THE ANSWER CORNER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 78, 2 April 1932, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE ANSWER CORNER.

REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. D.G.—Joe 13. Brown is 38 years of age and Clive Brook is 41. The latter was born in London. The ages of Winnie Lightner and Anita Louise are not known. Buck Jones, who was born in Indiana 43 years ago, is married and has a small daughter. ENGLANDER.—Tom Wails is married and has a son, almost of age, who is attending Sandhurst College. Donald Calthrop, one of the finest of English character plnyers, who will next be seen in the mystery thriller, "The Ghost Train," is a nephew of the late Dion Boucicault. "Chili" was the stage and screen "noui do plume" of Miss Bouchier, heroine of "Carnival," until she dropped it in favour of her correct name—Dorothy— because, as a facetious journalist once wrote, it sounded "too much like a kitchen garden." INQUIRER. —There are only two film agencies in Auckland dealing directly with the distributing offices of their own manufacturing companies. These are Paramount and Fox. For the others— R.K.0.-Pathe and R.K.0.-Radio, Warner Bros., United Artists and Uni-versal-—write to their main New Zealand offices in Wellington. There is also an agency in Auckland which will be pleased to supply the particulars vou ask for. This is Australian and New Zealand Films, Limited. The headquarters of Greater Australasian Films is Box 181, Wellington. DOLPHIN.—One of the best-known actors on the English screen, Joseph Schildkraut, has definitely commenced a film career that promises to be as illuminating as that of any other player within recent years. Straight from the stage to great screen parts, he was "made" on the silver screen as Raveual in "Show

Boat," and later as Judas Iscariot in "King of Kings." En passant, this latter film will shortly be released in Auckland wit'i revised sound and colour effects. Sehildkraut then waited a long time before his next role —that of Count Andrea in "Carnival." His work will have yet another opportunity of being witnessed, for he will shortly appear in "The Blue Danube," a British production.

"llich Man's Folly," adapted from an original story, presents George Bancroft in the powerful role of an ambi-tion-mad shipbuilder. It is described as a story filled with dramatic highlights, action and tender human interest. Juliette Compton, F races Dee and the late Robert Ames are also in the picture. Josephine Dunn, Sheila Mannors and Barbara Leonard have joined Jeanette Mac Donald and Genevieve Tobin in lending feminine support to Maurice Chevalier in "One Hour With You," his next screen operetta. The film is now nearing completion at the Hollywood studios under tlio direction of George Cukor. Charlie Ruggles and Roland Young have the comedy leads.

Captivating Marilyn Miller will next be seen in ''Her Majesty Love." This romantic ligrht comedy presents the beloved star of "Sunny" as a barmaid who becomes a baroness, by way of wiles, smiles, twinkling toes and a song or so, all done. in her inimitable way. Ben Lyon plays opposite Miss Miller in "Her Majesty Love," which will probably be one of the musical successes of the year. "Cheaters at Play" replaces "First Cabin" as the title of the new film in which Thomas Meighan is featured. Charlotte Greenwood, William Bakewell and Barbara Weeks are also given important roles. The plot has to do with light-fingered cheaters aboard a transAtlantic liner, and is said to present Thomas Meighan in a role admirably suited to his popular talents. JSlissa Landi, the pretty Austrian girl who was "discovered" in England by Elinor Glyn as the result of a spccial beauty quest, enjoyed a great American boom in "Wicked" and "The Yellow Ticket," both highly-coloured melodramas, which both appeared recently in Auckland. It has been suggested in some quarters that Miss Landi did not get a "square deal" from English film producers, though as a matter of fact she filled leading roles in a considerable number of Elstree films, notably "Underground," "Bolibar," "Ecstasy," "The Price of Things" and "Knowing Men," and had a good deal of English stage experience. Miss Landi, however, seems to be acquiring another reputation, as a novelist. She wrote a novel, "Neilsen," at the age of 17, which was published in London. While in America she wrote a second, "The Helmers," which was accepted for publication over there, and it is thought that she has written a third, ki House For Sale," described as "the autobiography of a modern woman," which has been accepted for publication in London as well as in New York.

