"Straight News"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 18

"Straight News"

Another proof of the world's thirst for news, and apparently also of the profits made by' those who slake it, is. provided by .the debut of-Paramount Screen News at the Plaza Cinema, in-Piccadilly, says tltc; "Cape Times." This new American invasion brings the number of news reels competing for supremacy in the English market up to the extraordinary number'of ]C, compared with three at the .close of

the war. ' \ ''-■■'■ • The Paramount directors are credited with the statement'that they'do not care whether they make a profit for two years, so long as eventually they establish their reel in Britain.' Most news films are under mixed British and American, control,, with exchange a.r. rangoments with Continental .firms. The capital required for news sound-films can be estimated from the facts that a "sound wagon" with equipment costs £SOOO, and one American firm has loQof these wagons distributed throughout the world.

The Pavilion Cinema., in Shaflcsbury avenue, recently opened to show news fil only, has.gained fame as one of London's most reliable .entertainments, and attracts full-houses from mid-day to midnight. .Apparently, ■ therefore, '_ tho public's appetite ,for- graphic, unvarnished-

"straight,'news" "remains as great as ever, despite the vitiated,-tendencies .of .modern London newspapers.in this respect.

Janet Conies Back.

After nearly a ■ year during;■which Janet Gaynor'has been taking a * vacation from the screen- and' Charles Farrell[has'been teamed- with',Kose Hobart, and, Maureen O'Sullivan, this ;pair of sweethearts have been reunited■/in ■■.'RaouT-;Walsh's Pox Movietone production, "The Man Who Came Back."- Ever, since Miss Gaynor and Charles .Farrell ..were,,, teamed .in "Seventh i Heaven" 'they 'have ranked" aa a popular.;, couple.,- Their ~successes in addition' to ."Scventh'-.'Heayen" '', include "Sti'c'et Ansel," "Lucky r Star,": "Sunny Side Up," "High Society JBlues," and now ''The M.an,.W.ho,Came (Back."'. .Tho supporting cast includes,' William., , Holden, Kenneth.; MacKenna, , and " Mary Forbes. The 'internationally-known, artist, Joseph Urban, supplied ■ the .unusual settings.

Short Time. Myrna Loy, one of the most successful "Asiatic types" and,vampires of the screen, has the role of Madonna iv "Ben Hur" for four' hours. . ':Studio , executives decided they needed a player with a box-office name for the role, arid Betty Bronsou was substituted. Miss Loy believes this was the turning point of her-career. It was on the strength of her performance of the spy in "Renegades," featuring Warner Baxter, that Fox Films awarded her a long term contract. 'The siren has just completed the role, of the .sorceress queen, in Will Rogers's "A Connecticut Yankee." Comedy. "Compromising Daphne" is said to be an example of the.English art of making a, series of delicate situations funny and avoiding- the pitfalls of objectionable treatment. The lead is played by Jean Colin and. the ingredients arc quite novel, one .young'man, two girls,, two fathers, and-twins. ... ' ' Arlen. Richard Arleu has completed work on his modern story of the West, entitled "Gun Smoke," and dealing with city racketeers who attempt to extend their operations to the cattle country. Mary Brian is re-united with Arlen in the feminine lead, and Eugene Pallettc, William Boyd, Louise Fazenda, Charles Winningcr, and James-'D'urkin. are'in the cast. Edward Sloman handled the direction. ■ "Meet the Wife. "Meet the Wife," an adaptation of Lynn Starling's stage play of the same name, is being made as a "talkie" by Columbia Pictures. Harry Myers and Claud Allister, both welbknown. comedians, .are the .latest additions' to the cast. Lew Cody and Laura La Plante depict the leading roles. Harry Myers launched his screen career twenty-three-years-ago/ -and-is- responsible for many film comedies, including "A Connecticut, Yankee in King Arthur's Court," "Up in Mabel's Room," "The Glean-up," and "City Lights."

Spy Talc. ! , ; "Three Faces East/'-tile Warneri Bros.-. and Vitaphone mysteryWrnelodrama^fea^ ■ n i tj ■ j.i- ■ j t?^;» ' , m «' tunns Constance-Bennett and Eric yon Stfoheim, reveals-the; inner workings, ot the great spy^ systems of two countries cngageddn the World War.- Their: bravery °, b ".'■'„- , .-, y -'-Ir.- „,. j,,'. is dramatically depicted ..in.-this,, pioduction; their, loyalty to their countries; and their? love for'each other 'which must'_ be sacrificed,'for. over in the Secret' Service,

