STAGE AND SCREEN

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 39, 16 February 1933, Page 16

STAGE AND SCREEN

W6hnßrown.ee. Baritone. ..John Brownlee, the world-famed young: .baritone, .* -who. has just created a record■ iitf Australia by giving 92 concerts during '■■■ his, six months' tour, will visit' New :Zea-! jlan(i;before.Teturning; to France. He will .open .his tour' of • this country .early in ;_March,- and will-sing in Wellington,'Auck-. land, Christchurch, and Dunedin; * and ■ ..also* hopes -to visit several of; the .smaller i centfes.7 ; Although' he is only.: 327 years -;old,m_r: Brownlee • has held the position: lof baritone at-..the .Paris Opera House ;for. the ■ past-, six years, and is also' ;firmly; 'established at.-.Covent i.Garden,: an<_7 at thereat opera houses in South America■ and. Spain.7. Apart from his; gloriftus^voicer 7:Mr...Browi_lee'_.: fine'''presence'arid: ;actihg. / ability'r-have" won him.': many .triumphs.; JS_x.■ Ernest Newman, the "eminent' Eng-:' :)ish:critic,7 declared John'Brownlee. to. be; .; "the .most .'notable:; newcomer' heard' at - . Covent7Garden jin.^recent-- years,- both/ as . /suiger,7iuidH.ae.P_-" - -"After a, series-of. .successes at thejarincipar European opera.. houses, the famous baritone,- last year 7ViwteU7Soutbt America, and'iri'asswialapn. 7with 'suchr-Mtist's7asT6i^i i 'and.'l^T-_'6ns;':'' /earned, .new - laurels in record seasons at ■'■ .Buenos Aires and EioVde Janeiro'.^ While 7 l opera has• hitherto occupied ''the.- greater 7 jpart;of. Mr; Brownlee's career,.hie. hassfre-7 Tj quently'fourid-timeto appear on the,cojj-7 -iceit. platform. -Last year he jjave a song jrecital in -London, astonishing the critics Jand the public by his versatility, arid by,, ;;.th.:polish and finesse of his interpretations. :iOn;'Bi_. -tour-: of _New- Zealand: he -will be-., 7iassisted:.-.by ..the brilliant' young pianist7 \ iEaymond Lambert. 7. ' _... .'■ " PPi>. P '-.■. P •>' /: -7®elentMacKellar, nbted-stage.star.vhasJJ iibeea7 signed7io 7ph_y 7the; lead-in ."The'- ] .Goose.Woman," theßex Beach story, re- , ; gently purchased. by RKO Radio Pictures. ] ': jThis.story was filmed as a silent in 1925, , ,£»._£._. was a success, -with- Jack Pic__rord , 7,a»d.:3jpuise Dressier as the leading players. ( •-The Twomari's ;lead:offers 7 a role,of ::- great' if character value,;and the part was eagerly ■ ;ißough.t.bya,;number of famous New York : stage-stars, as well as several/Hollywood < _ character actresses. Eric linden has-been : i chosen-to play the role of the boy. "The/. ; Goose Woman," based on an original J Ishdrt istory by "Rex. Beach, is the tale j of 7a woman, embittered by- the'loss of '] her taleut,; a, great voice, who nearly sends , her son .to his death as a result of her t • mad/desire-for-publicity. -.. ~:~ ■ • j Boucicault Classic Revived. , . A happy revival of Dion Boucicault's.'■> 'Tiie;Streets of :~Loridbri, . or':Poverty' "is :• No' Crime," at London Ambassadors dur- i jng the Christmas season provided.adults' • and children with pleasant entertainment. : 7 Continuous laughter followed the/presen- j tatiori of this Victorian Nights' Entertain- • . irient, with/its rich and.fruity spice and i hiinpur. It was 7 interpreted by Sam < Lrvesey,,-as7an opulent, .conscienceless vil- ~. lain; .Harold 7 Warrender as.'a.blue-eyed. j juvenile/lead, who created Something -of- -a" -i riot when, he had the wh,6le audience singing, with him; that old' favourite, "After- . the.-Ball-". .The pathos of honest poverty, was brought :out; with, proper playing on i heartstrings by Sydney-Fairbrother,-Diana < Churchill, (^daughter of -a. - Wembley -doc-. ( tor), jMargaretta Scott, Alexander Field, ' Yalehtirie'Rooke.'