STAGE AND SCREEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 32, 6 August 1936, Page 21

STAGE AND SCREEN

..Rich in stage and screen tradition i the role of "Cigarette," in which Claud etfe Colbert elected to make her de fhathadth!»Un? rdrwWingv;tO^m'VrOie screen adth^etofore brought her to th fonhMiraJJ^ m 9 r Pfvf . for. wm= ffitr-'l SS? lbert ( >,pU' asld to*J^m*t>£r l*Z d ST°° th ml nn" reckwT ™li ish costume and wild AJ^t „• i v ™S% Of an "^discipline nSil f t for ,decaA? be! n th o>3ective. of actresses'ambitions to pre W^H^«l "dramatic performance s«^f«f-™W«?K?r£ Ulck * »?t-a.PP re"at $«!»5v» P *wi tes °f'Under Tw SfSlrl amOUS story °I dcsf r rolnaß?e..aPfiea.E Ed undc if ?4W £& J? °/ Ou, lda- Ever sine &£?« £ P ¥^ onxTthe-siafil- of, th &«* rw£*?£ V' ■ln 1 ;-1^Prw.ich, England SS»?^w? '■■ K?n? c ha.s been:a favourit f*l?™ a^ c _ v?hicle. Jt^wasan 1916 tha Under/Two Flags' first came to th screen.; r : : ' ■•.-..

s .~- ' - As a result of her work-in' "Captain - Blood," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," S and; the Just-completed "Anthony Ade . verse," in which she has the important h role of Angela, Olivia de Havilland, c who was unknown to moviegoers a s year ago, is the proud possessor of a , new contract voluntarily tendered her d by her boss, Jack L. Warner, vicee President in charge of production at - the Warner ; Bros studios. Miss de . Havilland is nineteen years =' old now c and got her big chance last year when o she played the role of Hermia in Max t Reinhardfs ;Hollywood Bowl producr tion ol "A Midsummer Night's tfream." c she became associated wftb t) rt F«vl F enterprise as understudy, to -t.be wuite- , .study, .finally getting the part when c both the regular, player-and the undert, study withdrew "from'the'cast.' Then c she playedthe same role in < the film made from Shakespeare's comedy.

RUSSIAN BALLET AND

"THE KING STEPS OUT."

STORMY STAR.

AMERICA'S IDOL FOR NEW ZEALAND.

"UNDER TWO FLAGS."

WITHOUT ASKING,

"DANCING PHtATES."

DIETRICH—COOPER.

CHEAP,

"RANGLE RIVER."

"UNCIVILISED."

CHILD STAR.

AQUATIC.

RICHARD DIX.

"THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS."

A MURDER THRILLER.

"HUMAN'CARGO>

"ONE-WOMAN" SHOW.

OUTSPOKEN CRITIC

"CRA!>H DONOVAN."

"MOUNTAIN JUSTICE."

\ CHARLIE GHAN.

TYRONE GUTHRIE RETURNS,

"JULIUS CAESAR."

CARY GRANT.

GIVES HER AN IDEA.

HISMON™ - t

"MAKE-UP MAGIC."

ORCHESTRA,

The most ambitious enterprise of Messrs. J. C. Williamson for Australia ■is the engagement for October of the Russian Ballet—De Basil's Ballets de Monte Carlo—a company of 24 ballerinas and 16 male dancers, who were taken over by Rene Blum, of the Monte Carlo Theatre, after the death of Serge Diaghileff in 1929. The reperi?- rS of 24 ballets includes some of Michel Fokin's creations. The principals include Helen Kirsova, Nina Tarakanova, Marie Ruanova, Nina Rajevska, Balanchine Nipinska, Leon Wonizikowsky, Paul Petroff, Igor Yousskevitch. and M. Yazinsky. The conductor is Henri Morin, from the Opera Comique, Paris, and he will be provided with a symphony orchestra of 30 to 33 players. The production is bigger than that of Pavlova, who had an orchestra of 28.

