STAGE AND SCREEN

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 143, 14 December 1933, Page 19

STAGE AND SCREEN

JValt Disney. J Since the rumour spread that Walt Disjey had decided, not to continue making mis silly symphonies in colour, the studio In Hollywood has been swamped with reJuests for the continuance of. these caroons from all parts of the world. Con.frary to the popular belief that Disney tvas piling up a vast. fortune out of the hire received for these ingenious cartoons it is ■ stated that the revenue received Ijardly- compensates for the heavy cost of maintaining: a staff of 125 artists and proSueing the cartoons in colour. Bessie Barriscale. . . ■At least one screen stnr remembers her old friends/ Fifteen ; years ago Bennie F. Zeidman was 'a motion picture pubJicity man, and Bessie Barriscale was a reigning star. Now Zeidman Is an asfjocate producer at Universal, in charge of |he filming of "Beloved," the musical romance featuring John .. Boles > and Gloria Stuart. As a token of her friendship.for Zeidman Miss Barriscale agreed to come from retirement to, play a small role »n his .picture^the part of a landlady of _ S cheap rooming-house being the pait of • per choice. . ; , H. G. Wells. " ' ~ ~~ I H. G. Wells, the novelist, has never concealed his disapproval of him'studios, and the results of some of his screen works may have made this attitude exgusable. * But since seeing "The Private Life of Henry VIII," he has realised the potentiality of the modern studio, and lie is now negotiating with London Film Productions which will probably result in an' original screen story. ■ " yn Colour. '-Warner Bros.' "The Mystery of the Wax Museum" and "KifS Me Again" are both pictures which have been produced entirely in technicolour, which enables scenes of exceptional brilliance and peauty to be reproduced upon the screen.

Eddie Cantor. Eddie Cantor has completed "Roman Scandals." Ruth Etting, Gloria' Stuart, and David Manners appear with, him, in the'comic's fourth annual screen musical comedy for Samuel Goldw.yn, succeeding his "The Kid From Spain" of last year, Its story is that of-a watory-o.ved; browbeaten lad in West Rome, Oklahoma, Who, by the, power of his imagination, is carried back to strange adventures in the Rome of the Caesars. Fair maids-in.-dis-tress among the Emperor's- captive beauties, intrigue in the affairs of State, and a deep, secret with which Eddie tries!to escape ends the story in a thundering chariot chase to the sea. •■ Samuel'Goldwyn.has tried to maintain, his traditions for lavish production' in .beautiful' girls, song, and dance. Dubin- and Warren have given Eddie two new tunes and a plaintive ballad to Ruth Etting; Busby Berkeley staged its'big dance spectacles, The picture*.is directed, by ( Prank Tattle. "Emperor Jones." :• < .* M we] i. knmyll Harlem nisht clllbs provided • taiont . for -- "Emperor. Jones," United . Artists'. pic,turisation ; of E.lgene O'Neill's famous drama.-'Director-Dudley -Murphy, who has studied Harlem foryears, engaged Nicholas from 'the- Cotton Club, the Dancing Ladies from' Small's and other ivell-ktiown coloured entertainers to-ap-pear j n "Eniperoj. Jones," which: marks t i, e . screen debut of Paul- Roboson. ■ . ' — - Old Timers. ...'.. ... v Old-time fight champions,, stage celebrities, bar tenders, chorus girls, politicians, ana'd_otber famous characters of the real old New York Bowery,'frequented the sets it the United Artists' studios while:"The Bowery" was being filmed'by 2.oth Century. Three stars—Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper from M.G.M. and George Raft from Paramount—have the leading roles, with Fay Wray and Pert Kelton appearing in the leading feminine roles, "The Bowery" will be released by United Artists. . ...