-and others. _ ;Ms"s>Elsie j French; and-Messrs. John Mott arid Corrie- \ lius' Fisher, billed as r the "Aspidistras," '] presented a front-parlour entertainment-of :, 7 ballads and;duets' which-'were in perfect a tune''with- the whole delightful perform■- • ance. ' ;:;/: -'•-.■." /\ .' -vj Clara Bow Sails. • ■ ~ ' ■ .. 3 Cir-.ra Bow sailed ;on ; the, Bremen for a-! Vacatj.o4l^ in- Eufope.a'ccompanied- by- her \ husband.' Rex. Bell. p Stie -will be' gone ', ejx >jeSks.7visiting:England .'arid the, Cbn-v \ tineixtSarid'rexpecta to spend some time ! sri London,' Paris, -Vienna,-and ■ Borne. ] ■ : On herretm-n she will'go directly to":the"s Fox studios in Hollywood to;make»her s ■ nextvpicture:'.- ..-.-■' ■""•"•'■'- ■ .-•" 1 .-.•■'■.-■.-.■ ;. .' Hulb^ft- fiA -7, : ;, '-'.'. .._ Claude, Hiilberfc, Iwho- is rapidlyr reach- \ irig-thelfovefr'pht of"British' stardoiri, has"; been: signed, up oii a long term contract.* ; byvßvl.P.; Already a: stage ami-, wireless \ Btar,-'Hulbeit has'taken• to film... vioxk like" ( a, .duck ,to water. THe has -appeared ;al-'' ] ready with great effect in "A Night Like ] This" and more recently, in-"Let ;Me __x-;'i plain,,-Dear,',' in which picture, he made.j iail- iDstautaneptjs hit... One-,film pritic ( deelared,'.after, seeing -his- performance,} ; that'he was undoubtedly the "chump-de-lu_ce"-;pf the screen.7 Since playing in this.■ filinherhas been both co-author-with'Paul J England arid featured in BJ.P.'s all-wire-' leiis-star film,' "Hullo Radio," and-is riow!-< playing his first etarring role in Harrys Hughes's .production, "His Night Out." } Independent, Theatre" Split. " P ' ■Five members of the Advisory Commit-' i • tee.of therlndependent Theatre Club,- Lon- < don, Messrrs. Clifford Bax, Maurice :'Browne, :.t [Reginald Denhain, and the Rev. Herbert i Dunnico, and Laura- Henderson, arid 'the1 '* cecretary,' Mrs. -Gwladys .Wheeler, -have'] resigned.- The^Theatre Club was formed--. with the;object of p'ro'dufcing plays' banned"] Iby the Lord': Chamberlain. The first pro- . iductio'ri:WMfl)r.7Emil : Ludwig's ."Versail- ] iles"; btherstha;t'have" been' preserited in-" 1 eluded a dramatisation:of Schnitzler's Elsa",'. -which was later submitted.to the- Censor and passed, arid was preserited at r the Kingsway Theatre. Mr. ' rTererice-'de ..Marney, who originated" the '< is .a young actor; he hopes to con- 1 tinue at the -Kingsway, and' presented i "'Sweeney Todd!' on Boxing Day. This is 1 _a - melodrama, about., the '"demon barber.'.' W Fleet .street. '■• ' '"..."'■" ' '* ;(

Rustle. . -- One of-California's earliest homesteads ,-was used as a rustic background for location scenes .in "Strange Interlude," which Metro-Go]dwyn-Mayer filmed , from the famous Eugene O'Neill drama with. Norma Shearer and Clark v Gable in''the , leading' roles: The. old estate,, with a' huge frame house built in 1801, is situated near Pasadena in a natural woodland setting. Unlike the early Spanish haciendas, the homestead was more on the New England i type of farmhouse, pleasant-in shady .glens, split,rail;, ; fences, and:_tone< walls. V.7.: ~ "Mother of Pearl;'* A. p. Herbert- has adapted .for. the stage "Motheri 0f... Pearl," the "book" of..which ,:he,completed. :in;-3?nionth-^and':it. includes about a .dozen lyrics. The "play with music" is: not-a musical; coihedy, though it has catchy tunes running through it. -The Manchester -.premiere vwas.a; complete success, and!the:piece was to be.transferred to-London at.the-end of-January.- C_ B. ,Cochran was in charge of the production; The .role of theimother was allotted to Delysia;' Richard: Dolman (who . was>,lead with 7Gracie .Fields? in~her recent picture "Looking oh-the Bright Side"),;was7Juvenile .lead; Frederick Ranalow. was .Pearl's father;" and the cast" was- completed by - Reginald Gardiner, Austin Trevor, ,A. Sc'ott-Gatty,'Betty-Shale, Aubrey/Mather, • and Roy'.'Byford. _ There' is 7no chorus, in the ,play.'