FILMS and the STAGE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 266, 5 August 1932, Page 16

FILMS and the STAGE

News From The Studios And Theatres

AMY JOHNSON, ACTRESS Miss any Johnson had some moments of panic when she began her career as an actress with James Mollison, her fiance, in “Dual Control.” The’ dashing airwoinan was not concerned about the stunts expected from her by Captain Walter Summers, the 8.1. P. director, but it took an appreciable amount of argument to persuade her that there was no risk in the use, of the yellowish make-up. After this she entered so thoroughly into the spirit of filming and proved so adaptable in the acting scenes with which her flying exploits alternate that she began to delight the studio heads. IT’S A HARD LIFE ! CJORINNE GRIFFITH had a rough time during the - production of “Lily Christine,” the Paramount British film of Michael Arlen’s book. The script required that Corinne Griffith be run over by a lorry at Hyde Park corner. For this purpose the - site was rebuilt within the studio walls, and omnibuses, cars, and taxis were , hired for the traffic. Miss Griffith had to step off the island dominated by’Jagger’s fine war memorial, dodge among the traffic until she was knocked down by a speeding lorry. This called for the most critical timing on the part of the traffic and Miss Griffith. Any miscalculation on the part of either Corinne Griffith or any of the moving cars would have resulted in a real accident As it was, however, Miss Griffith escaped with only a few bruises and laddered stockings. ''.

BILL, THE DECORATOR WILLIAM HAINES is keeping regu- ’ v lar business hours these days. His interior decorating business has grown so rapidly that he has added two assistants to his staff. Between pictures at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio, he can be found from nine to six every day at his antique shop in Hollywood. Bill’s latest deCorating commission is the new home of Chester Morris, who recently completed the leading masculine role in “Red-headed Woman,” with Jean Harlow. 1

DISTINGUISHED PATRONS ’J 1 HE “Dance Appasionata,” as demonstrated by Cyril Ritchard and Madge Elliott in “Follow Through” was danced by these two favourites for 12 months in the Winter Garden, London. Among the many patrons who came several times to witness this

fascinating dance duo were the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, Prince George, the King and Queen of Spain, the King of Afghanistan, and the late Dame Nellie Melba.

The success of “Arrowsmith” in America was repeated recently in London, where the new Ronald Colman vehicle opened at the Tivoli ace theatre of the Gaumont circiiit. The opening Monday saw the sum of £IO7O taken,- and the first three days totalled no less a sum than £2570— a record. “Arrowsmith,” United Artists’ screen version of the Sinclair Lewis novel, and which features Helen Hayes opposite Colman, is acclaimed as easily the best of Col man’s offerings. • • •

In changing her personality and adopting a new name, Alsion Loyd, leading woman for Chester Morris in “Corsair,” the United Artists' picture, closes a book upon a colourful'past .In this picture, as previously announced, Thelma Todd, comedienne, becomes Alsion Loyd, dra ma tic actress.

WHY HE WAS LATE REGINALD DENNY frantically telephoned the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio one morning during the making of “Private Lives.” The company was

waiting on the set, but couldn’t proceed with the scenes at hand without Denny. “I’m sorry, but I’m late, and I’m just going to have to be a bit later,” he sputtered. “But you’re holding things up—the whole company is waiting on you,” it was protested. “I say, I’m awfully sorry and all that.” he pleaded, “but I’m becoming a father this very minute!” When Denny finally arrived for work he beamingly announced the arrival of Reginald Denny, junr.

THE TALKIE WORLD Pars from the Studios Charles Coleman enacts the important role of the newspaper columnist in “Merrily We Go to Heli,” in which Sylvia Sidney and Frederic March play the starring roles. Coleman started his stage career in Australia, where he was born; next he went to London for three years, and then on an extensive tour in "Cradle Snatchers” in ' the United States. His screen career followed. * * »t« “Say It With Music” will introduce Jack Payne, the famous band leader, and his boys to the talkie world. The story of “Say It With Music” has been specially written and colour will be used in some sequences not merely as a background, but as a dramatic essential in the film’s development. It was stipulated by Jack Payne that in the film he would play all original numbers —but ouly by British authors and composers—and it has now been decided to use numbers by Ray Noble, who will be remembered for his “Good Night, Sweetheart.”