Famous Tale. ■ : , : 'Although,' it"is; fessentially- a" love:'story; 'based: on almatfs Regeneration through, a woman's love, "The Girl of the , Gojden . Wert "..which wiU be shown,here shortly, contains only two,women in the.cast. Tho title, role, of "The Girl," who runs a f aloo, n in a rough, mining camp, is played Ann Harding. James fiennie and Harry'.Bamiister; who in real life is Miss Harding's husband, have important parts in. this story-of the glamorous : days .of the gold,rush in the West. , '

; "Gentleman's Fate," ' -" i Besides directing "Gentleman's. Fate," !■ . Jplin Gilbert's new Metro-Gbldjvyn-Mayer . -'starring vehicle',1 Meryin-le 'Roy also' act- : " cd'as'iordirianeo'inspector, examining tlic . arsenal. iof'revolvers,;.rifles; and machine; ;-guns -before*, each ■scene:' The.guns;, were ; all loaded; with blanks, -but■'.■because,;of ; the -.promiscuous, shooting: -in ■'■the . scenes ■ .. L'e Roy made the .inspection .as, an added j. | precaution.'for the. act6j'S, v w,h'o',had to.be j' , .fired"' upon 'at : close ' range.''' Lb.uis Wol-. i ' heim'heads the supporting'cast'in'the pic- ■ '' tnrisation • of' the. 'Ursula' Parrbtt gangster ; story,l and Leila Hyains and- Anita-Page , ''^share feminine hono.urs'.i'1 Included- in ..the : . cast-'are:Marie:'Pre'vbsl';'John 'Miljan, and : 'George :Coopev.. <, ':-,,■'.:■ :,.,:i ,■ •:-.';■ Finished. ; ■ ' The final, episode, of '."The : .Leather ' -.Pushers" series has been" completed -at ■ ""UniversalC;ty. This series of ten Witwer 1 stories, under the, direction "of Albert - Kelley, has been adapted to sound in an effective manner. Holes-made famous by Witwer through his prize fight stories in *- "Collier's"'are played'by. Kane Richmond, .'.a .film discovery, .Sally. Blanc, Nora Lane, 'Sam Hardy, Art Shires (who ■ celebrated his debut in pictures by getting married). Liicile La Verne, Joan Marsh, Jack 'White, Carla Laemmle, Sam'Gervon, Tom . Muskie,. Jerry:, the. Greek, ■■ James.'1 Brad;buryi Jnr., .Grace' Hampton, and ■ .Young. George. , " '■'■'. '•', .-'■ The North. ' .-..' James Oliver Curwood's. novel, -"River's v End," which "Warner Bros:' have, made into a Vitaphone picture,, is' one of the most thrilling stories of the north country ever written. Charles Bickfqrd and Evelyn Knapp are the leads in this story of:passion, vengeance, and love, the for-mer-playing the dual role of,pursued and pursuer.- "River's End" is a melodrama of the North-west Mounted Police, who always.live . up, to .their tradition of "getting their- man." ; " ' "The Miracle Woman." ■ Beryl Mercer, ." character s actress, has been assigned to a featured role in "ThoMiracle Woman," Columbia's adaptation of the Alice Brady stage play, "Bless You, Sister," by Robert Riskin and John Mcc- , hau. Listed as. one of the company's "giants," this production is Barbara Stanwyck's second" starring vehicle for the company. Prank Capra is directing and David Manners will depict the leading male role, opposite- Miss Stanwyck. Miss Mercer, appeared inthe screen versions of "Three Live .Ghosts,"- "All Quiet," "Common Clay," and'"Outward Bound." "Hound,of the Baskervilles." A further-addition to the cast of "The Hound of the'Baskervilles" is another Great Dane from Mr. Stewart's Send Kennels. He is to. understudy Hans; of < Send, al-. ready .engaged. John Stuart as Sir Henry Baskerville has to "scrap" with, the hound, . so has packed- a good manicure', file and some stickjaw to. ease the points;of teeth ■ and jaws. .' ' ~'-., "Tol'able David." Richard Cromwell, the youthful star of ■ Columbia's "Tol'able David," was, when he visited Washington D.C., presented to President Hoover at "the White House and spent considerable time in the company of Vice-President Curtis. Colonel Baughman, head of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Commission,'provided a'car and an escort of State motor-cycle officers; for. the boy's trip from" Baltimore-to : Washington, -and for his tour of the National Capitol. : Signed Up. ; , Walter' Merrill, whose most recent picture, is as the juvenile lead in "Oflica Wife," was signed by Carl Laemmle, Jnr., for the featured role in. a series of'comedy snorts. '■ " -' ' ■