FILMS and the STAGE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 248, 15 July 1932, Page 14

FILMS and the STAGE

STRANGE INGREDIENTS

Marx Brothers’ Comedy , fTHE secret of making a Marx Bro- ■*" tilers comedy has been revealed,by the-Paramount studios. . .... - ... Among the many strange ingredients that are being put into the filming-of

An announcement from Elstree states that “The Constant Nymph” is to be re-filmed as a talkie. This new version of Margaret Kennedy’s famous novel will»be produced by Basil Dean in collaboration with Michael Balcon of Gainsborough Pictures.

“Horse Feathers” are cheese cloth, razor blades, gasoline, bees’ wax,

OUTSIZE IN SETS

fFHE inost ambitious film setting ever x attempted in a British studio has been constructed ' for • the new. 8.1. P. musical production, .“The Maid of the Mountains.” A whole sound stage has been filled -from- wall-to-wall by one set. A mountain ravine is the scene and rocky heights tower to the roof while in the centre a narrow path leads down to a pool fed by a waterfall that cascades from an opening 50 feet above. On the mountain sides are caves and tiny paths down which goats nimbly skip, while horses and donkeys trot sedately up and down the bridle paths. In a clearing is' the brigand’s encampment and . here the > principal scenes are enacted. Nancy Browne, an Australian, and . Harry Welchman are the stars. . , .

books, wild animals, horse hide and lemon- juice. This was revealed .by the property, the wardrobe and the studio purchasing departments. These miscellaneous items go into the manufacture of film and into various “on-stage” and “off-stage” .uses.. Other, materials playing their part in the production of “Horse Feathers” are silver, -nitric acid, cotton, soda pop, carbons, a harp, college professors, ice, dogs, automobiles, a skeleton, co-eds professors, tin, rags, old bottles, snaps and snails, and spice and sugar, and Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo. Groucho says: “That’s all anybody knows about the plot.”

Reversing ‘the more usual Hollywood order, a blonde hero is cast opposite a brunette heroine in “T h e Roadhouse, Murder,” a new mystery romance. Eric jinden, a fairhaired descendant of the virile Vikings, is the boy. Dorothy Jordan, a dusky-eyed. daughter of Tennessee, is the girt Four out of five of Hollywood’s leading men and male stars lean to the brunette side of the complexion ledger. Joel McCrea found a new sport in Hawaii, where he went on’ location for “The Bird of Paradise. < McCrea learned the art of turtle wrestling and threw a 310pounder. He also discovered, much to his surprise, that the literal translation of the Hawaila n ukulele is “jumping louse.” It would seem that a ukulele can 'be just as annoying in Hawaii as it ’ can be here. *

PILES OF LUGGAGE

QTEAMER trunks and flying cameras, a liner at sea, noiseless electric fans —these are just a few of the problems that go into the making of a talking picture. All of them, and more, too, complicated the making of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Letty Lynton,” a sensational drama with Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery. In the steamer dock scene, several hundreds of trunks, handbags and other luggage were needed. The studio property department rented almost every piece of luggage in the Los Angeles stores.

CHINA IN LOS ANGELES

Five hundred Chinese will be seen in Columbia’s “War Correspondent.” featuring Jack Holt and Ralph Graves. The Chinese will be recruited by Tom Collins, the Mayor of Chinatown, in Los Angeles, who for years has furnished Oriental types to the Hollywood studios besides functioning as technical adviser on pictures dealing witli the Orient.

“War Correspondent” features Holt in the role of an heroic American, a soldier of fortune aviator, and Graves as a 1932 radio broadcasting war correspondent. Paul Sloane is directing.

THE TALKIE WORLD

Pars from the Studios

Dennis Neilson-Terry, a member of England’s most famous theatrical family, and himself one of the country’s leading actors, plays the part of Jack Trencham, a detective in “Murder at Covent Garden.” The romance in the story is supplied by Anne Grey, loveliest of British stars, as Helen Osmond, who assists her brother in solving the mystery of a traffic in stolen diamonds.

One of the largest sets ever built for a British firm will be featured in “Down Our Street,” a Paramount British production. The set will be a faithful reproduction of an East End street. It will embrace the following fully detailed places:—A barber’s shop, living rooms, kitchen, hall and stairs, a fullyequipped “fish and chip” shop, a newspaper, and tobacconist’s shop, several alleyways dimly lit by street lamps, back yards, and a small greengrocer’s shop.

Virginia Bruce, blonde actress, described by Florence Ziegfeld as one of the three most beautiful girls in Hollywood, plays the feminine lead opposite Richard Arlen and Jack Oakie in Paramount’s “Sky Bride.” Miss Bruce, after launching her film career with Paramount, appeared with Eddie Cantor in “Whoopee.” During production of this picture Ziegfeld saw her, placed her under contract, and put her in his New York production of “Smiles.”

