Film and the Stage.

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 85, 4 January 1930, Page 23

Film and the Stage.

Some years ago, Francelia Billington wwas advancing rapidly. to moving-picture stardom; Her .biggest boost came when Von- Stroheim' picked her for the leading role in “Blind Husbands.” . Then something happened; and-she 1 dropped out of the picture. Miss, Billington is ' staging a come-back with Hoqt- Gibson in “The Montana Kid,” which has gone into production ate Universal • City.’

■ '.’.J ■ i .. . ... Brandon i Peters, ~ who ■ previously toured: New - Zealand in -the-'J.: 1 C.< Williamson. Company/' appearing in > the', highly successful comedy“ The dE’atSy;”.' will f repew acquaintance. with goers - .:bf •'the .Dominion.;when-.he- re : turnsiasi'meuibef of the;'Williamson Company ! headed'by the famous the '.outstanding, comedy success “Lombardi Did.” Brandon peters and Leo■<Carrillo ‘are -old. friends,; and appeared Jh; leading New York', iproductiqns, at , the same time... though -they have, ntiver,. ; before>'acted together.' > When, after'years of negotiatiqm.ithu visit, of-Leo Carrillo . - to,. Australia, and; New, Zealand had been definitely arranged,, and,. Carrillo .learn? ed that, Brandon 'Peters; was in Australia; .he dispatched, an urgent cable to- the ,firm. to hold his; friend: for the part of “The Vermicelli : King,” _ in “Lombardi—Ltd;”. And now , Brandon * Peters is. starring , in the wonderful success achieved by' Leo Carrillo and the splendid company; supporting him. ■ > . 1 •; > ; I-.: . t “An’. Enthusiastic ’ Reception." In these- words' Mr. H. P. ■ Muller de-' scribes,the successful opening at Atickj land Jbf~ the New' Zealand season of the' lively dancing musical comedy,; “Whoopee,” which is scheduled to make a moist comprehensive tour of the Dominion under the J. C. Williamson banner. Mr. Muller, who made a special trip 'to Auckland to witness the i initial' performance, remarked that the company, had received several valuable additions since it appeared in Australia,' and was a remarkably effective combination. - The fun in ;: “WhoOpee” was., certainly fast and furious, the 'singing good, the chorus- effective, the dancing one of the features of the ’ show,’ the ensembles striking and spectacular, the scenery and mounting- of the'very 'best, and the ballets were really splendid. “I am certain that New ,'Zealanders will; like ‘Whoopee, ’? added Mr, Muller, “it is just the light and' bright Sort of entertainment, to achieve success.” ' ' ' “Blackmail/’ the much-discussed British •talking picture success, has had. Its iNe'w Zealand premiere in Auckland,and has fulfilled all the golden opinions, expressed about it in the British Press.. Perhaps its main title to leadership in the "talkie” world-is that. '‘Blackmail”has forced its way •'into a lorig run in. New York. The" dialogue'in it is-of splendid’, clarity, but its main novelty is its’clever use' of sound effects. These represent a distinct ■ advance technically on anything . registered by our, American ’ cousins. The treatment: is fresh and full ofsurprises. Sara Allgood does one oC the-neatest and mstq effective bits in "Blackmail.” As the gossip"with a strong accent and an unlimited vocabulary; she brings a comic bit Of'bld .England - straight into the theatre: The recording in this picture is sb good that there is not the slightest strain In hearing every slightest sigh, and, of course, the Speech -of every character ' is’: English ;bf the English., “Blackmail” is a Cinema Art Films’ rA. lease. ■■ • ' '■ ■■'(■:■ . '• ■

'•Discovered— the world’s longest word! Lewis Stone utters it in “Wonder of-Women," Metro-Gbldwyn-Mayer’s vivid- drama of Germany. Try it as a tongue-twister; It. is“Himmelherrgottkrouzmillionendonnerwefter!” .It went grqat” on the microphone’s. The new plays is adapted from Herman Sudermann’s famous novel, “The Wife of Stephen Tromholt.” and 'was directed by. Clarence Brown.

