FILMS and The STAGE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 172, 16 April 1932, Page 16

FILMS and The STAGE

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AMATEUR EFFORTS

New Repertory Show

The Repertory Society’s rooms in have been seething witn activity during the past fortnight, for entirely new settings are being made by members for their new production, “The New Morality,” a delightful comedy by Harold Chapin, which is as intriguing as its title suggests. It is one of those plays that keeps the audience simmering with laughter. Rehearsals under the direction of Mr.’ W. S. Wauchop give promise of an outstanding success. The cast includes Misses Zita Chapman, Moya Hempton (her first appearance), and Shiela Kissell, and Messrs. A. D. Priestley, George Cooper, Tom Anson and L. H. Herd (the last two appearing for the first time). The season of four nights will commence at the Y.W.C.A. Hall on Tuesday next. Victoria College students are deep in the throes of rehearsals for their annual extravaganza, which this year will be presented along entirely new Hues. Instead of one show, three short ones will be performed. "Dry Rot.” which will be a skit on Wellington's new dock will contain much witty dialogue and many tuneful melodies. “Hoax and Coax” will have a political flavour and will boast an excellent opening chorus. This piece promises to be extremely good. The third offering, “Souled,” is a short skit on present-day psychology and the teaeners thereof, has no songs, but' is in many respects the best play of all. The extravaganza will be produced early in May. A dramatic society under the direction of Helen Gard’ner is being formed at Lower Hutt. The W.E.A. at Palmerston North will produce “Arms and the Man” during the year. Mrs. Linda Bennett and Mr. J. Davidson will figure prominently. The Perth (West Australia) Repertory Club hopes to produce “The First Mrs. Fraser” shortly.

The Auckland University show this year will be produced on May 1-1. A casting committee consisting of Mr. .1. A. S. Coppard. author of “All Quiet on the Waterfront,” and Mr. J. M. Bertram, the 1932 Rhodes scholar, is at work on a preliminary survey of the histrionic talent available in the college.

“The Constant Nymph,” whiijh the Auckland Little Theatre Society is presenting in the northern city, has a strong cast which includes Hilda Morse, Graham Brown-Douglas, Rita Chapman, Maisie Free, Patricia Boyle, Denver Calder. Jean Gordon and Jack Gordon. Mr. Gaston Mervale is the producer. Around the World. Referring to "Around the World in Eighty Minutes with Douglas Fairbanks,” the "New' York Daily News” states that “what this attraction is not is a mere travel picture. It rises to heights above such conception, and is an achievement in original entertainment. It is Douglas Fairbanks expressing his vibrant personality—making the world his stage, continents his playground—kings and potentates his players; pulling laughs from every move—leaving you in admiration of his unique skill which has enabled him to create a picture which actually appears to be half its real length because of its breathless interest.” The picture is to be released by United Artists.

Chaliapin for Films.

A London message states that details are virtually completed whereby Feodor Chaliapin, the noted Russian singer, will make his talkie debut in a film written by Charlie Chaplin and produced in English, French and German at the British and Dominions studios. United Artists will handle distribution throughout the world. Bright Musical Comedy. Marilyn Miller, radiant star of Broadway and London, has never been quite so well cast as she is in the role of Lia Toerrek, the barmaid who becomes a baroness for a moment, in “Her Majesty, Love,” the exuberant light musical comedy which will be released in New Zealand shortly by Warner Bros.’ First National. Ben Lyon plavs the lead in this delightful musicai comedy, assisted by four famous comedians —W. 0. Fields, Ford Sterling, Leon Errol, and Chester Conklin. Heather Thatcher’s' “Window.” Heather Thatcher, famous English stage actress, appearing with Robert Montgomery in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “The Truth Game,” always wears a monocle. If it’s good enough for men over in London —why not for women? she insists. Hollywood-ites predict that she may start a new fashion with her “window.”

About Marlene Dietrich. What is Marlene Dietrich like in private life? The star of Paramount’s “Shanghai Expresses a blonde whose hair has a reddish tinge. Her eyes are blue-green. She is five feet five inches tall, and weighs Bst. 81b. She can sing, play the violin and piano, and is an expert automobile driver, swimmer, and tenuis player, and usually dresses in smart, sports clothes. She is proud of her ability to play the violin. William Powell’s Latest. "The Road to Singapore,” the new Warner Bros.’ picture starring William Powell, is the first picture photographed without makeup on the faces of the men in the cast. This was made possible by the use of a highly sensitised film, just developed, which photographs accurate flesh tones without the benefit of greasepaint. Beautiful Doris Kenyon plays opposite Powell in “The Road to Singapore.”

