THE ANSWER CORNER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 181, 1 August 1936, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE ANSWER CORNER.

REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. B. CUCKSEY (AVellesley Street).—Jackie Cooper is 12 and Jackie Coogan 21. No replies by mail. CURIOUS (Pukekohe). —A 1 Jolson certainly has not retired from likn-iiiaking. His most recent, "The Singing Kid," was shown here only a few weeks ago. Ppi.T.A (Eden Terrace).—"Bunny" Austin's actress wife is Phyllis Konstam. "Death Takes a Holiday" (1033) featured Fredrie March, Sir Guy Standing and Evelyn Venable. DOKEEX C. (Wellesley Street). —Write to Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, care Warner Bros., Burbank, California, U.S.A. Ages you want are:—Shirley Temple 7, Jane Withers U, Freddie Bartholomew 12, Jackie Coogan 21.

"IT'S A BET" (Paeroa).—Shirley Temple actually sings her own songs in her films. Her voice is very like that of Mae Questal, hut she has special singing lessons in the studio each day.

D. SMITH (Christcliurch). — "Klondike Annie" has not been released at any New Zealand centre. Mae West's previous tiiws were "She Done Him Wrong," "I'm Xo Angel," "The Belle of the Nineties" and "Now I'm a Lady."

TE HAI (Ellerslie). —Cast of "Hello, Trouble" not to hand. Addresses you want are Merle Oberon, Fredric March and Herbert Marshall, all at 1041. North Formosa Avenue, Hollywood, U.S.A. I have not known any of them to send free photographs. Ages wanted are:—Merle Oberon -5, Gary Cooper 35, HerbertMarshall 40, Fredric March 37, Fred Astaire, not known.

DOROTHY LEE FAN (Palmerston North).— Many thanks for list. Dorothy Lee's fiong in •'Silly Billies" was "Tumble on Tumbleweed, Tumble On." Write to her care Radio Pictures, 7SO, Gower Street, Hollywood, U.S.A., and to Arthur-Riseoe, care Capitol Films, Boreham Wood, Elstree, England. Be the matter of a photograph exhibition for charity, the stars probably would receive the idea with enthusiasm, but some might not. It is impossible to say definitely. Write to each under separate cover.

XOVARRO FAN (Grey Lynn).—l have not heard of Ramon Novarro's return to Hollywood following his appearances in London, Vienna and Budapest. He said then that hi- was going to take a world yacht cruise through the Mediterranean to India and the East. He. was considered for the male lead in "The Garden of Allah," which Charles Boyer eventually captured. He used to send photographs free to this country, but if he is not back in Hollywood that will probably be the reason why you have received no reply since December. All the others you name, except Sylvia Sidney, Francis Lederer and Fredric March are on my list as having previously sent free photographs. JANE WITHERS' FAN (Takapuna).—Yes, .Tane Withers, Shirley Temple and Freddie Bartholomew all send free photographs to New Zealand. Write to the two girls at Movietone City, Hollywood. U.S.A., and to the boy at 1041, North Formosa • Avenue, Hollywood, where lie. is under contract to David 0. of Selznick International Pictures. "Wife Versus Secretary" is not yet dated for local release. Ages wanted are:—Myrna Loy 30, Greta Garbo 29, Marlene Dietrich 33, Jean Harlow 25. Stars vary in the matter of sending free photographs, and to be quite certain you should always enclose an international money order for 1/ (cost 1/6 at C.P.0.) with your request for a photograph. G.F.D. (Te Kuitl). —Your second question first. Hollywood, yon know, to overcome the evils of the private film agency system (which besets Elstree to-day), inaugurated a central casting office, with which every aspiring film player must be registered before getting any work in any studio. Recommendations of each aspirant to stardom are filed ajjil referred to on occasion. Officials have an excellent idea of what types are suitable and do" not hesitate to encourage or discourage as they think a person's qualities demand. Of your lengthy list of players X have not known Jan Kiepura (since he went to Hollywood), George Raft, Jean Muir, Frances Lederer or Mona Barrie to send photographs free of charge to the Dominion.

