthelmess is thirtytwo and Besaie Love is one year younger. Antonio Moreno was born September 26. ISSS, in Madrid. Spain. Both his father and mother were Spanish. Ti.—Carroll 2s ye was born October 14, 1901, and is married to Helen Lynch. His latest picture is "The Squall." £MMA.— Sally Blane was born in Salida, Colorado, July 11, 1910. She did not appear on tie stage prior to her movie debut. Richard Dix and Gary Cooper are still single.

Cjjv—Joan Crawford's real name is Lnc3le Le Sueur, and she hails from San Antonio, Texas. She is twentythree years old. Gary Cooper's real name "is Frank J. Cooper. He is twenty-eight years old, and claims Helena, Montana, as his home-town.

WlLL—Polly Ann Young was born in Denver, Colo- October 25, 1908. She is five feet four and one-half inches tall; weighs 117 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. Her two . sisters, Loretta Young and Sally Blane, are also in the movies. RM.—Dorothy Mackaill was born in Hull, England, March 4, 1904. She is divorced from Lothar Mendes. Her next picture will be "Hard * to Get." Davey Lee is four years old, and his next picture will be "Little Pal." Buddy Rogers' next will be "A Man Must Eight." "A Year From To-da-y" is- the title under which' Norma Taimadge's first' talkie, formerly known as "Tin Pan Alley," will be released. Tod Browning has been assigned the task of directing "The Thirteenth Chair" as a talking picture adaptation of Bayard Veiller's melodrama. Helen Millard, Moon Carroll and Margaret Wycherly are included in the cast selected ;to date. Talking pictures will be presented in the Town Hall, Cambridge, in about three weeks' time. Dr. E. J. Rayner, managing director of Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd., announces that he is providing for the wants of the district by installing a Western Electric plant at A cost in the vicinity of £4000. in "Through Different Eyes" Warner Baxter is killed three times. The basis of ■ the story may be the constantly repeated belief that ten eye witnesses of an episode could not tell two versions alike. Hence the title "Through Different Eyes" gives three different versions to a man's sudden death. Two are conjectures and one is offered by an actual eye-witness. There is a minimum ol courtroom sequences. Mary Duncan is given three different personalities, according to the version of the murder •being told. , With many strange aetor3 and actresses now under contract foi ta ~ ing pictures, directors have discovered that they can accomplish more work on sound stages at night than during ie daylight hours. Asked to explain the psychology of this strange pliaoe, xre Niblo, veteran actor and noted director, who is directing John Gilbert's "Redemption," said: "Most of the actors ana actresses who have come from the htage are accustomed to working at night in the theatre, and many of them are no 'awake' until night falls and the lights go on. Anyway, it is true that better results are being obtained and wit greater rapidity when we work at night. Tod Browning had to hire a brass hand to help move the most temperamental screen actors he has ever handled into the studios for their roe» in Lon Chaney's new picture, "Where East is East." Browning rented aherd of elephants and a dozen cages of tigers, leopards and other animals from a circus. They were shipped to the railway station near the studio, where they found tractors hitched to the wagons in place of horses. When the elephants saw that, they balked and wouldn't walk a foot. Finally, circus men explained. The big animals were accustomed to seeing horses draw the cages in parades, and they always heard a band when they walked the streets. They couldn't under-' stand what they were supposed to do without these usual accompaniments. So Browning hired horses and a band and the pachyderms paraded blithely down the street t« the studios. "Where East is East" is a vivid mystery drama laid in the wilds of Siam. It lias an excellent supporting cast, including Lupe Velez in the leading feminine role, Estelle Taylor and Lloyd Hughes.

TV;th a series of night scenes, showing thousands of persons occupying the grandstand of the aerodrome from which the rocket is being shot to the moon, Fritz Lang has just completed "The Girl in the Moon." Germany's foremost character-star, Freda Richard, as well as Lotte Lorring and Willy Forst, have been contracted for leading parts in "The Felon from Stambul" (formerly known as "The Girl and the Levantiner"), in which Betty Amman. Heinrich George, and Paul Horbiger are featured. The film is in course of production at Nelbabelsberg, under the direction of Gust-av Ucicky. Victor McLaglen and Edmund Lowe are working together again on "The Cockeyed World," a sequel to "What Price Glory," their world-famous picture screened in Auckland about two years ago. Speaking of McLaglen, lie recently made a series of personal appearances recently in San Francisco, and what seems to have most surprised his hearers was his decided English accent.

The contrast between fashions to-day and those of the Victoria era, was vividly illustrated recently at Hollywood, when a wardrobe department, usually employed in the making of the very latest in fashionable attire, was called upon to create a rose petal'party dress of the period 1840. The costume, which June Collyer wears in "River _of Romance," is made of shaded pink chiffon, silk, net and taffeta. The large crinoline stuffed skirt resembles an inverted rose. Overlapping petals gradually increase in size and colour down the dress. Each petal is made of chiffon over taffeta, with frilled t tulle edges. Over 115 yards of material was used in the making of the outfit, enough to make 25 modern evening gowns.

