The Shakespeare Boom

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 134, 4 December 1930, Page 21

The Shakespeare Boom

The film company which acts in this country for the distinguished Mr. Douglas Fairbanks has permitted me to see the extent and the variety of bookings it has effected for the Fairbanks-Pickford edition of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew," says a London journal. This production may be said, in the language of its country of origin, to have "cleaned up" in England. Mr. Cochrau ran it for a season at the London Pavilion. He and I had a friendly debate. I felt that too much had been claimed for the picture. It was colourful, certainly; it was literal Shakespeare^-al-though many scenes had been jumbled into a jig-saw sequence. The riotous merriment of a Tudor comedy had been caught, even though the sweet resonance of the words vanished in the accents of Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks. Tho glory of Shakespeare persisted. I am wondering now how soon we shall see the first English representation of a Shakespeare play on the talking screen. It is a fact—as I ascertained recently— that one company, which already this year has made at least two very great films, has such a project under discussion. The discussions have reached a point when ono party in authority wishes to make "Midsummer Night's Dream" into a film, while another wants "Othello." Whichever play may be chosen, I can state definitely now that production, will begin within the next few months. This announcement will inevitably arouse noisy remonstrance among a section of the people who exhibit films in this country; the people, I mean, who persistently imagine that all English people are invariably content with the Chicago "crook" saga. It becomes necessary, therefore, to place upon record certain of the reasons why a Shakespearian play translated to the English screen by competent Englishmen will be a success in England. Mr. Cochran has stated that the theatregoing public in the West End represents only 5 per cent, of London's population. Ono imagines on looking at the mammoth attendances at West End cinemas on Saturday and Sunday evenings that they represent the remaining 95 per cent. But, in fact, only 30 per cent, of London's population makes a weekly visit to the 'cinema. And that figure includes the multitude of little boys and girls who regularly throng the Saturday afternoon shows with which the managers of suburban theatres swell their profits. There is a. tremendous untapped audience awaiting the film of intelligence— as the astute promoters of "Tho White Hell of Pitz Paiu" have discovered. The practice of making films as if the lowest degrees of intelligence and education were the average has persisted for too long. The really astute film manufacturer should now be seeking to attract the vast company of people who never or only rare visit the cinema.

To Direct Bancroft. John Cromwell, who directed George Bancroft in "The Mighty" and all of William Powell's starring pictures, has been assigned to direct "Unfit to Print," the latest Paramount all-talking film to star Bancroft. It is a newspaper story, and adapted from au original story by Oliver H. P. Gavrett, author of "Street of Chance." Kay Francis will be featured in the feminine lead. Two Kays. Two ex-Broadway actresses having the same first name, Kay Johnson and Kay Francis, will be featured in William De Mille's new production for Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer. Miss Johnson had been sought for a part in "The Passion Flower" before, but it was uncertain whether she would be able to complete her role in King Vidor's "Billy the Kid" in time to accept the new part. Although both Miss Johnson and Miss Francis have played in neighbouring legitimate houses in New York for many years this 13 the first time they will have appeared together. Evelyn Brent. The personality of Evelyn Brent will continue to be seen in Radio Pictures. This was disclosed when William Le Baron, vice-president in charge of production, announced that Miss Brent had been signed to appear in two more pictures under the Radio banner. The contract was signed just prior to completion of "The Silver Horde," Radio's Alaskan drama, in which Miss Brent is said to have played one of her most effective roles as Cherry Malotte in the Rex Beach novel. Her first picture under the terms of the new contract, as yet unannounced, will be her third for Radio. She first went to this studio when. Le Baron selected her for the principal feminine role in "Framed," which, like "The Silver Horde," was directed by George •Arehainbaud. Summerville. There has been no vacation for Slim Summerville this season. The increasingly popular comedian completed four weeks of night work on "See America Thirst," the Universal feature length satire in which he is featured with Harry Langdon and Bessie Love, and then began the second of a series of two-reel talking shorts. Summerville's first two-reeler, "Parlez Vous," was one of. the attractions at Fox Carthay Circle Theatre, Los Angeles. His second comedy, "We, We, Marie," is from the pens of George Ceder and James Mulhauser, and Albert Ray is directing. Edward Kaufman is supervising these two-reelers. Since "All Quiet on the Western Front" was finished last April, Summerville has appeared in four feature pictures and two short reel subjects. Excitement. Declared to be one of the most startling and dramatic stories he has written in years, "Once a Sinner," George Middleton's original tale, will go into production within the next few weeks. Guthrie M'Clintic, noted New York stage director, who made the Fox Movietone picture "On Your Back," has been assigned the direction of "Once a Sinner." No cast has been selected. Historic Parts. Ernest Torrence and Tully Marshall, who portrayed the famous Indian scouts Bill Jackson and Jim Bridger in "The Covered Wagon," will carry the historic characterisations in "Fighting Caravans," a current Paramount all-talking film. Gary Cooper and Lily Damita play the leads in the new film, the action of which takes place fifteen years after "The Covered Wagon." Strange Rug. Cecil B. De Mille has among his prized possessions a rug made of the uniforms of U.S. soldiers killed in Indian wars. De Mille recently completed "Madam Satan, as his second talkie for M.G.M. Radio's Award. The role of "Sabra," the leading feminine character of Edna Ferber's "Cimar- . Ron," a part which has been sought by the majority of the free-lance stars in ■ Hollywood, has been allotted to Irene Dunne. Miss Dunne, who makes her first screen appearance in a forthcoming Radio picture, "Leathernecking," was formerly Magnolia in the stage version of "Show Boat," when presented by Florenz Ziegfeld. Mystery. After three months of legal effort, Universal has cleared up the talking rights which will enable it to produce "The Cat Creeps" as one of its twenty specials for the coming year. "The Cat Creeps" is based *on the mystery thriller, "The Cat and the Canary,"..by John Willard. At the same time, Universal announced that it had signed Helen Twelvetrees to play the role of Annabelle West. Others already selected for the cast include Raymond Hackett, Libyan Tashman, Jean Herfiholt, Neil Hamilton, Montagu Love, Theodore Yon Eltz, Blanche Frederici, Elizabeth. Patterson, and Purnell P/attj