STAGE AND SCREEN

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 75, 29 March 1934, Page 5

STAGE AND SCREEN

of ihJV^^radevfor ,many -years. hatomffiimmtK hiin^in the remotest^ part^qtsa^ajja^and NewvZealand^ He euttiic'isißrarScane in North Oueprislnriri nam^Clav fcaXri on^6se;?audeyilie- circuit? he: played- for fiv^>-VJ»i'fft>'-lipfiSVp ho■■•■'•'•iniViPri- wifi, fv,i luip^dS^ WallS°lm^ of* a GeSfXiJVVaOl^ej^vas Vellinown^ on the Staee'anrl tli P narhio" in , .|»S-^^^sSl«d^sia™-* Ge^e*hi'mself-\ra S^ohly five year^ o d wi.^^h^^vfi^.-troU-.: the ;boards, ap^eaiinjg^iim^Ssdney: :in. tlie .panto-ninje.r-^BoJbirison;: Crusoe;" ■ 'His 'suecessviasTa^fihiiACpmedian; since lie'.ioihed uplTvit^theTEfiftee organisation iiasbecu remajkible;-^'HisiKoySrHighness" has'attraMedfanudr;: attention .abroad, andvMr.. E. been approached■ tofrelea^ 'farm-to' make ulinsboth- v Engl^i&a;,America. -He refused' all offertfvip-fg? --abroad, however. In "A" 'TickßyjtsTatts/'his.latest-Efttee comedy, George-:Wallaceihas o>ne: of "his funniest rbles-}; "£■■■■■•-'-.■:.l ■'■'-■■ -. ! '■' ' '*• 'rV^~i'ly' ■' •'*'":- ' ■ ' . Co^lJC|lJi?nceti'i --'''. . ir'.f *-;ir^tr--'v■■-.-■'•. i-i'-.-.v- - : ihTgZSS&ffy co»«dence_ occurred at Arthur Woods,, the-twentyreight-year-old &£$ I S 6" • S^ '« T3^- IW"' JB^ffl^ ° iVv. If P■ ? S first;di reC" fiSvff ' ■ al^°Sf h he. \has f a?.ted, as ?V ■"*&*? ''>aSSfta"t dJIflP t-or' ;?T^' I* ' a l nd I? art,. desi Sner •m British. ;filmsi and'on the English stage. ■-' Esrfralniihjbws were requirefeor-the musi■■cal{b4ck'groun'd:qf this epy^slory.,. and he askedi,the ; production; staffito- call a -'few iepn^p^ets-for.consultatioivTtee-firstcalled _hapj)elckEd'' : te--vbe George :«S<»B>rd, ' with XwhQm",Slr. f Wopds>afeat^cliool at Downside>R6maTi< Catholic--,College, Bath, 'and .laterJ;at<rChrifit;s,: Cambridge. - They-,.had ,not!ltt^^6rnce ] ;thteir.Umver6ity..das;S, althotign ■; both- had/ been ,inj the., same; in-' dustrjr.'v ",-■-•,: ..-^^,. , -■ ~

s^ laa Rational circles iwith, c prpf eJfbe]Ps mf de.m England in already ,;been ■. interestingly treated, and nT Gauinont-British -Instructional.-Flms, Sfe *asJ[°l™ pP ; a fofeign languages^yl.JaWs embracing French,' Spanish, GerV^V3l^ Palian-J Jof theiseries t^^Y ary B ■1( lcl f d' a. h^hFamed, teacher. .This firm, for instance, scenes of everyday life °}j h lHhf a , raihvay statl°" v^ par ls , a£lSh^s^^ra^ el'S fP^ks first in then -in. I'reneh. "Moulin Rouge."-, ■■''« ' ■'; - <i-ir o :,i ;r ;' p« " »'-iv .'' .- • , s Sy -fto ■ wmantic imisical, Gonstance Bennett in her lirst S^?s n'-^Sl*!?^ Cf ntury T F'?" -•*U^' ]V IV- l"' • r Si lel ( easc- Jt ls a f E»? ly ■ ased- ?n'" a.-^noh- stage success f t :sa. m r e. na™e' a"d: ■ "'lll s^o, t(? ln.tiod"ce Miss. Bennett in her first dual roi?A'an(J>,-aV a fmger of songs especially I -? r her AVarren and Al JJubin, who, opmposed the memorable hils in 'M2nd: Street," "Gold Diggers of 1033," ? nd "EomSnScandacls."" Surrounding her is. a cast-whicK includes Fi-anchbt ■ Tone, ,Tullio Carttiinatij#sfege ; of ;"Strittly the founders of the New York Theatre uild'" Andrew-Tombes and Rom Brown, comedians: in nunierous New York stage shows: The Bosweir Sisters and Euss Columbo, famous radio stars, are another attraction .of, the-film.,. , , ■ -.'-:■; '■ • l . V.: ' Ruflflles. ~. ; ; . . t , -...?-■' ; After a/weekend spent' pottering around his Vraneh,- 'tending plants' and fixing up the'house, Charlie - Euggles made his ap- . pearaiice on J'arampimt's "Six of a Kind" set ,witli;a 'decided-limp. ".What happened, Charlie?" Mary Bolaiid, who is also in the..cast, "'asked him. "Just a slight discrepancy in- timei'' Charlie explained. "I tried to .come down a ladder just two miuutes after :ift had" been taken away!" '