- Emma: Dunn:,jpluys, the . mother role in . . “Side;. Street,” formerly : ■ titled '.“For,tyrNinih:Street,’.’ the Radio. Ple ; ' 'turq. whiph '.boasts the appearance, for-tbe-firsttime in any one picture, of .the ■ ; three Moore' Brothers, (Ovyen,)Tom and’. Matt.( will play. the •foleiof ifatb.erdn this production,' .whicli ’be: diriJcfed' .by ".Mai -St,, Clair; Mother (roles"have.-been played, by Miss Dttnm:for- ; years,; with marked success; On-the sfage slle starred ,in “Old Lady,, 31’1;and--played in “Buddies”- and “Peer. Gynt.’”; - Bert 'Glenpri has -been as< Signed •thersereen/direction:, of Rod fLa Rocque’S firstitßadib-Picture; “.The Delightful Rbgiie.”; •’ Leslie, .Pera.ce' will ■ take’ charge of the; dialogue direction. Original songs - for,this production are now 'being - written and composed .by Oscar.-Levant and Sidney Clare.

Th-writing'to one of her friends at Wellington, Miss Eve Dawney, a mem-ber-of'the American Comedy Comwhich was on board the Illfated “-Manuka" when she ended her career'! sb- disastrously down south, tells :-a'-little of her experiences during "that terrible time.- ' “It was indescribable,”>she writes, “Even, yet I cannot think of it.-coherently. I suppose some day I will be able to think back and •laughbut not'.-.-now.-,-' Everything,-I had’ is gone—photographs, mementos, clothes—all the little personal things I have been collecting for years. The only’ things left-are what I stood in when I; landed—my nightdress and coat.’ People here have been wonderfully, kind to us all, and we appreciate it fully. We will never be able to thank them enough.” :

A new and charming type, of heroine ■ makes her initial Western appearance in “The Long, Long Trail,”-Hoot Gib-, son’s thrilling Universal drama, now showing at the King’s Theatre. The girl is charming and petite Sally Eilers, one of the. most promising bf the younger'film actresses. Despite her extensive screen experience, 'young Mis? Eilers had never before participated in an action picture of this.type.. Miss Eilers, who is a New York girl, early became interested in tfie .theatrical, profession. She trained for the stage, specialising in - dancing. Her .first important screen was in Mack Sennett’s “Good-bye Kiss.” Her (work in; this picture won her Instant . and ’ .widespread fecbgiiitipn. Among the pictures in . which Miss' Eilers has played - important' ; roles are, “Cradle Snatchers,” “Slightly ..Used;” “Trial Marriage,” .and .‘.‘Dry Martini.” .

.... George Arliss, consummate artist, dis-, tinguished stage player and an actor to' his .finger-tips, brings great' and powerful drama, to the ,screen in' his first alltalking picture,-for Earner Bros.’. “The Green; Goddess.”.'; Arliss,'who has one of the finest speaking voices. In the fjtage world, hits a distinction and an; artistic ability obtained only by a lifeutinfe of success: bp'.the stage. ■ ; In this .Vitaphonei production; in which he plays the: role, of a wily Indian prince—superlord in. his tachiniain fastness—Arliss plays'.on the eruptions at will. ' At the conclusion of "The Green Goddess” one feels one, has, been the spectator of a great" event.' Arliss is surrounded by a .fine supporting cast, .including Alice Jdy.cft H. B. and Ralph Forbes.';

; Production, on “The, '... Mississippi Gambler,”, a cpjourful story of the old rivef-boat, days, and, their ■ picturesque gentlemen gamblers, has,been completed at; Universal as aii all-dialogue special; with Reginald Parker. directing. The-story! is ah original written by Karl Brown and-(Leonard Fields, with the latter responsible for the dialogue. Joseph .Schildkraut, is starred, with Joan Bennett, playing the lead opposite him. Carmellta Geraghty, Alec B. Francis and Otis Harlan have important rdles. Gil Warernton, who photographed '‘Show Boat,” presides as chief cameraman .in the soundboxes. .

