Films and the Stage.

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 92, 12 January 1929, Page 21

Films and the Stage.

“Show Boat” has been completed, with the extensive sound features which will accompany it. These have been entirely planned, and are_ waiting for the completion of the studio equipment. Harry Pollard has already cut down the working print to thirty reels, and in this length it has convinced the studio officials that “Show I Boat” will be one of the milestones of moving- j picture history.

Mr. Alfred Bunce, comedian, and Miss Ruth Nugent, whose engagement

for Australia has already been announced in the cable messages, are to leave America for'this part of the world in time to begin their a tour in January in the, comedy, “Pigs,’ which has had a run of more than a year in. New York. . Their repertory also includes “Laff That Off’ and “Little Accident.” Mr. Tait speaks highly of the American revolutionary play, “Dearest

Enemy” Miss, Helen Eord, who achievx ed great success in the New York production as Betsy Burke, is to play the title role in the Williamson production of “The Patsy” in London in a few weeks’ time, Mr. Tait announced.

Special canals, designed under direction of William Darling, were built by Fox Films for love scenes between Charles Farrell and Greta Nissen in “Fazil,” a production with French, Venetian and Arabian backgrounds. The canals, containing more than 250,000 gallons of water, were “practical” in every particular and many boats were> constantly in action under the eye of the camera. Gondola love scenes are marvellously authentic in every essential. "Fazil” is the screen version of Pierre Frondaie’s famous play, “L’lnsoumise.”

The rules of make-up as applied to screen acting hold no interest for Margaret Mann, who depicts the role of “Mother Bernie” in the William Fox super-production, “Four Sons.” During the earlier sequences of this picture Miss Mann merely used a little powder on her face and in the final scenes refrained from using any makeup at all. This charming actress, who, in “Four Sons” achieves a feature part after ten years as an “extra,” has never used lip-stick' either on or off the set. * She is a true apostle of naturalness which quality, no doubt, is greatly responsible for her screen success.

James Barton, a famous performer in Broadway revues and vaudeville, has been signed by Paramount for the leading role in the forthcoming sound picture, “Burlesque,” which will be produced by that company. Nancy Carroll, another star of the musical comedy field, will play opposite Barton, under the direction of Victor Fleming.

“Prep and Pep,” a scintillating comedy-drama that embodies every element of its title pertaining to American youth, is a Eox production featuring Nancy Drexel and David Rollins. The story revolves around Cyril Reade, a mother’s boy, who comes to school and finds he is expected to live up to the reputation of his famous father, Tiger Reade. Cyril is a dismal failure and is on the point of leaving school, but the commandant and his daughter Dorothy convince him he should stay. How he wins his way to honour in school athletics is climaxed in a thrilling prairie fire when he rescues Dorothy from the inferno.

A notable feature of the modern picture industry at the beginning of the'year was the conspicuous success made by British Pictures at Wellington, Auckland, and Dunedin. At Wellington, “Sailors' Dan’t Care,” “The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands,” and Anthony Asquith’s “Shooting Stars,” attracted large and enthusiastic audiences. At Auckland, “The Roses of Picardy” played to capacity houses, while at Dunedin, “The Further Adventures of the Flag Lieutenant” was splendidly received. These pictures were all released by British Dominions Films, Ltd., and if the same excellent standard can be maintained in future releases, the success of British films in New Zealand will be assured.

Owing to the tremendous success of “The Trail of ’98,” this magnificent Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production will be screened at the De Luxe Theatre for 'a further week. All the adventure suggested by Robert W. Service's story has been cleverly embodied into the picture, centred about the dramatic and thrilling events which took place along the frozen Yukon trail in ’9B. The brilliant cast includes Dolores Del Rio, Ralph Forbes, Tully Marshall, Karl Dane, George Cooper and Harry Carey.