"Twenty - Four Hours," which is adapted from the popular mystery novel, converges and alters the lives of six persons in two turns of the clock. Supporting Clive Brook, Kay Francis and Miriam Hopkins are Regis Toonicy, George Barbier, Adrienno Ames and Minor Watson, to say nothing of six-and-a-lialf-months-old Virginia Lee Pickering. "The Man From Mayfair," which is based 011 May Edington's novel, "A Child ill Their Midst," has been acclaimed by Elstree executives as one of the finest British pictures yet produced. Appearing in support of Jack Buchanan are Joan Barry (of "The Outsider"), Warwick Ward (of "Stamboul"), Ellaline Terriss (of "Glamour"), and Nora Swinburne (of Potipliar's Wife"). Irene Dunn was given the enviable rank of star with her work in "Consolation Mwriage," which Aiieklanders will shortly have an opportunity of witnessing. She is well supported by Pat O'Brien, John Ilalliday and Matt Moore, and it is 6aid that an exceptional piece of directing is attributable to Paui Sloane. But head and shoulders above all except the new star stands Myrna Loy, who sets a new standard of film acting. To cap all, the picture is done in technicolour throughout.

An underground information system that rivals the famous "grapevine" employed by convicts is in operation on Broadway. By this mysterious method, minor stage players and others learn of forthcoming opportunities for work at Eastern motion picture studios. The "grapevine telegraph" was particularly brought to the notice of Frank Heath, Paramount casting director, prior to production on "The Cheat," Tallulah Bankhead's newest picture. More than a month before the studio publicity department was given authority to announce anything, Heath was bcsciged by "extras" with requests for jobs in the film. "This is true of practically every picture we make at the New York studio," Heath explained. "Weeks before a production is announced we begin getting applicants for jobs in it. How the information gets out of the studio 110 one knows, because we maintain the strictest secrecy until we're sure that the picture is to be made." Tallulah Bankhead's new vehicle will mark the third time this powerful story has been transferred to the screen. In the I featured case are Irving Picliel, Harvey Stephens, Jay Fassett, William Ingersol and Henry Warwick.

Mae Clarke, one of a trio of noted blondes in "Three Wise Girls," is one of the best tennis players in California. Miss Clarke has won many tournament trophies, and had it not been for her desire for a screen career, she would have been a player of national prominence.

His nimble feet were his fortune but his swelled head proved his failure. Such is the theme of- "Dance Team," a production with those popular screen favour • ites, James Dunn and Sally Eilers, in the leading roles. A large supporting cast includes Minna Gombell, who played with the same stars in "Bad Girl,'' Edward Crandall, Ralph Morgan, Harry Beresford and Nora Lane.

Ben Lyon and Rose Hobart for the first time are cast together on the screen in "Compromised," one of those rare human dramas which appeal to everyone. As a wistful, unwanted girl who slaves in a boardinghouse and later marries the son of a millionaire, and enters society by the back door, Bose Hobart rises to great heights of dramatic power. Her work in "Compromised" places her among the foremost dramatic actresses of the screen.

Will Rogers, probably the world's most popular comedian outside of Charlie Chaplin, is a veteran traveller both in fact and fancy. Off the screen, Rogers travels approximately 25,000 miles a year, mostly by air. In his pictures he travels considerably also. In four 01 his six latest productions, he has made ocean voyages. In "They Had to See Paris," he went to Paris; in "So This Is London," England was his goal; in "Young As You Feel," he is setting out for Paris again at the close of the picture. In "Business and Pleasure," his latest comedy production, he and his film family make a tour to the Mediterranean and wind up in Northern Africa.

A sound version of Cecil B. de Mille'it "King of Kings" will shortly be screened in New Zealand Theatres. The producers have interpreted full musical and synchronised accompaniment which is said to have enhanced its value to a wonderful degree. The causes of the popularity of "The King of Kings" are not far to seek. Among them are the world's greatest story; superb acting of 18 stars; 500 well-known players and 5000 extra people; the restoring of a historical period in buildings, scenes, properties and costumes exceeding in elaborateness even "Ben Hur"; and above all a vision that truly realises the infinite tenderness, humanity and uplift of the New Testament story. 11. B. Warner plays the title role. Among the other characters portrayed arc St. Peter, played l)y Ernest Torrenee; the Magdalene", Jacqueline Logan; Mary Mother, Dorothy Gumming; the Roman Centurion, Montagu Love, Simon of Cyrene, William Boyd, Mary and Martha of Bethany, Josephine Norman and Julia Faye. Other fine characterisations are those of Rudolph and Joseph Scliildkraut as Caiaplias and Judas, and Victor Varconi as Pilate.