"Little Women." Like a fragrant, faded rose out of an old book, "Little Women," as different from the average run o£ screen features as its bewitching New England setting is from the rush and turmoil of Broadway, comes to the St. James Theatre on Saturday. RKO-Radio Pictures lias handled with benign care the ever-popular .story, a sweet breath of romance in the setting from which most of the great screen successes have come—home. Its human, lovable characters live again in the fashion of the day. The peaceful settings where the four girls romped have been transferred to this era by the magic o£ the camera and the technical skill of movieland. Even New England snow and storms are moved across country to the RKO-Radio property. Customs, costumes, and the heartwarming atmosphere of the sixties are a contrast, indeed, to the usual screen melange of courtroom, machine-gun, and sex. Grandmother and grandpa, mother and dad, little Mary and- Johnny, can walk arm in arm past the box-office of any theatre playing "Little Women" and will be proud that they are going to see one of the most appealing gems of all literature and one of the finest stories of a humble home, just as it has lived in fiction through sixty-five stormy years. Alvarado. Within twelve hours of his arrival in England •■ Don Alvarado, the young Hollywood actor, had lost his gigolo moustache and had taken his place on the Elstree circus lot for his part of Davey Heron in the 8.1.P. picture "The .Red Wagon." When Don Alvarado arrived at Plymouth he was refused admission to the country because he had no English visa. When the important- role of Davey Heron -was under consideration, WalterC. Mycrof t decided to cast Alvarado in the , part. The immigration authorities, however, recalled an incident last year when Don Alvarado, with Miss Marilyn Millar, the Hollywood star, were accidentally brought over to Southampton on the Bremen, although they had merely intended to see Mrs. Allan Dwan off at New York. "Not,again,"'they said. So Don Alvarado had to go on to Paris for a. few days until an English permit could . be obtained. ■ . : What Men Like., Masculine- preference .in actors tends distinctly •. towards,'' the'" polished, welldressed type,:;in the opinion of Al Roekett, who is at present: producing "All Men are Enemies." ' "Feminine audiences seem to divide their favourites about equally between the muscular,, outdoor type of actor and the more, polished, handsome type," Rockett declares. "Men, it would seem, do not have/any great admiration for the former, while secretly ■ envying the actor who can appear entirely masculine, yet always correct in speech, deportment, and dress. ' This explains. I believe, the success of such men as Leslie.Howard, who is liked equally \?ell by both men and women." Rocket, in "All Men are Enemies," introduces a brilliant young English screen and stage star to film audiences. He is Hugh Williams, who plays the leading role in the romance. Madeleine Carroll. Madeline Carroll signed a new contract for two years with Gaumont-British before she.*., left for Hollywood "on loan" to Fox Films. On her return, to London she will star in four Gaumont-British pictures, the first of which will be "Mary of Scotland." Her new contract stipulates that she shal do not ■ stage and screen work simultaneously. Miss Carroll appreciates this clause as constituting an official measure of. protection against overwork;':: She is in love with- her art, but to yield.vto the insistence of_- stage producers on both sides-Of the Atlantic would, she says, be unfair both to them and to the Gaumont-British. A "Lunchtime" Story. When Walt Disney conceived the 'idea of making a. Silly Symphony in technibased on the old Andersen fairytale of "The Shepherdess and the "Sweep" lie' called a meeting of the! story department. There were ten men—all expert artists —and they met in the lunch-room. The wheels of invention started turning, andbefore the luncheon was over (several hours later) the main details for "The China Shop," were worked out. "The China ( Shop" as well as all other Disney productions, is released through United Artists.*.." ..''..;

