Film and the Stage.

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 109, 1 February 1930, Page 25

Film and the Stage.

The London “Daily Express” has the following reference to “The Taming of the Shrew/’ recently screened in London. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fair-banks;have-done what the Stage for many years has failed ..to do. They hay&. brolight. Shakespeare back to the people. Millions to whom Shakespeare is only', a name will see the screen version -of ’’The Taming of the Shrew.” Better entertainment London has never seen.'*>'■ Its gaiety is delightful,, and its laughter irresistible. -Nothing more Shakespearean than the roaring, FaL staffing laughter of Mr. .Fairbanks .has been heard in London .since Elizabeth’s day, This .picture is the finest; gesture that Hollywood ever made., Not only is it goregously staged, magnificently costumed,. and splendidly phototgraphed, but-it'is? Shakespearean in every foot of its length, conforming, perhaps, more to .the Tree tradition than,to any other.

: The-converting of. His,. Majesty’s Jheati;e';to. a Vtalkie”. house -does; nof altogether mean that the days of legitimate .entertainment in this theatre »re over. On the contrary, first-class attractions in' the way ’ of musical Remedy, rev’iie', etc., will be inter; spersed throughout the feature talkie seasons, and lovers of the stage will find their tastes catered to with touripg companies presenting' the latest finifbpat in the way of theatrical entertainment. Sir Benjamin Fuller is firmly of opinion that the stage will always have -its adherents, and it is nqt Ills .intehtion to utterly neglect this considerable portion, pf. the .public by conforming' entirely to.the, new. policy Of talking-picture entertainment.

In connection with coming J. C. Williamson attractions for New Zealand no definite, arrangements have yet been made, but it is hoped that Ernest Lotinga and his company may be seen in the lively comedy-burlesques “August, 1914,” “Khaki,” “The Police Force,” and “The Mouse-Trap.” Those who were in London during the war period will remember, the popular comedian-and his many and viyid characterisations.

“The .Trespasser,” -Gloria Swanson’s first audible film, has broken every record of the Rialto Theatre, New York, during the iflrst- fortnight’s screening. It has also established a record long run at the Grafton Galleries, London. “The Trespasser” has been acclaimed by English reviewers., as the finest of all talking films.

. Charlie Chaplin’s “City Lights” is half completed. It. will be synchronised with music and certain sound effects, but there will be no talking. The heroine of the story is a blind girl who recovers her sight. Charlie is, as ever, the tramp, he who gets slapped, the funny little man, the personification of human bewilderment. Virginia Cherrill, a young Chicago girl, appears as the leading lady of the picture. Those who have been permitted to see rushes of some of the sequences already completed at Mr. Chaplin’s Hollywood studio have expressed themselves as convinced that the. comedian’s for the coming production will surpass even “The Gold Rush,” “Shoulder Arms,” and “’The Circus” in its humour content.

* Paramount’s picturisation of Joseph Conrad’s “Victory,” starring Nancy Carroll, has been re-titled “Dangerous Paradise.” The working title for the production was “Flesh of Eve.” “Dangerous Paradise” was recently completed under the direction of William Wellman. Richard Arlen plays the male lead. Others in the cast are: Warner Oland, Francis McDonald, Gustave von Seyffertitz, and Evelyn Selbie.

Eddie Cantor, famous stage and screen comedian, has just completed another talking and singing comedy sketch for Paramount. The short featurette. which is as yet untitled, was written by Cantor and deals with his troubles ensuing from breaches of the motor speed laws. The production will arrive soon for New Zealand release.

, Five- musical comedies have been presented during the present season of the Freddie Forbes Company at His Majesty’s Theatre, and this afternoon sees the opening performance of the sixth and last, “Tangerine,” which is notable for several reasons, chief of which is that it is practically new to Wellington audiences and the cleverlycontrived situations, the humourous interludes ,and lilting melodies come with a spontaneous note to the public. All the ingredients necessary for the success . of such a production are there in abundance in all departments, dancing, singing or cemedy, and “Tangerine” should prove a very happy choice to terminate the Freddie Forbes’ Company’s present season, and leave behind a pleasant memory with theatre-goers.

The first four programmes for Mr. Alexander Watson’s season, which commences in the Town Hall concert chamber on Saturday, February 8, have now been announced by Mr. E. J. Gravestock, and cover a wide range of authors; poets,7 dramatists and novelists. ' The, first programme includes selections from Sir J. M. ‘Barrie’s famous story:‘’The Little Minister,” with verseand -yariety by Walter de la Mare, Harry . Graham, A. P. Herbert, and new selections from A. A. Milne’s delightful works, “Now We Are Six” and “When We Were Very Young;” The principal work of the second recital .is John Masefield’s thrilling narrative, “The Everlasting Mercy”; miscellaneous selections will be given from the works of 'M. J. Savage, Crosbie Garstin, A. W. Bellaw, and Allston Collins. The third recital will be a Kipling night, with a miscellaneous second part, >nd at the fourth recital selections from Shakespeare’s tragic masterpiece, “Macbeth,” will be given, with items by John Masefield, Frank Smedley and A. Martin.

