THE ANSWER CORNER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 235, 3 October 1936, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE ANSWER CORNER.

REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. CURIOUS (Te Aroha). —Sylvia Sidney played that role in "Behold My Wife." TALKIEGOER (Heme Bay).—Many thanks for information ; greatly appreciated. H. GALLAGHER (Papatoetoe).—No, Paul Robeson was not in the earlier "Show Boat" film. INTERESTED (Takapuna).—"The Hayseeds" (Come to Town), a story by Beaumont Smith, of New Zealand, was released at the Regent Theatre two years or so ago. Cecil Kellaway was the star. STARITJS (Takapuna).—Cast of "The Forbidden Territory": Alexei Leshski, Gregory Ratoff; Sir Charles Farringdon, Ronald Squire; Valerie Petrovna, Binnie Barnes; Marie Louise, Tamara Desni; Michael Farringdon, Barry Mackay ; Rex Farringdon, Anthony Bushell; Jack Straw, Anton Dolin; Fenya, Marguerite Allan; Runoff, Boris Ranevski. STREET SINGER (Auckland). —I have no list of the songs sung in "The Street Singer," but "The Whistling Waltz" and "Just a Poor Street-iSinger" were at least two of them. I have no biographical details of Arthur Tracy, but expect some in a few months. Will you be interested enough to write again then? Victor Jory was born in Dawson City, Alaska, on November 23, 1902, is 6ft high, and has black hair and brown eyes. Yes, he is married. JAN (Wairoa). —You should find Leslie Banks c/o Gaumont-British Corporation, Shepherd's, Bush, Lime Grove, London. He should send his photos free of charge to New Zealand. Joseph Schmidt may not, however. Write to him c/o 8.1.P. Studios, Boreham AVood, Elstree, Herts., England. No details are available regarding his film, "A Star Fell from Heaven." His first, "My Song Goes Round the World" did not receive the hearing it deserved in New Zealand. PAST FAMOUS FILM . STAR (Helensvllle). —Charles Chauvel's amibitious film "Heritage"—never released in Auckland—had a cast comprising Peggy Maguire (heroine), Frankly Bennett (hero), Joe Valli (comedian), Frank Harvey (Governor Phillip), Norman French (Governor Mncquarrie), Ann Wynn or Mrs. Charles Chauvel (Mrs. Macquarrie), Margot Rhys (heroine Jimmy Morrison's first but not final choice of brides). You are mistaken about Peggy Maguire going to Hollywood; it was Mary Maguire who played in "The Flying Doctor." But please don't ask me if Mary is Peggy! I have no idea of Peggy's present address. DICK POWELL FAN (Parnell).—Your hero was born in Mountain View, Arkansas, 25 years ago. He earned his living before becoming a screen actor as a telephone company employee - by day, and a banjo player in a small-town theatre by night. He made his film uebut in "Blessed Event," which was never shown in Auckland. Other early pictures of his include "The King's \acation" (George Arliss) and "Too Busy to Work" (Will Rogers), then his famous musicals—"42nd Street," The Gold Diggers of 1933," "Footlight Parade," etc. In "The Unguarded Hour" Henry Daniell played the role of Hugh Lewis, husband of Diana Roggers. Corbal, in "The Marriage of Corbal'," was played by Hugh Sinclair. •GABLE-DIX FAN (One Tree Hill).— Robert Taylor was born in Filley, Nebraska (age not known). He will probably send you a free photo if you write to him at Culver City, Hollywood, U.S.A. Jean Parker is very elusive. She was at Culver City at first, then went to England for a spell and, on her return * to America, alternated between Hollywood and New York, where her husband earns his living as a journalist. Perhaps she has never received your letter of so long ago. Yes, Dick Powell and Michael Whalen have previously both sent their pictures to New Zealand fans for nothing. The latter's address is Movietone City, Hollywood, U.S.A. Claudette - Colbert is 31 years of age. Clark Gable stands 6ft lin. He has about 30 films to his credit to date. Cast of "Under Two Flags": Ronald Colman, Claudette Colbert, Rosalind Russell, Victor McLagien, Herbert Mundin, Gregory Ratoff, Nigel Bruce and C. Henry Gordon.

