STAGE AND SCREEN

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 109, 11 May 1933, Page 16

STAGE AND SCREEN

"Jolly Roger" SucceeGs. "Jolly Roger," at the Savoy, is .looked iipoh as one of the year's successes. The authors are Scobie Mackenzie (Wellington), and \Y. C., Clinton Baddeley. The mireicrie by Walter Leigh. In the view of' the,; "Referee" critic the piece ( is .as slily \?itty: as any Gilbert, comedy, 1 writes the.London correspondent of "The Post." ' .'.'lts ' music is. as graceful and accomplished,'almost, as that of Sulli-/ van.. It- has. been written by a scholar .vrho; with all his learning, has retained his1 wit; ■ 'Jolly.l Roger' is a jolly show, and it will run. But let there be no mistake. I 'know of no actor other than George Robey/ who 'could so thoroughly have established'its foundations of success. Frbni the. moment of-Ms first appearance he :played with'his audience just as he pleased. His was a superb ■ example ofi virtuosity. He held us all :in the/hollow.of his hand, doing with'"us precisely as he willed. Mr. Walter Leigh, the'-composer, and the authors, Scobie Mackenzie and Clinton Baddeley, had devised; an admirable show. It was George CRobey who translated it into an immense 'and rapturous success. I am told that Equity has not yet done with Mr. Robey. When, he goes into another show the row will break out all'over again. But Equitywill have,'to' be very patient. For that next show of - Robey's; will be a long time Coihirig.:'Jolly Roger' is here to stay." ■The "Sunday Times" says that "Mr. Mackenzie and Mr. Clinton Baddeley can write an excellent libretto free from the fatal.,fault, of-being too clever, and Mr. Leigh-is - Streets, miles, and even dimensions (better.,' than .anybody else in this country;:rat/, virriting .a comic opera score, and;*iis>dp(is;: hot make' the mistake of syntn'^tid; tunefulness. Either you can bit/on'-i"!jolly ?turie or you'can't, and it is tio; earthly good saying' a- song ought to be.;'funny, when it isn't." Mr. E. A. Baughany, dramatic critic of the "News Chronicle,",'writes: "One happy result of the: immediate success' of 'Jolly Roger' May'tfe^the fastening of the ■ wedding of its Mr... Walter Leigh, now bailed as the ,-. second Sullivan. He is engaged to Miss Marion Blandford, daughter -4oi\ Mr; and Mrs. F. G. Blandford,,of Cambridge. Mr. Leigh is not yet 28. His association with Mr. V. C. Clinton Baddeley,apdlMr. Scobie Mackenzie began when they* Tftere- undergraduates at' Cambridge. Together'they;-wrote 'Aladdin* arid 'The JJride of the Regiment,' and the new Gil- ; bert arid Sullivan aspect of the partnership; is', encouraged by their thorough . understanding of one another. • After leaving, Cambridge, Mr. Leigh studied • composition under Hindemith in Germany: ■ 'lishould like to .write an opera, if I had time-M the intervals' of earning a "living/ ' liei said*:..' But I enjoy .writing the lighter ' things.' a Mr. Leigh likes jazz, and has 1 written-it." . ! "Morning Glory."; , "'■'■. With "Declasse"i temporarily postponed ■ (o permit. Ann Harding to fulfil a loan ; engagement with another studioj Director l J3; H.: Griffith has been assigned to work oh preparations for the next Katharine Heplniiri starring productions "Morning €jlory,"- to be adapted from Zoe Akins's 1 story. "Morning Glory" will go into'production upon Miss Hepburn's return from : New Yprk,.where she is now on vacation alter completing "Christopher Strong." ' THe "Bounty." .■'•'ln the Wake-.of the Bounty," which is , an extraordinary departure from the accepted,,travel picture, was a year in the njaking. - -To- filni 'the correct background ; ajid atmosphere' of- this most romantic and i tragic, aaga/.of. the seas entailed trips by t CJbarles Chauyel ;(who produced this' pic-'' tflre) .and his camera staff to Tahiti, to ( t^e Island, de Moorea, to the Teturoa 1 a^olls.and then'to lonely Pitcaim Island. -, A .beautiful1 beach •in • the historic district ( of Faa was ;rerit<!d with palm.groves arid c coral-reefs-complete, and it was here that " a the scenes'of Olden days, when the names j of: Wallis; 'Cook^ and Bligli were synony- ( nious !,with this.exotic isle beneath the f sun,'.we're niade "to live again. ■; g Mystery.'- '■'■'•'; ' ■•.•.'-'■ j jFour of the leading artists of the stage' »nd: screen, George Graves, Isobel Elsom, \ XJreiila: Jeans^ and: Austin Trevor; appear j in MetrofGoldwyh-Mayer's production en- 0 titled "The Crooked Lady," a story of an j •x-officer whoj turns to crime, repents, and, r having - fallen jin love with a fascinating n lady-detective, is instrumental in bringing d a! ruthless murderer to justieei A feature c of the productronis the picturesque scenes t of the English countryside'and some: very t fine shots'of London. ... ! 1 Chain Gang. -- -, 1 A; whipping post,where.men are beaten. ' ■\vith a six-foot strap xintil they fall uri-". * conscious,would seem to, belong to a past *ge,.;but; it; is pictured as ail actual reality 6 of ,'the present times in "I Am a Fugi- v tive. :Frotiii , a ,Chain : Gang," a Warnei- " Brew.: First .National picture. The story c is ibased on ;the experiences of Robert o E. Burns, 'who is still -a--fugitive from n a- chain -gang. , (The picture;' which is cl replete" with/thrilling, episodes, and a.' C. strartge/rpmance, is headed by Paul Muni,- fi as sthe fugitive; JGlenda Farrell, Helen p Vinson,;; Preston' Foster, Edward J. a McKsjmara, and-Sheik'Terry. li