The Graf Zeppelin was “shot” by mo-

tion picture cameramen soon after its arrival at Los Angeles. The scenes will be embodied in Tiffany-Stahl’s alldialogue production, “The Lost Zeppelin.” Conway Tearl lin.” .Con way, Teai-ie,' Virginia Valli and Ricardo Cortez will play the feature roles.

Mabel Poultou, who was the brilliant Tessa, of the silent film version of “The Constant Nymph,” has arrived in talking pictures as; a potential gold mine, says a London writer.; -lit “A Taxi for Two”,' •in the character of a London shop; girl,’ she is so perfect that one looks - for-' -ward :to seeing,, in talking pictures, a series corresponding to the delight-, ful silent films in which Betty Balfour created the character of Squibs. Although Mabel Pbtilton “steals” the. (picture,, excellent work is done by Gordon, Hfifker and by John Stuart. .

; ‘Mae Clarke, who plays the lead in /‘Big t.Time,” •niay be a little lass, but 'she describes out-of-door sports as her ■hobby'.. She swings a wicked golf club, is a good swimmer, and few can beat her ofi the tennis court. She likes basebail, but has never attended a prize fight. ‘’Miss Clarke keeps herself fit by constant exercise, including long hikes, and -she is one actress’who has never smoked." Aer versatility is not confined to sports, however. She is one of the leading dancers of the'stage, has a splendid singing voice, and is an actress of more than ordinary ability. She recently left the New York stage, where she was playing a role in “The Noose,” to play in "Big-Time.” ;

Mr. Jack Phillips, the producer., of the Freddie Forbes’ Musical Comedy Company, discloses a very interesting fact in connection with the present season of musical comedy at His Majesty’s Theatre. He points out that the weekly change policy as Applied to productions of this kind has never before been attempted, and its success on this occasion makes theatrical history. Weekly change programmes of revue companies are accepted as the natural order of events, and even with a dramatic company a new show each week excites no comment, but the producing of a complete musical comedy every

week has never been known anywhere in ’the world, previous to the presentation of the Freddie Forbes’ Musical Comedy Company. It was a gigantic task that faced Mr. Phillips In Christchurch, where the company opened. Not only did he have to coach the artists, gathered from many countries, who knew none of the shows, but the orchestra and stage staff had to be trained as well. That this weekly change venture has succeeded so wonderfully is a great tribute to the company and to its ’ very efficient producer.

Universal employ an aeroplane traffic officer. His duty consists in reporting when an aeroplane is coming, close enough to interfere with the production of talking pictures. The Maddux Air Line recently changed the route of its sight-seeing ’planes so that they fly over Glendale instead of Universal City. Also, various air-mail; passenger and other ’planes flying on schedule, keep Universal posted as to the time of their passing in order to cause as little delay as possible in production. But, as was discovered by Hoot Gibson’s company when at

work on exteriors on the lot for “The Long, Long Trail,” even these precautions do not prevent out-of-door sound pictures being annoyed by aerial interruptions. Oh account of these, disturbances, Director Arthur Rosspn appointed a man to signal‘ the cameraman when an aeroplane is approaching. The signal is given by means of a buzzer extending from the man on a hill back of the camerabox and has saved thousands of feet of film that might have been spoiled.

Fifi Dorsay, the fascinating French, actress, who proved a sensation in the Fox Moxietone production “They Had to See Paris,” is now playing the. leading feminine role. in Raoul Walsh’s production, “Hot for Paris.” During the progress of the screen story- Miss Dorsay sings three numbers, writtenfor her-by the famous composer duo of Walter Donaldson, and Edgar Leslie,: who wrote the numbers gfor “Whoopee” and other Broadway productions. The songs are “Sweet Nothings ~ of Love,” “If You Want to See Paris,” and “Shelter of: My Baby’s Arms.”