Carl Laemmle announces the cast of “The Pirate of Panama,” by William McLeod Raine. .Natalie Kingston, oh account of her tremendous success in “Tarzan the Mighty,” will be the featured lead, with Buffalo Bill, jun., under the direction of’Ray Taylor. Others in the cast include Al Ferguson, George Ovey, and May Sutton. George Morgan and Arthur Henry Gooden wrote the adaptation and continuity.

Dorothy Arzner has the distinction of being the first woman to direct a sound synchronised motion picture. “Manhattan Cocktail" was recently completed at the Paramount studios with Nancy Carroll and Richard Arlen in the main roles. Several songs and dialogue seuucuces were iu- . eluded iy the productions

“Poppies of Flanders,” recently screened at Australia’s latest and most palatial new theatre, the Capitol, in Sydney, will have its New Zealand premiere shortly, in Auckland. “Poppies of Flanders” is not another war picture ; it is a picture of a man’s redemption, and the powei" of a woman’s influence, and it is a picture which brings home to all how easy it is to misunderstand the character of a man, and how hard it is for him to reveal the good in him when one slip has overshadowed his Ijfe. The picture was produced by Arthur Maude, a Yorkshireman, who had made good in Hollywood. Jameson Thomas, England’s foremost screen artist, and Eve Gray, the noted Australian beauty, play the principal parts. The picture will be released by Cinema Art Films.

The “Midnight Frolics.” The highest praise has been accorded the J. C. Williamson “Midnight Frolics” company, headed by the famous comedians and pantomine artists, Clem Dawe and Eric Edgley, who are supported by one of the most accomplished and versatile combinations ever seen in the Dominion. Their Auckland season has been more than a success, and so general has been the satisfaction displayed at the high calibre of the performances of the clever artists, that already the management has been inundated with letters, making application for a return visit. Whether this can be accomplished, has not yet been determined, for the very comprehensive tour of New Zealand is ahead of “The Midnight Frolics,” who open their Wellington season to-night, Saturday, January 12.

One of the biggest thrills in the career of Hal Roach’s “Our Gang,” and one which will incite the envy of every little boy and girl in the world, was the aeroplane ride over the City of Detroit with Henry Ford in his private ’plane upon their recent personal appearance in that city. This was the first real aeroplane ride these Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer players have ever experienced, and naturally they are very excited and thrilled, and will have plenty to talk about for a long time to come.

. During the forthcoming season of the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean company at the Wellington Grand Opera House,* which commences on January 26, Mr. Wilkie will stage his first presentations of “Coriolanus” and “All’s Well That Ends Well.” The former is one of Shakespeare’s most notable works. The poet Swinburne regarded “Coriolanus” as the most wonderful piece of work ever done by Shakespeare or any other playwright. Besides being full of magnificent acting opportunities, it is topical to a degree in its powerful portrayal of the warring viewpoints of masters and men to-day as they were in olden times. It is generally considered that “Coriolanus” was written by Shakespeare in a late period of his dramatic career, when he had at once developed his philosophy of life and matured his theory of dramatic art. In respect to “All’s Well That Ends Well,” Hazlitt comments: “It is the most pleasing of our author’s comedies.” The plot is partially founded on a tale of Boccacio’s “Decameron,” or, rather, on Painter’s translation of it, but the comic passages are entirely Shakespeare’s.

Laura La Plante’s third picture following “Show Boat” hap been chosen. It is “The Compromise,” by Edward J. Montague, and is already being scenarised by Charles Kenyon. It will be released under the title of “That Blonde.”

Speaking of psychology and suppressed desires, William Haines has always wanted to see how he looked when he was asleep. Sam Wood, the director, gratified it for him without his knowing it the other day, when Haines took a nap in between scenes. Wood turned a camera on him, ran off a few feet of film, and put the results into the daily "Rushes” which Haines saw in the projection room. He captioned it “Action photograph of one of our most prominent stars at« work.”