: Panto for the South. 3 The hearts of pantomime lovers (who - are legion, and of all ages from three to ! seventy) wil} be gladdened by the news . that after a',triumphal season in Auck- ! land, the Prank-Neil-J. C. Williamson ! Pantomime Company will start on a tour .of the south, arriving in Wellington either !on May 30 or 31. The company is playI ing the delightful panto. ''Cinderella," the ■/"iatory'of whjeh ;is go'old "and ageless that^ :it hasi .;perpetual icharm and power to I appeal. It will be interpreted by the , company that wae responsible for hilarious entertainment under the name of revue-cum-vaudeville, and will feature '■. Gedrge .Wallace, the popular little comedian, in the'role of Buttons. Mr. Wallace will have as foil Syd. Beck, another old i vaudeville favourite, who is the Dame of the modern version. Josie Melville, '-- the sweetest "Sally," has come over from Australia to appear •as "Cinderella," and another new face will be that of Dorothy Dewar. The Cleveres, a new addition to the company, are acrobats, and the Big Four —harmonisere—are also with the pantomime, so that with the favourites of the company (except Ella Shields, who has left for Sydney), to assist, a splendid show is assured. "Secrets?" The "Hollywood Reporter7' writes as follows regarding "Secrets," Mary Pickford's latest picture:—"As 'Secrets' summarises in a panoramic epitome the life of its heroine, so' does it summarise all that Mary Pickford has meant to the motion picture lovers since 'The Good Little Devil.' The old Mary Pickford of fifteen years ago comes back with all her sparkling-eyed mischief, in an - opening sequence that kept the audience in gales of laughter as she played out the forbidden romance and elopement with Leslie Howard. No actress could have surpassed her. in this scene and the subsequent ones as the stricken mother during the pioneer days in California, her dead baby in her. arms while her husband stood off the cattle rustlers with his snotgun.": ,' '. ■;v . : Gertrude' Lawrence's, Role. Roland Pertwee'. and John Hastings Turner have collaborated on a stage story, "This Inconstancy," «which had its premiere at Wyndbam's Theatre, London, recently. It featured Gertrude Lawrence as a "teasing flirt," who is married to a man of intelligence with a sting in ■ his tongue. Leslie Banks played the husband. There are two-other men in the running—Freddie (played by Hugh Wakefield), who arrives back with the wife at 6 a.m., and the other, Nigel Bruce, as a Guards officer. When the husband gets involved in an affair, in which he is quite the innocent party, the complications become edged with farce. The whole thing is light as thistle down, and provides an opportunity for much sparkling comedy. If is in three acts, all the same setting, and Miss Lawrence sings at the piano a song composed for-her by Ivor Novello. Musical Hit. "I've Married-an.Angel," the Hungarian . play by John Vaszary, will be made into v musical film by Metrb-Goidw.vn- ' Mayer with .'music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. The latest work of Rodgers and Hart are the music and lyrics of "Love Ale Tonight" and "Hallelujah I'm a Tramp." "Out All Night." Carl Laemmle, jun., has selected "Out All' Night" as the title under which the new Slim ' Summerville-Zasu Pitts costarring comedy, formerly known as "Niagara' Falls,".will be released.1 Homer Croy,. noted author' of "West of the Water Tower" and other best sellers, wrote the screen play, and Sam Taylor directed. The cast supporting the droll comedians includes Shirley Grey,. Alexander Carf,' George, Hackathorne,. Rollo Lloyd,' Laura Hope Crewes, and Cora Sue Collins. "Out All Night" is the third feature comedy in which Miss Pitts and Suinmerville have been teamed. Shorts. '...'.';', Reunited, although their screen marital bonds are broken, Herbert Mundin and r Una O'Connor, two of the comedy stars of "Cavalcade," are currently appearing in E Fox Films' "Pleasure Cruise." Mundin © plays a barber, arid Miss. O'Connor a ro- C mantic campaigner who gets her man by p direct method or strategy. "In "Cayal- A cade," Mimdin and Miss O'Connor played ii the butler and his wife. They are tea- ti tured in "Pleasure Cruise" with Genevifeve p Tobin, Roland Young, Ralph Forbes, t Minna Gombell, Frank Atkinson, and L Theodor ,yon Eltz. ~ t( Seeing "Faust." . c :It is. said that everyone sees "Faust" \ x once in his or her lifetime. It was not jj until Harry Hughes, who is directing r( "The Jewel Song" for 8.1.P., which in- \\ corporates -a performance of the famous 0 ] opera, mentioned to his cast that he had s j never seen Gounod's masterpiece that he discovered that neither had they! Jose '«■ Collins, who will play Marguerita in the j; film version; Dennis Hoey, the Mephisto- b, pheles, and Nancy, Brown, the Siebel, are j n ill familiar, with the score and story but • liave never seen a performance. "!