Five years ago Marlene Dietrich and Oary Cooper won the approval of every picture : goer for their brilliant performance in "Morocco." For the first time since that memorable production, they have been teamed once again by Paramount in "Desire," and critics, the world over, are saying- "At last Marlene Dietrich has been given an opportunity to display her talents." For Gary Cooper, too, similar claims &5»,8>»6e. Hitherto, most Marlene Dietrlcn-Paramount pictures have been directed by Josef yon Sternberg. and it seems that the: change to Frank Borzago has made a difference. Borzago will be well remembered for his production of "Seventh Heaven" and "A Farewell to Arms." In the case of Desire." he has collaborated with the masterful Ernst Lubitsch. general manager of Paramount productions. The stars are supported by the equally brilliant John Halliday with William Frawley, Ernest Cossart, and Alan Mowbray, all of whom give excellent performances. "Desire" is rated by the critics as one of the most entertaining productions of the year. It is to be simultaneously released at the Regent Theatres, Auckland and Wellington tomorrow.

Anti-social persons often devise ingenious schemes to circumscribe the law. A scheme of this nature motivates RKO Radio's tense film drama, "Special Investigator," starring Richard Dix, shortly to be released. It is a grim and stirring story of a man whose unethical legal practice backfires on him, causing him to join the Government secret service, and track down the gangster who killed his brother. The film is an ideal vehicle for Dix, who, first seen as a suave big city attorney, suddenly, is transplanted to a frontier atmosphere, and there matches with dangerous gangsters. Margaret Callahan, who plays the part of the gang leader's sister, supplies the romantic interest. Dix and Miss Callahan are teamed together for the first time. ' .

Two five-cent balloons caused director Josef yon Sternberg more anxiety than any other more expensive property used in the filming of Columbia's, new Grace Moore picture, "The King Steps Out." In the colourful carnival scenes, more than 200 principals and extras carry gas-filled balloons. Miss Moore carries two of the largest as she makes the rounds of the amusements with Franchot Tone, who is seen as the. gay Emperor Francis Josef of Austria. During the shooting of these scenes, the balloons were filed with helium gas instead 'of the usual mixture of hydrogen and air, in order to avoid the danger of fire or explosion under the burning glare of the kleig lights. As the scene progressed the supply of helium diminished, until, with two days more of shooting, only the two balloons in Miss Moore's possession remain filled, and the nearest supply of the precious gas was in Kansas City, Missouri. Every evening after the day's work was finished, the balloons were placed in the care of Charles Granucci, head property man.

Shooting has now commenced on the Columbia picture "Rangle River," at National studios, Pagewood, Sydney, in which the American actor, Victor Jpry plays the lead. Twenty-three-year-old Margaret Dare, a Sydney girl, has been selected by director Clarence Badger, from hundreds of applicants, to play the leading female role. Mr. Badger considers that in Miss Dare he has a real "find." Miss Dare, who is a very attractive blonde, is naturally very elated at the thought of making a picture with an American' star. Georgina Sterling, the New Zealand girl, has been allotted the second temale lead in the production.

Just how celebrated is the name of Jack Holt can be estimated from the prominence given to this star in the Disney cartoon recently released, entitled "Mickey's Polo Team." Holt's latest appearance is as the star of "Crash Donovan," a Universal picture dealing with the highway patrol system in America. In this picture Jack Holt plays the part of a trick rider in jrcarnival who is persuaded to join the highways patrol. The climax of the. story is reached when he and his Partn«\have a running- battle with a band of fleeing smugglers. This film was produced with the co-operation of the California Highways Patrol, many of whose members take part in the action. Chief supporting players are John King and Nan Gray.

