News of the Cinema

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21148, 26 April 1934, Page 7

News of the Cinema

Entertaining Films for City Theatres A gay romance in the approved Continental manner, "By Candlelight," will be one of the principal attractions at city picture theatres (luring the coming week. Elissa Landi and Paul Lukas are the stars of the film, which will be shown at the Regent. That charming actress. Kay Francis, will be seen with Edward G. Robinson, who is popular in the United States in "heavy" parts, in »'I Loved a Woman" at the Plaza. "I Loved a Woman" has a dramatic story of political and commercial rivalry in the America of pre-war days. The Theatre Royal will present another double-feature programme, which will include "The Silk Express," a mystery drama, and a revival of the popular Gracie Fields comedy, "Looking on the Bright Side," which attracted large audiences when shown in Christchurch early last year. Another revival which should prove popular will be the screening at the Civic of "In a Monastery Garden," the musical romance starring John Stuart and Joan Maude. A cheerful comedy of artist life in Paris, "Girl Without a Room," will be shown at the Crystal Palace. "A Cuckoo in the Nest" will be shown for a third week at the Tivoli Theatre before making way for the Dorothea Wieck film, "Cradle Song," which has been booked for that theatre for some time. At the Majestic on Monday a thrilling detective story, "The Bureau of Missing Persons," will be shown, while "To the Last Man," a screen version of a well-known Zane Grey story, and "One Sunday Afternoon," starring Gary Cooper and Fay Wray, will be shown at the Liberty Theatre. At the Grand "Carolina," with Janet Gaynor and Lionel Barrymore, which was very popular when shown at the Regent a few weeks ago, will be revived. Programmes for the coming week are as follows: REGENT— "By Candlelight," starring Elissa Landi and Paul Lukas. Universal. Saturday. PLAZA—"I Loved a Woman," starring Edward G. Robinson and Kay Francis. First National. Saturday. THEATRE ROYAL—"The Silk Express," starring Neil Hamilton and Sheila Terry. Warner Brothers. "Looking on the Bright Side," starring Gracie Fields. British Imperial Pictures. Revival. Saturday. CRYSTAL PALACE—"GirI Without a Room," starring Charles Farrell and Marguerite Churchill. Paramount. Saturday. CIVIC—"In a Monastery Garden," starring John Stuart and Joan Maude. British Dominions. Revival. Saturday. MAJESTIC—"Bureau of Missing Persons," starring Bette Davis, Glenda Farrell, and Lewis Stone. Warner Brothers. Monday. TiVOLI—"A Cuckoo in the Nest," starring Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn. Gaumont-British. Third week. LIBERTY—"To the Last Man," starring Randolph Scott and Esther Ralston. Paramount. "One Sunday Afternoon,' starring Gary Cooper and Fay Wray. Paramount. Saturday. GRAND—"Carolina," starring Janet Gaynor and Lionel Barrymore. Fox. Revival. Saturday.

COMING FILMS New Pictures for Ghristchurch Among the films of unusual entertainment value which are to be seen in Christchurch in the next few weeks are the following:— Regent Theatre "Dinner at Eight," starring Marie Dressier, Lionel Barrymore, Wallace Beery, Jean Harlow, Edmund Lowe, and Jean Hersholt. Famous stars in adaptation of successful play. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. "Alice in Wonderland." starring Charlotte Henry. Gary Cooper, and Richard Arlen, Star production, based on Lewis Carroll's book. Paramount. "It Happened One Night/ starring Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. Romantic story told with drama, action, and comedy. Columbia. Plaza Theatre "Moulin Rouge," starring Constance Bennett. Spectacular song and dance film, which has been very successful abroad. United Artists. "Nana," starring Anna Sten, the Russian star, who is said to be the equal of Greta Garbo as an emotional »ctress. United Artists. Crystal Pal am e "White Woman," starring Charles laughton, Carole Lombard, and Charles Bickford, Jungle melodrama,

