THE ANSWER CORNER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 37, 13 February 1932, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE ANSWER CORNER.

replies to inquiries,

jj Yes, Bcbe Daniels' birthday is on January 14. Two well-known stars were born on January I. These are William Haines and Charles Bickford. MEMORIA—WaIter Nicholson Appeared in the first film ever made. This was a short 500 ft reel, produced in 1897. The first "talkie" was also a short reel, called "At the Baseball Game," and was produced by Warner Bros. Leo Carrillo, the famous etage actor, who is generally thought to be a rccent recruit to the screen by reason of his work in "The Homicide Squad" and others, played the leading male role in "At the Baseball Game."

•JVILD WEST. —Tom Mix was very ill ' at the end of November, and up to the middle of December, 1931, with peritonitis contracted after an operation for appendicitis. While lying in the Stanford University Hospital, he was the recipient of messages of sympathy from all over the world, as far away* as Wei-hai-wei, China. However, he has now recovered, and the latest dispatches from the film capital state that great preparations are being made for a series of Tom Mix

Westerners, the first of which to be

released will be "Destry Rides Again." BOZO. —The releases you ask for are as follow: —"Reckless Living," February 26; "Splinters in the Navy," Easter Week; "Carnival," one week later; "Nice Women," March 4; "City of Song," February 20. Marion Marsh's real name, she recently revealed, is Violet Krauth. Only a year ago she

was playing "extras" in Hollywood

studios. Then came a chance in "Young Sinners." A director, seeing her work in this film, suggested that she should take a screen test. She did so; it was watched by John Barrymore, who was then in search of a Trilby for his "Sve'ngali." Marion Marsh's big opportunity had arrived, •nd she took it.

A wedding at high noon in one of Fifth Avenue's most fashionable churches is but one of the glamorous, colourful •vents in the new technicolour comedy, "Waiting for the Bride," which wili be •creened in Auckland'in the near future.

James Dunn and Sally Eilers did such iterling work in "Bad Girl" that they have been assigned to a partnership contract. "Over the Hill," a very old etory refurbished with all the benefits of the talking screen, will be their next picture. This will be followed by "Dance Team." '

So keen is Carl Laemmle, jun. over the work of Walter Huston in the picture, "A House Divided," that he has engaged him for a sccond production. "A House Divided" is now completed, with a cast including Kent Douglass and Helen Chandler. The title of the new Huston picture is "Law and Order." Lois Wil»on will support Huston under Edward Cahn's direction.

"Love Me To-night," Alfred Savoir'a .•tory of a romantic but poor troubadour, who falls in love with an heiress, will serve as Maurice Chevalier's second picture for 1032. He is now working on "One Hour With You," under the direction of George Cukor. Jeanette MacDonald will play opposite the star in both productions, and Ernst Lubitsch .will direct the latter film.

Nice Women" is certainly going to have some nice women in it. There is httle Sidney Fox, beautiful Frances Dee, and clever Lucille Gleason. Her son, Russell Gleason, is also going to be in it, as is Alan Mowbray. Edward H. Knopf, for his first picture, will have the assistance of a splendid cameraman, Charles Stumar. Another triumph is expected from this screen version of the Broadway play.

When "The Maltese Falcon," a new mystery thriller, is released in Auckland film patrons' will see Bebe Daniels in a role somewhat different from her usual type. She is cast as a crook, but a most unusual crook at that. She is, like certain other persons of varying characters, attempting to secure possession of a Jewel-encrusted statuette —the Maltese Falcon, for which men die like dogs. Kicardo Cortez, Una Markel, Thelma Todd and Dudley Digges are the remaining chief players in the film.

The Champ," which will be released here soon, is, to say the least of it, unusual, It has no gangster scenes in no sexiness, no colossal and no song Mid dance routines, such as divide the jnterest in most films. It is just a beautiful story of a small boy's great ove for his ne'er-do-well father. Laugher there is aplenty, and a few genuine tears. This statement is amply explained when it is said that Jackie ooper and Wallace Beery have the two main roles.

Bentley, the producer of the ew British production "Hobson's aoice," and the research department at r" tree Studios, after many weeks spent getting data for the construction of a etting, which depicts a main street in oalford, near Manchester in 1880, have succeeded in reproducing a replica that is oth complete and a miracle of authentic reproduction. The only sources of nformation available were old prints jnd photographs which were found in municipal archives. The note of realism is struck by the Building on a corner of the cross-roads * the form of a homely little .pub"—the "Moonrakers Arms." Here We cameramen have made their headquarters by reason of its congenial atmo- ■ T* 6 ' an( ' a^so by reason of "its position, Much commands a direct view of all y**ts of' this ingeniously constructed set.

The leading lady for "The Spirit of Notre Dame" is Sally Blane, who plays the role of Peggy. Three weeks of intensive football scenes have been made for- this film, which is Lew Ayres' starring vehicle.