"Gay Divorce" in Melbourne. The J. C. Williamson, Ltd., Christmas attraction in Melbourne will be the latest musical comedy success which is now running simultaneously in London and New York, "Gay Divorce." The first performance in Australia will be given at the King's Theatre on December 23. This will be a gala night, with theatre decorations, and novelties for patrons. "Gay Divorce" will introduce to playgoers two noted London artists—Billy Milton, light comedian, leading man, and dancer, and Iris Kirkwhite, 21 years old, leading lady and, dancer. Madge Aubrey, who was in "This' Year of Grace," "The Maid of the Mountains," and other J. C. Williamson productions, wil) make her reappearance. Australia's greatest comedian, Gus Bluett, will have a splendid role. Leo Franklyn will have plenty of scope for comedy, and Frank Leighton will also be welcomed back. The. play will be produced by Charles A. Wenman, and the ballets, dances, etc., will be under the direction of Edward Koyce, jun., from London. "S.O.S. Iceberg." "S.O.S. Iceberg" is said to stand out as an achievement of daring. The terrific thrills crammed into this gigantic drama of an expedition lost on the vast plateau on top of the world, will stamp themselves indelibly in the mind's eye. Deep into the bleak wastes of the Arctic; deep into the frigid vastness of northern Greenland went this intrepid party. Caught by cold, paralysing blizzards, lc^st amidst shifting ice-floes and hostile animal life, plunged into the icy waters in the effort- to get their story, their very lives threatened a thousand different ways by an ominous Nature who scowlingly rebelled at having her secrets torn from her covetous bosom. . . In "S.O.S. Iceberg" the impossible is said to have come to the screen! New English, Opera CompanyRobert Parker, who will be remembered as the bass-baritone of the Quinlan Opera Company, is now resident in England. With the help of a wealthy enthusiast, he has formed a new English opera company of well-known principals. The names of the leading singers include Florence Austral, Florence Easton, Miriam Licette, Muriel Brunskill. Browning Mummery, Norman Allin, Horace Stevens, and Mr. Parker himself. A Christmas season was to follow on a provincial tour. Most of the singers named were members of the Covent Garden touring company, now disbanded. . Film Contract. Cabled advice has been received by Paramount Pictures to the effect that Colin Tapley, one of the New Zealand winners in the "Search for Beauty" Contest, has been signed for a further contract to continue at the Hollywood studios after the completion of the Paramount production, "The Search for Beauty." He and twenty-nine others were specially taken to Hollywood from various countries through-out-the world. The services of five other young players have also been retained in addition to Tapley. They are Gwennillian Gill, Scotland, Donald, Tidbury, of South Africa, and three Americans, all of whom have been given further- contracts. Miss Gill and Mr. Tidbury were each awarded a special prize of 1000 dollars for the best performances in tin Paramount picture, "The Search for Beauty." Interesting Stage Career. Robert Warwick, a star of the silent picture days, is now a stage celebrity in America. He has been playing in the States the role of Captain Leslie, a former army officer, who matches wits with denizens; of the London underworld in the, Edgar Wallace's thriller "The Hand in the Fog " He is a San Franciscan by birth, and began his career as a singer, having studied in Paris. Hhe preferred stage work, and got hie first chance in the Clyde Fitch play, "Glad Of It," in New \ork, in ■which Thomas Meighan and John tfarrymore also played. He has played the whimsical Mr, Latimer in A. A. Milne s "The Dover, Road"; Jason in- "The Golden Fleece," and Captain Brassbound in the American stage production