A Tragic Play. Mn=. Leo M. Myers, who writes under the norn tie plume of Augustus St. George, lias written a play called "Brothers," dealing with the problem of unemployment. It was presented at the Grafton Theatre, London, recently by the 1930 Players, and according to the London correspondent of "The Post," contains good material and was well received. An important detail is the introduction of a speech from Westminster by wireless. The play has a tragic denouement. The story concerns two brothers—one strong and ambitious, achieving all he aspires to; the other weak' and unable to light, a shell-shocked soldier who cannot get work. The scene is in the flat of the wealthy M.P.; the poor brother is refused help', and. when he admits having just robbed a till there is a scene and a scuffle, during which the ex-soldier falls dead. With the advent of the police seeking the till robber, the rich brother is faced with trial for manslaughter, and his career seems suddenly over. Mvs. Myers has evidently written a good play, original and interesting. It was one of six oneact plays presented, four oi them by women. Airport. :■.-.;' Sally Eilers, who plays the lead opposite Dick Barthelmess in "Central Airport," a Warner Bros. First National picture, is the wife of Hoot Gibson, who owns three aeroplanes. Sally herself has a pilot's licence, but never pilots any of Hoot's ships. Never will, either, if elie can help it. Just doesn't care to, and took out the licence to please Hoot. , '. . ■ . "The Chasers." Lee Tracy will next be seen in "The Chasers." Charles Butterworth, who was seen in "Love Me Tonight," will bo in the supporting cast. Jack Oonway, whose last picture was "Hell Below," will direct the new picture. Tracy's first Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture was "Clear All Wires." "Ann Vickers." Following completion of her current. vehicle, "The Silver Cord." Irene Dunne will be given the star role in "Ann Vickers," from the newest novel by Sinclair Lewis. Louis Weitzenkorn, author of "Five Star Final," is adapting.