with Laughton playing a "tough" villain. Paramount. "Too Much Harmony," starring Bing Crosbic, Jack Oakie, and Judith Allen. Singing and dancing show with story of the theatre world. Paramount. j Civic Theatre j "Bitter Sweet," starring Anna Neagle l and Fernand Graavey. Adapted from Noel Coward's successful period play and produced on a spectacular scale. Was very well received in both London and New York. British Dominions. Theatre Royal "Roman Scandals," starring Eddie Cantor and Gloria Stuart. A spectacular, large-scale farce reported to be as good as "The Kid from Spain." United Artists. Tivoli Theatre "Cradle Song," starring Dorothea Wieck, Evelyn Venable, and Sir Guy Standing. A famous Continental actress's second film. Story of convent life in Spain. Paramount. "Only Yesterday," starring Margaret Sullavan and John Boles. Romantic drama of young girl's hero worship. Universal. "Queen Christina," starring Greta Garbo and John Gilbert. Spectacular historical drama which was greeted with chorus of praise by English and American critics. Majestic Theatre "Take a Chance," starring James Dunn and June Knight. Spectacular musical comedy with several new songs. Paramount. "Bombay Mail," starring Edmund Lowe, Ralph Forbes, and Shirley Grey. Murder mystery story. Universal. Liberty Theatre "The Worst Woman in Paris," starring Adolph Menjou and Benita Hume. Sophisticated comedy-drama. Fox.

PUBLIC TASTE BETTER FILMS WANTED ARCHBISHOP'S OPINION OF THE CINEMA (»8011 OUR OWN COEiiE'SI'ONDEKT.) LONDON, March 15. The Archbishoip of Canterbury, speaking at the annual dinner of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association of Great Britain, appealed to the industry to supply the people with entertainment which stimulated their best, not their lowest, desires. He had a remarkable reception. "I am wholly unacquainted with the stars of your firmament," the Primate said, "and, indeed, when I see their pictures in the newspapers I cannot see that one star ditiers very much from another. But I know you are discovering and developing a great art, and that you wield a more powerful influence than almost any other on the life and character of the British people. Can you wonder that I ask that this immense power should be used with a corresponding and increasing sense o£ responsibility? "What I want to ask you to remember, if. I may. is that the public always wants something a few degrees higher than the servants of the public suppose. That is true of the platform, the pulpit, the press. It is also true of music and drama. What I would plead is this: That your experiments as a great self-respecting art should be more and more to discover just where you can reach the public at a high level and keep them there with your entertainments. "I believe, too, thai there is really more profit in providing for the higher j level than there is in pandering to the I lower. I am sure you have found out that the British public is really tired I of wallowing in the Hollywood of five ' or 10 years ago. I rejoice to think I that our British films arc rapidly in- j creasing in quantity and improving in quality." i , i j FAITH IN THE j | FUTURE | j FAMOUS DIRECTOR'S FILM ! j FORECAST ' Looking back on 20 years of motion picture achievement, which ho celebrated recently, Cecil B. de Millc sees the future of the industry in the continuation of its tremendous strides in progress. Voicing his views and faith in the future, the noted Paramount i director said: "The end of 'the care- , lessly-made picture is in sight. The year 1934 will undoubtedly s:?e a greater decline in the "programme" \ picture in favour of films carefully designed along every line of good taste. | Every year a new lesson is learned, ; but the one precept that never fails ' to be true is that a good picture will • always be well received by tlie pub- j lie. During 1933 particularly the pub- j lie displayed shrewd taste in support- j ing pictures which have been produced with great care and the finest j of production materials." I FILM NOTES | New Productions "Mutiny on the Bounty"' and "Men Against the Sea,"' both novels by Charles NordhofT and James Norman Hall, have been acquired by MGM. * + * Nils Asther is to play the lead in "The Humbug," a play by Max Marcm, which he himself will direct for Universal. "The World Moves On," a spectacular new Fox Film production, was written by Reginald Berkeley, who adapted "Cavalcade." the prize-win-ning picture of 3033, to the screen. Tests for the principal roles in Edgar Allan Poe's story, "The Black Cat" are being conducted at Universal City under the supervision of Edgar Ulmer, who will direct. Boris Karloff will be starred in this picture, with Bela Lugosi in the next important role. * • * Douglass Montgomery, known to audiences in Universal pictures as Kent Douglas, is to play opposite Margaret Sullavan in "Little Man What Now?" one of Universal's big filmF for this year. Hollywood was surprised recently by a full-page advertisement in a film trade paper which carried the following announcement signed by John Gilbert, screen actor: "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will neither oiler me work nor release mo from rny contract." Mr Gilbert and the studio have been at odds for several months. James Whale, the young English director, who returned to the United States recently from England, brought with him the completed script of "A Trip to Mars," by R. C. SherrifT. with whom he conferred while abroad. Whale will direct "A Trip to Mars" when it goes into elaborate production at Universal City in a few months" time. Karloff will probably be starred. * + * Elizabeth Bergner is going to Hollywood. She has been signed by Twentieth Century to appear in a screen version of "Escape Me Never," in which she is at present playing on the London stage, as soon as the run of the play terminates. "Uncertain Lady." with Edward Everett Horton and Genevieve Tobin in the featured roles, went into production at Universal City recently, under the direction of Karl Frcund. In addition to the featured players, it has a cast including Miss Mary Nash, Herbert Corthell, George Meeker, Dorothy Peterson, Paul Cavanagh, and Renee Gadd. Renee Gadd is a beautiful young English actress who went to America in a musical comedy entitled, "Be My Love." Carl Laemmlc, jun., saw her in that and immediately offered her rm opportunity in pictures in Hollv wood. She has already appeared "in a number of British pictures. ■t * * "With the selection of Alec Francis and Edwin Mordant, from New York, the cast of "I'll Tell the World," starring Lee Tracy, is complete. "I'll Tell the World" is a story about the fortunes of a newspaperman employed by the world's most extensive newsgathering service. Clem Randau has been assigned by the United Press as a contract man to see that the machinery of news gathering is represented in a thoroughly authentic manner, and for this purpose .scenes were taken in the headquarter* o£ the