Chester Morris, one of the first actors to leave the stage for the talkies, and one of the biggest favourites among the younger stars, has the role played 13 years ago by Thomas Meighan in “The Miracle Man,” which will soon have its New Zealand release. In this modernised talkie version of the famous classic, Morris is co-featured with Sylvia Sidney, John Wray, Robert Coogan, and Hobart Bosworth.

Tom Mix’s third picture for Universal, tentatively titled “Marked Men,” has just been placed in production. Fred Kohler, Willard Robertson, and Lucille Powers constitute Mix’s chief support. * . * »

Kay Francis, acknowledged pacesetter for Hollywood’s fashionables, will soon be seen in “Man Wanted,” her first Warner Bros.’ First Rational picture, displaying a, collection of unusual creations especially designed for her. Miss Francis displays a complete wardrobe during the various sequences of the picture, her costumes ranging from boudoir and beach pyjamas to the smartest possible evening gowns.

In dramatic theme and content, “The First Year,” a new Fox production, differs widely from the accepted form of Gaynor-Farrell vehicle in that it will present Janet Gaynor as a modern young matron. For that reason the picture is expected to create unusual interest among critics and public, both of whom have accepted the popular stars as the foremost exponents of romance.

Ralph Bellamy will be introduced to theatregoers as a romantic leading man for the first time when “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm”-reaches the screen. Although he played romantic roles on the stage throughout the country, the screen parts which have built him into a position of prominence up to now have always shown him as the “other” man.

Romance and marriage among the elite, as contrasted with the same emotions among the four million, is the central thread of “Society Girl,” Fox Film’s romantic drama, featuring Janies Dunn and Peggy Shannon. Dunn, as the poor working boy, and Peggy Shannon, as the pampered pet who worked the poor, are the principals in the love match that motivates the picture.

To protect tables containing food from raids by extras during a party scene in Ramon Novafro's new MetroGold wyn-Mayer vehicle, “Huddle,” an ingenious property man, sprayed the outlay with an insect gun. Everyone on the set immediately developed an aversion for the refreshments and Director Sam Wood was furious. When forced to give an explanation, the property man confided that he had merely used in a new spray, “just to keep things fresh and save enough food for tlie scene.”

With the completion of his featured role in Elissa Landi’s drama, “The Woman in Room 13,” Neil Hamilton began his eighth year as a screen leading man, every month of which has been spent under contract. This is considered a record in Hollywood, where five years of popularity is thought a successful career,

"News From The Studios And Theatres

ON THE BOARDS

News from the Stage

Evelyn Laye, W. H. Berry, and George Robey are appearing in “Helen” at the London Adelphi.

“Blue Roses,” which stars Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard, will open at the Grand Opera House on July 27.

Mary Brough, Ralph Lynn, and Robertson Hare are at present appearing in “Dirty Work” at the Aldwych Theatre, London.

Dame Sybil Thorndike’s present production in Sydney is “Madame Plays Nap,” a play that has an appeal similar to that of the famous “Scarlet Pimpernel.”

Mr. Harry Stringer, general manager for New Zealand of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., referring to the revival by the firm of that popular form of entertainment, revue-vaudeville, states that it has now been definitely arranged that the splendid company headed by the celebrated artiste and impersonator, Ella Shields, will come to New Zealand, and will commence the Dominion tour early in September. “It will be a particularly strong combination,” added Mr. Stringer, “and will provide plenty of variety. And that is what the public want nowadays.”

A considerable sensation has been produced in theatre-going and library circles here by the announcement that the Criterion management will withdraw’ its latest production, “The Good Fairy,” after this week, writes the Sydney correspondent of the “New’ Zealand Herald.” When the run of the “Barretts of Wimpole Street” was drawing to a close, Miss Margaret Rawlings permitted herself to express publicly some doubt as to how’ Sydney audiences w’ould take Molnar’s comedy; and her uncertainty is now fully explained. The play is an ironical and fastastic piece of humour dealing with the fortunes of Lu, the “usherette” at a Viennese picture show, w’ho sells herself to various people during the course of the evening. There is no doubt that the play is witty and amusing—that is, as the “Sydney Morning Herald” remarked, it will amuse the sort of people w’ho find this sort of thing entertaining. The best that could be said for it was said here by a dramatic critic, w’ho, while admitting that “the humour of the piece is superlatively naughty,” still claims that, “its faintly-lingering air of the preposterous, its touches, of fantasy, force and fun, save it from the penalty of censorious definition, and give it the character of an artless masquerade.” This may be, but the artlessness of “The Good Fairy” did not save her from the censorious attentions of, the Sydney police authorities; and I understand that, at their instance, some of the action of the dialogue has been cut out. The result is so unsatisfactory to Miss Rawdings and her husband and manager, Mr. Coyne, that they have decided to withdraw the play as soon as they can arrange for a substitute.