Promising Amateur. An Auckland boy, Kenrick (Tim) Hudson, a son of Mr. E. Varley Hudson, conductor of the Auckland Municipal I Choir, is in. the cast of the Williamson; production, "While Parents Sleep,"^ in; Australia. He was a- well-known amateur in the northern city, before leaving/to' try his luck on the professional stage. He played his first Auckland role in the: University Extravaganza of 1927, "Crooks,! Limited", while previously, in Napjer, he, ;ook the title role in an amateur production ■ of- Barries, "The Admirable; Jrichtbn." His last role in Auckland was! n "Nothing But the Truth" with the: Bartley-Baxter Players. He has done: epertory. work in Sydney as an introdiie- '. :ion to professional work. He playedl jpposite Agnes Doyle in an abridged verlion of "The Patsy," and on the good blowing he made was given a part in 'While Parents Sleep," by Messrs. J. and >f. Tait and J. C. "Williamson. He has a )rother, Mr. Dick Hudson, also prominent n Auckland amateur circles-

t • ■ ■ "State Fair." The completion of "State Fair7' was in itself an event. In addition to Janet Gaynor, Will Kogers, Lew Ayrcs, Sally Eilers, Norman Foster, Victor Jory, Louise Dresser, Frank Craven, and others, "State Fair" possesses a human-interest story that made the novel the best seller of 1932 —a romantic comedy drama of the adventures of a Midwestern family at a state fair and. the manner in which the lives of a half-score of people are radically changed. "Blue Boy," the prize porker in "State -Fair," has been widely publicised. He has won numerous prizes and , was brought from lowa by Director Kin,j following the "shooting" of many scenes on the actual location author Stong had in mind.

Army Ahlers Dead. A young and beautiful German actress, Army Ahlers, who was playing the title | role in the successful London production, "The Dubarry," has been found dead under tragic circumstances in London. Her body was discovered on the pavement outside her flat; the inquest revealed that she had been ill and unhappy for some time and had been taking drugs. A verdict of suicide was returned. Miss Ahlers was one of London's favourites: she was popular with the members of the company, too, and her tragic death oust a gloom over the theatrical fraternity of the metropolis. Adulation was her right, i because she was an exquisite actress and a charming personality, :

"Gulliver's Travels." When Universal City opens, one of the , first pictures to go into production will be ' "Gulliver's Travels." For the last two ■ mouths Karl Freund, who introduced to i motion pictures the modern camera angle ) devices, has been working in secret on a i newly-built steel sound stage at Universal i City.. Padlocks and "No. admission" i signs have prevented anyone knowing what : was going on in ,the sound, stage, which . will be opened and dedicated with this ! modernised satirical production suggested : by the Jonathan Swift tales of "Gulliver's Travels." Material has been drawn i from all of these' fantastic satires, Brobi dingnag, Lillipot, and Houyhnhnms, and behind these closed walls. Freund has peri fected devices and . effects to make i "Gulliver's Travels" one of the most unusual : pictures of the year. Heughan's New Role. The Little Theatre movementin London continues to flourish under the capable 1 direction of Nancy Price. The most recent plans include the presentation of "Scott of Abbotsfoi'd," in which the leading role will be • played by William Heughan, the Scottish singer who has toured New Zealand-several times.! Mr. Heughan will portray the title role. Miss Price needed a Sir Walter Scott who was a Scot, who looked the part, and who could play the piano and sing. Mr. Heughan fitted the bill, hence his engagement. Photography. Every member of the company, even down to the native extras, in Joan Crawford's latest picture, "Rain," a United Artists' release, appears to have caught the fervour with which Producer Milestone has permeated his story. The photography, which was done on the island of Catalina, off the coast of California, is ?ome of the best seen in many a moon. Richard Arlen. . Richard Arlen has been signed for the romantic lead in "Legal Crime," a Paramount picture dealing with the dramatic . effects which the return of legalised beer may bring about. Arlen was previously announced for a featured role in "College Humour," but due to a delay in filming this picture. Rogers was enabled to secure Arlen for "Legal Crime."