. but '■ the 7 settings - designed "-'byOliyer Messel,: most 7 brilliant "• of. the. younger .stage artists,;were considered to be^iihique.:'lnithe-five scenes was brie representing fa;famous-London restaurant;. ■■:■■ _':\'■.-•'■''.,._ ,'.'■>■' ■'•'■■'>■'■ : 'For_.the.:,-fest.;_time- since, he directing. pictures/Xewis Mestone'li face does not.appear in- one of his own productions, .it was discovered at the'RivoliN Theatre,; New 7 York;' by an ' observant person who sat through- "Ram" twice to, make sure-that he was : right. Milestone has tna.de .it'a. habit;,td7play a bit in each tif >his; pictures, - more as a., matter of luck than, anything else.-' He did it in "Two Arabian "Knights,'* - "The Racket,"- "All Quiet' on the; Western Front,.", and "The Front; P^e,'...and;lie -also 7 did it in; one of two- Howard Hughes". films, particularly "CockiofJthe;.Air." He had-intended ■to. .continue ! the7-Jpractice' in "Rain," - having . chosen-.-one 7of .the marine parts, but" at'the i last, minute >an- actor; badly in need.of; work turned- up, so Milestone •put him _to.work: and' stepped aside himself.. ,'■■■",...: : ."-. '': "School for Husbands." Heather 'Thatcher, the blonde English actress who, startled' Hollywood with-her • :Monpcle,_.has;.returned, to London to. take a part in Fred«_ric]k Jackson's- . comedy, . "The Sehool.for^Husbaitdsi" \tliat opened ' th'e^Coui:t-Th:eatre'lkst;_i6nth\after ;being. closed- for. extensive redecorations. Harold Huth,-/who is- well'; known -to. New- .Zea-.landers-by reason of .his excellent screen wort; in' "The ■ Outsider," and .other British gictures> was in/the cast with Gillian Lihd, yr^.Rayrn6nd,,and ;Frank Cellier.. "Cavalcade." '7, ''.■'.'' \ ■■ ' ' _ No^play produced .. in recent years either .in .London.:, or-New. York has attractedthe .widespread - attention .given Noel .Coward'-s "Cavalcade," produced for the screen, by Box-Films on slavish scale. Nearly 1,000,000 persons., saw the - pl^y during-its year's run at the Drury LaneTfteat. ci: and; asimany more-are expected to see it-: on, tour. 7,The. audience -wilt:be enlarged tor, 75,000,000. to . 100,000,000 .by i.therpicturisation of' this ' "cavalcade "of world events" during the'last thirty-two years.. 7 Diana. Wyhyard,'' Clive' 'Brook, ;i Beryl-Mercer, .Una O'Connor, " Ursula Jeans/ Herbert rMuhdin, \Frank Lawton,' Irene -Browne, and Merle Tottenham head, the all-star, cast".which- was., directed- by' Fra^k-Lloyd;' : - .-:■', , ", "Private Jones" •; \ -..■'..."•. ' Carl" L'aenimle,' juni... .announced -i this week that Richard 7 Car]e,.. veteran stage star,;. Ethel Clayton,, a silent screen favourite, .Walter-'Catlett; and Frank McHugh ■had..been -.engaged ;f or; prominent,-, support-. m£ roles jn;"Private, Jones.." -Lee-Tracey and Gloria Stuart ha\'e • the leads,; and ,DbtralcL,Cook,, Emma Dunn, and* Russell Gleason important parts. -. - '-. •

NewVValpoie-Play. ']' 1 Afctage'play .hat' Dame Sybil-,Tliorridike would• have -liked to -present -at.Home, < butjwas prevented, from -do jng.-; by her world tour,; is Hugh Walpole's rJThe Huntre ss._ ■ This - is' now -set' for presentation at -the. Londpn -Embassy;- it.haa only four people in its cast, the leading role beirig - ;that ~of I.a^.girl .who^'hunte'-' her. frierids'' husbarids.ilt-is :not,;based,ona;Walpble - novel,. >ut' was. written for. the, stage. :' "The Match KI119," .-'. '■'.','...'' ".' 7 : Elaborate, wardrobes] fall -to the lot of the fetninine'stars in a motion. picture,'. but..in the Warner Bros.' FirstNational ' picture,, "The Match King," Warren 'William-equals.-the-record held by any st_r.if or., thei number of ..costume changes-.he;i_-.calledvuppn to -make'in the course" of 7the' picture.1 Twenty-two changes .'of ;costume-'are' .required, 'and they;range;ffom-:the "white,.wingj".outfit: of .a 1 Chicago' street-sweeper'- tir, the.'.costliest fabrics \.and;. . firiest/ -tailpring ;ofr Europe's:;finest.--craftstmen. ■'.- -