FILM ACTORS' RECORDS

HUGE OUTPUT OF PICTURES STARS' HUNDREDS OF PARTS Some actors can claim to have appeared in more than 200 films, although the majority of stars can hardly claim 100, and even some of the veterans have not yet established a "century." It has not been proved who has made the record number.of films, but Matt Moore says he has appeared m at least 500 pictures. Nobody has hitherto claimed quite so many films, and this surely gives the Moore brothers the record for film families. Between them they have made more than 1000 pictures. For the next "family" place the Becrys have a strong claim. Frances X. Bushman has made about 420 films, and J. Farrell Mac Donald has also made more than 400 films, and some persons in Hollywood declare that he is the holder of the "greatest output" record. This may be so, but there is no officially confirmed recordholder, due to the fact that stars work for so many different companies during their careers. Tom Mix's Record Tom Mix is one of the stars who have kept personal records .and the king of Westerns claims 370 principal parts. He adds that he wrote 100 of his films himself, and personally directed more than 100. Feminine stars cannot claim such astonishing figures, because the career of an actress is usually shorter than that of an actor. Betty Compson, however, claims more than 300. Betty has a "one year" record. In 1929 she made 11 films, and at one period worked in three films simultaneously. Of the great "United Artists," Chaplin. Norma Talmaclge, Picklord, Fairbanks, and Swanson, it is plain that Norma Talmaclge can claim the most parts. She has played about 250. The others, who appeared in smash-hits at infrequent intervals, take no place among the big records. Their output added together is less than that of a single veteran who has worked consistently in many varied parts. Harold Lloyd, however, who might be placed in the same class as the above, claims 3fio films. Many of these were his early two-crelcrs in the name of Lonesome Luke. It has been said in Hollywood that the feminine- "greatest output" record belongs to Zasu Pitts. She has made more than 300 films, and this is her sixteenth year in the business. It is true that many have been tworcelers. but during rccerX years she has had an amazing numbe"*-?? parts. Without a doubt, John Ti'Ti'ijan has the record for consistent -villainy." He has been "killed" in 40 different ways, varying from being shot, stabbed, and hammed, down to being burned in oil! But, like Zasu, his name has appeared in a striking number of casts iti recent years. Among comparatively young stars, Richard Alien is doing well, having made more than 150 films —more than Clive Brook and Clara Bow. But Neil Hamilton, a week younj'.er than Alien, rivals this number.

