STAGE AND SCREEN

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1935, Page 18

STAGE AND SCREEN

"The Painted Veil." "The Painted Veil," Greta Garbo's new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture which commences screening in Wellington shortly, brings the glamorous Swedish star back to the screen in the twentieth starring production since her arrival in America less than ten years ago. Garbo returns once • more to the fold of modern women in her characterisations, 'and comes through with the most gripping dramatic performance of her career. "The Painted Veil," an adaptation of Somerset Maugham's domestic drama of martial discord in the seething centre of China's plague-ravished regions, tells the story of a modern woman married to a medical scientist who thinks first of his work before tninking of his life. Aa Drl Fane, the husband of Garbo, Herbert Marshall contributes possibly the finest performance of his career, one that gives him opportunity to escape from his earlier roles of "the suave gentleman." As Townsend, George Brent also seems to have found a way of escape from previous typed :roles, for critics have acclaimed this; aa the strongest role of his career. Richard • Boleslawski, remembered for his direction of "Men in White" and "Operator^ 13," directed Garbo's new picture, an assignment that elevates him a notch higher: among the ranks of the screen's best directors. ■ "Lest We Forget." -Unfortunately productions widely heralded in advance do not always live up to the glowing claims made for them, but in the present instance, a preview by a distinguished Wellington audience more than Confirmed.. expectations. Many glowing tributes to the. beauty of the story and the sincerity of its performance have been received, the consensus of opinion being that-■■'' Lest We Forget" constitutes "a perfect example of British artistry." The portraits >of the Englishman, Scotsman/ Irishman, and Welshman presented by Stewart Rome, George Carney, Esmond Knight, and Roddy. Highea are classics, while Anne Yates as Sylvia invests her role with a charm and'delicacy that captivate. John Baxter, the brilliant producer of. "Song of the Plough," that classic of rural England, is also responsible for "Lest We- Forget," and har definitely succeeded in producing in these two films artistic landmarks in British production," '-7. :] "The Man Who-Reclaimed His Head." What: an unusual title for a motion picture, and what an unusual story too! An unusual star plays the leading charac-ters-Claude ißains^ of - "Invisible Man" fame...;lnvthe latter you heard-only his* voice and did not ccc his face. In "The Man Who Reclaimed his Head" you will see the man himself and.be enthralled by his acting. This Universal.drama was turned,; around a theme that is front-page news today. It is a;, story - that gives the inside information of the'armaments packet. Everything that , was Brought out in the recent American munitions investigation : and in Senator Nye'e Munitions Investigating Committee and the : World Court armament discussions at Geneva^ are^woven into the plot of "The Man .Who Reclaimed his. Head.?': In addition, there, are other, sidelights on the corruption and scheming.that go on behind the false front put,up.by the armament millionaires never' before revealed, which the film will, disclose for the first time. Because of }he legislative disclos- i urea about this subject, which- touches, ■ the very life of every adult and youth 1 today, there is a world-wide interest wait- ■ ing. for the showing ,of pictures such as i "The Man. Who Reclaimed his Head." Joan Bennett is/the wife in the story, ■ who brought'the-man'she loved to the brink of doom. Lionel AtwilV Baby Jane, Henry_ Armetta; und' others ■ are in the cast of this topical, thrilling photoplay. Steffi Dnna.' : / " /: -fi ':' :: v- :-;;;:-'- * >;*: Something new in screen.: personalities captured audiences .when Steffi Duna' dis-' played herjjay, impetuous allure in "Man of Two Worlds," and . later ■in "La Cucaracha." Now'her talents enjoy a wider, range in "Red Morning," RKOKadios ■.unusual drama of adventure in British New Guinea. Steffi was a •dancer' from, early childhood. She toured all of '■ Europe,.dancing for the films -in Berlin,acting y in fonder Bar," in which Francis Lederer scored,a sensational Berlin success, and playing, the lead in the London presentation of Noel Coward's "Words and M vs-Cv The. British motion pictures then' •oheited. her services, after which she utl 4° Ne7.Y° rk'> Way the lead in The Beggar's Opera." In Hollywood,'in competition with numerous other actresses, Miss Duna; won the ' role of ■&5 ,?*,? Eakinio -wife in. "Man of Two Worlds." She proved the' ideal girl for the part. Miss Duna is, five feet two; weighs 110 pounds, and has black hair and vivid dark eyes. ;' ■ • Willard,Mack, iPlaywrlght. The death occurred recently at Los Angeles ;of iWillard. Mack, actor and play-' wright, and a very interesting personality. He was 66 years., old. He had been married four times, and his -wives were, all beauties and women who distinguished themselves on the stage. The first .-was Maude Leone,\who played with Mack in vaudeville, and .who died; in 1930 She divorced the' actor,-who then married Marjorie Rambeau..' They: were" happy for a time, but finally "separated,'. with" Mack taking Pauline Frederick as his third wife. That marriage lasted some years,.but finally went on the rocks, leaving him free to 'marry Beatrice Banyard. This lady stuck by the actor and was at his side, when death came. His real name was Charles W. McLaughlin. He was born in Canada. He began writing ' short plays for : himself to act in ' vaudeville, and from; one of these grew his first melodrama, "Kick In," produced in New York in 1914, with John Barrymore as Chick Hewes. This, play was lan immediate success. . Richard Bennett played Chick in Chicago and on the road. Mack must have written fifty plays ' together, several of them conspicuous successes. He.; wrote "Tiger, Rqse.'V which David Belasco produced with Lenore Ulric as.its star, .and with Mack in the cast as leading man, and "Blind Youth," on which' he collaborated with Lou Tellegen, who came to so fearful an end nqt long before Mr. M«ck's death. Tellegen played in it for1 several seasons as a full-length' play, and then in vaudeville as a sketch. Mac West "■■" ' '..' ''^rMac West chose Roger Pryor aa her leading man, in :her Paramount film, of 'the Nineties," because, she likes new. men," because he is an accomplished;:actoiV and because he is a definite screen •'Personality. Just what- kind : of; men; attract' Mac has been Hollywood's puzzle; since 'Pryor was • chosen by her fortheinale lead in'-Paramount's '^Belle of ■'the '• Nineties.": "There is no secret a;bout it," 'the star finally explained be-, tween scenes of her "Gay Nineties" vehicle.' "I like new men—l want to be the-first .to try them out. I don't want to play opposite men whom you see every time'you. enter a theatre. And I want; men. with sex, appeal. Mr. Pryor haaplenty of it." Pryor, a native of New York and son of Arthur Pryor, leading American composer and band master, em-; barked on his stage career fourteen years ago. He has been in Hollywood less than a year, playing only three picture roles before Mac picked' him for Paramount'a "Belle of the Nineties." "We Live Again." - In its writing and in itg technical-pro-duction, "We Live Again" offers as much that is new and provocative aa the great novel on which it is based did to the world forty years ago. Rouben Mamoulian, who directed the film, believes that the real story of "Resurrection", has never been told in'films. The riot, protest, and rebellion of Tolstoi had never found its way to the screen. Picture-goers had never seen the bright colour, the vivid pagentry, of its religion, the superb grandeur of the Russian countryside, the greynesa and the horror of Tolstoi's prison camps, nor had they eve* seen the paradise of mind and spirit and body to which he directed his weary wanderers., And that, for the first time, is what Mamoulian tried to. bring to the screen. ?'We Live Again," which will be released by United Artists, stars Anna ' Stehj while Fredric March plays the.part'of-Prince"Dmitri;;;