"Cradle Song." ." i . A deeply-emotional tale of. mother love and sacrifice comes to the De Luxe Theatre on Saturday in '•Cradle Song.": the . first motion picture in which Paramount's newest star, Dorothea Wieck, has appeared before New Zealand picture-goers. Coinpletely oil the beaten: track of motion picture entertainment, "Cradle ' Song" is a delicate handling of adifficult theme. The story, by.thejnoted -Spanish playwright, G. -M. Martinez , Sierra,, tells of a child abandoned at;a convent, ;and raised by one. of- the sisters. As Sister; Joanna, Miss Wieck has; been longing for "the, mother-. hood denied: her. -She lavishes' on the foundling all the . love and: affection she would .hay to a-child of her' own. Drama and. heartbreak mount' to'a moving climax when the-child,-grown-to girlhood, meets r a -young man; outside r-jthe conventand ■ leaves to marry;* him. ■ ••"iA spirituar quality •pervades '- the ? entirei-.'production, though the characters are sharply and mdividually etched. Dorothea ,Wieck brings to the screen a~ haunting.beauty that proniises much: in the- future. - Sir Guy Standing in one of; the principal roles gives a warming ;aiid-[heartfelt performance. As the mother-.superior Louise-Dresser; is excellent. ( Evelyn Yeniible," the %irl, :is refreshing and' charmihgl Paramount deserves: considerable praise for -the quality and unusualnees of .production. As an" example of the finer, things that can comefron^Hollywood^t^sa surpassed. ■ • .-..*.- ; . . ■ . ■. ■ j. ■■ .

"Catherine {the;Great.'^, '■. '■[•'..■. InV''Cath'ei:ine'-Hhe'Greati,'.:Doiiglas'Fair- - banks,, jun.v'isAsaidrtoi give"' the'■ greatest • performance,of *his'*ca^eer,'?nni.'the. finest ' part/of liisijcareer;"The-part: of Tsar Peter ' litis .probajbly one -of ithe/.most' difficult to . interpret yet assigned'itb;;!!/ young';. actor. Mr. Alexauder'Kor'da,:'the'producer of -the picture,'- and Div. Czirinerithe. director, felt that: Douglas .•Fairbanks;' jun., ,' was', the onlyima'n y6ung':ehbrigh,;yet with ■.sufficient experience, to undertake Hire, role. '■■ In the beginijingiof'theifilm .;the' young- Tsar, apart from ;frequent: outbursts of; temper, is abnormal individual; but 'as ■ the ,' film progresses;:it shows . the '^deterioration of his character. Treacherous, amorous-and . cruel ;by -turns,'.and.;with a warped sense of huinpur,/rsar-Peter;lllis .kno>vn as the ■Russian' Hamlet,"." arid is :as equally'diffieult a».part ; to/.interpret>as;the Shakespearian role.. United Artists: will release "Catherine the' Great." '■..•■ Florence;Austral's":Tour. . _ Plans for/a most comprehensive tour, of Australia and-New -Zealand by) Florence : Austral,.. the; famous , dramatic ' soprano, have been ■ arranged by Mr. A. D. M. Longden,;who is directing the tour of the' singer, commencing in Perth, on, April 7. Melbourne will be visited; in June, and after the New South ..Wales and Queensland season, New Zealand will be visited, ■ when theparty, is, en, route for America. Austral willibe.supported by John Amadio, the finest living flautist, ,•and-M. Raymond Lambert, the, Belgian-pianist, who' toured New. Zealand'with; John'Brbwnlee. Ship. Rebuilt'in Studio. A number/ of'scenes in \ "Trouble," Sydney; Howard's /latest comedy for British and .Dominions, were made on -board an Orient lirier>in :thetMediterranean Sea, but the •: script •; made it'-.- necessary for some sequences-to, be shot partly on- board the ship, and .partly in the- studio. It was therefore necessary to;match tip the studio sets, accurately, with .the ship,- arid to "■ this end the ; 'art director,;G.>F.<Stegmann, took a camera and sketclls.book.with; him when the unit went: oa;locati6n;;and returned to England : with'sufficient^ material; to -reproduce '.any part of- the.: liner./iri tho; studio: At-the'. Boreham, Wood, studio': a -;. complete reproduction was • made, of several aspects of the ship. <T,h'ere ;was a 'stejward s. room, fitted: but; with -' authehtic , furiiiturc, a purser's.;,cabin; a./games' deck, the main promeria'de.t deck.uan'd the * ship's gymnasium. -. Sydney' Howard 'is,- supported by George' Turner aridiMuriekAked.' Maclean Rogers directed:- ' , ;;' ..