FILM NOTES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21577, 13 September 1935, Page 5

FILM NOTES

James Gleason, director, writer, and producer of plays for stage and screen, and himself a comedian of standing, offers the following" list of the best comediennes at Hollywood:—Zasu Pitts, Polly Moran, Charlotte Greenwood, May Robson, Edna May Oliver, and Rosetta Duncan. Of the first he said: "She' tea natural actress r her timing and sense of comedy value being superb. A great pantomimist, she can express more with a shrug of her shoulders than most people can with hundreds of words." • . 9 ■* The English actor, Miles Mander, who is playing Louis XIII. of France in RKQ-Radio's "The Three Musketeers," will shortly return to England to contest a campaign for a seat in Parliament. He has been nominated for Putney. His cousin, Sir Arthur Mander, is a candidate for West Wolverhampton, his brother Geoffrey Mander having represented "Wolverhampton since 1929. The family have been manufacturers in that city for 170 years and have long been active in British politics.

Ruby Keeler and AI Jolson are starred together <lt>r the first time in a Warner Brothers musical extravaganza, "Go Into Your Dance."

"Dress extras" form a large group at Hollywood. They are people who have a complete and fashionable wardrobe and the ability to wear their clothes-well. Powers of acting, singing or dancing, handsome or beautiful features are 'not required. In one scene of Grace Moore's new Columbia picture, "Love Me For Ever," a drama set io music, 150 of these "dress extras" were employed in one scene.

At the height of a successful theatrical career Leo Carillo abandoned the stage for motion pictures and in 1929 made his screen debut in "Mister Antonio," one of his favourite stage roles. He has "recently been signed on by Columbia for a series of pictures.

Edward Arnold is the first to be signed on in suppoift of Peter Lorre ior the cast of the film version of Tolstci's "Crime and Punishment," the first p-'cture which Josef von Sternberg will direct under his new contract with Columbia Pictures.

Work on Jessie Matthews' latest film, "First a Girl," is nearing completion. The cast includes ScnnieHa'e, Anna Lee, Griffiths Jones (who will be remembered for his performance as the faithful young officer with Elisabeth Bergner in "Catherine the Great" and as Julian in "Escape Me Never"), and Alfred Drayton. < •

Among the pictures which will be made almost immediately by 20th Cen-tury-Fox are "Metropolitan," starring Lawrence Tibbett and an all-star cast; "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo," starring Ronald Colman; and "Sing, Governor, Sing," starring Ann Dvorak, Paul Whiteman and his. orchestra, and Phil Baker.

Some years ago Frank Borzage, the 'noted director, was in Ireland searching for a typical Irish colleen to play opposite John McCormack in his first talking picture. Maureen O'Sullivan read the story in a Dublin newspaper and submitted a photograph of herself. She was selected after a screen test. Her latest role is a major one with George Arliss in "Cardinal Richelieu."

Gary Cooper will appear in "Opera Hat," a Columbia picture which will be directed by Frank Capra. Ned Sparks also has a leading role.

Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin, and Rich* ard Whiting, three of the foremost Writers of music iii America, have just finished writing 12 songs for Gladys Swarthout, who will make her screen debut in Paramount's "Rose of the Rancho." * e • The slave riots at the time of Abraham Lincoln's emancipation of the slaves were re-enacted under the directorship of King Vidor during the production of Paramount's "So Red the Rose." Two hundred negroes took part • « » A fine variety of settings distinguishes the film version of Temple Thurston's well known novel, "The City of Beautiful Nonsense," which will shortly" be released by British Dominions. The action of the story alternates between London and Venice and gives the producer many opportunities for picturesque settings. The cast is notable for the appearance of Sophie Stewart, whom the film authorities regard as a genuine "discovery." Emlyn Williams has the other main part

"The Last Journey," a magnificent drama of the railway by J. Jefferson Farjeon, showing what befalls a group of passengers on their way from London to the north in one of England's fast expresses, is now under production at Twickenham Studios. The co» operation of the Great Western Railway has made it possible to obtain realistic shots.

Following the recent trend of adapting operas to the screen, "Faust" will shortly be produced by the newlyorganised Music Guild Productions. The picture, which will be filmed entirely in colour, will utilise the essential music of Gounod's opera and also will have some of the episodes from Christopher Marlowe's Elizabethan drama "Dr. Faustus." Fritz Reiner, who recently conducted the Philadelphia orchestra, will be general musical director of the film. An assistant will be George AntheiL the modernist composer and pianist The cast has not yet been chosen. • • •

Marlene Dietrich is to play in "Invitation to Happiness" later this year. The picture has been chosen by Ernst Lubitsch and will follow "The Pearl Necklace."