-Unusual. .-.;',• ' • Threejinusu'al romances lend a glamour ' 1° ,th, e,;Jr arner Bros.' First National picture, .~L .km. • ay, Fugitive'- from a ■ Chain bang. It.is claimed; that »they are-love affaird of. Robert E. Burns,, author,of the autobiographical novel from' which the .■screen, play wa_- adapted: by Sheridan' .Gibney and; Brown' Holmes.l.l One romance i • depicted;.in- the. picture?is the 'wild'affair of a ...loye' .starved; prisoner just .escaped from an inhuman-.-chain'; gang camp;. the. _second,..his 'marriage, to a woman, .who ' ultimately him to the'police, because' of her jealousy; and the third a - beautiful-.love he is' unable to 7. consummate because -he. must-, ever ,be a fugitive .%™..^rgJ.i_n;hahd'of'th'e' la* which seeks, to return ( him to'the ch'ainV gang. Paul Muniivthe.famouß';.stage and screen /-star,'heads ;th'e v cast, with''Glenda Farrell, Helen Vinson^PrestonsFoster, Edward J. McNamafa,'-,Sheila'Terry,; and many other . ;n'olable I playersr7i__7. 'support. '7 •'- ' New .York Hails' C-owarß. ; V; Noel':Coward's , new: play,,"Design' for Living"'has 'been*.hailed- 'by ■ American • . critics:'- •it was -staged '■ in -' New-, Yorkoosns' •' January..24,ifollowing.'a'tryrOutdnLCleve-- . land,; during, which the author shared the - •honours with'i Alfred-__urit• (aleo'iah -Eng--lishman) and . Lynn- Fontaine. Cleve- • land's;- dramatic* critics- -were - unifdrriily ' appreciative.,; and '. termed '7the' .piece ; "sheer-delight"'• and "the culmination .-of 'twelve; years 'of''smart"talk'about three. ■ geniuses:"iThe7: plot ~revolves. . about "three strange people ;who. love each,pther very-much/; and'who'decide; that "their' own code 7 of..morals,' _althbiigh; .unconventional, provides a very suitable design for.liying.xThe.lines arebold arid Sophisticated, but "their 'cleverriees offsets their daring. 'Coward j wrote 7the play, to bring . out the. bes,t;'ae'tingicapabilities of .; him: self and his colleagues,'and; by all tokens the trio 'gave- a 'wonderful performance ' that promised, to.rep.eat its. initial success when -the play was produced in-New .-.York. ~; '; "; '•'•,_ ;;' . "ThevKld fro_ri;S|ialn_,V 7 ; J';■' .Jean'rSbrel/the-yourig^French girl,,born ' in Egypt, -whom Samuel' Goldwy n is coaching for a. screen career, will 'make her debut, in. the' Eddie picture, ."The Kid; froni Spain,'.' ,in. a' role specially' written for her. -Lyda.Roberti, ;the- coinedi-'-,enrie who'once,cavorted with'Lou Holtz,, and Diane'Sinclair, will also,be-' seen with . Cantor. "The Kid; from •: Spain" will. be a /United- Artists release. '.'•-'"_-_''.' Woman Conductor. ' ATheret was:'an unuetual! scene .'at: the - Queen's Hall, .London;"oh" a recent- evening, when Miss Marie, Wilson, appeared on theplatforin'.'to'lead;the'B;B.C.. orchestra . -performing at7,the ..Promenade 'Concert. "Mr. Charles:Wobdhouse, who was a victim 7o£< influenza,-was -unable to 1 appear, ' and' Miss. Wilson-caUsed:quite a little: sensation .when,, she/.camei .up .-from, the • left-hand-side^of. the: platform—a privilege the ■ ;first. violin -shares: with, the conductor and • soloists.. Prol6'nged:;.applause,; greeted- her - ; appearance;; it was "the first: time,'except. during ".'the 7 war, that a: first-class symphony orchestra ;had been ledby a woman., "Diamond Cut, Diamond." 