THE ANSWER CORNER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE ANSWER CORNER.

REPLIES TO INQUIRIES.

MERLE McMURRAY (Newmarket). —I am told both Merle Oberon and Anita Louise send free photographs. <TAR READER (Mount Albert).— George " Wallace is not coming-to New Zealand in a revue company. Frank O'Brien's revue company is to open its Auckland season at His Majesty's Theatre on July i, for an extended season. njCK NOT WILLIAM (Piha). —Dick Towell is 31, burn in November. He has refused to publish his age in the past, but an enterprising magazine newshound unearthed the. facts. His next film is "Hearts Divided," with Marion Davies. They were teamed in "Page Miss Glory." E. SMITH (Epsom).—"Thoroughbred" runs for §0 minutes arid is nine reels in length. The picture was made entirely in Sydney and on a station in the New South Waies back-country. John Longden is 33 and Helen Twelvetrees 27, but I do not know Frank Leighton's age. Write to John and Frank, c/o Cinesound Productions, Rushcutters' Bay, Sydney, Xdw South Wales. SI'SAX DOi'LE (Takapuna)—Clark Gable is 35 and Charles Laughton 37. Clark was born in Cadiz, Ohio, U.S.A., and Laughton in Scarborough, England. Gable did not appear in "Wings in the Bark"; Cary Grant was hero to Myrna Loj'. Write to Laughton, c/o London Film Productions, Denham, Bucks., England. I have heard o£ his having sent photographs to this country free. To my knowledge, no more Russian tilms are to he shown in New Zealand, although a number have recently been given great attention by the critics of London and New York. "On The Friendly Road" is completed and separate prints are now being made for simultaneous release of the film at Auckland and Wellington within two months or so. TOP HAT (Hamilton). —There may be reasons why those stars have not replied. Allowing for correct addresses, they may choose not to answer in order to avoid offence by refusing free photographs, or, as is far more likely, their secretaries or themselves are "snowed under" with fan mail correspondence and some of it must therefore wait. Give tliein several weeks at the other end in which to reply. Addresses: Robert Allen and Madge Evans, Culver City, Hollywood, U.S.A.; James Dunn and Sally Eilers, Movietone City, Hollywood ; Madoleine Carroll, c/o Paramount Pictures, Inc., 5451, Marathon Street, Hollywood ; Fay Wray, c/o 8.1.P. Studios, Boreham Wood, Eistree, Herts., Kngland; and Jessie Matthews, c/o Gaumont ''British Corporation, Shepherd's Bush, Lime Grove, London. ROSS (Auckland). —-Shirley Temple is seven and Jane Withers nine. Both work for Twentieth Century-Fox Studios, at Movietone City, Hollywood, U.S.A. Freddie Bartholomew was born on llarcii 28, 1924, hi London and brought up in Warminster, Wiltshire, where he gained a local reputation as an infant prodigy in amateur theatricals. In 1!>34 lie went to Hollywood with his aunt, Miss Myllicent Bartholomew, after David Selznick had chosen him for the role of the young David in "David Copperfleld" in the course of a speciul trip to England. He lias since appeared in "Anna Karenlua," "Little Lord Fauntleroy," ''Professional Soldier" and "Captains Courageous" (last 'two coming). He appeared in one British film three years ago. This was Madeleine Carroll's "Fascination." There is no. organisation in connection with this column or page, but both new and old writers are always welcome. ( Moi ' n t Albp.rt)—Gracie Fields will.be seen next in "Up With The Lark" ®id "Say Gracie I" Baby Leßoy was born in Los Angeles on May 12, 1932. "lien he was "discovered" for the screen, Jus father was dead and his mother, I'Wenne.th Winebrenner, was struggling to support her baby, but like a dutiful son that baby is now able to support her. "j "J?''®.''is film debut with Chevalier in •\ Bedtime Story" and was given a -.even-year contract by Paramount, appearing in "Miss Fane.'s Baby Is o /!??/,. " The Old-fashioned Way," "It's a Oift, "Tiliie and Gus" and "The R»u 0n ? rop Kid> " Cast.of "Miss Fane's wiJ> '1 Sto'en" comprised. Dorothea T,?"' Baby Leßoy, Alice Brady, Jack rwlt' nl - Frawley, Alan Hale and ny, Bur sess, while that of "Tiliie IV rV us L. consisted of Alison Skipworth, win le 'ds, Baby Leßoy, Jacqueline P„'; Sl Clifford Jones, Clarence Wilson, °rge Barbier and Edgar Kennedy.

n spite of the possibility of its being anned in the United States, the Bernard aw "Saint Joan" film will be made in "gland, according to Dr. Paul Czinner, 'sabeth Bergner's husband, and direc- ,? r ' "Miss Bergner will certainly make .®. nlm," he said. "Most of the scenes 'J1 be done in a London studio, with outdoor episodes in the Joan of Arc country i n France. Mr. Shaw has a Pproved of the scenario."