-■ "Frisco Jenny." I A remarkable transition in character, , both physical and spiritual, is developed II by Ruth Chatterton in "Frisco Jenny," i; a Warner Bros.; First National picture; to i: be. released.. The transition ■ covers I twenty-five years of Frisco. Jenny's life, i' from the time she-is a girl of seventeen i until she becomes a womnn of maturity. !: There is no rapid change to crime, but ,1 the character of Frisco Jenny is shown i, to grow gradually harder.as she fights ' her way to the. leadership of the vice !• ring of. the old. Barbary . Coast of San I 1 Francisco. .'Concurrent' with her." develop-' !• merit of callousness comes the slow pro!i cess of a woman growing 'to maturity. ; To depict, this day by day change re- .! quires the utmost in', artistry.'ln support of 'Miss Chatterton are Donald Cook, James Murray, Louis Calhern, Hallam Cooley, and Pat O'Malley. J. C. Williamson Plays! Messrs. J. C. Williamson have been busy engaging British talent for their Australian and ■ New Zealand theatres. Among the latest booked is Isobel Elsom, a popular London, actress who is to be starred in' a ' series of comedies with George Barraud, a young Englishman who has made good in Hollywood and who at latest advices was on the London stage and also acting in British. pictures. Mr. Barraud was in New Zealand last with the Pauline Frederick "Spring Cleaning" company. Frank Harboard is another Britisher engaged. The repertoire will include "Another Language," "When Ladies Meet," "The Improper Duchess," and others. Sylvia Welling- and Frank Sale had been engaged by the Firm for their musical production, "Music in the Ajr," a.piece, by Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern that has been hailed with delight in New York.. It is set in old Munich. It is to have its Australian premiere towards the end of June. Bromley Challoner, another prominent English star, is to open at Melbourne this month in "A Bit of a Test," a Ben' Travers farce dealing With cricket and having an Australian city and'outback flavour. "Fra Diabolo," in' the "Waikato Times," says the cast also includes Mildred.Nelson, the Woodville girl who was recently ;in New Zealand on holiday. .• , "Bad Boy." Sammy Cohen will have a principal role in "Bad Boy," which Raoul Walsh will direct. Cohen will be remembered aa the funny kosher boy in "What Price Glory." He has been touring in a featured vaudeville act for the past four seasons.