7 J. G. Bachman announces. .that';" Diamond, Cut ; Diamohd" 'will -be 'the title of Junior Durkin's 'first starring vehicle for Radio, release. Adapted'from an original story.bjf'William"A. Drake,'the picture deals--.with, the thrillingr-yet-. comical experiences of- a young:-amateur-'detective, who accidentally runs into a real £100,000 ' diamond theft," and attempts'to' solve the mystery. Irving Cummings will 'direct. •' New Sibelius Symphony. .' Sibelius :has written to'the; Royal Lon- • don. Philharmonic' Society; regretting he cannot '.that ,body • with ,any. certainty about the. time of. publication- of his Eighth 'Symphony.'' He has p'roriiised that the work will not'be let for s»le.before the Philharmonic Society' haef. performed it.'' The. 'advent": of'this :sy_hphony has .caused-; a -wotld-wide iiiterest. ••' When Mr. Basil Cameron-saw Sibelius last'year at. Heleingfors.'.theicotripbser told 'him the symphony was. completed then, in his head, but_ he had mot'.at'-that' time-written "any of-ittdown,' - ' -s ■ '

Charity, at - Home. ■-... ' Miss-Gracie: Fields; the J popular. Lancashire entertainer,-:has .volunteered- to .the.Mayor, of Rochdale?(h?r .native town) to give a week's; performance in the -local theatre, commencing,' on : February .27, on behalf of the. town's , charities., devoting the .whole proceeds to -the- cause. This is ..the Second: bcpasion. Miss" Fields (Who ia in; private;life Mrs.', Archie Pitt) has come to the: assistance of her home town. Last'time the' amount -she raided •'-' was £1673. ■■: ■ ■ -■-- ■- . Trying. "':■'..p""'.['-]. t - . 77 l : . In- preparing, for .] his • .role >of • world's wrestling: champion, in,' ; "Flesh,". .Wallace Beery- found. himself facing '"a 7 hew situation. He,: actually, had to eat 'to 'lose ' weight:_ Two, weeks .of. ..gym',' and' .mat routine, followed' by a stfenuoiip'rub-down each-day, preceded the.start of 'And1 Beery • f oiihd ■ himself i losing. as" much as-five pounds each day.; -The problem was- solved' at -the? dinner table.: By eat-ing-.twice the :customary7amount.' while "Flesh";was .being filmed; Beery :wasj able to. offset; what was; lost in this daily .workouts.,: "Flesh," a -Metrq-Goldwyn r Mayer production, is- an-, original story, by- Edmund ...Gouldin'g adapted by Leonard -Praskins.ahd'Edgar'Allan Woolf. ■ ' .' 7. Vaudeville for South."-.'' The;' Frank Neil .Revue' De>Liixe' will journey South-after"tie 'Wellington session terminates,; and-will be at the Theatre Royal. Christchurch on■_ Saturday, February 25 until 7 Wednesday March 18. Timatu; will be 'played on. March 16, and 'the ''company,' will give the Duriedih -season' -from Saturday, March 18, until Saturday, April-1. . The company.will7then; proceed! to. Invercar-.gill,-where a short season-of. three nights (April -3,i 4, and;;s),. with.one -matinee, will be .played. , , ~. .. "The Big Cage." ■ "Anita- Page has' moved • her 'make-up bos over • to* the ■'Universal-lot to ■ assume the leading and'-only feminine role in "The Big "Cage,"' in" which"- Clyde '■ Beatty, world's .foremost: wild . animal: ■ trainer, is starred. Miss Page T who7 joins, an impressive supporting! cast- headed, by Andy .Devine, ; rVihce Barnett, -.Raymond- fiatton, and; Wallace Ford,' will, play.the-part of .a-circus aerialisjt in the screeh7play,",which has been based on actual'incidents in the life.of. Clyde Beatty; One'of thei' high-, lights' of '.'The.Big Cage"' will 'be; the'-act staged "by'Beatty, in'which; he enters a . cage" with forty 'lions, and tigers; and puts them' through their pac£s. -■ - ; • • 7_ ■ -;_. All-English Dramatic Company. ' ■}. ■ , Nicholas;H,annen;and'3-thene'Seyler.