First Releases For Auckland

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 156, 3 July 1937, Page 5 (Supplement)

First Releases For Auckland

FILM. "Thief in the Night." "The Woman / Love." "Make Way For a Lad])." "Midnight Taxi." "The Holy Terror" "Hills of Old Wyoming."

Within a few minutes the word spread into every stage and office on the H5acre grounds. A messenger entered the set where Robert Leonard was directing a song duet between Allan Jones and Jeanette MacDnnald for a number of "The Firefly." He whispered the news to Leonard. Rather than upset further a troublesome scene that had been blowing up all morning, the director, knowing that both were close friends of .Teati, did not convey the message until the song had been satis- I factorilv recorded. I "Saratoga" was in the final stages, of production and the east was "shooting around" the Harlow sequences, awaiting her recovery. Jean left the cast 10 days ago, with about nine more dav« of shooting requiring her presence. Gable recalled she had complained of feeling ill several days before she actually took leave. He urged her to <»o home and get medical attention, but she declined l>eeau*e her departure would have seriously impaired work on the film at that time. On Saturday, May 29, Jean worked during the morning hours in scenes with Gable, but associates declared she did not act with her usual buoyancy and complained often of feelinjr weak and tired. The company went to lunch shortly after noon and Jean retired to her dressing room. Fifteen minutes later she phoned the set. asking for immediate help. Thoma6 Andre, an assistant director, rushed to her quarters and found her quite ill. Too weak to remove the make-up from her face, she was helped to her car and a studio chauffeur drove her home. She never returned to the studio. Whole Studio Grieved. . Jean was always a congenial and popular personality on the lot, and the particular pet of "grij>s" and mechanics They swore by her because she 'nevei became, "upstage.'' She had a sympathetic understanding of their own little problems and realised, as few other star* did. their importance to a production She was not a person of changing 01 difficult mood?. Between scenes, one was more apt t< find her "swapping" stories, with stagi carpenters and other set workers thai seeking the company of those of highei , professional station. The effect of the announcement was immediately eviden in the atmosphere of the commissary a noon. Usually the big room fills earh with scores of famous and colourful per sonalities. There is always a jolly cor versa tional hum rising above the clatte of china. But there were no such scenes on Mon day. The tables were deserted, save fo a scattering of "extras" and "bit players. Stars kept to themselves eating in dressing-rooms or leaving th lot entirely. They were grieving wit real sincerity the passing of a girl wh had won a reputation for being "regu lar."

PLAYERS. Douglas Fairbanks, jun. \ Paul Muni, Miriam Hopkins. Anne Shirley, Herbert Marshall. Frances Drake, Brian Don'levy. Jane Withers, fohn Eldretige. William Boyd, Ceorge Hayes.

Fairbanks, jun., in Criterion Films. But young Fairbanks has gone otF wooing the magnates of Hollywood temporarily. He is supporting Ronald Col man in "The Prisoner of Zenda." and may make otlier pictures there. Meanwhile. Mr. Hellnian, deprived of his partner and chief star, lias formed a new company. Excelsior Films, which is to work at Denliam in collaboration with Alexander Korda. of London Films. His association with Criterion Films is not affected by this arrangement. J "I am going to be more serious in future," says Jack. "Xot too serious, of course. But I think I should be more rational in my characterisations. 1 Above everything else you must be convincing in films. The Americans get away with purely farcical situations, but they manage to make them look as I though tliev might really happen." | He will not direct himself this time. ' as he has done in recent films. Thorn-! ' ton Freeland. husband of pretty June i ' , Clyde, is to do the job. Jack says he j never wanted to direct his own picl tures. "It is more than one brain can ' do, to act in a film and direct it at the [ same time. You want more than one J mind on a film. Hollywood elects a committee of minds for every pfodue--1 tion it makes." )

NEW FILMS FOR THE COMING WEEK. TYPE. STUDIO. Drama. Criterion. Drama. R.K.O. Drama. R.K.O. Drama. Fox. Comedy-Drama. Fox. Western Drama. Paramount.

GABLE FAX <Mt. RoskilD.—Clark is 3« .vnrs old. fift lin high. J!»olli in weight, luis lirown liair anil grey eyes, and cele- . lirati-s his birthdays on February 1. Cast (with characters) of "Casino Murder Ca«e": l'liilo Vance. Paul I.ukas : Doris, ( Rosalind Fuller ; Mrs. IJewellyn. Alison ; Skipworth : Sergeant Heath. Ted Healy: • Itwky. lonise Fazenda ; I.vnn. Don Cook ; Kineaid. Arthur Hyron : Currie. Kric Blore: Amelia. Isaliel Jewell; Dr. Kane, Leslie Fenton : Virginia. I.oiiise Henry; Dr. Do renins. Chas. Sellon. SAX FKAXCISCO (Ellerslie).—Jeanette Mac-Donald's hair is officially described as "red-gold." She has green eyes to match it. She is r>ft Bin. Clark Gable's next film is "Love on the Run." with Joan Crawford, followed by "Parnell," with Myrna Loy. He was making "Saratoga." in which his notorious racehorse Beverley Hills also had part, when his lending lady took ill and died. She was Jean Harlow. The tilm was not finished and may have to be scrapped. Cast of "Libelled I-ad.v" Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy. William l'owell. Spencer Tracy. | Walter Connolly. Charley Grapewin. Cora i Witherspoon. Lauri Beatty. E. E. Olive. j Otto Vamaoka. Chas. Trowbridge, Spencer Charters. George Chandler. Ureta Meyer. William Benedict. Hal K. Dawson. I Cast of "Forget Me Xot": Bentamino Uigli. Joan Gardner. Ivan Brandt. Hugh Wakefield. Jeanne Stuart, Allan Jeayes, Hay Petrie, Chas. Carson, Richard Gofe. i