. Sarah Bernhardt's hopes of achieving immortality on the films were smashed "} a pathetic fashion when a moving P'cture of the great tragedienne was ousted with laughter in New York. A m ) made in 1911, of the "divine Sarah" Q ueen Elizabeth, aich the actress herself is said to have escribed as representing "my one chance ttU mmo, ' ta 'ity," was s^own a t an of early moving pictures. ( r . the scenes of the great actress porayjng a tragic passage in the Queen's Toa WaS s^own the audience burst into olt/f ?• ' au ohter —so comical was the nt,^ aS lighting, jerky acting and » rapl, y- The picture is one of a bp;» ear 'y examples which are , g circulated by the Modern Ar! film ]ibl ' ai T 5,1 New York to Am • ° nal institutions throughoui oriainT «Ti a n UI ' VCy ° f tlle ci,,ema ' s Great Train Robbery," as • Edison Company as early i is one of the other examples.

Dolores Costello Barrvniore's first film role after her divorce, that of "Dearest" in "Little Lord Fauntleroy," proved such a draw that the studios are literally chasing her. Her next is with George Raft in 'Yours for the Asking."

For the first time in the history of the British screen Liverpool is to feature in a film. This is "The House of the Spaniard," a romantic "thriller" based on the novel by Arthur Behrend, wellknown director of a Liverpool shipping company.

London's famous showman of the stage. C. B. Cochran, has succumbed to the film industry's continued inducements and consented to make for Producer C. M. Woolf a spectacular production in technicolour "with all the highlights of the vaudeville stage." This information has been cabled to New Zealand by Mr. Stuart Doyle.

A film company on location out at sea was forced to abandon work because of a severe storm. Having nothing better to do, several actors and actresses made themselves very comfortable in the bar-room of the hotel in a little coast town. After the fifth dav, the frenzied studio boss sent the director in charge a telegram, "The cost is staggering." Came the reply, "Yes, the cast is staggering, but how did you know ?"

Many themes have been mentioned as the subject of Charles Laughton's first picture to be made at Alexander Korda's new studios at Denham next month, but it is now thought that either Frederick Lonsdale's comedy of modern London, tentatively entitled "Lion of Mayfair," will be chosen, or else a picture based on the life of Rembrandt, the painter. In any case, Mr. Laughton is likely to make both pictures before the summer is out. In the first, twelve "Goldwyn Girls" will figure largely in the cast.

An interesting personality to be seen in the new Bergner picture, "As You Like It," is 20-year-old Kyra Nijinsky, daughter of the great Russian dancer. She takes part in a series of spectacular dances, given by a large corps de ballet, under the direction of Ninette de Valois, which will be a feature of the forest scenes. The music for these dances and for the whole film has been composed by William Walton. Miss Nijinsky has herself crcated more than a dozen ballets. She believes she has evolved a system for recording dances on paper, as one does music. Her father was interested in this problem and spfent years unsuccessfully trying to find a practical solution.

More proof of the Victorian adage that love and success are enemies is afforded in Hollywood. George Brent and Ruth Chatterton, since their divorce, have changed relative importance at the box office. George is now one of the most sought after leading men, while the former "First Lady of the Screen" is very much a back number. And now comes news that Ginger Rogers and Lew Ayres—maried on NoveYnber 14, 1934, when he was a front-ranker, and she was just "breaking in" —are to separate and eventually seek divorce. Ginger is to-day one of the world's greatest film draws, while Lew is starting his career as a director at a minor studio. Ginger announced what Hollywood has long- been expecting, and, true to type, declared: "We have the highest respect and admiration for each other. We shall see each other very often, and under friendly terms." Why do unhappy film couples invariably develop genuine friendships immediately separation or divorce is announced? Better' far, like young, idealistic Anne Shirley, to ask for a contractual clause forbidding marriage for a term of years, and then intending, when financially independent, to retire to home-running.

A new star, 17-year-ol<l Barbara Greene, will play opposite Richard Aden in a British lilm of the building of tlic Canadian Pacific Railway, "The Great Divide."

Broadway's amusing little Ernest Truex is to bo Cicely Courtneidge's leading man in "Everybody Dance," her new British film. Truex's only other film of consequence was "Whispering In The Dark."

