Films and the Stage.

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 20, 18 October 1930, Page 23

Films and the Stage.

Mrs. Patrick Campbell, English actress of international fame, considers her portrayal of an important role in “Play Called Life,”.which Chandler

Sprague' is directing, forFox-Movie--tone,: distinctly, an experiment. “I have, never been on the screen before,” she said. " I would decline ,td head the cast of a ; production', in . making toy motion ' picture debut, ; although . nyniy. of my. friends have advised me to do so. After I see myself aiid hear my voice I will, know where ! will be going. It was most gracious of Mr. Winfield Sheehan to give me an op-

’ portunity to do something on the screen bo that we may both see exactly where I fit.” .

“New Morals,” an original screen play by the English dramatist, Frederick Lonsdale,' has been selected as William Powell’s next picture. It will go into production shortly under the direction of .John Cromwell. ' ' .

John Bafrymbre, whose newest Warner Bros, and Vitaphone picture, “The Man from Blankleys,” will be shown here ’ shortly,' is a man of many hobbies. He. collects rare prints and books. He is a lover of boats and fishing, and is an expert amateur photographer. 'His.'great love of the sea, and his, frequent. wandering , trips about tropical waters have given him most of his opportunities for exceptional photographic effects. John Barrymore is' a well-informed person, well abreast of the times. He is, moreover,'a serious artist with no time for the frivolities of Hollywood,' but rare appreciation, for its business and artistic problems.

i t “The Virtuous Sin” has'been selected to replace “The General” as the title of the alltalking dramatic film in .which Walter Huston and. Kay> Francis are featured. ■ It is a story of; Russian court life behind the lines.

H. B. Warnei was born in London, a member of aristocratic theatre ancestry. He studied medicine, but ; decided to follow in the footsteps ot his forefathers ami turned to the stage His foremost Amer ican success was it creating the tith. role of “Alias Jim my Valentine” on the stage, Amon; his most recent ap pearances were it “Sorrell and Son.’ “King of Kings, and as the districattorney in “Tb< Trial of Mary Dn gan.”

Beryl Mercei. who scored suti success in “The Three Li v < Ghosts,” will agaii be seen playing th< part of the duenna witl) Ramon -No varro in “In Ga.> Madrid.” She waborn in England where she wmtame as a dra-.ri tie stage star. Silcreated the prink: pal role in “The Old Lady Shows Her Medals,” in which she triumph ed on Broadway

Professional jealousy, so much a part of the average player on the stage and screen, is seldom to be found in truly successful stars. On the contrary, they generally feel responsible for the success of the production and for the excellence of every performance' in it. Ruth Chatterton, who recently completed .work on her latest Paramount all-talking film, “Anybody’s Woman.” co-starring with Clive Brook, is one of the latter type. During the rehearsal period before the filming of a new picture. Miss Chatterton holds impromptu off-stage rehearsals with every player with whom she has a scene. She also coaches them while the picture is in the making, thus guaranteeing the success of the film as well, as being of inestimable, assistance to young players. She also spends several days with the director, talking over plot development, characterisation, treatment of scenes, and in general. obtaining a thorough knowledge of her director’s aims. In this unselfishness and desire to co-operate with her fellow-workers may be found one of the reasons for that star’s uri : precedented rise to fame on the screen.

Those (Who en joyed the two popular mystery film successes, “The Unholy Night” and “.T h e Thirteenth Chair,” have a treat in store foi them in “The

' Bishop Mind e r Case,” with such prominent featured players as Basil Rathbone, Leila Hyams. Roland Young, Alec B. Francis. This all talking mystery .murder drama has been adapted from f S. Van Bine’s most popular sellei and introduces to the screen Philo Vance, the popular detective of the S S. Van Dine’s tales,

.Masseurs ana rubbers instead of make-up men, base ball coaches instead of dialogue directors, and howling mobs instead of quic; sound stages were used in the -

filming of the thril ling world series games in “They Learned About Wo men,” Van and Schenck’s fl rs t Metro - Goldwyn •

Mayer starring talkie. Bessie Love plays opposite this musical pair.

Marjorie Rainbeau, one of America’s most popular stage stars, will play Bella, the mother of the heroine in “Dark Star,” which is being directed by George Hill, after an adaptation from Lorna Moon’s novel by Frances Marion. The cast to date includes Marie Dressier, Wallace Beery. Dorothy Jordan and Miss Rambeau.