(his wife) •;opened7their, Australian- season, at , Melbourne under", the ,'J.'C.W_ management last' Saturday '■ with ~a ■, performance 'of .Somerset:, Maugham's; playi "."The Bread- , winner " THeir season' atithe '.Cairo Opera House:.was. graced' -by- the presence-'of ;Kihg Fuad, the--gala'-:premiere: attracting a capacity audience. '.. ■ This .took place <on theinway to Melbourne... .Both these:famous'.English artists:are in. the .ppme; of stage7careers that have .been-notable.' -Mr. Hannen is the.son of Sir Nicholas Hannen and; was .educated .in England, France, and , Germany. His 'wife 7 has; attained, a place - in. the affections of ' Londoners for \ her vattejl as' comedienne' and dramatic actress, not _.to mention a ; Shakespearian .flair; her, eighteenth'century, impersonations brought alp London to her feet.' An excellent !English: company is -in support, and 'the-repertoire -will.'also''include "Service," -by. the authoress.: of ■ "Autumn Crocus"; John Galsworthy.s ."Escape"; :E. M. 'Delafield's :play,- "To-,See. Ourselves," the latter two for the"first time in.'AustralisL -. It is hoped .to■. include." New' Zealand., in the tour, of .this first-rate company. ' 7' ' ',- " ' - " '' " . ' Florlsts^Protit. : '''.' ,'' _ \- : \ More than -5000■ ch_y_ianthemums -were ordered by Paramount' studios for a sirigK . motion picture setting.-. The -flowers- will-!be delivered 500 every, second,' day during the ; production ..of scenes';in' a. "Japanese .garden of > the. modernised "Madame ; Butterfly," .in which Ijßylvia: Sidney, Cars ■ Grant, and -Charlie Ruggles a_re featured. 'The .; intense 7 hea'ti' ''of.' the:; lights _ makes ' it necessaryito .replace.the.blossoms every other day. : .-, ■■ •■ ,-> ~';•.:.•-.

"Cavalcade;":

The world'premiere of "Cavalcade" at i the_Gaiety Theatre in New -York was-at- i tended by- local and" international cele- ■■ bnties. Members of the -British \ consular j staff were present.at the opehing of Fox's i film, version of Noel Coward's play, as well ! as' notables in. the' civic: and social life of j the city. ■ The' distinguished guests in- ' eluded' General Gerald Campbell, C.M.G., \ British. Consul-General; Captain N. B. ! Taylor,R.N., Captain Harold-Auton, V.C., ! of British "Q." ship fame; Mr. David N. j Dow, secretary for Australia in the United =■ states; Mr. Frederick/ Canadian Govern- i ment Trade . Comnjissioner; Mr: Phillip j Botha, of the South: African Office; Mr. ' Wilberforce, Director: of. the British Lib- i rary of Information, and one of the prin- I cipal for India in New ! York. .''."'. Thorndike-Casson Company. ■ ... There' is much interest ,in the forthcoming return ,/isit'to'Wellington of the Thorhdike-Cassbn Company' of English artists,.:now concluding a-highly successful _easbn'-in Auckland. After a provincial ] tour (Hamilton,- February 20; = Wanganui, : February 23; New Plymouth, February 24; Hastings, February 27; Dannevirke, February 28; Masterton, March, 1) a short return, season (March 2,, 3,' and 4) will, be played at .Wellington before. the=company sails for South 'America.' It has not yet been decided what plays will bepreserited .in Wellington. Educational circles are , particularly: interested in-the return season,in view of the .fact, that the previous j visit;took place during vacation. 1 Thriller..;. | . ; 8.1.P. make an auspicious; start for the , New Year with their first-general release , of "The Fries of-Fate," the dramatic and - spectacular.'. film, .adaptation, of -j Conan ', Doyle's , masterpiece. . Featuring Lester. .'. Matthews,' ' this."' film 'tells ' the story 'of -a-man' with but ;a': year to -live,,-who. sets .out ,on ;a- : tour : of the -Nile.'