Florence Desmond, aetrese, mimic and wife of Captain Campbell Black, longdistance flyer, is to have an important part in "Accuscd," which Criterion Finis will make at Isleworth, Surrey, as soon as Douglas Fairbanks, jun., director of the company, is well enough to play leading man. The "other woman" will be played by Dolores del Rio, who is alrcadv in London.

Upon completion of liis latest film, "Palm Springs," Sit* Guy Standing will go into a leading role in "End of the World," an original story bj r Vina Delniar, author of "Bad Girl." Sir Guy will have as his leading lady in this new film Julie Haydon, who has not been on the screen since she played opposite Noel Coward in the Ben HeclitCharles Mac Arthur production, "The Scoundrel."

The first British all-colour film will be "The Sport of Kings," based on Donn Byrne's novel "The Tale of the Gipsy Horse," to be made in technicolour by New World Films, an English offshoot of Twentieth Century-Fox, at Alexander Korda's new studios at Denham. Lighting equipment for colour production costing £25,000 has already been bought. Several big English race meetings are to be filmed for the picture.

Alice White and Sylvia Sidney are England's two latest acquisitions from Hollywood. The former has been very ill since her arrival. Miss Sidney is to make, first of all, Joseph Conrad's sabotage novel, "The Secrct Agent," with portly Alfred Hitchcock as director. However, since Mr. Hitchcock has just completed a film called "Secrct Agent," starring Madelaine Carroll and John Gielgud, the new picture's title will have to be altered.

None other than Ignace Paderewski, ex-President of Poland, and the greatest pianist alive to-day, has consented to lend his art to the blandishments of the cinema. He is to appear under direction of Lothar Mcndcs—who made "Jew Suss" and the yet-to-be-shown "Man Who Could Work Miracles" —in a picture made at the now famous Korda studios at Denham by Mr. Mendes' new company. Pall Mall Films. It was a most difficult task to persuade the 7">-year-old master to become a cinema hero and film star. His finger-wizardry will be incorporated into a romantic story.

There has recently been completed at Elstree by a new company called Concordia Films, and under conditions of considerable secrecy, a film which is said to represent a new theory of production. "The Robber Symphony," as it is called, has been directed by Dr. Friedrich Felier, of Czeclio-Slovakia, a composer and former pupil of Reinhardt. Story and music have both been written by Dr. Felier, but the music is "featured" instead of any human stars. The music was written first, and the action fitted to it. The film has been "shot" in studios at Elstree, Ealing and Shepperton (on the Thames), and exteriors have been taken on the Riviera, in the Tyrol and on Mont Blanc. There is an orchestra of a hundred musicians.

; Davis and Mary Astor, on Franklin • Avenue; "Ginger" Rogers, Atop Laurel Canyon; Ann Harding, Pyramid Place; ; and Errol Flynn, Lili Damita and Lew Ay res, on Appi an Way. ; Beverly Hills boasts the habitations of Marlene Dietrich, John Boles, Rexford Drive; Loretta Young, Sunset Boulevard; Wallace Beery, the white and green mansion on the corner of Alpine Drive; Jean Arthur, North Beverly Drive; and Grace Moore (when she is here), in Benedict Canyon. Jean Harlow and Michael Bartlett prefer Bel Air —Jean on Bel Air Drive. Bolmby Hills; Mr. Bartlett, Bellaggio Road. Handsome Gary Cooper and his bride reside on Chaparral Street. Brentwood Heights, with Joan Crawford and Franchot Tone nearby neighbours. Santa Monica claims Norma Shearer, the Douglas Fairbanks. Merle Oberon and George Bancroft, all of whom live on the ocean front. The Toluca Lake estates —a real beauty spot—house Dick Powell, A 1 Jolson and Ruby Keeler. Warner Baxter's "fans" will find him 0:1 Nimes Road, West Los Angeles. Watching Them Eat. If you want to eat with the star=. leave the larger, well-advertised restaurants alone, with thd exception of any one of the three Brown Derbys. Victor McLaglen and Edward Arnold, both in the heavy-eating class, frequently dine in "Ptomaine Tommy's"—the preferred of the fourth estate in downtown Los Angeles. The favourite dish here is a "size," Chili and beans over Hamburger, smothered with raw onions/ "Jerry's Joynt" on Ferguson Alley, with its blook-long jade bar, litres all the Warring Tong chiefs in the neigh bourhood, in addition to a large sprinkling of movie folk who enjoy Chinese food (Douglas Fairbanks, Maureen O'Stillivan, Johnny Farrow and Clan dette Colbert). Specialty of the house— spare ribs. "John Arnfeef." off Hollywood Boulevard. is noted for the Russian delicacy shaslik, served on swords, and the frequent presence of Merle Oberon, David