-;.' British.,.' ;'-.-' :" : -. -- ; . Coincidental.with their ?policy< of using AmericanHalent'of'Outstanding box office appeal,^ British; International are to attempt ' t0... unearth new';- human: material from; among 'its 'British; personnel.. The influence of; Arrierican directors, stare, and writers, will: therefore,;, it is'hoped, assist . in.drawing-out;tke;best. from among the native talent. First limdng the yoimg English technicians to..reach the directorial rank is Arthur Woods, a twenty-eight-year-old Londoner, who has done almost everything (both'hT the'picture business and on the, stage. He has served in the cutting-rooms, as' an'actor, .assistant director, script writer, art designer, and production adviser.. N6whe,'is to make a spy story, "The : Secret; Agent!" based on a German story, arid; having, dialogue by Frank Vosper,; the .well-known English dramatist-; .:'.''. '. ~" ' . Paul Lukas. \ ■ y Camera; works, ,°n '"The . Countess, of Monte Cristp" has finished. Paul Lukas, who was working with his arm in splints, will move over to'tire "Glamour" set, where he. will,be - featured with ' Constance Cummings ..arid .B,uss 'Coliimbo': in this Edna- Ferber story.' ' "Glamour,"',a, B. F.. Zeidu'ian , production,., jyill" get ■ under, way. early'this .w'jek. under,'the direction of William - Wyler. It. will:;b'e ;produced .with an'elaborate'musical setting.;. r -. ,

"Carolina." •••■••■ •■ ■-Featuring a '.cast' that has been equalled since its'release of "State Fair," J'ox Film's latest, production, '-Carolina," °PCIIS. "t .the. State Theatre on .Saturday, .Janet Gaynor, in.Tier; seventeenth stellar portrayal. since.' /her rise in '"Seventh Heaven"; Lionel Barrympre, in a role tllat >s said to surpass any of his former characterisations;.RobertYoung, and Eichf l'" Cromwell, two of the sfcreenfs foremost leading men;. Henrietta Crostnan, who will ,".« remembered- "for' her performance in 'Filgrimage"; Mona Barrie, Australian fl.a\"J a^d $tepin' : Fetchit, in a comeback to * "ls former star's.'estate-lallthese head the -cast.; Others seen^in the-production are -Russell Simpson, Ronnie Cosbey, Jackie . Cosbey, Almeda Fowler, and Alden Chase, The story concerns;a Southern family who .Uve,in the glory; of the,past* but in the Poverty of the present. Into. this house"P?^ comes .a charming and - .unobtrusive visitor from the North who sets an example in-sincerity and. diligence that the Southerners cannot .ignored In her simple way.she fires;them. with a new' desire to l've- ? U<l get out of ;life the good things : that.it.still hasi,to -offer.- » The/setting of the film is a run-down tobacco plantation ill :Nprth; Carolina,, with its ;■ picturesque background of magnolia; trees .and colonial ' architecture. - Into this setting comes the struggle o£ youth: to find.a,place for itself P^S -the • glories, -that -now . : exist: only idUo^be^n-^^^^^^V^ '.screen play by .Reginald' Berkeley. '■ ; \ ; *__.-,

'Contracts. ■ ' ; i \ •■"•'_ •TJiere ■ seems*-to' be ? soimethi'ng.'-. about ■ Fox. Follies"• whiah brings.talented' people •into contract prbriiineuce. No less than six ..contracts., .have . been,„awarded .players. in the-Fox Filni : musical extravaganza"thus far—and. the ..film is still a'-considerable way from being completed.