FILM NOTES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21701, 7 February 1936, Page 5

FILM NOTES

Helen Mack, RKO Radio player was seen in Merian C. Cooper's 'production of "She" and will soon be fgen in RKO's "The Return of Peter OtijDia," starring Lionel Barrymore, promises to set a record for a rapid climb to screen fame. Practically an unknown a year ago, Miss Mack has -fceen cast in the ingenue lead in four outstanding pictures within the last eight months, and recently was signed to a long term contract by RKO Radio. Although Miss Mack worked in pictures as a child and later on the stage, did not attract attention until her •£ne portrayal of the shop girl in *Sweepings," also with Lionel Barrymore. A lead in "Melody Cru.se" brought her under the spotlight again", since when she has been cast for featured roles in rapid succession. . » • »

; When picturegoers see the 8.1.P. <:film, "I Give My Heart," they will 'make the acquaintance of Gitta Alpar, ;the Hungarian soprano who, experts agree, has one of the finest singing .voices in the world to-day. She is said to be easily the equal of Grace ;Moore, but although Gitta Alpar is well known on the European stage and as a gramophone recording artist, this ; js the first time she has ever been • seen op the screen. "I Give My Heart" is the first authentic film version of •the famous stage success, "The .Du ißarry," by Paul Knepler and J. M. jiWelleminsky, and it contains all the delightful music which made the ori--ginal play the sensation of England, and the Continent.

Haying photographed the back|grounds, settings, and several thousand ;ieet of the film, "Uncivilised." in North Queensland, Expeditionary Films' unit vhas started awor"k at the National ; Studios—the first company to continence production since the New Wales quota regulations were Egazetted, and, incidentally, on modern <eound stages built as a direct result of the New South Wales Government's encouragement of local production.

: "The Good Earth." the adaptation of ta prize-winning novel of the same Jname by Pearl Buck, will shortly be The principal stars in the 'production will be Paul Muni and Luise Rainer. Victor Fleming will "direct under the supervision of Irving -Thalberg.

'■ Leading, roles have been announced ior Lionel Barrymore in a forthcomving production of George Eliot's novel, ."Silas Marner," and in an adaptation :of Sinclair Lewis's latest novel, "It Can't Happen Here."

Janet Gaynor has been signed for the leading role in "Small Town Girl," from.the novel by Ben Ames Williams, which Jack Conway will direct. The choice of leading man rests between Robert Taylor and Robert Montgomery.

\ • -v.'- :■■* ■'■--', *Joan Crawford and Clifton Webb •will commence production shortly on "Elegance," with Franchot Tone probably in the third leading role.

- In a year, the average motion picture star in the first line of popularity poses for about 10,000 separate photographs. This statement is made by* Mr John Nsßngstead, who arranges these photographs for the Paramount stud'os. Soms of, the stars, more photographed than others, have posed for as many as 2Q0,000 annually under his direction." He said-that-Carole. Lombard had exceeded this number, while Claudette Colbert and Marlene' Dietrich were Hot far behind.

ißing Crosby, considered one of the I* biggest box office attractions on the

screen, is not going to be a star. Before the singer signed his new Paramount contract, which lasts three years, he requested there should be a proviso in the contract that he should not play a starring role. He will subr mit to featured billing, or' co-starring with some other player, but the studio is definitely restrained from starring him in any film without his written consent.

Mae West is learning how to speak Chinese with the aid of Soo Yung, who plays'> her maid in "Klondike Lou."

During part of his childhood in the west Indies, Henry Wilcoxon, leading man in Cecil B. de Mille's "The Crusades," was crippled and had to wear leg braces. He cured himself by arduous swimming.

A block on Alpine drive, Beverley Hills, Hollywood, is called "singers' row" because Gladys Swarthout,. star of Paramount's "Rose of the Rancho," Lawrence Tibbett and Nelson Eddy eccupy adjoining houses.. 1 STAGE VOICES ON THE AIR Stage voices, criticised by Mr Eric Maschwitz, variety director of the British Broadcasting Corporation, have .found a champion inside Broadcasting ! House in Mr Val Gielgud, the director of drama. Mr Maschwitz said recently ; that "few stage people had voices good enough to broadcast."

"The stage actor," Mr Gielgud said, is the backbone of the radio play, and we great advance in radio drama during the last two years is due to thefact that we have had nearly every Well-known actor in the West End Before the microphone. V"! should be extremely distressed if Mich actors as Mr Godfrey Tearle obtained the wrong impression that the British Broadcasting Corporation did fot appreciate their services. Miss Wna Best, who gave her first broadest recently, is undoubtedly one of »e best radio artists we have -ever **& I could mention many other games of stage stars who had made ffst-class broadcasting artists."