William Collier, jun., is one of the youngest stars in "Street Scene," Samuel Goklwyn's picturisatiou of Elmer Rice's stage play, but lrt is one of the pioneers of talking films. Buster, as he is known to his intimates, played one of the leading roles in "The Lion and the Mou.sc," the first screen play with audible dialogue. Comparing "Street Scenes" with "The Lion and the Mouse," he ssvs, is like comparing the first steamboat with the Leviathan.

Will Rogers, the most popular man in America outside "Al" Smith and Colonel Lindbergh, makes a return- in tho film "Ambassador Bill," to be released here shortly. Ho is cast as United States representative in a delightful little Ruritanian monarchy somewhere in Europe, where a wily dictator is trying to secure the power that belongs to the boy king. But "Dollar Bill" Harper has something to say about the matter. Marguerite Churchill and Greta Nissen also appear in the picture.

When Britain's great submarine epic, "Men Like These," which Aucklanders will shortly have an opportunity to view, was screened for the first night at the Regal Theatre, Marble Arch, London, heads of the Navy Department turned up in their dozens, while every seaman and sub-sea sailor in England seemed to be there. Seven of the ill-fated crew of the submarine Poseidon were present, as were also representatives of the Admiralty Board and the Royal Household. Five admirals, including four Sea Lords and two Chiefs of the Naval Staff, were in the audience. Numerous members of Parliament were seen, including two Cabinet Ministers and the irrepressible Megan Lloyd George.

Joan Crawford is now carrying her make-up tilings in a very fancy, specially made box, with a lot of trick comportments. It was a gift to her by ten skilled girl paper-box-makers, who appeared with the star in paper-box factory scenes of "Possessed," her latest picture.

Ramon Novarro turns aviator in liis role with Greta Garbo in "Mata Hari," which George Fitzmaurice is to direct. Novarro scored one of his greatest hits in ''The Flying Fleet" as a navy air pilot. In the new feature lie returns to the clouds as a secret air messenger for tho Russian Government during the World War.

Gracie Fields one time earned her living as a mill hand in Lancashire. Her voice, uatural wit, and power of mimicry wero instrumental in earning her a small part on the stage. From her very first appearance, her personality was so outstanding that she never looked back, and soon became one of England's biggest vaudeville favourites. Miss Fields makes her first screen appearance in "Sally in Our Alley," which is to be screened in Auckland shortly.

The second most valuable musical instrument ever used in a film is a harp upon which its owner, Harpo Marx, plays his characteristic solos in the new release, "Monkey Business." It is valued at over £3000. The famous Four Brothers are all musicians, although comedy is their forte in "Monkey Business." Harpo and Chico used to do musical numbers on the stage, Groucho plays the piano, guitar and harp, while Zeppo is an expert at the piano, 'cello and flute.

Vicki Baum, distinguished Austrian authoress and editor of Germany's foremost fashion magazine, "Die Dame," has signed a film contract. Vicki Baum, who began her career at 10 as Vienna's star harp player, and has since carved out a world-wide literary reputation, has been engaged to work on the motion picture adaptation of "Grand Hotel," the stago success based on her famous novel. Edmund Golding will direct the new picture.

Richard Barthelmess will shortly be seen in a dramatic newspaper story, "The Finger Points." This melodramatic romance is the result of the collaboration of two famous authors, John Monk Saunders and W. R. Burnett, both of whom are familiar with tlie workings of the underworld. Mr. Barthelmess, whose portrayal of the young reporter is both dynamic and moving, is ably supported by Fay Wray, Clark Gable and Regis Toomey.

California tourists were appreciative onlookers at an unadvertised bathing beauty contest, during the filming of "Gold Dust Gertie," starring Winnie Lightner. The event was staged on a comparatively forsaken stretch of beach, but before a scene had been made the onlookers numbered several hundreds. The result is that a large majority -of these onlookers appear in the picture, along with the hired extras. There are few scenes in pictures to which the public is welcomed, but the beach scenes in "Gold Dust Gertie" were the exception.*

What amuses a great comedian? Slim Summerville, featured in "Reckless Living," was singled out to furnish the information, and from personal preference, ho listed tho following laughs of the laugh-makers : To see a man stumble over a curb and then turn round to kick it. To watch an under-the-weather gentleman try to find the sleeves of his overcoat. To see a director go into a fit of rage over something he unknowingly did himself. To sleep soundly on the back of the "set" while the rest of tho coat goes into making repeated retakes of a particularly difficult scene.

To place a sterling value on one's e;yes is a problem few could solve, but Phyllis Konstam, the beautiful British actress, who is scoring much success on the .stage and screen at present, has just insured her eyes for £5000. Miss Konstam, who won instantaneous success in "The Skin Game," has a great future predicted for her as a "talkie" star, and it is only a little over twelve months ago since she made her debut as a crowd artiste in talkies. She is soon to be seen in the title role of "Tilly of Bloomsbury." Incidentally, Phyllis Konstam is the wife of H. W. ("Bunny") Austin, the British Davis Cup tennis star.