*T-ke-latest contract awarded is-to.Nick Foran.,A,former Princeton football player,' lie was cast by Associate Producer Lew Brown, • famed Broadway composer arid producer, to sing the 'opening number1 of the "'Sox. Foljies." Long-term contracts also- rewarded' Frank Melton,- the Happy-go-lucky Alabama . youngster-w-ho-has-appeared-in small- parts with Will Rogers; and Janet Gaynor;' Shirley Temple,-;the-four-year-old; Calif ornian baby; Sylvan;Froos, the, radio singer; and the team"; of '■ Fjank Mitchell t arid Jack '•■ Durant.' ; -''~;■ ■• v • "Advice to" the' Lovelorn." The newspaper reporter • is-the most fascinating! figure " in modern ' American life, according to, Lee Tracy. He is playing , his -sixth . reporter ■ role •on the screen ;as star of "Advice to'the lovelorn," produced by Twentieth Century Pictures, released by United' Artists. In "Advice to the Lovelorn" -he.' is■ supported' by Sally ' Blanc/Isabel Jewel, Paul Harvey, Judith Wood; and-May ; Boley.p Al.Werker directed 'this picture'from • Leonard Praskin's story. Growth of1 Repertory. The growth of repertory in England has called into existence the-. National Association "of,- Repertory.' Theatres, and the recent conference at Croydon was an event of some • importance. . Representatives from the chief-centres.met to-frame -a- constitution- for-the- association.- Delegates w;_ere present from Birmingham, the Embassy,..-Sheffield,V Bristol; .Hull,, .and most of. the ■ other ■■• community playhouses. - Liverpool -.celebrated its - 21st • anniversary last".year. .The Embassy (the most' successful' of '"'all" the" repertory theatres). celebrated- its-first -anniversary during Easter'week by the production of "As You. Were," a, comedy- by Peter Garland. ■ In, the last,year, four plays- have been brought from" Swiss Cottage to • the West. End, :two. of, which, according to 6. W. Bishop, in the, "Daily Telegraph," "Ten Minute Alibi'"at the Haymarket and "All Qod's r.CJiillun" at; the, .Piccadilly, were still running. The Embassy has a membership of 2175,' arid-a "big, drive is commencing'tof'bring the total'to 3000. First Word." . ~. Baby Le .Roy, (Hollywood's youngest star, spoke his first word during the':-filming of Parampunt's "Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen,"- in which' heis1 playing-with Dorothea Wieck. Baby>Le-Roy said "Mama" when Miss Wieck made' her. entrance, in a scene where lie was supposed to be perfectly quiet.- Cameras and sound ; devices caught it distinctly,, and the.ruined scene is to be placed '• in the"• files at the Paramount Studios library> with a special print made for Baby'Le-Roy himself. "Palooka." Jimmie. Durarite's famous nose saved him from arrest as a barik' robber suspect during the -filming of-his latest comedy, "Palooka," for i United , Artists; in' which Lupe Velezt, Stuart Erwin,<; and' other stellar personalities-share acting honours. Jimmie and Erwin were returning from , location w;hen 'motor-cycle .police, with , sirens screaming, :'■ s-wobped down upon , .their car| with-drawn revolvers. A., bank ; had been robbed an .hour, before','arid the i .bandits.escaped "iri a stolen automobile of the i same;, make and .'model1 that' the' two ; actors were-riding, in.. Tbe v police' took one look,at.Durante,.recognised him, and explained,- "Okay,'ydu'renot'';the-rbbbers; we'd_know.:that..£chnozz;lcianyjyhere." . ■

"Roman Scandals." ' • '■Roman Scandals," Eddie Cantor's fourth annual screen mu6ical' comedy for Samuel Goldwyn, is to enter a second week at the Kegeut Theatre. Ruth Etting, Gloria Stuart, J?avid Manners, Edward Arnold, Vcree Teasdale, and this year's crop of'Goldwyu girls are.all to be seen in the newest Cantor carnival of fun. George Kauffman and Robert •• Sherwood wrote "Roman Scandals" as a successor to Eddie's "The Kid' From Spain" of last year. Eddie will be seen as a wistful, browbeaten lad from West Koine, Oklahoma, who finds himself in the Rome of the Caesars and involved in breath-taking adventures among the beautiful slave girls, the thundering chariots and the conspiracies of the imperial court. The good people back in West Rome are a little uncertain about ' Eddie, :as 'he. trundles along his grocery wagon, talking familiarly with his clumping nagj Julia. Most of them consider him a little' looney in a harmless way. Not