.where thrilling and romaUtic . adventures overtake hiip. Norman Walker, -who ;directed'"The,Firea'.of Facte,'? took his, en tire, companyto. "Egypt in order, to ; film' against' the actual' locations .of' the story, and;succeeded-in' securing' desert scenes of; great7beauty. 'Walker received the full- co-operation of the Egyptian Government'arid the'Air'Force,l and obtained valuable' help .• from a; contingent ,of the Camel' Corps, who iplay" an -important: part in. the.'film... . : .; ,' ; ■■'~ . "The1 Command 'to'-Love." '< - ;.- ' Theo. Stall's' part; in. the; Williamson j production,'"The Command: to Love," is - that;of a-militaiyVattache'of the French ! Legation: in ; Madrid. The.-story i? one \ of philandering,: arid;the play has- a diplo- j matic.flayour that is : romantic and.intrigu- ! ing. Jean- Duncan .plays ',;the, wife.^ of j the-Frenph.Ambassador,, the role origin- I 1 ally allotted to Madame: Shall' (Maria7'von 1 Wyl),_who7is accompanying her talented j ■ "Viennese ' husband to .-Australia, arid' we ! ■ hope, to New Zealand.; The' cast is com- ] pleted by''Cairipb.ell'Coijeliri, Leslie'Vic- t tor, Harry Wotton,' Roger Barry,;Lou j Verrioh, ''Kenneth rßrampton, Reginald j Roberts, arid Coral Brown,-who has quite ! ;an important part to'portray and: does \ it well.. Aristocratic life in Spain.before ] the revolution'is "depicted'.with'a wealth ! of gay uniforms and gowns. Theo. Shall j as producer has given a very authentic- ! background for the play^s action. - ;■ j "Our Betters.". "Our. Betters,"-the .picture version of ! W. 7S6inerset Maugham's .play,-' has been j selected by RKO Radio as the next pro- * diiction for Constance- Bennfett.- .Phoebe ! Foster,''decorative leading laidy.-of' many j stage successes,'. who: has .two' previous I appearances-on. the talking screen to her \ credit,;, and /Anthony ; J6w_3tt, ;borrowed -.from-M-G-M, will play:important roles in support of- Miss :Beririett: , George '.Cukor . will/direct. . This ; will"be the' first fihriing of, Maugham's most' dariqg. Iplay, :which has been't'wice'piayed'on.'the New York stage.: "Our. Betters"- caused' -a -eehsation by its social satire,-and ;has beerire-. j ; cognised'i as: One JofLthe; greatest:-plays I ' written for the modern theatre. ■...: ■ j ; Robinson.' '. ■ 7',; "; ] Edward'7G.'rßobinson; star', pf : "Silver ] - Dollar,", a 7 Warner; Bros.'-First National ? picture, is' said 'to have, 'achieved his J greatest'dramatic'.triumph in his portrayal i of .an historicdly importent, ' although ' somewhat-bizarre personage, -whose'spec- j : tacular- rise frOm'poverty to77a multi- 'i millionaire- was.the :talk of- the. nations; :! and'whose -love -romanpe-was a scandal j .-•of:-Denver and Washington society.- :An i ■ .unusually strong' cast- includes .feebe Dan- i 1 iels, Aline .'.MacMahbn, 7Hobyria: Howland, 1 :. Robert. Warwick, and' Russell Simpson; ! -Dreiser.! '-,■ -.-. ,;..' ■•--; .-.'.; 7 ... '.? '. j -Marion !.Gering, who; directed Sylvia i , Sidney;in "Ladies: of; the _Big- House" and- ! . "Madam? 7 Butterfly,". ;wyi again ' direct I : the Paramount, star -in Theodore Dreiser's } •"Jennie,Gerhardt." ~_ 7 '-'",' "Merry; Wives'' Revived. ■ , Sir Frank Berisona'nd Oscar As'che were.together Mil a recent revival at London Winter- Garden Theatre-of -'Vibe Merry Wives of Windsor:" Sir Frank, to whom bhakespeare-loving; theatre-goers' owe so much 'at- Home, .'took; the; part' of- Dr. Cams; and, gave, an .energetic interpretation,, his duel-scene with.Sir Hugh, (capi- ; tally iplayed.by, Arthur Phillips) being .particularly effective in".its'realism. Oscar Asche was a jovial'Fa'lstaff 'and was' comic in,the scene wherein the knight describes to; Master ' Brook'-his' buck-basket adventure.; The' cast included Phyllis Neilson- J Terry 'arid Dorothy.'Holmes-Gore as the I wives, andH.-R.- Hignett^as Slender.