The Barrymores Together. A treat in store for film patrons is Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Arsene Lupin,” in which John and Lionel Barrymore have the leading roles. In some ways the story is reminiscent of the John Gilbert film “The Phantom of Paris,” for the action revolves round the efforts of the French police, led by Lionel, to catch the notorious thief, Arsene Lupin, played by the handsome John. The heroine is known as Karen Morley, and John is once again the “great lover.” The story moves at a thrilling speed, with the hero escaping always at the last moment from the clutches of the police. Following more than four

months of preparation, Director John M. Stahl has begun actual filming of “Back Street,” the absorbing Universal drama which presents Irene Dunne and John Boles and June Clyde in the leading roles. “Back Street” was originally written as a novel by Fannie Hurst, and as an aid to carrying out her ideas on the screen Stahl made a trip to New York for the purpose of conferring with the footed authoress. Supporting Miss Dunne and Boles in “Back Street” are many such screen favourites as Paul Weigel, James Donlan. Jane Darwell and Carl Miller.

Laurel and Hardy will soon be seen in “The Musical Box,” which is one of their best productions, and quite the funniest show of the year.

H. M. Bateman, whose inimitable cartoons are familiar in “Punch,” is in America, and is reported to be studying at first hand the methods by which Walt Disney produces the "Mickey Mouse” cartoons, with the object of making a series of tlie same kind in England.

A New Team. The talents of Claudette Colbert and Clive' Brook will be combined for the first time in a co-starring vehicle to be filmed at the Paramount studios in Hollywood shortly. Ten dramatic stories and playscripts are being inspected by Paramount executives as possible choices for this production. Although both Brook and Miss Colbert have been Paramount personalities for several years, they have never before been cast together. Brook’s last role was opposite Marlene Dietrich in “Shanghai Express.”

Elissa Landi.

Elissa Landi, novelist, master of four languages, trained Russian ballet dancer, accomplished pianist, talented mezzo-soprano, expert horsewoman, and one of the foremost stars of the stage and screen! All of these combine in this blonde actress to reveal one of the most sensational artists on the screen to-day. Her actual life is more glamorous than lives she portrays in pictorial fantasy. She is the daughter of the Counters Zanardi Landi. Iler latest Fox production is “The Devil’s Lottery,” in which she has the support of Victor McLaglen, Paul Cavanagh, and Alexander Kirkland.

“DELICIOUS”

Perfect Entertainment Never since they first started acting together have Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell screenland’s most popular sweethearts, been better than they are in “Delicious,” their latest Fox production, which was reviewed this week. A "Cinderella” romance of an entirely new type, “Delicious” is exactly what the name implies. The story is enchanting, the dialogue right out of the ordinary, the comedy perfect, and as for the acting—well, wait until you see the picture. Janet Gaynor is really adorable in this show. Petite, wide-eyed, soft and appealing of voice, this little star shines as she has never shone before. She is seen as Heather, a little Scotch immigrant who is going away to the United States to live with her uncle. While on the steamer a Russian composer falls in love with her and she with him. Then she meets a handsome voting American, who, of course, is Charles Farrell. Romance again enters her life, but the path of true love is not too smooth. However, all’s well that ends well, and the clima- is as satisfactory as it is cleverly thought out. The picture has a most ideal ending. The acting of Miss Gaynor throughout the show and her clever impersonation of a Scottish girl place her on the highest rung of the ladder of fame. Charles Farrell, tall, handsome and romantie. is the perfect hero —the type that looms foremost in the thoughts of practically every romantic young girl. His voice, too, is most fascinating. El Brendel is also in the east. His humour is irresistible, and he keeps everyone in shrieks of laughter. His comedy love song, which presents something quite new in the way of lyrics, is one of the highlights of this wonderful show. All the music is by that well-known composer George Gerschwin. whose melodies, as usual, are an inspiration. Particularly outstanding is his number for Miss Gaynor’s “dream” song on entering the United States. The tableau for this is as clever as it is remarkable.