BRITISH FILM NEWS

Studio Notes Greta Nir-;-o:i, afler starring in three British International linns—"Red Wagon," "On Secret Service," and "Contraband"—is to appear in a new revue "Why Not To-night?" at the Savoy Theatre. Afterwards she will return to Elstrce to appear in further British International films. Many thousands of readers of Warwick Deeping's famous novel will look forward to the British and Dominion talking version of "Sorrell and Son" in which H. B. Warner takes tiie leading roJe. The silent version of the film, in which the same actor starred, proved a sensation in both England and the United States more than five years ago, and when British produce!:; decided to make it into a talking picture, IT. B. Warner was again engaged. Margot Grahame, as Mrs Stephen Sorrell, Winifred Shotter, and Hugh Williams are other members of an outstanding cast. "General John Regan" is an adaption of George A. Birmingham's Irish story of a village which erected a statue to a famous soldier-son, who actually existed only in the fertile imagination of a practical-joking American tourist. Henry Edwards plays "the light-hearted Dr. O'Grady," who takes up the American's joke and persuades the whole village of Ballymoy that it gave birth to a general who liberated Bolivia. Chrissie White—who in private life is Mrs Edwards—makes a welcome reappearance in the romantic role opposite her husband, and a number of Irish players, associated with the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, play in the supporting roles. The film is to be released by British Dominions Films. Jack Buchanan started by throwing up a job as junior clerk in a' Glasgow auctioneer's office to appear in a revue, but his stage debut failed to create any enthusiasm, and he departed for London, where, after weeks of hardship, he obtained a chorus engagement at 30s a week. It was in the chorus that he acquired his exceptional dancing ability, and his chance came when he understudied a revue principal who fell ill just before the start of a big provincial tour. He next went into management, producing "Battling Butler," which was a success on four continents. He starred in a number of British films, before he appeared for American companies in "Paris" and "Monte Carlo." Since returning to England he has starred in "Man of Mayiahy' "Goodnight, Vienna," "Yes, Mr- Brown," an 4 «*Thatts a Goo&Gid.'

ART OR FUN IX THE FILMS?

Decline of Slapstick Comedy A CRITIC'S GRIEVANCE The Paramount people—whom the gods preserve!—have again given us something to laugh over in "Six of a Kind," wrote Mr C. A. Le Jeunne, film critic oi" the London "Observer," recently. It is a crazy affair- of an automobile trip across America, in which Boland and Ruggles, Burns and Allen, Skipworth and Fields, and a Behemoth of a dog get all tangled up with a bank robbery and stolen notes in a suitcase. There is not one logical sequitur in the film from start to finish, except the irresistible laugh following the irresponsible joke, and the satisfied sense of a gag well prepared and neatly delivered. Our gratitude for "Six of a Kind" is perhaps out of proportion to the virtues of the picture itself, in an industry that is forgetting more and more about the art of laughter. Time was when comedy was the backbone of the movie programme. The greatest star of the screen, and—whicn is far more important—the greatest draw in the movie world, was a funny little man with flat feet and a derby hat, whose art consisted largely of the nice application of domestic missiles to the right spot on the anatomy. But to-day—or so we are told—straight laughter isn't box-office. If we are to have comedy at all, there must always be a hazard in it, a kind of dormitory giggle behind the joke, if it is to satisfy the cravings of a modem audience for entertainment. Weakened Constitution The motion picture has grown less and less robust in constitution since the day when art came in and fun went out. I am inclined to think that the Little Cinema movement, the montage fichool, the avant-garde cinema, and the non-commercial film magazine are doing more to weaken the stamina of the movie than all the inflation of the Hollywood star. I have the deepest respect for the sincerity and enthusiasm of the workers in the Little Cinema. They have no axes to grind. They get little enough out of their labours, heaven knows, except the glow of achievement and a certain amount of mutual esteem. But they have a masterly capacity for turning what was warm and living into a cold slab of dead culture. After they have finished with a film there is nothing left but to find a museum for its bones. We talk too much and too grandiloquently of art in the movies. Anyone who has had experience of studio conditions—which are the same, broadly