David O. Selznick, president of Selznick International, ■ announced recently that he will produce Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," starring Ronald Colman in the role of Brutus. Plans are being laid to make this one of the most, ambitious productions in film history enlisting a number of the screen's most prominent stars for the important roles of Caesar, Mark Antony, Cassius, and Calpurnia. No decision has been reached as to who will direct "Julius Caesar." Nor has it been decided • whether it will t>e made in Technicolour Aecnmcolour. Jean Harlow learned to operate a dictaphone for her role as the slcrPtarv in "Wife Versus Secreterv" A every opportunity^ she pract&d'on the rna^ chine by dictating replies to fan inaU = in n?he^ut^ —d

Of a?TT h S/ ■ r i c llgnt comedies produced m^Lond°n:in l recent-years, the m6st successful is "Lover's Leap," the bril liant comedy by Phillip Johnson, which -i°i K bi Pl;?. duced on August 13, 14, k-nnwn t n Hhe Tl"?spians. The wellsffid^t "d°^, «'hc'James Agate, de- ™,? )l as the wittiest comedy in town. The Evening News" critic's remark, "see Lover's-Leapl and laugh," became a catch phrase during the plays lengthy run. The strongest cas the society could assemble is engaged in the production, and settings will be turL"> this as in all Thespian shows. Those taking part in the pro- &'« Ma, rJ°rie.Murray. Sinclair Bieen, Myles F. E. '..right, T. V.-An-son and Selwyn Toogood. The play is being produced by Victor S. Lloyd, whose work as producer and actor is well-known to theatre-goers and radio w££?rSnhhei c asfi stant Producer is i^ ?n thoi, & *st! ge "^anas6"l6^ in,. the hands of Evan Harrowell. and the property mistresses are. Isabel Burton and Peggy Lucas.

Margaret Sullavan is cast appropriately enough, in the role of a screen star in Paramount's "The Moon's Our Home, which features Henry Fonda, Henrietta Crosman, Charles Butterworth, and Beulah Bondi in supporting roles. In "The Moon's Our Home," Margaret Sullavan portrays a little spitfire controllable only by a person equally fiery, her grandmother. As a sky-rocketing motion picture star, Margaret hears of and determines to hate a man she calls a "globe-trotter who would be lost without his hot water bottle. Henry Fonda, a world-famous author-explorer, has heard of her, and has learned to despise her name, referring to her as "the phoney blonde with a face that resembles French pastry. They meet, fall desperately in love., without knowing their real identities, marry, separate, and are brought together again in this scrappy, adventurous, and romantic comedy.

While Clark Gable was starring in "Wife v. Secretary" at the M-G-M Studios, he found a 1924 pay voucher proving that he worked for £1 a day in "The Sporting Venus" for the same studios. And the stars of this picture were Ronald Colman, Blanche Sweet, and Lew Codyl

Shirley Temple has now gone to work at the Fox studios on "Dimples," her newest picture. Frank Morgan, Astrid Allwyn, Helen Westley, Robert Kent, and Delma Byron have important roles.

Ann Sothern, appearing with Francis Lederer in Paramount's "The Count of Arizona," is a direct descendant ol Cyrus J. Lake, inventor of the submarine.

Production has commenced on ; "Mountain Justice," Bette Davis's next starring vehicle for Warner Bros.' First National. Miss Davis will be sup- j ported by George Brent and a featured 1 cast. The story, suggested by a famous ] case which filled the newspaper head- i lines not -long ago, was written by 1 Nprman Reilly Raine. Her current ; vehicle, with George Brent as leading i man, is "The Green Arrow." ' EQUINE STAR. ! Jadaan, purebred Arabian horse rid- : den by Marlene Dietrich and Charles Boyer in Selznick International's technicolour, "The Garden of Allah," was : last ridden by Rudolph Valentino in '