of Shaw s play, recently presented here by Dame Sybil Thorndike and Lewis Casson. "Little Man, What Now?" Because the new version of "Show Boat" will necessitate location work on the Mississippi River which cannot be accomplished at.this season of the year. Universal has postponed this production until next spring. Frank Borzage will produce and direct "Little Man, What Now? "Little Man, -What Now?" by Hans Fallada, is rated- as the finest novel to come from Germany since "All Quiet on the Western Front." Universal obtained , the screen rights to. the book after spirited bidding by several other studios. Miss Nora Long's Career. .Miss Nora Long, whose inheritance of a fortune from an unexpected legacy was recently announced in the cables from England, ia the daughter of the late Mr. Charles Long, and was a Convent pupil in Wellington of Sister Agnes Maclean. Mr. Harry Hooper, of Wellington, who was' prominently connected with the stage in New Zealand in its earlier days* writes giving full credit to Sister Agnes for the success .of Miss Long .as. a singer. Mr. Hopper was touring Mile. Trebelli at the' time •he . heard (through Sister Agneg) of the .daughter, of Charles Long (baritone). An audition wasarranged for, and Mr. R. B. Williams, the famous tenor of the original Jubilee Singers, accompanied Mr. Hooper, but was not exactly enamoured of the young lady's voice at that time, Mr. Hooper had great faith in her vocal capabilities, however, and . after a while Miss Long went to Australia and sang in the Town Hall with Philip Newbury; that concert gave her her first engagements (in South Africa), and she has never looked back. After serious study. Miss Long became a star. Mr. Hooper would have accompanied the Wellington girl as manager had it not been that he was< interested in companies touring New Zealand at the time. These included the Rangania Concert Party, of which Chieftain Rangania, a Maori tenor and pianist, was assisted by Amy Hyde (soprano), Maud Alexander (contralto), Francis Butt (pianist), and Honata Taupaua. Mr. Hooper was also interested in the concert party consisting of R. B. Williams (tenor), John Prouse (baritone), A. S. Paterson (elocutionist), and Minnie Dugdale (pianjst). Alias Long was practically adopted in England by friends. Her father was buried at Karori. "The Hayseeds." Glowing. cabled reports .of the successful premiere of Beaumont Smith's production of "The Hayseeds," recently completed at the Cinesound studios, Rushcutters Bay, and now in season* at the Civic Theatre, Sydney, have been received in AVellington. A demonstrative and delighted public thronged the theatre at all sessions at its opening on Saturday last. The Sydney "Sun" said: "Seldom has any film had a better reception, and judging by last nighfs enthusiasm, is in for a long run." The "Sunday Sun" said: "It strikes a fresh note in Australian picture making, hearty robust humour which strikes hilarious note." The "Daily Telegraph" says: "It ■will swing to success on its genial humour." A strong cast includes Cecil Keliaway, as "Dad Hayseed," ShirIcy Dale, Arthur Clarke, and John Moore, the "Music in the Air" boy, Tal Ordcll, Katie Towers, and Kenneth Brampton. The Richard White Girls and the chorus of the "Music in the Air" Company, introduced as a band of hikers, make the musical side of the production one of its chief features. "The Hayseeds" is the Christmas attraction at the Regent. Caterpillar. The wardrobe department at Paramount is at work on the smallest garment it ever has made—a bathrobe for a caterpillar. In fact, two bathrobes for two caterpillars. One bathrobe is for Ned Sparks, who plays the role of the Caterpillar in the Paramount picture, "Alice in / Wonderland." The other is for his "double"—a veal, live caterpillar, which -will be made rip to appear exactly like the raspy-voiced comedian, or vice versa.