only does he;"talk to his horse, .but he gives his groceries away to anyone who eeenis hungry. And then, too, he spends hours day-dreaming in the town's museum among the statues of the heroes of classic antiquity. This latter pursuit so completely takes ' hold of his imagination that he is carried back to ancient Rome, where he becomes involved in a ■ plot to rescue the beautiful captive Princess ' Sylvia • from - the lustful clutches of,the Emperor. After a series of mad misadventures he is finally made food-taster in the Imperial household and becomes a court favourite—especially with 'he voluptuous Empress, who entangles lim iii a plot to poison her wicked conort.. From that moment adyentures are nany. ■ 3rieg and ■ Grainger. Percy. Grainger; the world-famous Ausralian pianist and composer, who will ommence his season at the Town Hall, ilelbourne, on. April 14, under the nanagement of J. and N. Tait, was born t Brighton, a suburb of Melbourne. He eceived his. first instruction from his nother, a fine musician,. and at the age if ten appeared in.public as a pianist. He Iso had lessons from Louis Pabst, and rqm 1894 to 1900 was a.pupil of J. Kwast pianoforte) in Frankfort, and a little ater studied with Busonil His career as , pianist began in London in ~ 1900, where Le created a sensation. He then toured Jreat Britain, • Australia,1 New Zealand, nd South Africa, . meeting ' everywhere vith most enthusiastic receptions. Reurning to London in 1906,.he met Grieg, i-ho was so impressed with the young rtist's playing that he invited' him to his ilia, Troldhaugen. -Here-they spent the ummer of 1907 preparing • for the Leeds Testival in the Autumn, when Grainger v-as to have played Grieg's pianoforte oncerto with the master, himself as conluctor. Death, however, frustrated the )lan, for Grieg died. ■ Nevertheless, Jrainger did play-the concerto,1 and-gave such a masterly-interpretation that.ever since he has been identified, in a special manner with that work In Miami. . .".. - With the scenario of "The Love Life of a Crooner" uncompleted, • production has been postponed for the time being. When it is eventually made, Euss Columbo and June Knight will star ija it^ For the time being the team has been broken; up. Russ Columbo will star in "The Bachelor Wife/ a play by Henry- Segal], which Eddie Buzzell will probably direct, and June Knight has been booked for a stellar engagement at Miami Beach and Tennis Club, Miami, Florida. At this resort she will be the guest star for two weeks. Piano. ' ' In the opening scene" of "The Cat and the Fiddle," Ramon Novarro -Is called upon to play the piano. William K. Howard intended filming.the scene.silently, with the music being recorded later. But Novarro, who taught piano playing for years, soon convinced the director'this was unnecessary and played the number himself." It is the first time in his long career that the film star has used this talent in his screen work. ' ' • All-Star Cast. . _ Planned for an all-star, cast possibly to include Cary Grant, Miriam • Hopkins, George Raft, and Claudette Colbert, although such names are tentative suggestions, Paramount has .purchased "In Conference,".' an original story by Vera Caspary. .;.:.. ■ : .

Van Dyke. ,- ;. [^::: ; S.f ''*"-.-"'■;:- ---. 'W. S: VaniDyke-wiUldirVcfc-iletfo^Gbld-. v'Tn-Mayei -'a • film - version ': of; "The ■'• Thib ' Man; Dashiell Hammett's -mystery vstoi-y,: which has been'on ibesfcseller -lists.ever since publication.-,,2SJio>annouhceinent has been made as yet.asto.the-cast-of "The Thin Man." '"" .- ::.*"- - — h "'."' '.'C.T' '.- ' :"' : ."Brisspn Comes. '',■[■.. [.". >?•■'"':.'.'..■•:'!.-Ji r Eed'caps at; the';Lds -Angeles -.Station were astonished when, Carlr Bruisbn, 'Danish screen and . stage •-favourite,.; arrived from London,to statt a^Hollywood'{career," under contract -to . Paramaunt:- Brissbn' brought eighteen trunks,-twenty-sis' piecesof hand ■ luggage^-ands-his racing -automobile. His first picture ivillbe-.