FIRST-NIGHT MURDER

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22804, 1 September 1939, Page 5

FIRST-NIGHT MURDER

The solving of a murder at a first tiight in a big theatre is the subject of "Premiere,” the next attraction for the Avon. Judy Kelly is a new star • Jl3. the revue; her place has been found 6ier at the expense of the • star Marion, and it hag been found her by the backer, Wallace rey. And this backer is more professionally interested in his star; so is her partner, Hiigh ims. The displaced star, Joan m, furiously interviews the ;r and draws a gun on him, but is forestalled. But when the show is on the backer, Wallace Geoffrey, sitting watching from his box, suddenly droops and falls dead. He has been jhot. By whom? This is what Detective Bonnard <Jbhn Lodge), sitting back in the audience, oft duty and enjoying the spectacle, is called upon to solve. The

Janet Gaynor’s engagement to dressidcsigner Adrian is -said to be off. When Alfred. Hitchcock, directs the film version of Charles Morgan's philosophical play, “The Flashing Stream,” Carole Lombard will be the mathematician Jjerojne, , _ Bette - Davis gets three months’ holiday when she finishes “The Knight and the Lady.?’ On tier return, -she will do. two pictures, “Three Strangers” and ‘“West of Frisco.” • ** , * Linda. Ware, Paramount’s rival to Deanna Durbin, is already the subject of a Igwjuitr between,., her .* father, George • I W. Snllwagon, and-her guardian aunvMfs Anna Stillwagon. Linda knakes Ker'debtit in “The Star Maker.” * * * Mickey Rooney, Virginia Weidler. fend Billie Burke expect to sail in August for England and - “A Yank at

“Premiere” Coming to Avon

Hollywood history is being recreated in technicolour for “Falling Stars.” A 1 Jolson’s singing of “Kol Nidra” from the original "Jazz Singer” will be reproduced. Alice Faye is doing custardpie comedy with Buster Keaton- and Mack Sennett himself. Don Ameche plays the director-hero in ridingbreeches. « * * ; Enid Bennett, whose last film appearance was with Jackie Cooper in “Sooky,” eight years ago, returns to a part in “Intermezzo.” She is the wife of the once-famous director, Fred Niblo. • • » M-G-M are discussing a long-term contract with Joan Fontaine as the result of her work in “The Women.” * * * Walter Brennan is replacing Wallace Beery in “North-west Passage,” which stars Spencer Tracy and Robert Taylor.

manager is distracted, the audience must t know, the show must go on. Calmly Bonnar.d goes about his work. The shot came from the stage. Everyone is questioned closely; Lydia and Nissen at least had good reason to wish Renoir dead. crime is reconstructed and slowly Bonnard pieces together the clues; chance helps him with the missing bit. The film is obviously an exciting one. There is some original, comedy, too, a member of the audience produces the various ingredients of a square meal from his pockets and consumes them during the' show; there is the detective’s silly-ass friend who voices the profound theory that the impresario was shot by “someone in the theatre,” and there is a stage manager who drags actors away from the police because they are late for their call. The film was directed by Walter Summers for Associated British Films.

George Brent is going on loan to Paramount to co-star with Isa Miranda in “Madame Mystery,” her second Hollywood, picture, after more than two years there., « * • Priscilla Lane is-to be James Cagney’s leading lady' in “The World Moves On,” a drama of prohibition in America. Gladys George also has an important part. , ;* , * * . Darryl Zanuck is planning “Swanee River” as a musical biography of the composer of the famous tune. Tyrone Power is to play Stephen Foster. A 1 Jolson will be E. P. Christie, the ■original “Christie Minstrel.” Henry. King, .who directed “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” directs. ■ * * « Dolly Haas is testing again—this time for “We Are Not Alone,” starring Paul Muni. She has’not made a picture since she went to Hollywood.