THE ANSWER CORNER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1935, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE ANSWER CORNER.

REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. MANUSCRIPT (Milford). —There are a number of companies operating just now in Australia, including Cinesound, whose local agency is in the Guthrie Bowron Buildings, Albert Street, Auckland; Efftee Films, Exhibition Street, Melbourne ; National Films, Expeditionary Films, etc. The latter two are not producing on a major scale, however. HEADER (W.hangarei).—l have never seen a ruling on the pronunciation of Miss Daniels' Christian name, but it Is generally pronounced "Bee-bee," and, you know, usage can often make a thing correct. The exception to this rule is certainly Zasu Fitts' first name, about which you also inquire. In the Pitts-Todd comedies Thelma and Zasu call each other by their Christian names. I have always heard Thelma call her partner "Zayzhyu," with the zh as in azure or pleasure. Anyhow it is not "Zah-zu," as most people call it, and if it came to a nice point the name should be spelt ZaSu in one word. Lew Ayres' surname is the easiest of them all. ■ Call, him "Airs" and you will not be wrong. "One More River" was Diana Wynyard's last film. You see, it was this way. She left Hollywood after completing it in order to appear in a play on the West End. her first stage work since "Cavalcade" catapulted her to fame. She is there now, I am led to believe. Richard Cromwell, born January 8, 1910, in Los Angeles, standing oft lOin in his socks, and possessing light brown hair and blue eyes, began as an "extra" in "The King of Jazz." His films include "Tom Brown of Culver," "Are These Our Children?" "This Day and Age," and "That's My Boy."

William Powell's' favourite sport is bicycling, and between scenes he frequently rides round the studios.

More than twenty extremely feminine Spanish gowns characterise Marlene Dietrich's wardrobe for her forthcoming picture, "Carnival in Spain."

"Straight From the Heart" offers Baby Jane, brilliant three-year-old screen discovery, in her first featured role. The action of the picture centres around a day nursery and the theme deals with politics in a big city. Mary Astor, Roger Pry or, Carol Coombe, Henry Armetta and Grant Mitchell are the other featured players.

. A woman's eager pursuit of the glamour of romance is said to be the theme of the latest Janet Gaynor-Warner Baxter co-starring vehicle, "One More Spring." It is a dramatic modern story of high adventure and modern courage adapted from the widely acclaimed novel of Robert Nathan, which proved a best seller.

The story of "Kids on the Cuff," Max Baer's second film, is based on events of the heavy-weight champion's early life, and is wholly away from the ring. Max wants to appear on the screen as an actor only, but he passed with full approval one scene in "Kids on the Cuff," where Grant Withers —who takee the part of the heavy-weight champion of the world—after an argument, sends him down for the count with a haymaker to the jaw!

Greta Garbo has signed a new contract with her old studio, thus setting at rest rumours to the effect that she contemplated retiring from the screen. The r\ve(lish sts"-'s lastpieture was the film Version of Somerset Maugham's "The Painted Veil," with Herbert Marshall and George Brent as leading men and Richard Boleslavski as director. Several new stories are now under consideration for the star's use, although no definite decision has been reached as to her next vehicle.

On his return from India, Sir Arthur Wellesley, afterwards the Duke o. Wellington, had occasion to call at the Colonial Office in Whitehall. In the waiting room he found a gentleman in mufti with one eye and one arm, with whom he talked, and who was presently called in to see the Secretary, Lord Bathurst. When, later, Wellesley interviewed Bathurst, his Lordship asked him if he knew who the previous sailer was. Wellesley replied that he did not, hut was quite sure from his manner of expressing himself that he was no common man. "You are right," said Eathuret, "and, let me add, he said exactly the same of you. That was. Lord Nelson." This was the only occasion on which Wellington and Nelson met. Regarding the personalities _of these two famous men, it is interesting to note that George Arliss will probably depict them both on 'he screen. Hα rhas recently made "The Iron Duke," and the picture will soon be exhibited in Xew Zealand. Rumour has it that his next story will have to do with the life of Horatio Nelson.

B. Harburgh has been assigned to produce "April in Paris." This story is by Franz Schultz, who is already at work on the screen play. "April in Spring- , will be a musical proc" xtion.