Melody is back in favour. The public have of blatant jazz with -all its noise and confusion. Slow, dreamy waltzes and crooning ballads: haunting tunes that have a loveliness about, them appeal to the audience of to-day, .according to Jesse L. LUsky,’ vice-president of Paramount, who says that with the trend of public taste towards the romantic in music, pictures must'follow suit to strike the popular note of appeal.'; In answer to the world-wide cry for pictures with a high romantic flavour, Paramount.have produced “The Love Parade,” starring Maurice Chevalier. “The Love Parade” possesses a love-theme that is touching in its simplicity, music that is sweet and enchanting, and voices that are pleasiint to the ear. In “The Love Parade," Paramount have been able to satisfy the present-day public’s demand for romance and beauty.' “The Love Parade,” which is the screen’s first original operetta, will arrive shortly ■ to be released In New Zealand. Jeanette MacDonald, New York prirna donna, plays opposite the star. Other principals 'are Lillian Roth and Lupino Lane. Enrst Lubitseh directed. ■

An old theme treated in a wonderfully new and delightful way is “On With, the Show;” Warner Bros.’ Vitaphone production in technicolour. A theatrical company, faced with ruin and disbandment, makes the grade in one great enthusiastic performance and sets the youtliful hero and heroine on the road to success and future happiness. 'This might have described any one of the show films presented in Wellington, but Warner Bros, have picturised this theme in a unique manner. While , the players’ life drama, unfolds, the big show whirls by in a riot of colour and song, rivalling the most spectacular stage productions in beauty and extravagance. This picture marks an. era in the film industry, being made by a new process which reproduces colours in their true values and is no more to be compared with previous coloured films than the gaudy cover of a cheap magazine with a fine colour-plate reproduction.

Misses Lilian Crisp (soprano), Patricia Kendall (accomplished actress and dancer) and Laurel Streeter (comedienne), and Messrs. Terry Kendall (actor and dancer), William Peryman (tenor), John Ralston (baritone), Don Nicol (clever comedian), Hilton Porter, Fred Bonnor, John Byrne, James- Foran, Edmund Butterworth, are among those who play important parts in the sparkling musical comedies to be staged at the Grand Opera House, commencing with “Whoopee,” which will be presented this evening. Several of these talent-ed-artists have already delighted New Zealand audiences In a number of important musical comedy and Gilbert and Sullivan roles, but the Kendalls (brother and sister) and Don Nicol are making their first appearances in the Dominion. Pat and Terry Kendall have already established an enviable reputation in the great centres of the world, and have been described as “the most accomplished and graceful dancers who have ever appeared in London, Paris, and Berlin." Don Nicol is said to possess a humour all his own, and he has scored many outstanding successes. Mr. “Dick” Shortland, the'capable’stage manager of the company, is also well known in New Zealand for the high standard of the. many productions'for which he has been responsible. “Disraeli,” a Warner Bros, and Vitaphone production, starring the noted stage actor, George Arliss, is the speaking screen’s first attempt at presenting an historical drama, and it is a triumph! Recreating for film audiences his finest stage role, Mr. Arliss portrays the glamorous career of the novelist, dandy, and statesman, whose personality dominated the Victorian era. He brings to life every nuance of Disraeli’s amazing character, immortalising the brilliant English lord, who was to hiq country one of her greatest Prime Ministers, and to his friends a charming and fascinating gentleman. It’s easy to inspire song writers to turn out “hit” numbers, but it is difficult to persuade them to write songs to fit in where “hit” numbers aren’t wanted. Such was the experience of Harry Rapf, who produced “M-G-M.’s Hollywood Revue.” “The incidental music which furnished a background for the comedy numbers and ‘gag’ skits had to be original and tuneful,” he recounted. “It € was easy to get the ‘hit’ numbers, but the incidental music was another problem. You can’t really blame a composer for not wanting to write a ‘second-fiddle’ number, can you?” Instead of building sets for exterior scenes in “Marianne,” a new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture starring Marion Davies, the property man wrecked an entire street scene instead. The new picture has a locale of post-war France and the wrecking work Was done to give the street realistic atmosphere for the romantic-comedy work. In the picture Miss Davies plays the part of a French peasant girl who falls in love with a soldier, a role played by Lawrence Gray. Robert Z. Leonard directed, with Cliff Edwards and Benny Rubin in the cask