„. ' ■ . t vary Grant has returned to London I, 0™" 131*. 6 "is British screen debut in r>,. e,, Amazmg Quest of Mr. Ernest 5u Sn- ' which is_ the screen version of r* r* °PPenheims well-known novel, ,a? 7 Orant as a child came in contact "I?- 1? 7 stage PeoPle and developed m~ whY" 1 **?, *?* V, cry, £ arly in his r While still at school he ran away an JPco^riilVT f Pof ac,V obats short H^Hvh but his "career" was ■?„ £i yed ™hen father ste PPed ln and v°> J lls errmg son home- At fifteen l le agam ran away to join the same troupe and this time went from his home town, Bristol, all the way to America with them. The troupe toured in America for some considerable time and when Grant eventually returned ™f"f™ ,he was well launched. A hl tle later he received his big chance ?- hen hI met a Producer who placed L'^v, U^ r/ ont A ract ? nd once again he c^ arked f°r America, where he met nSSTY^ flrst contract. Of interest to theatre-goers and especially those people interested in the repertory . movement, is the fact that Mr. Clement May, English master of theatrical disguise, has madeTshort film at the Paramount studios, entitled "Make-up Magic." Mr. May's wide circle of friends will be pleased to hea? that "Make-up Magic" has arrived hire .in New Zealand aspart;oNfparlmount Pictorial, which has been included in the associate programme to "Desire," which commences its season at the Regent Theatre on Friday next The film presents Mr. May arriving at the studio's make-up department where he personally makes-up to appear as famous Charles Dickens's characters, s^ as Scrooge, Fagan, Micawber, and others. In short, the film is a one-man parade by Clement May of famous Dickens characters.

Commencing his New Zealand tour at Wellington on September 29 will be Richard Crooks, the famous American tenor, who has interrupted his American season in order to fulfil a long-promised arrangement with Messrs. J. and N. Tait to visit' Australia and' New Zealand. The handsome tenor, who is America's idol, is at present delighting Australian musiclovers. Beyond any disputing, Richard Crooks is the tenor of the times. Richly endowed, he has a wonderful tenor voice, magnificent physique, and that intelligence and sympathy which, when joined to such gifts, produce great interpretative art. From church boy-soloist to the leading tenor of New York's famous Metropolitan Opera House is a far step, but Richard Crooks has accomplished all this by reason of the lovely texture of his voice, and his capacity for emotional expression. Australians have found in this, genial visitor from the States not only a great singer, but a big man personally, whose4 mental outlook ranges far beyond the barriers of his own country. Hewill give two recitals in Wellington, on. September 29 and October 1, then goes .to Christchurch for three appearances, on October 3, 7, and 8, Dunedin October 5, Auckland October 10, 13,. and 15.

A film more characteristic! of Australia than any yet produced is claimed to have been made by Charles-Chauvel in the National Studios, Sydney, and it is due for release shortly.. The Australian aboriginal ■ features prominently in "Uncivilised," and many details of their customs have been incorporated into the picture. Even.their music has been especially adapted for the screen by an Australian composer, Mr. Lindley Evans. The story deals with a young woman novelist, who seeks fresh material in a trip to Central Australia, where she encounters a tribe of aboriginals led by a wild white man. Margot Rhys plays the part of the white woman, and Dennis-Hoey, an English actor, plays as the leader of the natives. Sondra, a half-caste native girl; is violently jealous of the white woman, whom she regards as an interloper.

'■■' Every important British character i in the picture is enacted by a native .; of England. Binnie Barnes, Henry J Wilcoxon, Heather Angel, and Hugh ?! Buckler —all British born—are among i the featured players. The picture is % being produced by Reliance for United I Artists' release.

The popular play of London, in recent months has been "Murder in the Cathedral," by T. S. Eliot, which last month concluded a seven months' run at the Mercury Theatre. The piece was then to;be taken to Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin. The play has been a great success in New York too, and several Continental productions are in prospect. -"It was followed at the Mercury by the Ashley Dukes presentation of "Reverie of a Policeman," a verse comedy in three acts by Humbert Wolfe.