Greta Garbo's much-publicised "Camille" may reach "fans" as "The Silent House." Charles Laughton is now making "Rembrandt" (tentative title) for Alexander Korda at the latter's wonderful new studios at Denham, Bucks. "Rembrandt" deals with certain episodes in the life of the master. This is the first of three he is making in a row at Denham. Adele Astaire, dancing sister of the miraculous Fred, and wife of Lord Charles Cavendish—who is a son of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire —lias finally decided tsi accept a flattering offer to make a film in Hollywood, having at long last overcome her "in-laws' " bias against the theatre antl the screen.

"Can you photograph a blush?" "Yes, if you can find a film* star who can blush." —John Hay Whitney, Hollywood producer, in London interview. Marc Connelly's "Green Pastures" has been banned on screens in Britain and Ontario because of a law prohibiting the impersonation of the Deity. "Maytime" is definitely to be filmed in August, with Jeanette Mac Donald, ■Nelson Eddy and Frank Morgan—three of the "Naughty Marietta" cast—in principal roles. Robert Donat's recent "fade-out" from the British picture "Sabotage," in which he was scheduled to appear with Sylvia* Sidney, has nothing to do with his illness excuse. The real reason concerns a little dispute over which of the pair should get top billing.

Elisabeth Bergner and her directorhusband, have been eigned to make three film 3at Denham. The first will be Sir James Barrie's "The Boy David;" the second, George Bernard Shaw's "St. Joan;" and the third, Jack London's "Little Lady of the Big House."

Richard Barthelaess, who came to London on holiday, has been persuaded by Julius Hagen, of Twickenham Films, to make a picture. He will be hero of a Baroness Orczy story, "Spy of Napoleon," adapted from her novel, "The Fall of an Empire." That attractive little red-haired Dutch girl, Dolly Haas, will play opposite him, and Frank Vosper will be Napoleon. The director is a veteran of English films, Maurice Elvey.

Erich Pommer, famous German film producer, will commence work at Denham studios shortly on a film entitled "I Serve," which deals with events in the life of Queen Elizabeth. This film will star Flora Bobson in the role of Queen Elizabeth, with Laurence Olivier playing opposite her "in an important part." The screen play has been written by Clemence Dane. It is from an original story by A. E. W. Mason. William K. Howard has arrived from Hollywood to direct, taking with him the famous Chinese cameraman, James Wong Howe.

The best "short" feature for 1935 was "Three Orphan Kittens," produced by Walt Disney, in the eyes of the powerful American Academy of Motion-Pic-ture Arts and Sciences. This is the fourth successive year that the creator of the Mickey Mouse and "Silly Symphony" films has captured the "best cartoon" honours. In 1932 he won with "Flowers and Trees." In 1933 he won with "Three Little Pigs." In 1934 be won with "The Tortoise and the Hare." Mary Pickford summed it all up in 15 words: "There is only one Disney. He is the greatest producer in the motion picture industry."

James A. Fitzpatrick has for years been one of the mainstays of the supporting programme in every cinema. With the announcement that he is to devote himself in the future to the making of full-length "descriptive dramas," thousands —even millions—of lovers of good "shorts" will bemoan his passing from the "first half" of the bill. He sailed in June for England, where he is to make his initial feature-length film. This is "David Livingstone," with the silent screen star, Percy Marmont, as top-liner. His other films, all with foreign locales, adventurous themes and musical motifs, will include "The Private Life of Shakespeare" (formerly "The Bard of Avon"). "Auld Lang Syne," based on the life of Robert Burns; "The Belles of St. Mary," "Gangway," "All the World's a Stage," "The Love Dream," a picturisation of the life of Franz Liszt; "Tom Moore of Ireland," "Velvet Fingers." a Chopin' story; "The Tiller Girls." "John Halifax. Gentleman," and "The Captain's Table," a sea story.