“The Taming of the Shrew,” first Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks co-starring vehicle, had its London premiere a the Pavilion on November 14, before the most distinguished audience that has ever attended a London first night. The picture was constantly interrupted by applause, the Press criticisms were enthusiastic, and the business is reported by cable to United Artists as record-breaking. John Barrymore will be heard for the first time in the Warner Bros, and Vitaphone special production, “General Crack,” a highly romantic and picturesque costume melodrama, in which Barrymore gives an outstanding performance. He is supported by an exceptionally fine cast, among these being Marion Nixon, Lowell Sherman, and Armida, in addition to which some scenes are filmed in perfect Technicolor. I

Mr. John W. Hicks, jnr., managing director of Paramount Pictures in Australasia, announces that Maurice Chevalier’s latest talking and singing picture, “The Love Parade” will shortly arrive in New Zealand, where it is being awaited with much interest. “The Love Parade,” the screen’s first original operetta, contains several enchanting melodies written specially for the production by Victor Schertzinger. The numbers include “The Love Parade,” the theme song rendered by Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald ; “Paris Stay the Same,” a solo by Chevalier; “My Dream Lover,” a charming solo by Miss MacDonald; “The March of the Grenadiers,” an inspiring number by a male chorus of more than 100 voices, and “Let’s Be Common,” a comedy duet by Lillian Roth and Lupino Lane.

“High Society Blues,” Dana Bur- ' net’s story whi.h recently ran in the “Saturday Evening Post,” is to be made into a Fox movietone picture, under David Butler’s direction. The story deals with a Middle West family which acquired a big bankroll in the chain grocery business and moves into an exclusive Long Island section. When Raoul Walsh cast Polly Moran in “Hot for Paris” he cast her a “Polly,” and advised her to be herself, saying that no matter what characterisation was written for her, it could not be as funny as the real “Polly.” She is one of the few women to gain this distinction from . JTnlah. .

Paul Muni will enact the role of Rasputin in An all-talking Fox Movietone picture entitled “The Holy DevlL” Muni and Berthold Viertel have hit It off so well together as star and director In “Seven Faces,” now nearing completion .that Viertel has been assigned to direct him in his new picture. Muni’s desire to portray the mad monk is based on the world’s knowledge of the man who had a hypnotic power over women, men and nations, as described by Rene FulopMiller in his book. , One-of the most ardent talkie.fans in Hollywood is Gretta Garbo. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer star slips into a little neighbourhood theatre near her home two or three times a week to see and hear the current releases. “I didn’t care much for them when they first came out, but I think the talkies are great now,” she declares.

An eystwhlle but now retired member of the theatrical profession was in at His Majesty’s Theatre one evening during a performance of “Sunny.” Asking which of the company was Miss Catherine Stewart, and being told, he watched her musingly for some time and then explained: “You would hardly know her for the same girl,” he said, “except that she still has her verve and charming vivacity. Years ago I was on the same bill with her; she was doing child impersonations then.” And on the stage, as the leading Lady of the Freddie Forbes Musi'cal Comedy Company, this clever little artiste demonstrated just how far she had advanced from the days when she did child impersonations.

Buster Keaton, besides being a famous comedy star, is a great animal fancier. The star is raising quail, pheasants and several varieties of dogs at the present time at his Beverley Hills estate.

William Anthony McGuire, playwright and author of books of many Ziegfeld musical hits, will write, direct, and produce talking pictures for United Artists in Hollywood. He has signed a long-term contract with United Artists, and goes to Hollywood in January. First he must complete the books for “Ming Toy,” which Florenz Ziegfeld is bringing to the stage, and for “Ripples,” in which Charles Dillingham will present Fred Stone.

One wonders, now and again, what happens to the old-time .movie directors. Working in “Marianne” .with Marion Davies at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios was a white-haired Frenchman, Emil Chautard. Not’, so very long ago he directed Alice Brady, Clara Kimball Young, Elsie Ferguson, Pauline Frederick, Florence Reed i and other stars.

“On with the Show,” the-first 100 per cent natural colour, talking, singing, dancing picture, a Warner Bros, and Vitaphone production, is the most lavish and colourful picture of the season. It is the first all-talking, allcolour picture to be filmed, thus marking another milestone of film progress, just as the advent of Vitaphone pioneered by Warner Bros., wrought a great change in the film industry. “On with the Show,” with its music, dancing, songs, and gorgeous colours of settings and costumes and people on the stage, is wonderful. One forgets entirely, that it is a motion picture, or even a talking picture. The effect is utter reality. Jt is as if one were sitting in a theatre seeing a musical comedy, with the added privilege of going back-stage with the players, where the real comedy and drama of their lives takes place. The all-star cast includes Betty Compson, Louise Fazenda, Sally O’Neill, Arthur Lake, Joe E. Brown, and Sam Hardy.