A country never before used as jthe background for a screen plot is being used for the action in “Just Imagine,” the tuneful musical comedy which David Butler is directing for FoxMovietone, with Maureen O’Sullivan, John Garrick, El Brendel, Marjorie White, Frank Albertson and numerous other favourites in the principal roles.

To Noah Beery belongs the distinction of being the possessor of a bassoprof undo voice that is able to register two octaves lower than any other so far recorded by Vitaphone. Not very many people to-day know that Noah Beery has a really remarkable bass singing voice, which will be heard in “Song of the Flame,” First National’s all-colour operetta of the Russian Re- . volution.

The rise of Charles Kaley, handsome young singer and leading man from Earl Carroll’s “Vanities,” supplies the most Interesting human interest story of Hollywood. Originally a violinist and tenor soloist at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, haunt of movie stars, he had to go East before his talent was recognised by the film moguls. As a song writer beloved by beautiful girls he won his laurels In “Lord Byron of Broadway.” .

George Cukor and Cyril Gardner, the cb-directors of Paramount’s sucsuccessful talkie, “Grumpy,” have arrived at the New York studios of the company to perform similar service on “The Royal Family.” The film production, which is adapted from the Broadway stage success ,by Edna Ferber and George Kaufman, will have Fredric March and Ina Claire in the leads.

Messrs. J. C. Williamson, Ltd.,, announce the cast for the forthcoming presentation on l Wednesday, October 29, of the gorgeous musical play, “New Moon,” with its daunting airs by Sigmund Romberg,' who composed “Desert Song.” Miss Romola Hansen, last in New Zealand as leading lady with the “Desert Song,” will have the chief role, and will have support from Sydney Burchall, whose ringing baritone voice was also heard-in “Desert Song”; Herbert Browne, the tenor of many Williamson successes; Jack Ralston, sincere artist, singer and actor; Bernard Manning and Leo Darnton, hitherto featured in G. and S. roles; 'Don Nicol, of “Whoopee”; Amy Rochelle, Dulcie Davenport, and others. Jim Gerald, formerly of Fuller’s, wiU have the big comedy part of the piece. The New Zealand premiere of the piece takes place at the Grand Opera House, Wellington, on Wednesday week, heralding a Dominion tour of the Drury Lane sensation.

Dorothy Jordan, who plays opposite Ramon Novarro in “In Gay Madrid,” was born in Tennesee, where she was educated. She became a dancer on the New York stage, but entered films to ■ play with Doug.;. Fairbanks a n d Mary Pickford in “The Tamin" of the Shrew.” She was then signed by Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer to play with Novarro in his first talkie, “Devil May Care.”

Joan Bennf ft, who will be remembered for her splen- | did work in “Crazy That Way,” has been signed for the leading role of “Sandra” in “Scotland Yard,” opposite Edmund Lowe, William K. Howard . vill direct John Carrick and Maureen O’Sullivan have the lead- ; ing roles in the De Sylva, Brown and Henderson „ second great musical comedy “Just Imagine.”

Charles Rogers will shortly start work on a musical film tentatively titled “Moliuoff.” Frances Lee will have the leading feminine role.

.Ruth Chatterton’s next, all-talking dramatic play will be ‘‘The Right to Love,” an adaptation of Susan Glaspell’s well-known novel" Brook Evans.” '

With a replica of a Russian steamer as a setting, a male chorus, peasant orchestra and cameras and microphones slung from spars and booms, work has commneced on “The New Moon,” the talking filmisation of the famous stage hit, co-starring Lawrence Tibbett and Grace Moore. Jack Conway is directing the new picture and Oscar Radin, musical director of the original Broadway production, is acting in like capacity.

Francis McDonald, specialist in screen menace roles, has been added to the cast of “Morocco.” His part will be that of a hard-bitten corporal in the French Foreign Legion.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer rented an entire department store for the interior scenes in “Our Blushing Brides,” Joan Crawford’s new starring, vehicle. For the store scenes, the May Company building in-Los Angeles was hired for the day, and Store workers were put'On the studio pay roll as extras. Sound equipment was moved into the building as well as complete studio lighting and power plants. Harry Beaumont directed the new Crawford film with Robert Montgomery playing opposite the star. Anita Page find Dorothy Sebastian share feminine honours, and the supporting cast includes Raymond Hackett, John Miljan, Hedda Hopper. Gwen Lee, and Mary Doran.

Richard Arlen portrays a noted athlete who gets a-job at a health farm as an the all-talking mystery farce,. “Social Errors;” now in production at the Hollywood stud(os. Leon Errol and Mary Brian share featured honours with Arlen