- Pouishnoff. "Pouishnoff is one of the most brilliant pianists London has ever heard," wrote the "Daily Telegraph," while Ernest Newman stated in the "Sunday Times": "It is doubtful whether any other living pianist could have carried through such a programme without a single technical fault." His season of six Chopin programmes in London in a single week stands unique in the musical annals of England, and it is chiefly as an exponent of the Polish master that he has established his fame. London so fascinates him that with, the exception of his worldwide tours he has lived there ever since. Pouishnoff is to visit New Zealand n company with Horace Stevens. Daring Josephine. Josephine Baker, a product of Harlem, and a former star of the Folies Bergeres, is not the success in London that she has been in Paris and elsewhere. This dusky belle made so much money in France that she bought a chateau. Her London act would most likely be toned down to suit the tastes of English audiences, for Josephine had a flair for daring songs and dressing. In any case, her act went a little flat, according to reports of her appearance there, and she may yet have reason to restore the naughtiness to her turn in order to gain the same popularity at she enjoys elsewhere. Snow in Heat Wave. A heat-wave in Hollywood did not discomfort Katharine Hepburn and the supporting stars in "Little Women." While less fortunate players sweltered under the hot studio lights- they frollicked in two tons of real snow. . The big'snow scenes described in Louisa M.'Alcott's book were filmed on a three-acre setting at- the RKO Ranch. Real snow was imported from the High Sierras, and spread on the ground to form a road for-i horse-drawn sleds. In addition, a synthetic snowstorm was created by blowing five tons of untoasted cornflakes with twenty wind machines. Mac West—of Stage and Screen. The buxom Mac West, who is endeavouring to oust the slim silhouette from Hollywood, and to replace it by more corpulent curves, does not smoke or drink, and likes books, writing, and entertaining private friends. People who try to associate her private life with those screen and stage characterisations that have brought 'her fame, she answers with "Eugene O'Neill wrote a play about life on a barge, but nobody assumed he was a barge-hand," a sufficient reply to the queries of the curious. She wrote, produced, and acted in plays in New York before the screen claimed her. She played in "East Lynne" at the age of four. Her first play "Sex" drew the attention of the police in 1926, but was allowed to continue its run." Several months later a moral reform wave struck the New York theatre, and eleven months after its opening "Sex" was raided. The upshot was that Miss West, i.s the author and principal actress, spent ten days in gaol. Admittedly of the ribald kind her plays called for much fighting in order to get them accepted. She Jias less difficulty in her film career! "The Perils of Pauline." Evalyn Knnpp, formerly of the Broadway stage, featured in several of the Arliss film successes, and 1932 Wampas Baby Star, has won the starring feminine lend in Univerenl's serial "The Perils of Pauline." And, in recognition of his work in "Gordon of Ghost City," "Phantom of the Air," and "Saturday's Millions," Hugh Enfield, graduate of the Little Theatre, will head her supporting cast, being on hand to rescue Pauline from death. at least once in each of the twelve chapters! ■ "The Bells" in the West End. Sir John Martin-Harvey, father of Michael Martin-Harvey (who was in Wellington with Dame Sybil Thorndike's company and presented a dance recital, to music by the Wellington. Symphony Orchestra), has been proving, at London Savoy that "The Bells" can thrill a modern audience. In the tense moments, and especially in the famous dream scene, the house was held in a spell, writes G. W. Bishop in "The Daily Telegraph." Sir John brought to the part of Mathias eoriie of Irving's imaginative power, giving the sparlc of life to the old theatrical bones*. It was his first appearance in the West End in "The Bells,", though he had played it in the suburbs.v Pure melodrama as it is, Sir John achieved his effects without violent over-acting, with the atmospheric aid of green spotlights and incidental music. He had an ovation at the end of his magnificent performance. The play being rather short for a full evening's! bill. Shaw s "The Showing Up of Blanco Posnet was being added—offering a superb study in contrasts. "Invisible Wan." Now that Universal has completed the filming of "The Invisible Man,"-great interest has been aroused in this picture. The problem which confronted the cameramen and technicians at Universal City was how to photograph invisibility—and 'that is why a period of two years has elapsed between the purchase of the H. G Wells's story and its transfer to the screen... Universal has guarded the secret of the manner in which wThe Invisible Man" wag photographed, and until the. picture is shown the .secret, wall, be kept. Claude Rains, who>i» the "invisible man will be seen walking jauntily along, completely dressed, and with a hat perched jauntily on what would be a head, If any head were there. In another scene he will be shown disrobing and, as his clothes fall away, nothing but invisibility will remain. 