Kettl Gallian. Through success in her first American picture, "Marie Galante," Ketti Gallian is to be given-bigger and better, roles, according to a recent announcement by Fox Film Studio. The exotic French actress is to play opposite Warner Baxter in " Thunder in. the Night," • which -Erich' Pommer will _ produce, going into production shortly. Miss Gallian was signed, in London a year ago" j by Winfield Sheehan while she was playing a stage role in "The Ace" as the ideal actress for- the name part in "Marie Galante." Novel. Edward Small, production head of Reliance Pictures, announces the purchase ■ of ihe rights to a new novel, "The Melody Lingers On," by Lowel Brentano. Sam Wood has been signed to direct it. Another story on'the Raliance schedule is "Beau Brummell."

. Mystery. ' . . mvste^Sovl? Wl^ °Pera, f H?use/' «ew TL, vX I °velby, Q»eena Mario; has been m££SedaSLpißi?re' by Mayer. The author, a, pnma donna of &oTm?rSne^=rMwlZf tUn

Theatre. « Bec^ sharp „ Frances Dee has won a role in the allstar cast of "Becky Sharp 7? the RKORadio release starring Miriam Hopkins. BiUie Burke, Elsie Ferguson, and Alan

Anna Sten. '^Broken Soil," co-starring Anna Sten and Gary Cooper, has gone into production. Ralph Bellamy and Helen Vinson have important supporting roles. King Vidor is directing from a script by Paul Green and Edwin Knopf.

pred Astaire. - ■ Turning down all stage offers comine to him from Broadway and London Fred Astaire, RKO-Radio star, announces that he will stick to his film work for a year and then enjoy a .well-earned vacation which he plans to spend abfoad