’ Paul Fejos; director of “Lonesome,” arrived in New York in order to direct “Broadway.” Glen Tryon, who will play “the hoofer,” is already there. Mary Nolan has been cast for the role of Pearl. Fejos is making tests in New York for the leading lady.

George Wallace has made a complete .and absolute conquest of the Auckland theatre-going public. Capacity houses each night, packed matinees, enthusiastic audiences who cannot see enough of the little comedian —and’the genial George dispensing mirth and laughter from the stage in his plaided shirt and funny bowler hat. His revue company very ably supports his endeavours and altogether they present an entertainment very much to the taste of the Auckland public.

After a highly successful New Zealand season, the J. C. Williamson “The Girl Friend,” and “Hit the Deck” musical comedy company, left for Sydney yesterday, and received a most enthusiastic send-off. Headed by Miss Annie Croft, one of the most charming comediennes who has ever appeared, on the New Zealand stage, with such popular artists as Reginald Sharland, Gus Bluett, Leo Franklyn, Maud Beatty, Les Donaghey, and many other J. C. Williamson favourites, this brilliant combination proved to be most popular in every city and provincial town visited. It is to be fervently hoped that we have not seen the last of these splendid people, and that before the principals return to the London which is still regretting their absence, they will make one more tour of the Dominion. It is the intention of J. C. Williamson to stage a short revival in Sydney of “The Girl Friend,” before producing the brilliant musical comedy, “Hit the Deck.”

Four years ago, in the “Thief of Bagdad,” we got a glimpse of a little actress, Anna May Wong. She had only a small part, then, a Mongolian slave, a sly, mysterious, exotic traitress, but to the critics and the public alike, the stars of that picture were Douglas Fairbanks and Anna May Wong. For years little has been heard of the Americanborn Chinese girl, a small part here, another there, “types” mainly calling for little or no acting, and now, suddenly, with no more warning than an invitation to a private view, Anna May Wong has blazed into a star of the first magnitude in “Show Life,” a British International picture, which will be seen shortly in New Zealand, through the agency of Cinema Art Films. “Show Life” is not only a great picture, it is human, bitterly beautiful, yet intensely human.

So great was the entry of children to Queenie Paul’s competition for children under 14, that it was absolutely impossible to take them all last Saturday afternoon, so those who did not have an opportunity of competing then are appearing this afternoon, when part of the programme of the “League of Notions” will be given up to the trying-out of these aspirants after stage honours. There are three prizes awarded each week: Ist, two guineas; 2nd, one guinea; 3rd, ten shillings, and at the end of the season a little act will be staged for one week, played by the child competitors, to show the Wellington public what Wellington children can do, given the opportunity. Any child wishing to enter the competition would be well advised to write to Miss Paul in advance, as all letter applications are given first consideration.

Treading new and untrodden ways in Brussels, “False Colours,” a new Fox production, reveals the intriguing stratagem of an elderly woman suspected of being a spy. This picture shows how a winsome romance can be enmeshed in the web of plotting informers and reveals chapters in the teeming war life of the Belgian capital, which have not hitherto been disclosed on the films. Margaret Mann, the heroine of the super-production, “Four Sons,” again has the lead in this poignant drama of a nurse who served humanity though suspected of treason.

After an absence of nearly seven years, Paul Stanhope and his wife (Helen La Cain) are about to leave Los Angeles, where they have been working in pictures, for Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Stanhope writes to say that he is returning with an entirely new show and original ideas. Mr. Stanhope was almost the first to introduce revues into Australia and New Zealand.

Stars and players of the movie world are the recipients of many curious and odd gifts from “fans” all over the world, but a most unique gift was recently received by Oliver Hardy of Hal Roach’s comedy team, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The gift came from a. Mexican admirer and consisted of a solid gold ring with an insignia depicting a Mexican cowboy in a colourful native cowboy costume standing on the desert, showing a snow-capped mountain in the distance, both desert and mountain being also beautifully coloured. Needless to say the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedian is very proud of this gift.