'Mr. Rains, the celebrated English actor, travelled to Hollywood for the express purpose of enacting the star role in "The Invisible Man." "Kiss Me Again." It would be hard to x imagine a picture which more perfectly demonstrates the possibilities of the talking screen than "Kiss Me Again," the magnificent allcolour screen version of Victor Herberts melodious operetta, "Mile Modiste. In perfect balance the picture gives sparkling dialogue, the best technicolour which has come to the screen bo far, lavish sets, beautiful gowns, and beautiful girls. Bernice Clare, as Fifi, the little sales girl in Madame Cecile's modiste shop, who longs for the stage and eventually gains fame under the name of "Bellini" after she hag given up Paul, dashing French army othcer, is enchanting. Walter Pidgeon is also highly effective and gives proof of all that might have been expected from him after "Bride of the Regiment and "ViennesevNights," in which he had the leading role opposite Vivienne Segal, His highly pleasing personality is ably seconded by Ed. Everett Horton, who^a* Pidgeon's companion at arms furnishes much of the amusing intrigue. One of the comedy riots of the picture is Frank McHugh, who takes the role of the henpecked ex-husband of Madame Cecile, proprietress of the famous Parisian modiste shop. McHugh ia one of the hits of the show. June Collyer in both beautiful and appealing in the second feminine role. Claude Gillingwater and Albert Gran, as the two fathers, one a gouty count and the other a deaf general, also contribute to the good times. Judith Vosselli, who was the adventuress in "The Lady Who Dared," has the part of the catty Madame Cecile. Paradise Lost.' Tullio Carminati is back in Hollywood. When the one-time leading man for Duse first came to Hollywood several years ago, he tried mightily to overcome his foreign accent. By dint of this effort, he managed to speak with only a trace of foreign articulation. But even this was not enough to keep him from losing. So he went to New York and let his accent ripen to thickness. It was his declaration of complete severance from all Hollywood hopes. He let his accents.fall where they might in making his great Broadway stage hit in "Strictly Dishonourable." And now, because of his accent, he is brought back to Hollywood to- start a long term contract in 20th Century Pictures production of "Moulin Rouge," starring Congtance Bennett, to be released by United Artists.

Horace Stevens. Horace Stevens extended his activities into the field of opera and was a member of the late British National Opera Company and the Covent Garden Opera Company, and has been proclaimed by the London critics as the finest interpreter of the part of Wotan (Valkyrie) in the English language. His other great parts are those of Hans Sachs (Mastersingers), Mephistopheles (Faust), Falstaff, Ramphis (Aida), the Flying Dutchman and Kur-n-enal (Tristan and Isolde). He also created the part of "Hiawatha" in operatic performance and has played the part at each London production at the Albert Hall. Horace Stevens was born at Windsor, near Melbourne. He is to visit New Zealand in company with Pouishnoff, the famous pianist.. Hitlerised "Passion Play." The Oberammergau "Passion Play" has been Hitlerised, according to the Oberammergau correspondent of a London paper. The election of the actors for the various roles in next year's jubilee production was held in the village recently. The actors were dressed in Nazi Storm Detachment uniform and were reviewed by Herr Esser, the Bavarian Minister. According to ancient custom, the portrayers of the sacred roles began more than a year ago to allow their beards and hair to grow. With'their hirsute appearance, dressed in brown shirts, breeches, and riding boots, they resembled anything rather than iharacters from the Bible. Alison Skip-worth Seeks Rare Edition. Somewhere in the world, perhaps in a private collection, or on the dusty shelves of a second-hand book store, there is a book for which Alison Skipworth would pay a lot of money. In fact, after thirty years, the Paramount actress has launched another search for it. The volume is Oscar Wilde's "The Happy Prince," with an epigram across the fly leaf penned by the author himself to the actress forty years ago. The epigram, as Miss Skipworth remembers it, reads:. "Advice to a bride: Never worry over trifles and still less over serious matters. It is impossible to exaggerate the unimportance of everything." "For years I kept that volume among my possessions," Miss Skipworth explains. "About the time Daniel Frohman brought me to America to make my 'singing debut the book disappeared." French Actress in London. Mireille ' Pemy, a French actress, has been playing lead in the London Hippodrome production of "The One Girl," the cast also including Lupino Lane, Arthur Riscoe, Robert Hale, Louise Browne, Roy Koyston, and Pearl Qsgood. The story