Repertory Theatre. The cast for the Wellington Repertory Theatre Society^ production of " The Laughing^ Woman," Gordon Daviot's biographical play in three acts and eight scenes, to be presented in the Concert Chamber next month, will include Mesdames Warren Hicks, ■ G.-'C. Boyes, Vera Horton, John Hastings,. Lulu Tingey, the Misses N. F. A. 'Hammond, Ruth Sherman, Eve 1y n Johnson, Girleen Griffiths, Coralie Smythson, Annette StricKland, Irene Spidy, Pauline Shofclander, Phyllis Batten, Lily Silverstone, '. and Betty Tait, and' .-Messrs. R. C. Mor-' p'ctb.'-Br-W. L. Bui- , lot, G. M. Williams, E. S. Harrowell, G. 11. A. Swan, T. V. ' Ansou.'G. R. Powles, V. G. Rhind. G. O. i Cooper, Carl Watson, i and Dr. S. E. Craw- : ford. The Misses ] Ailsa Newton and " Kathlyn Smith . are i in. charge of. the pro- ] perties, and Miss i Pauline Shotlander is i designing the frocks. ,

"Queen of the Nile." The story o£ the life and loves oi Egypt's most famous Queen, "Cleopatra," is probably the most, romantic theme ever to be printed on the pages of history or fiction. Hundreds of. thousands of words have been written on this subject, and now Paramount has produced one of the greatest motion pictures in' years dealintr with this colourful figure in the world's history. Made at the; Paramount studios in. Hollywood, with Claudette Colbert play, ing the role of Cleopatra, Warren, William as Julius Caesar, and Henry Wiicoxon as Mare Antony, the picture is the outcome of months of extensive planning by the famous director, Cecil B. De Mille It is estimated that more than 5000 people were employed during the production. It is a story of the heart-touching romance of Cleopatra^and Mare Antony, the most' gallant of all Romans. Set- against a background of. unparalleled splendour, with Rome and Egypt shown. in . all - their beauty and power, the world's greatest love story is unfolded. The film boasts a splendid supporting cast, including lan Keith, Joseph Schildkraut, C. Aubrey Smith, Gertrude Michael, Irving Pichel, Claudia Dell, and Harry Beresford. Behind the Scenes. T More than 140 artists appear in the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., production of the spectacular musical play "White Horse Inn in Australia, arid behind the scenes, almost a "city in"-itself," isa hive of industry. Reading, knitting, fancy work, and other pastimes are indulged in, and one member of the ballet has made some charming frocks for herself between the waits. As for the men, they mostly sit in their, dressing-rooms and. talk—but not about ' theatrical matters. ■ "Shop" is barred! Jack Kellaway, another member of the versatile and numerous theatrical family of Kellaways, who is the amusing Sigismund in "White . Horse' Inn," has appeared in most countries of the world except the United States, which, by the way, he will visit on the completion of his Australian tour. It'was while he was appearing in the London production' of "Casanova": at: the Coliseum that he was engaged to pay. a further visit to Australia. Prior to appearing in "Casanova" Jack Kellaway and his partner, Sylvia, toured with their comedy act all over England, Ireland, Scotland, ■ and Wales; 1 then followed engagements in the capital cities of Belgium, France/. Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and South Africa.. With. Sir;-. Harry Lauder in 1924, Jack Kellaway toured through India, • China, Japan,'the Philippine Islands; and then on to Australia and; New' Zealand. Certainly'a much-travelled artist, who has many interesting to recall of his many journeyings. ;■ "British Agent." .;• C- ; v First National's most important 'picture of the new season, "British? -Agent,"'in which Kay Francis and Leslie Howard are co-starred, was suggested as,a:screen'play by R. H. Bruce Lockhart's autobiographical narrative, of his adventures in-Russia as a representative of Great-Britain.. The action of-the story is laid: in the exciting days precedent to and'following the Russian Revolution of 1917, which forms the background.for the love story; enacted by Miss' Francis, and Howard;V jlh'e? ■ First National studios gave "British Agent" a cast of twenty principals, which includes William' Gargan; Phillip, Reed,- Irving Pichel, ilvan- Simpson,":. Walter.-Byron, Marianna; Schubert, <J.>. Carroll jNaish,Halliwell Hobbes, and many others. Hundreds, of. extras were, used-in; t£e, filming' of "British Agent's" numerous-scenes: of London, Moscow, and Petrpgrad.,.' Fortyone different sete,. varying from one room "plottingheadquarters," 'to; whole pieiea of Petfograd, were constructJedfor'the pic-'-Iture^ ■;/»;■;■;, ;■-;';-/ :[','. .