"Blackmail," the first all-British "talkie" feature, has far exceeded the highest hopes entertained by the critics and film producers. It shows that England has not only profited by the pioneer work of other countries, but sets a standard which will take some beating. For effective treatment, intelligent use of sound music and dialogue, it is said to equal the best yet seen, while for purity of speech and diction in relation to characterisation it is unexcelled. Snatches of conversation, bursts of laughter, traffic noises and a piano and canary, even whispers, are recorded perfectly.

Enough oil is burned daily in the sound stage heating system to lubricate, a standard automobile in a jaunt three times around the -world. Marion Davies' picture, ''Marianne," now in production, calls for -a scene in which her face is covered with soap lather. As the scene is fairly long, and tlie lather would, dry, the resourceful property boy produced a bowl of frothy whipped cream. After licking all the cream from her lips, Marion "Now, if I only had some strawberries." For some years Hollywood and the film industry in general have been wondering what would happen if the great German director Ernst Lubitsch made a picture with John Barrymore in the starring role —and the answer is "Eternal Love," with Camilla Horn, Hobart Bosworth, Victor Varconi, Mona Rico and hundreds ox others. The story has been taken from Jacob C. Heer's celebrated novel "Der Koenig der Bernina," and it is stated that Lubitsch is the only director who would undertake its translation to the screen.

"Mike fright" is a. new type of nervousness brought about by talking pictures. Actors and actresses who would not turn a hair before the largest and most critical of audiences, have shown unmisakable signs of nervousness in facing the talking picture microphone for the first time. Walter Huston, who has a leading role in "Woman Trap," is an actor, however, Who has never experienced that fear. "I know there is a certain mental hazard in approaching a new experience," said Huston, tut if one will just go ahead and act there is nothing in the new experience that should disturb one. The greatest encouragement that an actor can have is confidence in the part he is playing. If he has studied the part and believes in his character he can act effectively in face of greater obstacles than a microphone."

Motion picture stars usually attain screen prominence by using the stage as a stepping stone, but most directors drift into the cinema fields through business or professional careers. Monta Bell, for example, was a newspaper editor when he decided to try his hand at moviemaking. Tod Browning was a. contortionist when he started his career, and William do Mille was a playwright and dramatic instructor when he launched his professional barque upon screen ways. W. S. Van Dyke was a miner, lumberjack, and newspaperman before he turned his talents to motion pictures, and Lucien Hubbard was night city editor on the New York "Tribune" when he was lured to Hollywood for a directorial career. George Hill was a cameraman before he turned director. Robert Z. Leonard was a quartet basso before joining the film folk, and Fred, isiblo was an explorer when he hearkened to the call of the celluloid adventure. Ed. Sedgwick's talent.? came from a variety of experiences as a basebali player, minstrel man, reporter, army officer, Texas ranger and song writer.

Among the thrilling exploits of the women during tlie Great War, one of the most amazing is 'brought to light in the achievements of Vera Botchkareva, who organised the first woman's regiment of Russia, and which was later known as "The Battalion of Death." Mme. Botchkareva, the daughter of a Russian officer who was killed in the war with Turkey, and who lost her husband during the conflict of 1915, after two years of fighting, ] was first to realise the importance of organisation, and when she was refused permission to join the colours and "pack a gun," sent out a call tor volunteers to join her regiment. Without official orders or sanction from the Government and yet without hindrance from them, she called upon the students of the Petrograd Technical Institution, and in a short time had more than two hundred from this college clamouring for a place in her regiment. Within two weeks she had a regiment of four hundred "troops." Girls from mills and factories rubbed shoulders with those of the nobility. Two weeks later found them in the front line trenches. They did men's work and were more feared 'by the enemy than the regiment composed of men. Aside from their activity in the trenches, they acted as munition runners —constantly under fire —'bringing munitions for rifle and gun to the men or to those in their own regiment. With the signing of th& Armistice, "the Battalion of Death" returned to its native heath. In "She Goes To War," the exploits of the "Battalion of Deatn" will be paralleled to a certain extent. Eleanor Boardman has the featured feminine role in this sound synchronised production, with John Holland, Edmund Burns, A 1 St. John, Margaret Seddon and Eulalie Jensen in the featured roles.