is of a little French girl, Madelon, orphaned by the war, who is adopted by four gallant soldiers. She grows to womanhood as an ornament of the Salvation Army, one of her "lathers" being a leader of the Army. Another is a pickpocket, a third a cafe keeper, and a fourth is a tenor singer who loves the girl with something warmer than paternal devotion. The "Belle of New York" theme does, not last long, iand Madelon follows worldly pursuits. There is plenty of good dancing, amusing dialogue, and singing in the piece, and Louise Browne's solo dances gave great delight. "Smith and Dale." Eqtiaily popular with variety audiences in America and England will start the first of their new series of six two-reel comedies v immediately. It will be entitled "Hot Daze." Smith and Dale organised their own vaudeville act in 1901, entitled The Imperial Vaudeville and Comedy Company, and toured America and England with great success for many years. They have made a number of short and feature-length films. They will play in Columbia Pictures. American Music World. Paul Althouse, who will be remembered by New Zealand conceitgoers for his tours of the Dominion in association with Mr. Arthur Middleton, was recently singing, with Gertrude Kappel, the title parts in. the San Francisco Opera Company's production of Wagner's "Tristan ana Isolde." Jose Iturbi, the Spanish pianist, was to be guest soloist with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra on December 8 and 9, playing a concerto. A fourteen-year-old girl,- Rita Lorraine, played the Tschaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Pacific Musical Society in the Cnlifornian capital recently. Lysbeth Hughes, a pupil of Kajetan Atti, the famous harpist, and of Charles Dal mores (with the Chijago Opera Company in its early days, and a favourite tenor of Paris), under whom she has been studying singing, has aspirations to playing Carmen and Tosca as well as making her mark as a 'cellist. Louis Grueiibers's operatic version of Eugene O'Neill's play "Emperor Jones' had Lawrence Tibbett as its Pullman porter turned island ruler. Gruenberg is virtually an American, though born in Russia, having lived in the States since he was two. He is a Busoni disciple in both piano and composition, and in 1910 made his Berlin debut with the Philharmonic Orchestra. He composed "Daniel. Jazz" for voice and small orchestra; a concerto, a symphony, voice and chamber music, and operas. 'Stars Meet. ' ' ,' When Aljspn Skipworth was the star of a stock company in Albany, back in 1914, a young/ man named Douglas Fairbanks was a member of the company. Fairbanks entered pictures immediately after this engagement, and Miss Skipworth. did not.see him again until sixteen years later, when she herself came to Hollywood. Miss Skipworth's latest role is as Marlene Dietrich's shrewish aunt in Paramount's "Song of Songs." Fairbanks recently visited her on the set. A New Pinero Play. Sir Arthur Pinero has written'a new play—a light comedy in three acts, entitled "A Cold June," which is to be presented at the Duchess Theatre, London. The cast is a short one, requiring two men nbout 40 years of age and a young girl. Nancy Price, who is to produce, selected Hugh Wakefield, Charles Carson, and Betty Stockfield (the Australian girl who has made good on the English stage and screen). Sir Arthur is.now 77. He does, not like revivals of old plays, and preferred that Miss Price should have a new play rather than stage any of his old works. The last full-length play of his on the London stage was "The Enchanted Cottage,", in which Owen Nares and Laura Cowie appeared at the /Duke of York's ten years ago. A one-act pieoe, "A Private Room," was done at "the Little Theatre in 1928. Sir Arthur was himself on the stage for ten years, acting with Sir Henry Irving and the Bancrofts. An Irish Brunhilde. The new Metropolitan Opera Company* production of "The Valkyrie" at the Streatham-hill Theatre, London, had an Irish Brunhilde, Monica Warner, who wag stately and sympathetic in person and bearing, and sang with freedom and beautiful quality. As a budding artist, Miss Warner, certainly made her impression on critics, who also found much to favour in the. Siegmund of Alec. John, another artist of youth and promise. Hitherto known only as .a R..A.M. student, Mr. John gave a fresh and attractive interpretation of the role, from a singing and anting point of view. Norman Allin was Hunding, and Horace Stevens, Wotan; tw6 mature artists whose work can always bo relied on. Another Melba Protegee. Elena Danieli, a new singer at the Old Vie, London, who made a success in "Mignon," is an Australian, and was a protegee of Dame Melba, who discovered her in Paris. Mme. Danieli has sung at Covent Garden and in most of the European capitals. \She claims descent on her mother's side from the famous Red Indian princess Pocahontan, who married a young Englishman and went to live in London. It wag supposed that the princess was buried in St. John's Church, in Waterloo Road, London, where the Old Vie is situated, but a search has failed to discover tk« grare.