“Silver” Disapproves.

It is doubtful whether “Silver,” Buck Jones’s beautiful intelligent horse, thoroughly approves of these new-fangled “gasoline buggies.” One day he decided to watch his master working on a scene in Columbia’s new action story, “High Speed,” in which Buck does all his rough riding in a racing car. “Silver” watched for a while, then, apparently overcome with jealousy, he backed up and gave the car’s motor a good hard kick, doing more than a little damage. After waiting eagerly for any possible retaliation on the motor’s part “Silver” haughtily stalked off, his vanity fully appeased.

Farreijl and Gaynor.

With two of ' the best screen writers in Hollywood Working on the diologue script, and director Alfred Santell sitting at their elbows to drop suggestions, the story of “Rebecca of Sunuybrook Farm” is being, made ready as Janet Gaynor’s next lecture for Fox Films. Charles Farrell will share honours, as seems customary .in such cases. Many will remember Mary Pickford in the silent version. Edna Piirviance 111. Edna Purviauce, associated with motion pictures since 191(1, when she played leads opposite Charlie Chaplin, lies dangerously iJI in the Hollywood Hospital suffering ,from a severe heart attack. Her doctor reports her as still being in danger, though slightly improved from the condition she-was in when brought to the hospital. Edna Purvianee’s best-known picture was “A Woman of Paris,” in which she was featured in 1922. Adolphe Menjou was her leading man. “The Mfcnacc.” In the British and Dominions Edgar Wallace thriller, "The Menace,” which ’ due for early release in Wellington, that popular English actor, 11. B. Warner, plays the part of the detective inspector, Tracy, and though be and his assistant are the official background for the story the real unwinding of the mysterv is accomplished by Ronald, played by Walter Byron. Warner plays the typical, cool, easy role which makes his characterisations so real “Back Street.” Following more Uiirfi four months of preparation, Director John M. Stahl has begun actual filming of “Back Street,” the absorbing Universal drama which presents Irene Dunne and John Boles and June Clyde in the leading roles. "Back Street” was originally written as a novel by 1* annie Hui st, and as an aid to carrying out her ideas on the screen Stahl made a trip to New York for the purpose of conferring with the noted authoress. Supporting Miss Dtinne and Boles in "Baek Street” are many such screen favourites as Paul Weigel, James Donlan, j ,'ane Darwell, and Carl Miller.

Fewer Words Urged.

“The talking screen should be as silent as possible.” declared Roubeu Mamoulian, who directed "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” for Paramount. “A picture is like a man,” he continued. “The man of a few words will always get his point over best.” Mamoulian is a former stage director. “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is the screen rendering of the immortal story by Robert Louis Stevenson, and is described as the weirdest and yet the most romantic story ever told. Fredric March scores a never-to-be-forgotten triumph in the stellar role, and he is supported by Rose Hobart and Miriam Hopkins.

The predicament of a spineless young man who is forced to make ardent love to an actress, with whom he has become infatuated, under the watchful eyes of his fiancee will give filmgoers ample cause for much fun and merriment when they see “A Per-

feet Lady,” a British Interna- " tional Picture, which is due for early release in Wellington. The cast includes Betty Amman, Moira Lynd, Athene Seyler, Frederick Lloyd, Reg. Gardiner and Harry Wilcoxon.

Lon Chaney’s son. Creighton, is to enter the movies under the name of Lon Chaney, junr.

Lilian Braithwaite is a most distinguished stage actress, and has appeared in over a hundred successes. She is now playing in “Little Catherine.” Miss Braithwaite was seen in Australia several years ago,

Because of her wonderful performance in “The Chance of a Night Time,” comedian Ralph Lynn would consider nobody but Winifred Shelter for his leading lady in “Mischief,” adapted from an original story by Ben Travers.

Early Morning Hide.

Residents of Malibu Beach, near Santa Monica, California, have been startled from their sleep of late by the thud of horses’ hoofs on hard-packed sand. At three o’clock in th? morning, too! The lady responsible for this is Lil Dagover, the recently imported German screen sensation, who makes a habit of this nightly ride. She will be seen in her First National and Vitaphone starring production, “The Woman from Monte Carlo,” an exciting drama of love and intrigue.