Shirley Temple has joined the ranks of Ashing prevaricators, and is yarning abouff the 111b sa.lmon she caught during her recent British Columbia vacation. i Jean Harlow's illness —caused by over-exposure to the sun—is delaying "shooting" on "Libelled Lady," also the longed-for vacation of Spencer Tracy, 'who cannot get away until it is completed. Lili Damita refused a stage assignment in New York because it was too far away from Hollywood and her husband, but Flynn is now planning a solo trip to Borneo to film backgrounds for "White Rajah," o£ which he is author and leading man. ■And is Hiss Damita annoyed? Und&r the terms of a merger announced j by John Hay Whitney, Selznick International has absorbed Pioneer Pictures, and. resources of the latter company have been turned over to David O. Selznick. In his continuing capacity as president, Mr. Selznick will have complete charge of all production, and will direct the expanded activities of the new major film company, with no change in tiie present personnel, save the addition of Merian C. Cooper as vicepresident. Cooper, noted in the industry ® 5 the maker of "Four Feathers," 'Grass," "Chang," and "King Kong," is fo produce a number of films annually, future films from the company, accordlng to Mr. Whitney, who is chairman of the hoard, will be about evenly divided between technicolour and black-and-white.

"Daddy married Paulette Goddard a year ago—but don't tell anyone. They want to keep it a. secret," said Charles Spencer Chaplin, jun., to a schoolmate recently. Jeanette Mac Donald has designed a special resting board to protect her bustle between scenes in "Maytime." She lies fate downwards with her head sticking through a hole just large enough to take it. Who says stars don't earn their salaries 1

Allan Jones and his bride, better known as Irene Hervey, are back at work in. Hollywood after their honeymoon. ■ The movie team of Mary Boland and Charlie Buggies gets a new lease of life with the purchase of "Too Young to Die." It will be the tenth vehicle for the hilarious -pair. Adolph Zukor avoids all possible friction by giving top billing to each of the two alternately. Apparently overcoming her muchpublicised prejudice againet Hollywood, Grace Moore recently arrived at the film colony to make "Interlude," again for Harry Cohn, who made her famous in "One Night of Love," "Love Me Forever" and "The King Steps Out." She brought her husband, Valentin Parera, who is also her singing instructor.

Gail Patrick announced her engagement—marriage within a few weeks— to John King last month. Bing Crosby wants posterity to remember him, and has commissioned a sculptor, Ernest A. Yerbysmitli, to make several bronze busts of his classic features. John Barry.more is seriously ill in hospital, but no details are given out. Nobody, not even lovely Elaine Barrie, his established fiancee, is allowed to visit hiin. Earl Carroll, producer of the famous Broadway "Vanities," is expected to go to Hollywood. His first assignment for Darryl Zanuck will be a million dollar epic titled "Twentieth Century Follies." "People in Hollywood think they're being ignored when they're merely forgotten," remarked a certain poniardwitted Mr. G. B. Shaw after his recent Hollywood visit. Hollywood gossip writers have ascribed more than casual interest in each other to the frequent public associations of Colin Tapley, young New Zealander, and Gail Sheridan, promising young ingenue featured in "Wives Never Know." Tallulah Bankhead may accept a flattering contract from Darryl F. Zanuck to return to the Hollywood from which she departed in high dudgeon a few years ago, vowing never to return. W. C. Fields has a room in his home filled with bank books, each containing anything from 10 dollars to 10,000 dollars, invested in small banks all over the world. The deposits, made during Bill's 30 years of vaudeville travel, are to make certain of comfort in his old age. Douglas Fairbanks and his Ibride, the former Lady Sylvia Ashley, will soon be off on that long-talked-of trip to China. Since his marriage, Doug, has been much less restless than of yore, and as far as outside observers can determine, his third marriage bears the earmarks of permanency. He has shipped all his personal belongings, including two high-priced British-made cars, from England, so it looks as though California will be his permanent home. So has his wife, even to a limousine which still sports a coronet in gold and the lettering "S.A." on the doors. They have taken a home permanently in t?N film colony and are entertaining lavishly, but Mary Pickford still reigns as queen at "Pickfair," although she seldom entertains.

Probably the largest audition ever lield. for a* film in England was conducted in a West End theatre recently. A thousand "extras" were signed to appear in Erich Ponimer's production, Fire Over England." Film agencies, Labour exchanges and the British Legion headquarters were asked to send along able-bodied men to take the par 1 ; of sailors and soldiers required in military and naval scenes for this Elizabethan production. Over 2000 applicants were interviewed in one day, and half that number were selected for the crowds required. More than 100 men were chosen from the British Legion, and large numbers were enrolled from •labour exchanges throughout London. Section leaders, consisting of ex N.C.O.'s were appointed, and when the scene s were shot they took charge of groups of men for rehearsal purposes. This great crowd will be used in scenes showing the camp at Tilbury, where Elizabeth has assembled her army and waits news of the coming of the Spanish Armada, already reported in the English Channel. Tilbury Fort can be seen in the background. Queen Elizabeth, mounted on a white charger, rides at. the head of her nobles. About 800 soldiers in uniform and 200 sailors are used in the scene, also several hundred horses.