.Writing from New York to the San ?rancisco . "Chronicle," Burns Mantle, ;he eminent American critic, gives his opinions of current drama as follows: -Taking the theatre at its entertainnent value, -which is the way most Deople do take it, it does not greatly natter how correct its play ma^ be is to recorded facts. In other words,/ he fact that Mary of Scotland was a - all, physically .upstanding, forceful :haracter took little if anything from he performance of Helen Hayes, who presented a Mary quite small in stature md definitely sweet-natured. The Maid )f Domremy was probably rip more ike Katharine -Cornell than MissT ■layes again is like the late Queen Victoria; in sober and photographic :act. And yet there is so supreme an emotional satisfaction in: seeing Miss -ornell as the heroine of "Saint Joan" »nd Miss Hayes as the heroine of "Vic;oria Regina" that no one cares.' Or" it least few people. care,. and I hap- T sen not'to have met the-few. ,

Tyrone Guthrie, who is very popular on the London stage, has returned to the Old Vie. He is-one of England's best producers, and was at-the Old Vie in 1933 with Charles Laughton and Flora Robson. One of his most successful productions was of the John Drinkwater masque at the Marie Tempest jubilee matinee last year—a vivid theatrical memory in London. There will be some alterations in the running of the next Vie seasons Mr Guthrie intends to recruit the nucleus of a permanent company and then get star actors and actresses for certain plays. He has some in view, but it is too early to give the names. It is his intention to make the programme more elastic, and not to announce the lengths of runs at the beginning of. the season

A RECORD RUN,

Over £40,000 was taken by "Romeo and Juliet" in its London run of 183 performances, which ended at Golder's Green recently. During its 175 per formances at the New Theatre the play was seen by 263,000 people. It played t° a further 20,000 people at its eight performances at Golder's Green. With the exception of Irving's production of Hamlet," which ran for 200 performances at the Lyceum in 1874, this iL easy tne record London run for a Shakespearean play. The previous re cord run for Romeo and Julietl', was Irving s production in 1882, when i r?"i»- S r vPP erformances. John Gielgud, who played Romeo and 2SSiSa ,ha? his success in ♦£??&* Jf st year> when the playran for 155 performances and took £30,000.

Claire Trevor's role in "Human Cargo," the exciting Fox drama features her as a wealthy "deb" who hunts thrills with a newspaper reporter and provides her with an opportunity to display a varied assortment of new styles. ; Brian Donlevy is also featured in the cast.

Robert Warwick, star of; the stage and silent screen, has assumed his < dH? les,. as chlef ot police in Fox's "Charlie Chan at the Race Track." Helen Wood and Thomas Beck have the romantic Jeads: in this new Warner Oland thriller. < ./ -.•■•;.

• Gay comedy, punctuated with danci?. g «"d/musical surprises, permeates Pioneer Pictures' feature "Dancing - i,irate, s '. the first dancing romance ever fi!med in the new 100 per cent, technicolour, soon to be released by RKO Radi° Pictures. -The title role is in the hands—and■• feet—of Charles Collins, i? c screens new dancing sensation, Collins sings, dances, and romances opPpsite Steffi Duna, charming and vivacious heroine of the prize-winning "ha - Cucaracha," with Frank Morgan contri-' buting his comic antics in a co-featured t comedy role in this Pioneer Picture. Musical and terpsichorean high-lights include old California Spanish dances. as interpreted by the Royal Cas?no?, and the introduction oianew^S . dance rhythm new mexicaa

Ruth' Draper, the famous American one-woman performer, has just made her record stay in London, "lot:. she gave forty-two consecutive performances,, including r two special .. charity, matineesr ! Her repertory now consists of forty-eight sketches, and the -characters she plays exceed 150. Miss Drapers season'at the London Hay;'l market had; to be extended til! '■ July* 4,, so successful-had it "been".- *>Helfti* Howe, who has been described as "an- ■ other Ruth Draper," has been giving recitals, at •;. the .Arts . and. was to follow up her success there witha. season at the Mercury Theatre, Lon« don. :. ".••*■ t. , . - ■ •.■..■!