Williamson Comic Opera. Herbert Browne, the tenor with the J. C. Williamson comic opera company commencing a New Zealand tour at Auckland at Christmas time, started his career as an engineer's designer, qualified in electricity and hydraulics, and served during the war as a soldier and submarine Diesel i engineer. He went to Australia to become an orchardist, but later returned to engineering and bridge designing. He had an opportunity to go on the stage, and joined the Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Company, playing Nanki Poo in "The Mikado." He has played de Jolidan in "The Merry Widow" and leading roles iv "Sally" (with Josie Melville), "Wildflower," "Frasquita," and "Katja" (with Marie Burke), "Chocolate. Soldier," "The Student Prince" (with Beppie de Vries and James Liddy), "Desert Song" (with Lance Fairfax and Rqmola Hansen), "Katinka/' and other successes. Mr. Browne will take the chief tenor roles in the company's repertoire, which includes "The Arcadians," "The Merry Widow," "Florodora," and "Katinka." Miss Hansen is again the leading lady for the coming sea- ■ son, and many old Williamson favourites will1 take part. Coming Films. Among the Gaumont-British productions to be released this year will be "The Good Companions." from the novel by J. B. Priestley. This was the first talking picture viewed by their Majesties the\ ' King and Queen. "Soldiers of the King" features Cicely Courtneidge and Edward Everett Horton. The delightful music of Johann Strauss will be featured in "Waitz Time," starring Evelyn Laye. A subject which must surely command attention is a pictorial record entitled "H.R.H. the Prince of Wales." Then there will be such dramas as "I was a Spy," featuring Madeline Carroll, Herbert Marshall, Sir Gerald De Maurier. Later in the season Oscar Asche's famous spectacle "Chu Chin Chow" will be produced. Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn will combine their talents in producing several of the Ben Travel's farces. Among these will be "A Cuckoo in the Nest," "Cup of Kindness," and "Turkey. Time." Scottish Tenor's Success. Montgomery Fyffe, the young Scottish - tenor who achieyed such notable results in Italian opera at Monaco, has returned . to Scotland, and has been broadcasting with great success. Young Fyffe has not '■ been heard much in his own country, owing to engagements abroad, but his broadcast was in the nature 6£ a revelation; he sang excerpts from operas, a group of Lieder by Sphubert, and several Scots songs. "Man of Steel." Lambert Hillyer, Columbia authordirector, is to team up with Jack Holt; He will direct the star in his next picture, which will go into production immediately, titled "Man of Steel." The. feminine lead in the film is to be played by Fay Wray, who recently appeared with Holt in •The Woman I Stole." Hillyer has directed many action and western films for Columbia and gets and opportunity in "Man of Steel" to do a picture on a linger scale as a reward for his successful endeavours in this field. A Scene Banned. The author of "A* Sleeping Clergyman (Mr. James Bridie, in private life Dr. O. H. Mayor, of Glasgow) was not caught unawares by the decision of the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Cromer, to prohibit a scene in the play, which has been performed at the Piccadilly Theatre, London. The scene shows an Army officer home on leave throwing his D.S.O. to a woman as he leaves her. Dr. Mayor learned some weeks before hia play was produced that this scene was likely to meet with censure, so he wrote another scene in lees than two hours and sent it to the theatre. He has used most of the old material, but has cast out the part showing the officer throwing down the ■ decoration. • Personally he . saw no insult to the Army or .the D.S.O. by the scene. Sir Barry Jackson,, producer, has caused reference to the decoration as the U.