Marian Mansfield sings a duet with Bing Crosby in her first picture, "Here Is My Heart." Miss Mansfield, former Kansas City girl, had both radio and amateur dramatic experience before going to Hollywood. She and Bing Crosby sing "Love Is Just Around the Corner," a number that bids fair to be one of the most popular tunes of the year.

Joel McCrea has been allotted one of the leading male roles in Walter Wanger'e forthcoming psychological love drama, "Private Worlds." Others in the cast include Claudette Colbert, Joan Bennett and Charles Boyer.

Although acclaimed as America's moet talented ballroom dancer, George Raft has never had a leeson in his life. In his next picture, "Rumba," he will be seen in some spectacular dances with Carole Lombard and Margo.

Negotiations have been completed for the purchase of Anthony Thome's novel "Delay in the Sun." This novel was purchased for the use of Binnie Barnes, and Frank Lawton has been assigned as her leading man. Miss Barnes has been in England for the last three months, and is just completing a 12 weeks' tour in pantomime.

Hansom cabs clattering over the cobbles, the rustling of crinolines, top hats waxed moustaches and sideboards form' a picturesque background to the British film, "Wild Justice," a 'thriller set in a country town in the eighties, which has started production at Beaconsfield under the direction of Albert de Courville. The stage version of "Wild Justice" had a successful run at the Savoy Theatre, and Henry Oscar, who played the leading role, is taking the same part in the film. Supporting him is a talented cast, including Olga Lindo, 17-year-old Margaret Lockwood, discovered recently, Martita Hun > *"d others. Although the action of Wild Justice" takes place in a sedate setting, the plot is far from lethargic, as may be iudged from the fact that L. due Garde Peach, famous for his radio "thrillers, is responsible for the screen adaptation.

With her first picture, Margaret Sullavan became a star. "Only Yesterday" required a personality _ like hers, and Margaret Sullavan required a picture like "Only Yesterday" to display te remarkable dramatic ability which she possesses. Margaret Sullavan's second picture, "Little Man, What Now?" demonstrated that her success in "Only Yesterday" was no flash in the pan She was not a one-role actress? she had ability to portray dmmetrically opposite forms , »f emotion and she had the ability to take the Lcond role in a picture if necewary 4s an actress she could take it. Everyone appreciates a Margaret Sullavan ricture Their curiosity and expectancy will be thoroughly gratified in *™ Pnnd Fairv" in which -Margaret Sullavan fs sSd with Herbert Marshall £ a role made famous on the shice by Helen Hayes,

The latest craze in the film capital is riding on push bicycles.

Myrna Loy, whose recent screen successes have been as a married woman, ia single in real life.

Two thousand extras were employed by Walter Wanger, producer, in iris production of "The President Vanishes," a political war drama.

Carl Brisson will be seen with a beard in sequences of his forthcoming picture, "All the King's Horses." Brisson's leading lady, Mary Ellis, is a newcomer to the screen.

Tullio Carminati, leading man for Grace Moore in "One Night of Love," has been given the lead opposite Mary Ellis in the Dwight Taylor story, "Two on a Tower," which Lewis Milestone will direct.

Even though Roscoe Karns has never been inside a newspaper office, he has devoted actual years of his career to that type of work. Approximately fifty roles on the stage and screen either as a newspaper reporter or press agent have given him a good working knowledge of the business he feels. He is now entering on another newspaper role Hi support of Cary Grant and Myrna Loy in "Wings in the Dark."

Thousands of massed choristers are to sin" Gregorian chants—the prevailing mulic of the Middle Ages—in Cecil B. Dβ Mille's new spectacle, Ine Crusades." Scenes of Gothic interiors and inspiring glimpses of marching warriors will make this picture one of the mo=t unusual ever produced. Henry Wilcoxon will play Richard Coeur de Lion, while C. Aubrey Smith has the role of the Hermit, and lan Keith that of Saladin.

Famed and beloved in Hollywood as "The Great Grandaddy of Motion Picture Actors," Dick La Remo, 70 years old, the man who played the leading role in the first motion picture ever made, is still as hale as an oak, and actively engaged in films. To those who eay he is old, Dick, currently featured in "Ruggles of Red Gap," with Charles Laughton, Mary Boland, Charlie Ruggles, Zasu Pitts and Roland Young, responds by showing them his skill as a juggler. He balances a 1301b Avagon wheel on his chin.