speaking, in every country of the world—knows that art in films is generally a by-product of fortuitous circumstance. Many of the effects that we admire most on the screen have been the result of a forced economy in the script, a sudden whim on the part of an actor, a lucky break of nature in an exterior shot, or a judicious juggling with film in the cutting room. Half the directors who arc to-day accepted as great artists have won their reputation through the skill and labour of other men. Fashionable Technicalities It is fashionable to-day to know a great deal about the technicalities of film-making. We talk about the pan, and the dolly-shot, and the wipe as if we went out and practised them ourselves every morning before breakfast. We are experts on dubbing and post-synchronisation, and we have more theories about constructive cutting than Pudowkin himself. We go from prophet to prophet listening to the gospel of art and documentary, and we are all potential Pabsts by the time we have learnt to spell our names in lower case. But, in the meantime, the original movie, the good rough-and-tumble movie of the people, is going, soft on us. We don't laugh as we used to. We don't get up the real hrill of suspense any more. The producers who can give us art give us art. The others give us sophistication, and they all unite in giving us camera angles. Only in the cartoon is there any regular survival of the crude, vital, common touch of the motion picture of the slapstick era. I like intelligence in entertainment as much as the next man. I like to see fine craftsmanship on the screen, good acting, good camera work, and good direction. But I like my pictures to be alive, not beautiful museum pieces. And at the moment I would rather see the cinema producing good comedy with a flying kick in it than all the rarest art collections of the passionate avant-garde.

It looks as if film producers, having exploited the past in "Catherine the Great," "Queen Christina," and half a dozen productions yet to come, are now about to exploit the future. Alexander Korda is to make a picture based on Mr H. G. Wells's "Shape of Things to Come," and now GaumontBritish announce "The Tunnel." "The Tunnel" of the picture is a TransAtlantic one, through which trains carry passengers from France to America in 24 hours. Bernard Kellerman, the author, imagines whole towns being built at the terminal points, hundreds of thousands of men at work, booms in the world's iron, coal, and steel industries, and then a mishap which inflames public opinion against the man responsible for the tunnel. He is thrown into gaol, but lives to see his scheme successful. Maurice Elvey will direct, Hhe cast will include 3000 extras.

MUSIC AND DRAMA

Coming Productions Saturday, until May s—Christchurch Amateur Operatic Society, "Les Cloches de Corneville," at St. James'. Saturday, until May I—"Cat's Cradle," Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society, at Radiant Hall. May s—Christchurch Male Voice Choir's concert, at Choral Hall. May 17 and 19—Christchurch Harmonic Society's concert. In May—Christchurch Orchestral Society's concert. Coming—"The Dubarry." "Waltzes from Vienna," and "Music m the Air." Also "10-Minutc Alibi, J. : C. Williamson (N.Z.), Ltd. i "Cat's Cradle," the Canterbury Re- : pertory Theatre Society's new produc- , tion, will be given at the Radiant Hall next Saturday evening and on the following Monday and Tuesday. Included in the cast are Mrs Guy Cotterill, Misses Joan Gardner, Collins and Florence Nicholls, and Messrs Roy Twyneham, W. Young, and Cyril Collins. * * * Also opening on Saturday, at a matinee performance, is the Christchurch Amateur Operatic Society's production of "Les Cloches de Corneville." This old favourite will be presented at St. James' Theatre until the following Saturday. * * * The Christchurch Male Voice Choir will give the first concert of its season at the Choral Hall on May 5. The programme will be devoted to the works of Sir Edward Elgar, in memory of the great musician whose death occurred recently. Mrs Ross Brodie, of Rangitata, will sing solo numbers and the choir will be supported by the Cathedral Choristers. Pouishnoll', pianist, and Horace Stevens, bass, are meeting with success in Australia. At Melbourne 12 concerts were given, two of them in association with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. At an all-Chopin recital Pouishnoff played four ballads, six preludes, "Nocturne in C Minor,'' six studies, "Barcarolle in F Sharp Major," and "Fantaisie in F Minor." "He plays Chopin as one enjoys hearing it, then paints the picture," wrote a critic. * * *= The Auckland Little Theatre Society will open its tenth season and present its thirtv-fourth production with Bernard Shaw's "The Apple Cart." During the season three more plays will follow, the plays under consideration being "Is Life Worth Living?" ! (Lennox Robinson), "Children in Uni- \ form" (Christa Winsloo, a Shakespearean play, a play by a New Zealand author, "Dear Brutus" (Sir James Barrie, and "The Improper Duchess," by J. B. Fagan, author of "And So to Bed," with which the society scored a marked success in December.

Jesse L. Lasky announced recently that he planned to produce John Galsworthy's "The Apple Tree" as one of the important films on his schedule for next season. Frank Turtle, who has owned film rights to the work foaj thsea sep&v VHI direct; &

NEW PROGRAMMES