John Balderston, whose name is almost .synonymous with “Dracula” as that of Bela Lugosi himself, has completed the dialoguing of H. G. Wells's novel, “The Invisible Man,” in which Boris Karloff will star. Recently he was assigned to the script on “Cagliostro,” the horror legend which Nina Wilcox Putnam wrote into a thrilling film story.

Paul Lukas has been assigned an important role in Elissa Landi’s forthcoming Fox picture, “Undesirable Lady,” which is at present in production. Warner Gland and Alexander Kirkland have featured parts in this film, which Frank Lloyd is directing.

Lilian Harvey, charming little Ger-man-English actress, who apparently has become an overnight sensation and American favourite through her work in the leading role of the German-made English language production, "Congress Dances,” is the newest member of the growing list of the new Fox Film Corporation contract players.

Minna Gombell has been cast in the new Janet Gaynor-Charles Farrel Fox picture, “The First Year.” Henry Kolker and Elda Yokel have also been added to the cast.

One of the many highlights contained in the British Dominions’ production, “Sunshine Susie,” is the theme song which trickles right through the production in a most entertaining fashion. "To-dily I Feel so Happy” is a song that inspires.one to rise upon their feet and join in the rousing chorus. It is sung throughout the film by Renate Muller the German musical comedy star, who has reached sublime heights of stardom in Britain since tier success in this picture.

Tetsu Komal, noted Japanese character actor, has been selected by Columbia to play the role of General Fang, a murderous Chinese bandit, in “War Correspondent,” which brings together once more the noted trio Jack Holt, Ralph Graves and Lila Lee, who appeared with such success in Columbia's sensational production "Flight.” “War Correspondent” is a hilarious comedydrama with the Sino-Japanese encounter as a back ground, and presents an entirely novel angle in Oriental war stories.

The kind of drama that is known only to the masses is given full expression in "The Symphony of Six Million,” which was made to emphasise the great gulf between man and man—between the Four Hundred of Riverside Drive and the Four (or Six) Million of Bronx, Manhattan and Downtown New York. it refers to every big city, presenting a vivid picture of life within each of them. Featured in the film are Ricardo Cortez, Irene Dunne, Noel Madison and Anna Appel. The original story was written by the noted authoress Fannv Hurst.

Richard Barthelmess, star, of "Alias the Doctor,” a Warner Bros.’ First National picture, recently brought back with him to Hollywood some pictures he took of the Chinese War, which are considered sensational and which show the results of the conflicts there in a very graphic manner. Mr. Barthelmess was enjoying a vacation on board bis private yacht in Chinese waters when the hostilities broke out.

Douglas Fairbanks, jun., star of “A Gentleman for a Day,” a Warner Bros.' First National picture, now sports a full-grown moustache and a bright blue beret. The beret was very easily acquired and without delay, but the moustache required almost a month It looks very much like his father's now that it has attained its growth.

BORN TO.ACT Stage in Their Blood ALTHOUGH many film favourites have been recruited from the ranks of salesmen and office girls, there are just as many who were born actors and actresses —born of parents who bad the stage and all that it stands for in their blood, states "The Picturegoer.” Doug. Fairbanks, junr., for Instance, was born to be an actor, for his father was the great Doug., and his mother, Beth Sully, an actress. The Barrymore family was theatrical all through. Thg father of John and Lionel was Maurice Barrymore, actor; their mother was Georgie Drew, actress: their uncle, John Drew, famous actor. Then there is the glamorous Bennett family. Father is Richard Bennett, real old “trouper”; mother was once the well-known actress, Adrienne Morrison; and the daughters—well, joan, Constance, and Barbara need no introduction.

