INTERNATIONAL CAST

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 255, 24 July 1936, Page 16

INTERNATIONAL CAST

AT least half-a-dozen nationalities are represented in the cast and production staff that David O. Selz-' nick has assembled for the making of his technieolour production, “The Garden of Allah,” based on the novel by Robert Hichens, and co-starring Marlene iDietrich (German) and Charles Boyer (French). The supporting cast glitters with such important international favourites as Basil Rathbone and C. Aubrey Smith (both British) ; Tilly Losch and Joseph Schildkraut (both Austrian); Alan Marshal, John Carradine, Heury Brandon, Adrian Rosely, Robert Fraser and David Scott. The picture, under the direction of Richard Boleslawski (Polish), is engaging the energies of three of Hollywood's leading cameramen—Howard Green, Hal Rosson and Virgil Miller. Incidentally, the technical adviser is Jamiel Hasson (Arabian). Max Steiner, well-known composer-conductor, and winner of last year’s musical award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has, as his first assignment under the new contract he signed jointly with Selznick International and Pioneer Pictures, the composition and direction of the musical background for “The Garden of Allah.” While on the subject of music, it is noteworthy that seven strange instruments producing the weird music of Africa, furnish an authentic Arabic musical background for the film. Played by native Arab musicians, the instruments include a minjaira, akin to the flute; a derbacky, drum held under the left arm, an instrument resembling a six-stringed guitar; duff, the Arabian tom-tom : busuck, like a mandolin ; zamur, cousin of the piccolo; and announ, Arab derivation of the zither. As a final touch of authenticity, Jadaan, the white Arabic stallion which Rudolph Valentino rode to fame, has come out of retirement to serve in the production.