Like prosaic shares Dolores Del Rio has been sold under a cold business contract formed by buyer, seller and broker. The seller was Edwin Carewe and the buyer United Artists. Carewe discovered Dolores in Mexico, persuaded her to enter pictures, and later felK in love' with her. Now he - 'has transferred his interest to United Artists for a lump sum and 20 per cent, of the net profits, on Dolores’s next five pictures, until he receives £lOO,OOO. On the strength of it Carewe intends to retire from films and use the money in the development of outside affairs. The contracts will not affect the star financially. She will receive £18,500 for her • first pictures,

with payments increasing until for her fifth picture she '.will get £24,500.

“Dark glasses, though perhaps they make one look queer while they’re be.ing worn, are something every woman should get used to (says Dorothy Sebastian, the beautiful star in ‘The Un-, holy Night.’ ” In these days of outdoor sports, motoring, and swimming, the eyes get far more strain than they did in former days,- and one has to be very, careful of them. Nothing so mars a woman’s appearance as red lids. One is under the lights far more constantly in talking pictures than in silent drama, and the big incandescents have a trick of reddening the eyes. Using dark glasses for this purpose, I soon found that I could get excellent results, too, by wearing them home while driving in the sun. Now my dark glasses' are constant companions.’’

“Medals,” talking film version of the Barrie Play, “The Old Lady .Shows Her Medals,” has been produced at the Paramount studio with Gary Cooper as. star. The supporting cast, includes Beryl Mercer, character actress, who played the role of the aged scrubwoman in the New York stage - .production; Nora Cecil, Daisy Belmore, Tempe Piggott, Arthur Hoyle, and Arthur Metcalf. '.

Thousands of playwrights, stage producers, and motion picture com-, panies have heretofore sought to catch the glitter and glow of Broadway’s theatrical life. It remained for the late Avery Hopwood, the playwright, to make it live in scintillating dialogue, for. David Belasco to make a stage success of the play, and now Warner Brothers have with -lavish generosity made “Gold Diggers of Broadway,” a hundred per cent, natural colour, talking, singing and dancing Vitaphone production. With a cast of vaudeville and musical revue headliners, songs and tunes far out of the ordinary, a chorus of fast-stepping beauties, gorgeous technicolour in scenes - which follow each other in a kaleidoscopic procession or rainbow hues, “Gold Diggers of Broadway” now comes to the public as the most colourful'and melodic presentation of Broadway life ever shown on stage or screen;

■ Many stars and players on the screen have favourite melodies to which they respond. One song can bring tears into the eyes of Clara Bow; another can tease a smile on the lips of Mary Brian; and a third puts Nancy Carroll in .a romantic, mood.-—Most .stars- ex--press a preference for the playing of music ,on the set before, the scene is filmed, so that theyjngy easily fall into the mood required;' In “The Marriage Playgrcffiffd," picturisation of .Edite. Wharton’s “The Children, Mary Brian requested that “Ce-. lia” be played. Frederic March asked for “Moanin’ Low,’ and Lilyan Tashman favoured ‘,‘lve a Feeling I’m Falling.: :“The Marriage Playground” ds in production at the Hollywood' studios, under , the direction of Lothar Mendes. Huntley Gordon, David Newell, Kay Francis, and William Austin are featured in the supporting cast.