Fast Travellers. Wallace Beery and Clark Gable now hold records as having travelled faster than any other actors alive. In Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Hell Divers,” drama of vanal aviation, they participated in sensational diving manoeuvres. In these dives, the aeroplanes reached a speed of 350 miles per hour. And both actors got an enormous “kick” out of it. Thoroughness Wanted. The British International Pictures Corporation, through its executive, is insisting on extreme thoroughness in every one of its 1932 output. Realising that the proud position now held by this company must be maintained, orders have now been issued to the effect that nothing must be left to chance; results, therefore, will be of the best. George O’Brien’s Contract. George O’Brien, wno left Santa Clara University some years back to carry a camera for the Tom Mix unit for Fox Films, and found himself a leading man only a few months later, recently signed a new long-term contract with the same organisation. His first picture under the new contract will be “The Killer,” a Steward Edward White story’, which David Howard will direct. Al Cohn, author of “The Cisco Kid,” is writing the screen play.

Opera on the Screen. Spanish beauties, toreadors, music that bewitches, allurement, temptation and tragedy all combine to make “Gipsy Blood,” British International Pictures’ version of Bizets famous opera ‘‘Carmen,” an outstanding success. The stellar roles in this story of love and hatred, which will soon be released in Wellington, are taken bv Marguerite Namara (Carmen), a beautiful prima donna; Lance Fairfax, the ex-Wellingtonian, who sings the famous “Toreador’s Song”; and Tom Burke, the world-renowned tenor, who plays Don Jose. The photography is a feature of the show, m which, to quote a London critic, the singing, the fighting, the exterior scenes in the mountains, the bullfight at the end are magnificently staged and introduce the real stuff of popular entertainment

ON THE STAGE

Stars and Shows The first production in Australia of “Happy and Glorious” at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne, on April 18, with Margaret Rawlings in a new role, will be characterised by several novel features. This will be the first time audiences in Australia have been afforded the opportunity of seeing the most modern phases of the art theatre, for, scenically, “Happy and Glorious” will be presented in an entirely different way to the ordinary stage production, while the lighting effects also will be an entire departure from the ordinary. In the three acts there will be a quick succession of scenes, comprising no fewer than fifteen, and these will flash through the play at a speed reminiscent of the motion picture.

“The Barretts of Wimpole Street,” which ran for 17 months in London, a year in New York, and is now drawing large audiences in Melbourne, will probably come to New Zealand in July. '

Denis Sheard, who was formerly well known for his radio work in Wellington, is at present understudying Leo Darnton, principal tenor of the Gilbert and Sullivan Company. During the company’s season in Dunedin Mr. Sheard played Nanki Poo in the matinee performance of “The Mikado,” and received splendid notices for his good work. The Williamson grand opera season opened at Sydney on Saturday last with “Aida.” Fourteen European artists are taking part, and the orchestra numbers about 50.

“Blue Roses.” the musical comedy with Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard in the leads, celebrated its 50th performance in Sydney. It was intended that it should" go on to Brisbane to make room for the grand opera company, but its success has been so emphatic that the Sydney season has been extended, and the show has been transferred to the Criterion Theatre. Beppie de Vries, who made many friends in New Zealand when here in “Madame Pompadour” and “The Student Prince,” is appearing in another revival in New York of “The Merry Widow.” Buddy Rogers and Lupe Velez, well known as film players, have gone on the stage in New York, in the new Ziegfeld musical comedy, “Hot-cha.” , Screen Kights Secured. A Hollywood message states . that Universal has secured screen; rights to the novels of H. G. Wells, Robert Louis Stevenson, and J. B. Priestley, famous British authors, and after conference between Wells and Carl Laeinmle, junr., it has been decided to star Boris Karloff in the former’s “The Invisible Man,” and ■ film it as a super production. “The Suicide Club,” foremost among Stevenson's novels, will also be included in Universal’s 1932 list; while Priestley’s “The Old Dark House” will also occupy a prominent place in the 1932 schedule. In the lastnamed Universal will again make use of Boris Karloff. Fannie Hurst, Erich Maria Remarque, and Donald. Henderson Clarke are three other notable writers whose stories are-to be adapted by Universal.