i Peter Dawson's Tour. j New Zealand concert lovers will rememf ber the tour of the Dominion of Mark Hambourg and Peter Dawson—the one the world-famous pianist, the other the j most popular baritone. That association , was one of the happiest.- Now comes ' word that the famou; baritone is undertaking another tour of New Zealand, this time in company with T,apia Caballero, a , youthful pianist, who' is rf the Spanish [ school. Tapia has been astounding Lon- . don with his peerless art; he has hun- ; dreds of admirere who have seen him on , stage or heard him over the air. The , newcomer.has already amazed Australians ; with his playing, and it vs safe to say I New Zealand will also pay tribute to him. Mr. Dawson needs no introduction. His personality; allied to a rich baritone voice and a prodigious repertoire of songs grave and gay, operatic or ballad, ensure him a following wherever he goes. He will have Hubert G. Greehslade as accompanist—a trinity of stars. The Dominion tour opens at Wellington Town Hall on June 1, with concerts following on the 3rd and 6th, under the direction of Messrs. J. and N. Tait. Musical. . « Included in the cast of "Forty-second Street," Warner First National's musical .film, is Ruby Keeler, the wife of the famous Al Jolson. This is her first appearance in a feature-length, film, and her performance is considered by the Warner Bros. First National officials to place her among the'most promising screen discoveries of the season. .She'plays' the role of a little understudy who becomes a star overnight when1 the star, played by Bebe Daniels, breaks an ankle. There are many catchy tunes in the picture, including "You're Getting To Be a Habit With Me,"" sung by Bebe Daniels; "Shuffle Off To' Buffalo," and "Young and Healthy." Besides these two players the cast includes Warner Baxter, George Brent, Guy- Kibbee, Ned Sparks/ Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers, Lyle Talbot, Una Merkel, George E. Stone, Eddie Nugent, and Allen Jenkins. . Pantomime Dates. ! Messrs. Frank .Neil and J. C. Williamson, under whose direction' the Dominion "tour,of their pantomime company is being made,. announce that: Hamilton , will be played on May 22, Wanganui May 23, New Plymouth May 24-25 (panto, and a revue show), Hawera May 26, ■ Palmerston North May 27, Masterton' May 29, Wellington May 30 to 31. The' pantomime company includes ■'• several new faces, among them Syd. Beok, Dorothy Dewar, Joeie Melville,. the Cleveres (acrobatic troupe that features the world's' youngest clown), and the Big Four (harmony quartet). Miriam Lester ,ia the Prince Charming to' Miss Melville's .Cinderella, Julie Russell fairy 'queen, Billy Mahoney Ugly Sister,. Cliff O'Keefe Demon: King, Murray and Walton-the Dame's; dancing horse, Maida Jones Goldie Locks,' Lily Molloy Minnie •.Lu'ni, Maurice 'Diamond the Catj and'Maurice'Barling Baron Hard-; up. The features include an. "under the; sea" scene, butterfly and rose ballet, the autumn glade,, the demon's' lair, the royal ballroom, toy soldiers, the palace to hearts, and an army of clever kiddies. Heal white ponies are'used for Cinderella's glittering fairy coach, the same coach that was used in the,Drury Lane production with Nellie Stewart. The "Silver Cord." Irene Dunne will be given- the biggest chance of her film career in one of her near-future productions. Merian C. Cooper, . RKO Radio's • production chief, announces that "The Silver Cord," Sidney Howard's successful play, has been purchased for a future starring vehicle. Miss Dunne will play the ■ part of the young wife who fights against • her mother-in-law's bitter resentment of her son's marriage. John Cromwell Will; direct.' Ready. Elissa Land! Is ready to start work on her . first/1933 release, tentatively, titled : "Dressmaker From ; Luneyille." Upon completion of this she will go into work on "The Warrior's Husband," with Ernest Truex. . , ,

Dante's Magic. j It is something for a European to attain » fame in the East, but more so for a 0 magician, for the: East is the home of s magic. Dante, the magician, who k open- , ing his New Zealand tour at Auckland J on May 24, was ouce known as Jansen the Great. Now.he k Dante the Wonder |! Man, a title given to him by audiences in ' j all parts of the world. Australian audig ences have, been testifying to his enter- 1 a tainment powers. He has a full company ] j of assistants, many of them artists who • . can give individual turns of merit, and he;1 .; is to bring with him to New Zealand the i full paraphernalia that.has helped him to ' '. mystify and amuse people of all nation- * t alities. Dante has,stage settings that are i a shpw in themselves, and he is al«o 1 J a witty conversationist,, so that his t feats of magic are leavened by humour 1 of a .moat original brand. He has" num- i erous disguises, and" his art ac a magician f li* recognised to be- supreme. Messrs. J.. ( •C. Williamson are directing the Dominion 1 , visit, and a comprehensive tour is now ( being, mapped out. . £