Eighteen new talking pictures are being produced at one Hollywood studio for release during the new season. Dorothy Sebastian, who her way hysterically through "The Green Ghost." was proud of the screen test she made for the part. "Did you see it?" she asked Eddie Nugent, as he emerged from the projection room. "Yep," he replied. "You're a perfect scream!" Lon Chaney is the proud discoverer of a make-up to be applied to teeth which will prevent, gold fillings and porcelain inlays from making the wearer appear grotesque in close-ups. Heretofore the camera proved very embarrassing to stars with dental work, even though the work may never have been noticed by the eye. Special "overcoats" for microphones have been invented by engineers in Hollywood for use when filming outdoor scenes of talking pictures. The "overcoats" were used for the first time when scenes for "The irginian," an alldialogue production, were being filmed on location in California. Often, when making sound pictures on a windy dny. in the"open, the breeze whistling across the opening of the microphone is plainly recorded. "Wind cones' (the technical term for tile "overcoats'"), are devised that clamp over the mouth of the microphone and deflect the wind currents in such a. way that they do not disturb the delicate setting of the apparatus. The equivalent of "good-bye and good luck," constitutes a perfectly legal divorce for natives of the Mohammedan faith in British Sudan, according to Merian Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, who made location scenes for "Ihe Four Feathers," on the actual locale of the story in the Sudan. "Husbands buy their wives," said Schoedsack, "and the law permits them to send them home at .will. When a. husband divorces his wife, however, ho usually returns her wedding dowry to her father. When lie is rich he sometimes gives the wife part of his property, although the division does not nearly resemble the ordinary alimony. One of the chiefs we used in 'The Four Feathers' had seven wives, but had been the husband of fourteen | more. He had twenty-four children."

Eacli star and player of the screen has an ambition to play certain roles before the camera, which tliey may or may not ever accomplish. It has been the life-long ambition of Ramon Novarro to do Sir Galahad for the screen. !No story dealing with the Knights of the Round Table sufficiently screenable lias yet been discovered. Norma Shearer hopes to bring "The Merchant of Venice" before the camera, playing the role of Portia. It is the tragic character of Joan of Arc that Joan Crawford wants to attempt. John Gilbert does not search histories for roles to play. It is only in modern characterisations that he is interested.

The maker of "Passion" and other historical spectacles, of "The Marriage | Circle," "Lady Windermere's Fan," and similar examples of screen sophistication, of the colourful "Student Prince," of the grim masterpiece "The Patriot" now presents 'his conception of a great love story. Lu'bitscrh has made of John Barrymore a roughly dressed, primitive mountaineer. The action takes place in the high Swiss Alps among simple, Godfearing people. Although Camilla Horn is the leading lady, feminine honours are reported to be equalled between she and Mona Rico, who had only eight days' experience in pictures when slie was picked from 'the ranks of the extra players and given one of the year's best screen roles.

The tremendous progress of .sound film technique and the irresistible, advance of the sound film itself has induced Ufa to take up sound film production. This decision necessitated the immediate erection of new sound film studios, as the transformation of prevailing "silent" studios did not prove adequate lor hish quality sound film production, which must'be expected from Ufa.

More than 135 musical numbers are incorporated in the synchronised musical score of "She Goes to War," the new Henry King product ion in .which Eleanor Boardmaii has the principal role. Altschuler, founder of the . Russian Symphony Orchestra, and the conductor who introduced to America- the work of Tscliaikowsky, Uimoky-Korsakau, Rubinstein, Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky, composed the score. For the synchronised sound 'film the original orchestral score was rendered by the Los Angeles Symphony Society, composed of 75 artists.

"The most entertaining we ever did," said Mack, the lazy voiced member of the "Two Black Crows," recently, "was in San Francisco, just after the earthquake and the lire. The people wanted to fOrget and so Hooked into the little burlesque theatre where we were playing, and which was still left standing. We did sixteen performances every day for nearly a week." Moran and Mack recently completed work on their first alltalking picture, titled "Why Bring That Up?" They had to work hard on the production, but not so hard as they did in San Francisco, according to Mack. "Many people used to ask us when we were playing in vaudeville," he continued, "if we didn't get tired of doing four shows a day. I always replied that four shows a day were not anything to the eight or ten shows a day wo had to | give when we started out, and the sixteen shows wc did in San Francisco."

Gloria Swanson received a surprise package 011 board the White Star liner Olympic before sailing for London recently. The movie sta.r did not board the ship until after midnight, and, as usual, there were many gifts of flowers, candies and fruit in her suite when she arrived with several friends. There was one costly looking packago about 30in long and *20in wide that stood out from all the others because of the gilt tasselled blue ribbons and gold coi;ds with which it was bound a.nd the gilt edged card attached bearing a seal. ,It attracted the attention of the movie star, who asked the steward to open it. After the 6ilken tissue paper had been taken off and the gilt-edged cardboard box was opened it was found to contain au artistically designed lam-el wreath. Partly concealed by the green leaves in the centre of the box was a large, musty bottle elaborately sealed, which bore a label inscribed "Bethlehem Rye, Guaranteed Twenty Years Old." The actress was pleased and said: "There is time to open the bottle and have a drink before we sail. Steward, please fetch me some mineral water, ice and glasses quickly." The attendant sped swiftly, while the others in the suite looked eager. After a struggle the actress separated the bottle from the wreath and held it up to the light. But the light did not shine through the amber coloured liquid, because no liquid was there. There wa.s a brief silence, and then a hollow laugh went round the thirsty circle of friends. The actress did not even look at the card to see the name of the joker. But she clasped the bottle firmly in her right, hand and glared. Virginia Bovyker, who sailed with her, thought it might b(jt > good incident for a comio film