-■'■, ':-';> -y^'--. ' v •':>. Chiheso^New y«K;.';;■• ;: \:-:';;';:-'. ;-\\- A director had his whiskers singed, a, Chinese merchant lost-- his hearing temporarily, and nearly £200 worth, of fireworks went up in 'smoke as Hollywood recently staged a lavish . Chinese.: New ■ Year celebration.. Alexander Hall, directirig "Limehouse Blues," at-Pararnburit's Hollywood Studio, nursed a bruised-cheek as the result ■of • a-"cannon "cracker" ex-; ploding near him.- Preparations for'the celebrations-one which .halted work else- - where in\-the during the climax of the fireworks and '-noise-making—found ■ Hall and Tom Gubbiris, i -..".tsar" of Los Angeles Chinatown, -technical director on the picture,-among, extras;.;,and "props" ' which depicted.aTealistic New Year celebration- -in- ■London's ':• famous! Chinese colony, Limehouse. George : Raft,: Jean: Parker, Anna May Wong, Billy Bevan,'and Montague Love,. stars of the .picture, shouldered - about ; in the extra ranks, dodging firecrackers, and, participating in the celebration, as'part of the action'in Paramouat's "Limehouse Blues."' y \*' "The Good Fairy." ....-.;• • ' ' ■The_ theatre^ inspired oMargaret :Suilavan with a desire to'amount to something on her own: initiative. .The theatre r induced her to run away, from home twice to go on the stage. It was the theatre that made Margaret Sullivan.' a worldrwide figure of joy.'and interest to millions of people. In' "The Good .Fairy," in which Margaret Sullavan is starred with Herbert •Marshall, the character.-; that she plays, Lv, was ■ inspired by looking at romantic and heroic; motion pictures to become "The Good Fairy.Yv- You see, Lv is a theatre usherettes Her. outlook;on. life.iis .- very much circumscribed; -but the screen opens to her,a world: of ; opportunity.■& do. good deeds.. .While the flicker romance is on the icreeri. a "determination to help other's grows'in Liis Tiearf "until"; she is inspired to. do -the tnost amazing and unconventionel things' for' the- good; of; others and without; any, thought- of the position in which' she-might -be placed, i - . . fFlnest Hamlet of ■ OurJ'Tinio."■■;■' /. London dramatic critics are acclaiming as_a, theatrical star of .the first magnitude the young actor and producer, John Gielgud,-who for>ome time has been producing Shakespearean plays' and- playing the leading roles. Recently-Mr. Gielgud appeared as .Hamlet at the* New Theatre, and his performance" excited'profound ad-, miration. "The; Times".in a calm, analytical review of the. play, .states that, in, Mr. .Gielgud'e interpretation everything was as.decisive l as the line in a pencil drawing of a great master. ■ "It is cold tribute to an actor," the, commentary runs,.-' "to cay that his.Hamlet in the. theatre gives pleasure of the same -quality arid measure as a private reading of the: play. It should not be, for in a man's library is given his ideal performance,. free' of physical impediment; and ■. Mr. • Gielgud's -playing is, for one spectator at least, this performance's ; precise equivalent; To others it may. well seem, too little spectacular, too curbed in its emotional display; but, indeed, Hamlet is not a flaunting par^ though it is often bo treated;; it ,ia: not designed' to provoke hot tears arid shouting but to penetrate the soul by way of the. intellect, and the first merit of Mr. Gielgud's interpretation is that it does not throw -up passionate mists with which to conceal comusions."-: The "Daily Tele^ graph's" critic .says that those who witnessed the performance saw: theatrical history made. "John Gielgud," he proceeds, "has played Hamlet in the West End be-. forej and played it 'brilliantly; but since that time; he: has grown; both in artistic stature and in consequence. Now he establishes himself as the first Hamlet of our time,- and T make bold further to state my conviction that there-can have been . few to equal' him in the .whole .long history of. :the English stage. - He has youth, he has a romantic presence, he has brains, he has _a beautiful voice and the ability to use it beautifully in the speaking of verse. He .has 'the melancholy 'and the philosophic quality of Hamlet and—most fortunate of all—the' ability; to' suggest the man of action that Hamlet was before the play begins." - Veteran Critic Passes. Philip Hale, one.of America's best music critics, recently. died in Boston at the age of 80. Although he/had lately retired, he was for many years. music reviewer attached to .the staff of the "Boston^ Herald." His' programme notes for the Boston Symphony are classics of lucid scholarship, writes an American corresPOSteßt* _ . ; -.-, .;"' :i-