A MUSICAL romance that has its & locale in pre-war Vienna and in Vienna of to-day is “Good-night Vienna,” a bright and breezy show which stars that popular young London comedian, Jack Buchanan. “Good-night Vienna,” a British Dominions’ release, is really a most delightful show. It sparkles with the-gaioty that earned for pre-war Vienna the title of the gayest city of the world, and is the type of picture that makes even the most blase person sit up and say, “Here is something worth looking at.” Of course, since it is a Viennese story, romance predominates in every scene—romance in a setting of beautiful women, glorious Howers, entrancing music, and melodious voices. The story concerns the love of a young Austrian officer for a girl who keeps a flower shop. He finds that he must marry a wealthy countess, and decides to elope with the flower girl rather than do so. War breaks out that night, and his mes sage to his loved one goes astray.’ l He leaves for the front. Broken-hearted the flower girl thinks he has deserted her. After the war they meet again, she a wealthy woman and Europe’s foremost singer, be an impoverished man, working for his living. What follows leads up to a most pleasing climax. Jack Buchanan is at his best as the young officer, and he is assisted by Anna Neagle, blonde and beautiful, and with a glorious voice. Features of the are the lilting melodies, foremost among which is “Good-night Vienna,” which Is bound to be a firm favourite.

Walter Huston is Hollywood’s champion preview fan. The preview has the same value for the average picture, according to Huston, that a six months’ run has for the average play. Wrinkles and faults that it takes months to get out of a play are snipped by the cutter and director from the picture after one showing to a preview audience. Charlie Murray’s natural wit has made him a much sought after-dinner speaker. Born in Laurel, Indiana, In 1876, Murray spent the years' most boys are in college with a circus, and on the road in a famous vaudeville partnership with Ollie Mack that lasted 21 years. When that dissolved in 1910, he entered pictures with the Biograph company.

RADIO AND CRIME

A fleet of 50 completely equipped high-geared radio cars, patterned exactly after the roving cars used by American metropolitan police systems, was employed in making the exciting action scenes of Universal’s “Radio Patrol,” a thrilling drama of the modern police systems. For the first time the activities of the dauntless radio car police who patrol the streets, keeping down crime, are shown on the screen, and the picture demonstrates the invaluable asset of radio in the stamping out of organised crime. „

HAROLD LLOYD’S DUCKS

TT will cost an insurance company x £5OO per player if any more members of the cast of Harold Lloyd's new comedy, “Movie Crazy,” are eaten.

NEW. ARLISS FILM

rjEORGE ARLISS’S latest prbduction, “The Man Who Played God,” a Warner Bros.’ - First National Picture, presents full opportunity for Mr. Arliss to express human emotions. The drama is heightened by the sudden deafness which takes his music from the great musician, and completely changes his life, thoughts, and outlook on life. Metropolitan opinion concurs in acknowledging that Arliss’s portrayal of “The Man Who Played God” is undoubtedly his supreme achievement to date, in spite of the excellence which Invariably places his pictures in the “ten best” lists of each succeeding year. The censor has banned the title in New Zealand. The show may have to be presented under another name.

Four ducks, which were being trained to play roles in the_ comedy, were stolen from the studio in Hollywood, where “Movie Crazy” is being produced, and inquiry developed that the ducks were used for food. Harold bought four (more ducks, which are kept in a pen at the studio, but as the pen could not be made theftproof, the comedy star had the ducks insured for the duration of the production of his picture for a total of £2OOO.

SOMETHING NEW

Cannibals for Elstree VVALTER SUMMERS has returned ’’ to England from Africa, where he has been engaged in filming “Tim-' buctoo,” a new and unique film for addition to relating the varied and ex-

New Zealand picturegoers will not have an opportunity of seeing the piquant United Artists release, “The Greeks Had a Word for ‘lt.’ ” for the censor has rejected it. The story it is understood, is just too modem and eyebrow-raising.

British International Pictures, and ia citing adventures of his unit, promise®

a genuine thrill for Elstree. He has arranged for four of the Yakouba cannibals who took part in the African scenes to come to the studios in about six weks’ time in order to complete the picture. Of these, one, Traa, is a famous hunter, and another. Klon. is the chief dancer of the tribe and also a female impersonator, while the other two excel as warriors. Not only will their arrival represent the first occasion on which members of this almost unknown people, may be seen in England. but also the first introduction of civilisation to the Yakouba—and as to performing in a British studio—it will positively in a new experience for everyone concerned.