School for Amateur Producers. The first school for amateur producers j in Wellington has just been most success--3 fully held in the studio, of the Repertory 3 Theatre Society and the Pioneer Club. J This is the second school of the kind to s be held in New Zealand, the first being . in Christchurch at the Little Theatre at s : Canterbury College at Easter. The Wel- , lington School, only a .weekend one, -pro- , vicled a balanced programme of the prae- . tical and theoretical • sides: of stage work. . Kehearsal classes were given by Miss j Helen Gardner and Mr. W. S. Waucbop, j and lectures on lighting, ma"ke up, and 3 choice of play by Mr. V. Lloyd.' The lee- , ture, illustrated by living models in costume, was given by Mr. V. Lloyd. About | thirty students attended all the sessions, , and others came to some only. It was J noticed that very few Wellington people , availed themselves of. the chance, but. ; students were present from twelve dif- \ ferent towns in the North Island, includ- [ ing Hawera,* Palmereton' North, Danne- ! virke, and Levin. On. Saturday evening , a performance of the New Zealand play "Fear" was given, with Miss Blake and Mr. Hayes Townes in the leading parts, which was produced by Mr. Lloyd and criticised by Mr. Wauchop. This was specially designed'to cause discussion, and it fully succeeded.' On. Sunday. Canon James preached on drama, and- in. the 1 afternoon an informal .conference was held at the Pioneer Club, where tea and many questions to the ■ lecturing staff filled the time. The school ended with a lecture recital on mystery plays, more particularly Laurence Housman's slay, ('Bethlehem," .by. Miss Blake.' This attracted people not otherwise attending the 6chool. It was a full and most varied two and a half days. The students freely expressed their sense of how much they had learnt and how greatly they, had en- ' joyed it. Other schools in different parts will follow. Shop. The teaming of John Bennett and Norman Foster for "Department Store"; h j important. Foster, is one of- the moat ( promising male featured players on th« . Fox lot. It will be in work at the same * time that "Bad Boy," withJamea Dunn , and Sally Eilws, is being made. • I Gone Blonde. ' ; ■ One of the last strongholds of the < brunettes went down in Hollywood when ( Mary Brian went'blonde for her part in i James Cagney's new picture for War- ' ncr Bros. First National, entitled "Hard J To Handle." Mary kept her. dark tresses J up to the very last,, but finally admitted , that it was a losing fight. :As a blonde, * she appears in the leading feminine, role ] as Cagney's sweetheart in sa humorous I comedy about a Press agent. The story J by. Houston Beach contains snappy dia- • logue, hilarious situations, and romance. * "The Light Brigade." The motion picture players work under a battery of lights so- large and powerful , ' that an inexperienced person could not keep his eyes open. Yet the screen player never gives them a thought. Light , comes frpni every possible directionabove, below, to the sides, and from the back —in the filming of a scene. On the set of Paramount's "Under-Coyer Man," George Raft, Nancy Carroll, Rosco'e Karns, ' and Lew Cody worked under rays that ; equal in power those of the sun. The . temperature where the players work is kept down by a ventilating system which delivers. fifty-degree air to ; the stage. Yet in close-ups the players sometimes work ' in temperatures of 95 degrees, and in the • longer shots in eighty-degree atmosphere. , The heat,on a large'setting with'many lights has' been known to'reach a record of 110 degrees. ,' From America. . The leading male role. in "Heads We Go!" the new 8.1.P; film11in which Constance Cumniings stars, has been given to Frank Lawton. This young actor has only just'returned from.Hollywood; where he played an important part in the film version of Noel Coward's "Cavalcade." In this picture he plays a young man who falls in love at first sight with a girl, but hia ensuing conduct leads to misunder standing. He is able eventually to explain matters and all ends happily. The cast of this original film also contains Binnie Barnes, Gus McNaughton, and Claude Hulbert. . Ella Shields Farcwelled. Prior to her departure from Auckland for Sydney last week, Miss Ella Shields, late of the ' Neil-Williamson revue company, had a flattering farewell from. the members of the company. Mr. Frank Neil, ion behalf of her colleagues, presented Miss Shields with a > handsome solid silver jewel, casket, inscribed, and referred feelingly, to .Miss. Shields' happy association with the . company during fifteen months. Mr. George Wallace added his tribute, and Miss Shields voiced her appreciation. of the company's assistance, her happiness at being with them, and her regret at departure; she also ■ received | gifts and flowers from friends, her I dressing-room being a veritable bower of blooms. The popular little lady was also enthusiastically farcwelled at the ship's side. i