All the delightful comedy usually associated with Colleen Moore’s pictures, combined with breath-taking air battles, magnificent spectacles, and tense romance, all these are present in what has been described as the aerial epic of the age, “Love Never Dies.” With its entrancing locale, a French village where British airmen are billeted—this greatest of ail Colleen Moore’s picture, holds the interest from 'beginning to end. Miss Moore is ideal as the little French girl, “Jeanine,” while Gary Cooper leaves nothing to be desired as the hero, a British ace. Glorifying the deathless courage of the dauntless units of the Allies air forces, “Love Never Dies” is also charming in its romantic beauty, and impressive in its magnificence and sincerity.

Margaret Livingston, exotic film beauty, played the most difficult role of her career in “The Bellamy Trial,” which opens in Wellington shortly, as a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature. Miss Livingston enacted the part of the murdered woman,-some of the scenes demanding that she remain hunched up on the floor for more than half an hour. Leatrice Joy appears in the leading role, and the elaborate supporting cast includes Betty Bronson, George Berraud, Kenneth Thompson, Margaret Seddon, Eddie Nugent, Polly Moran and Kalla Pasha.

After efiduring hardships unequalled before on a motion picture location, members of “The Trail of ’9B” company all agreed with Clarence Brown, the director, that the time spent at an altitude of twelve thousaud feet in the midst of record-break-ing blizzards, terrific gales and a temperature twenty degrees below zero, bad proved to be the hardest location trip ever suffered by a company filming motion picture scenes. “The Trail of ’9B” is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, and presents Ralph Forbes, Dolores del Rio and Karl Dane in the leading roles,

Lon Chaney has been fooling people with his effective disguises for so long that it is but natural that he should expect people to doubt his fish stories. To prove that he caught the fish he talked about them upon returning from a recent fishing trip, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer star displayed motion pictures taken with a small portable camera that accompanies him whenever he is on pleasure bent.

The successor to the “League of Notions” revue company at His Majesty’s Theatre has been named in “Frank O’Brian’s Revellers,” the company at present so successful in Christchurch. Frank O’Brian—Mrs. O’Brian’s boy Frank—is a comedian who is different. His style of comedy, his songs, his dances, are inimitably his own, and their originality has a fresh and novel appeal. It was as a dancer that he first made his appearance on the boards, and now he is one of the finest dancing comedians on the stage. His supporting company is a very representative one and contains. much clever talent and ability. .

Emmett King plays the part of a minister in the Paramount production, “The Shopworn Angel,” which will soon be completed at the Paramount studios in Hollywood. Gary Cooper and Nancy Carroll are co-featured in the picture under the direction of Richard Wallace.

Interest in the forthcoming visit of Mr. Dion Boucicault and Miss Irene Vanbrugh is daily increasing, and it is safe to say that when these talented artists, together with the specially selected J. C. Williamson company, make their bow to a New Zealand audience, they will be welcomed with genuine enthusiasm. It is safe to say that no two artists have endeared themselves to the New Zealand people as have Mr. Boucicault and Miss Vanbrugh. They have given of their best in plays and characterisations; they have worthily upheld the best traditions of the British stage, striving ever for the attainment-, of the highest possible ideals; they are welcome not only as an actor and actress of world-wide repute, but as a man and a gentleman, and as a leading woman and one of the foremost stage artists of the land. In this, their coming farewell tour, it will not be surprising if New Zealand gives them a reception seldom accorded to visiting artists.

' “I always look first at a woman’s hair, and then at her shoes,” says Eleanor Boardman, the beautiful Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer player. ‘lt her hat is tilted back on her head or pulled down over one eye I know she does not know the meaning of the word ‘style.’ If she is not well shod, if her stockings have even a slight wrinkle, or her hair is peeping out at the nape of her neck, she hasn t a chance to be known as a smartly ..owned woman.” Miss Boardman plays the leading feminine role in “The Crowd,” King Vidor's epic production of the aieat middle class.