&.U. to be omitted. Contracts. ■ New long-term contracts are announced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for _Esther Ralston and Myrna Loy. Musa Kalston recently returned to Hollywood from England, *where she played in several films. Miss Loy's recent roles were in A Ni"ht in Cairo," "When Ladies Meet, and "Penthouse." She is now completing the feminine lead opposite Max Baer m "The Prizefighter and the Lady. A Play "To Drive You Nuts." Crosby Gaige and Lee Shubert are sponsoring the New York transfer of "Ten Minute Alibi" from London, where it has been providing crowded audiences with delicious thrills and is expected to excite even sophisticated New Yorkers accustomed to the fast pace of plays. Its appeal to the mind is more than other noisier and rapid-firing melodramas can claim. A ■ murder is committed by a. young man who at once enlists the sympathies of his audiences because he acts to prevent the abduction of a young girl destined for a South American brothel. The lover offers to'abandon his purpose of murder for a sum of money, and on its failing to materialise, he shoots the villain with a silent pistol. His alibi is elaborately prepared; the: crime is enacted twice —first as a dream and then in reality. The audience is alert to check the actual killing with the dream rehearsal. Scotland Yard officials are called in, and when they are running down facts, suspense grows painful lest there ,be some slip that might involve the doom of the avenger of a girl's purity. There is a bewildering train of thought following on the conclusion concerning a passport. If the suspect saw the passport on the desk he is not guilty: if he did not see it, he is guilty. A writer in the "Literary Digest" gays of the result of this incident: "This is the point that will throw you and drive you nuts." Amateur Cameramen. Amateur motion picture cameramen are going to "get a break" in Hollywood. With nearly 1,000,000 amateurs regularly shooting footage throughout the ■world, the film capital and the newsreels will recruit more from this source in the future, it is asserted by Leon Shamroy, one of the few cinematographers at the studios who is under a long-term contract, Shamroy recently photographed Claudette Colbert, Richard Arlen, and Mary Boland in Paramount's "Three-Cornered Moon." "To become professionals, the amateurs should fight for recognition," Shamroy says. "This means they must either photograph an outstanding news event and scoop the newsreel men, or produce a short silent feature that will demonstrate their artistic ability." Sylvia Sidney. Completely recovered in health, Sylvia Sidney has returned to Hollywood after more than two months in Euro.pe. Whatever differences existed between the actress and Paramount will be adjusted when Emanuel Cohen, vice-president in charge of production, returns from New York City. In the meantime, Miss Sydney is preparing for her first picture, "Reunion." "Only Yesterday." The entire resources of Universal Studios were thrown behind the production of "Only Yesterday," John M. Stahl's love drama which will be released in New Zealand shortly. In the matter of cast alone, the picture enlisted the services of more than 90 well-known Hollywood players, headed by Margaret Sullavan, John Boles, Billie Burke, and Reginald Denny and included such well-known names as Benita Hume, Edna May Oliver, Franklin Pangborn and scores of others. More than three months were consumed in filming this picture which abounds in lavish scehes, but in spite of this panoramic splendour, the story of "Only Yesterday" is continually centred on the tragic love affair of Margaret Sullavan and John Boles—a story of courage and love unsurpassed in screen history.