These are great families; practically bora on the side of the stage or in the studio and taught to walk in the limelight. But other stars have had theatrical parents who were not as celebrated as their children have grown to be. Richard Bartheluiess was always top of the bill in his college amateur dramatics, and underwent stage-training. His' mother, an actress, was so adept at stagecraft that she actually tutored Nazimova. The father and mother of Leila I-Iyams were f'Melntyre and Hyarns,” a popular .“turn” on the variety stage. William Boyd (the villainous one, known as “Stage” Boyd) had for his mother, Florence Richman, who, more than twenty years ago, was a famous Shakespearean actress. William found himself on the stage when he was a mere babe. Some of these parents were terribly impatient to get their children before the footlights. Joan Biondell was carried on to a stage at the age of four months by her actor-father. She played the part of somebody’s baby in a Lyceum type of drama, “The Greatest Love.” When Chester Morris was born, in i 1902, his father was leading man in a | New York repertory company, and I his mother was Etta Hawkins, a fam- ! ous comedienne. Raymond 'Hackett was born into a confirmed theatrical family, and started playing parts from the age of three. He was well known on Broadway while he was still a small boy. Many years ago a popular grand opera singer at the American Metropolitan Theatre married a Mr. Noonan, and had eleven children. Two of the daughters, Chotsie and Sue, fell in love with the theatre—as their mother had done —and became Sally O’Neil and Molly O’Day, of the films. TRIBUTE TO MELBA A LL the principals of the William-son-Imperial Grand Opera Company, now at the Theatre Royal, paid a tribute to the late Dame Nellie Melba on a recent Siniday- by making a pilgrimage to her grave at Lilydale. Signor Apollo Granforte sang Gounod’s “Ave Maria” while the artists stood around the grave. He was accompanied by Signor Rossi on an organ. It was Granforte’s wish that this tribute be paid to Melba, because he was associated with her in both the 1920 and 1928 seasons of opera in Australia. Siguorina Cesarina Valebra, who is singing roles made famous by Melba, placed a huge floral harp on the grave on behalf of the company. This bore the inscription: “Dame Nellie Melba ; Beloved Mimi; a tribute of esteem from the principals of the Wil-liamson-Iniperial Grand Opera Company, 1932.” Lina Paliughi also placed a laurel wreath on the grave. After the ceremony, the artists paid a visit to Coombe Cottage, the beautiful country home of Melba. LILA LEE RETURNS T?EALTIFUL Lila Lee returns to the screen after a lengthy absence in “Radio Patrol,” Universal’s stirring police force drama, which is due for early release in Wellington. She is an entirely new Lila Lee, and she ably supports Robert Armstrong and Russel | Hopton in their roles of two radio car police officers. A revelation of the invaluable aid given through the use of radio bj police headquarters in being able to dispatch a fleet of trained officers in radio ears to the scene of a '-rime within five minutes of its being reported, is thrillingly shown in “Radio Patrol.”

“Michael and Mary,” the noted A. A. Milne romance, which had such a success as a stage play, is now being made as a talkie by British Dominions Films. Edna Best and Herbert Marshall, who were in the stage production, are the leads In the talkie version, and Frank Lawton, D. A. ClarkeSmith, and Elizabeth Allan have the same roles as they played on the stage. • » • “ Unashamed ” has been selected as the final title for the MetroGoldwyn - Mayer film with Helen Twelvetrees, Robert Young, and Lewis Stone in prominent roles. The new picture is an original for the screen by Bayard Veiller, the famous playwright of “The Trial of Mary Dugan,” “Guilty Hands,” and “The Thirteenth Chair.”