^Slurder at the Vanities," for which-.Paramouht'is importing from New Ym-k-Earli Carroll and - eleven of. Carroll's, most' beautiful .Vanities girls. '' ' . ■■';. •■■•• "; v ••- • . . Christchurch Girl in 1 Opera. f.v/ '• ' Humperdinck's ■enchantihg opera^s "Hansel and Gretel," is one of. the Christmas programme attractions presented alternately at Sadlers Wells and .the. Old yic ■ Theatres, both of "which "are .under .the management of Miss Lilian Baylisa. The particular New Zealand? interest'consists > m the selection of Miss Me^le' Lliller (Chnstclmrcli). to play th& part of Ger--trude, the mother, states "The Post's 1'London representative; ■".' .' " .";•'- :.; ; The entire cast is admirable, the child-v reii being, played by ;Kose--Morris-and Olive Dyer, both of whom are accomplished singers possessing exquisite''voices, and both of whom look and, act1 the ;parts very prettily. Miss Miller arid "Mr.r Percy Hemmg (the father): do very-.well. One of the critics says ;that Miss Miller "will learn to make more telling use 'of her good VOlCe." - ■-....; •:•. ■■.-,.. i. ■■■ ■/■ . ■•- . ' An unusual-feature: in: this is the introduction.of a.man'to play-the part of the Witch.. Mr>. Geoffrey. Tbye's conducting of the > enchanting' > music always well appreciated.' '< '. .:-.,_ ■• : Miss Miller's -friends wiHv.be esjiiecially, glad to learn; of her; progress-withUhe Old Vic-Sadlers Wells ' maiiiagement,: under, whom also she has;beeri-appearing;in:a small part ■in /'The 'Magic.lFhite/' .. ■' -

"General John Regain" ' : '"• .'^ t- ':.']: '7 ; Those: who have had ■:thte:iiri^l&e^ of seeing..British DominionsJ.&hns'* "motion '. picture reprbductioWof. .the"widely-read book, : General <J6hn: Regan;?; are'tjoudly singing its-praises.;'- They-fcro'clainiit to : be-the . greatest' .'lrish;'!; coni^y?'->-It abounds in racy, dialogue and- real1 -Jrisu, humour.:than -which .there is'.-'no.neivfiner when it is true to^life.:-.VT-he 'characters are - life-like—they, seeni;. tbVlive v^n »the screen while the: .scenic: :backgrpund<-,is beautiful-in the extreme. -:t ][tiis.-claimed to be equal to anytliingsevergwotteni by the doyen of all -Irish.: playwriglits^the late Dion Boucicault.tljeeJderj .-father! ibf : the, actor of the same naihe whVis'so/well remembered in- Jien- Zealand.* ':■'"£ : ■'-■-; .'"Glamour." ' • ■'. !':.!' •• • - 'i ■■.*.;£ ; v Having acquitted -liei'self so Veil Mn.a singing role in "I Like It-.That'-'.vWa*;" Gloria Stuart has deeided-tojnake: another musical. . "I/Like It,That?Way".'featured her with Roger Pryor in ;Stonley.;:Bergei> .ruan's second picture fqr UhiveriaJl.'. Miss Stuart had-promised', 'herself- .a .sripV.fo Shanghai as a vacation. ; She .cancelled'tlie .trip, however, when B. T.: Zeiflmaiii-asked ;her to play the- lead iriva i«usical:.ve'rsTon of Edna Ferber's'.story;l^'Gtlaniour,'^'f6t .which. L. G. Bloclimani is writing tfle screen-play. . No ' one at Universal ' City knew that ; Hiss Stuart:had>'a;:remarkabfe Ringing voice until she^volunteered to sing ;a song. in."The Secret of.!the.'Bluelß6pfli." Even that was' done so! unokteptatioiisly that people thought the voice Jbgloiiged to someone else: "I like It jjiat •Way": proved how genuine is-the^musical of this blonde; a'cteess. .She seems :to!beset for musicals as-long- 'as-they ;last. •■ • ~,''' ' *.' ■ Speaking Backwards.'; ' '.' 1 ..,;'-. : ■ .• . "Aidepolcycne, acinuatirb!" . -No, this is not a new type of,pa'rrot;;dise?'se. It's :just. a-couple, of words" that :Charlotte . Henry as "Alice" _in. Paramourit's] "Alice in Wonderland/ had tc^say. '\^ien Alice crawled through, the looking-glassVinto the , land, where- everything's reflected, and , consequently backwards^- even'vthe titles s of the. books are - reversed. Aiid''"aidepol- ; eyene acinnatirb,".when put-intofnormal , order, is ;nothing more^pr" lessjithan/'Eiicy.■clopediarßritannica." ",. -'..'.•, '.