' Ludwig . Berger, director, who has just completed “The Vagabond King,” Paramount’s first all-colour romance, explains that recent improvements have made it possible to reproduce flesh tints accurately and the exact Colour of,hair and eyes. Beauty often lies, not so much in the contour of the face, but in the colouring. In the future the stars will be-reproduced exactly as they appear in the flesh. “The Vagabond King,” which was, produced ’ entirely in colour, features Dennis King and Jeanette MacDonald, two famous stage stars, in the leading roles. With the. improved colour photography, Paramount have been .able" to- capture Miss MacDonald’s exquisite beauty for the screen. ' ■■■

Paramount have started production oh, a mammoth talking, dancing, and singing revue titled “Paramount on Parade,” in which every star and featured , player under contract to Paramount will appear. Every director, story, writer, artist, and specialist in set designing at the Paramount studios will have an opportunity to contribute to: the production. Among the score of stars and half a hundred featured players who will take part are: Richard Arlen,. George Bancroft, Clara. Bow, Evelyn Brent, Clive Brook, Nancy Carroll, Ruth Chatterton, Maurice Chevalier, Gary Cooper, Dennis King, the Four Marx Brothers, Moran and Mack, Jack Okie, William Powell, Charles Rogers; Hal .Skelly, Regis Toomey, Fay ; Wray,-and many' others.

An - interesting theatrical marriage took place in Sydney recently, when tWv members <>f the “Rio Rita” Musical Comedy Company, joined forces, in Mr. Andrew Gilmore and Miss Maud Coxon. Miss Coxon is a dancer with this company, and Mr. Gilmore plays the. part of a- ranger in the production, in addition to his work as assistant stage manager.

It may confidently be predicted '.that “The Unholy Night,” a most unusual and superbly produced picture, ’ swill create attendance records,7 especially as the big cast of eighteen talented players give flawless performances/Roland Young, a famous British.stage(actor of great ability and flue'personality, makes his debut to the screen‘as Lord Montague, the leading male-role, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer rewarded his fine work with a long-tertn contract. Ernest Torrence, Dorothy 1 ’Sebastian (looking, more beautiful than>ever*as - a mysterious Turkish girl),Natalie Moorhead (stately blonde player), Sojin (the skilful Chinese player),-Lionel' 'Belmore, and, last but not least, the‘Australia#, Claude Fleming, are other; notables in this exceptional , cast. - :’“The Unholy Night” was directed by Lionel Barrymore, after making ■ “Madame X.” Inasmuch as there are-only 11 technicolour cameras now in existence,‘'all controlled by Warner Brothers, a remarkable situation exists in the motion picture industry. Cameras, their - highly trained crews, and lights especially_adapted.. for .colour..photography are in use day and night. They are rushed around in special armoured: cars from studio to studio, like bank shipments, because in the. face of the scarcity, the fact that 'eight months will pass before more trill be available, and only limited quantify manufacture is possible, makes them vitally in demand. Every studio is striving to secure the rental of the cameras so as to present at least a few scenes of various productions in colour. Practically all of the Warner Brothers’ and First National and Vitaphone films are now being "Imed in allcolour. The initial all-colour First National film “Sally," starring Marilyn Miller, has just been completed.

■ Some changes have been made in the dates of the New Zealand tour of’the world-famous actor, Leo Carrillo, who with one of the strongest companies ever sent to the Dominion, will, appear in his original role of Tito Lombardi, the character in which he has scored the greatest of his many successes. The season will commence at the Grand Opera House, Wellington, on. Wednesday, January 8, and this highly .amusing comedy will hold the boards-there until January 16, after which the company win leave for the South .Island, the phrlstchurch opening at the Theatre Royal commencing on Saturday, January 18. Timaru will be played; on Monday, January 27, and the Dunedin season will commence on Tuesday, January 28. The company will theta return to the North Island, and, present this famous play as follows:—Wanganui, Tuesday, February 4; -New' 'Plymouth, Wednesday, February. s*; Palmerston North, Thursday,. February: 6; Hastings, Friday, February 7;-’Napier, Saturday, February 8 ; Hamilton,; Tuesday, February 11; the Auckland, season commencing on Wednesday, February 12. Judging by the many inquiries received at the head office of J. 6.‘Williamson, the New Zealand- seaseniwill be but a replica of the outstanding’ success scored by. this noted ■ ‘ artist: and company in Australia. ’