“THE FLAG LIEUTENANT” recently announced, Henry Edwards and Anna Nea'gle will star in “The Flag Lieutenant,” which went into production recently at the British

and Dominions studios. Henry Edwards is also directing. With this feature British and Dominions have the double distinction of bringing to the sound screen a subject which in its silent form proved Itself to be one of the biggest box-office winners ever sponsored by the British film industry, and of reintroducing Henry Edwards in his famous role under the B. and D. banner, together with Anna Neagle, whose performance opposite Jack Buchanan has been so highly praised wherever “Good Night Vienna” has been shown.

COMEDY AND THRILLS JTJESCRIBED by Pete Harrison, the famous Independent critic, as “far the best picture produced 'in British International Pictures, Ltd.,” “The Innocents of Chicago.” which Is due for early release In Wellington is a story which centres round the adventures in Chicago of a young Englishman, some Innocents, some who are not so innocent. and a number of gangsters. The plot is ingenious, the cast is excellent, and Mr. Lane's, direction gets the last ounce of action, excitement and laughter out of his very happy material. It is a picture which all filmgoers suffering from a surfeit of gangster melodrama will receive with delight. The cast includes Henry Kendall. Bernard Nedell, Margot Grahame, Binnie Barnes and Betty Norton.

DO YOU KNOW THAT— Frederick Kerr is now acting at Elstree? Tallulah Bankhead is afraid to see her own previews? The only time Clark Gable wears a

tie is when he is making a picture? . They now call Robert Montgomery “Klss-'em-quick” Montgomery? Film colony gossip links the names of Madge Evans and Tom Gallery, the ex Mr. Zasu Pitts?

“AUTUMN CROCUS” AN announcement can be expected shortly regarding the Continental artists who will play the leads in “Autumn Crocus,” described by the critics in London as one*of the most delightful plays in a decade. The presentation of this production in Australia has been deferred until a suitable leading artist can be secured. “Autumn Crocus” has a deep sentimental appeal and deals with the romance of a middle-aged English school teacher and her reactions to a love t,hat came too late in life. This play stands out in theatrical history as the first dramatic work of C. L. Anthony (in private life Miss Dodie Smith), a vendor of toys in a large London departmental store. DANGEROUS FEAT AN aeroplane, travelling at an estimated speed of eighty miles an hour, was crashed into the hacienda on the Paramount ranch, forty milea from Hollywood, for a scene in “The Broken Wing,” the recently-completed picture in which Lupe Velez, Leo Carrillo, and Melvyn Douglas are featured. The feat was performed under the supervision of Captain E. H. Robinson, a flight-commander of the Californian National Guard. No one was injured. The speed and weight of the plane was calculated so that cameramen would not be endangered by the plane ploughing too far into the set and striking them.

Old-time favourites of the screen will appear in the next issue of Columbia’s “Screen Snapshots." Florence Lawrence, J. Warren Kerrigan, Nazimova, Mary Miles Minter, Marguerite Clarke, Priscilla Dean, Clara Kimball Young, Max Linder, Bull Montana, Louise Glaum. Lillian Russell, Irene Castle, and others, will be shown in this short feature.

A. message from London announces the Signing by a certain British producing organisation of the renowned German singer, Richard Tauber, to make musical films at Elstree. The German singer earns fabulous sums of money on the concert stage, and a hazarded guess places the figure which he is likely to receive for motion picture work at a round £lOOO a week. Tauber’s pictures will not be mere “canned concerts,” the very latest in musical technique being employed in their making.

A hotel bar was the setting, and six thirsty men, each facing 10 large mugs of beer, were the “subjects” of a sound film made at Lithgow recently. The film was made by a cameraman who was touring the State searching for unusual • 'photographs. He certainly achieved his objective. The drinkers were given about 10 minutes to consume about 10 pints each, and the;- exceeded the limit by only a few seconds.

George Robey, the famous London comedian, will make his first appearance in a feature length talkie in “Marry Me,” in which the leading role will be taken by Renate Muller, the vivacious star of “Sunshine Susie.” Also in the cast of this musical show will be Harry Green, another well-known performer.