STAGE AND SCREEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1937, Page 21

STAGE AND SCREEN

RADIO LUMINARIES. Hollywood, the capital of movieland, is <how . threatening , ther ascendency of "'New'York in the radio world. This ■was revealed during the filming of •Paramount's comedy spectacle, "The .Big-Broadcast of 1937," when the -many radio stars cast for the film appeared for duty. Jack Benny, who the cast, announced that he will 'remain- in Hollywood for several "months. .He is under contract to for three pictures. George .Burns and Gracie Allen, who also' appear", in the picture, have a contract with Paramount which calls for sev.eral more pictures. So has Bob Burns, the "bazooka" virtuoso. It was pointed out that too much time is being lost by .radio artists who have , rnqyie contracts, and rather than give upvtheir lucrative radio programmes many of them prefer to broadcast directly. from Hollywood.

"THE MUTINEER." "The Mutineer," an as yet unpublished, story, has been bought by Warner * Bros.-First National. The action takes a place; in the South Seas. Present plans at.-the studios call for the use of "The. c Mutineer;!'; as -a 1 probable- co-starring t vehicle for Errol Flynn and George * Brent.' Flyrin is with Olivia de Havil- * land in "The Charge of the Light £ Brigade,"'while "God's Country and -t the -Woman," the all-technicolour ver--a sion of James Oliver Curwood's famous s novel- in which George Brent appears li with-Beverly Eoberts, is to be released P shbrtjy'. • h V / "ANOTHER DAWN" 'Adyices from the studios of Warner Bros.-First. National have, it that "Another Dawn," starring Kay Francis and P Errol-Flynn, with lan Hunter also fea- C tured, is completed. h

: : :-THE WAY TOGO HOME. • From' Hollywood comes a new way to ■« depart ■ the guest who won't speed onlhis own power. Hugh Herbert ; prides- himself on being a genial host, ( but: no longer will he submit to the " tyranny of late-staying guests. He j has a radio that reminds them that it's ; past bedtime. A concealed phonograph, i hooked up ..to the radio, and a special ( record, do the work.' Herbert demon- ] strated'the device on the "We Went to y (Jollege" set at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, , mueh-to'.the delight of his fellow- , players during the. filming of the picture"., . "When I've got an early call ' at'the studio and my guest or guests < are '■ still going strong at midnight or ( one .o'clock," he explained, "I cut thh 1 record through the radio loud-speaker 1 Itvstafts a barrage of yawns, and prac- i ticajly .induces sleep on the spot." The i recdrd is a careful imitation of a radio ( station announcement. The musical r. background contains a medley of ; "Three O'Clock in the Morning,'1 "Sleep," "Gee, But I Hate to Get Up," s "It's Time to Say pood-night." and i "HcSme, Sweet Home"! ]

TAKES THE BUMFS. "Grand opera was never like this!" Lily Pons exclaimed as she scrambled and squirmed her way through a ship's porthole for a scene of the new motion picture she is now making for RKO-Radio entitled "That Girl From Paris." Climbing through portholes is just one of the strenuous experiences the famous little diva has had for her new picture. She has been tossed out of a window, suspended high above terra . firma, and hauled back in again like a bag of salt. She has raced miles down a dusty dirt

road. ' She has helped Gene Raymond ■, change automobile tyres, and she has slept in a haystack. "It's her reward for being such a fine comedienne." explained Leigh Jason, who is directing her picture.

~ FKAISE FOR N.Z. PIANIST. Mr. Arthur Alexander, formerly of New Zealand, gave a pianoforte recital at the Wigmore Hall this week, when many composers were represented, including Beethoven and Bach, writes the-';London, correspondent of i"The Post."- A'novelty was a sonatine by Freda Swain bearing the title "The Skerries." "The Times,"' referring :to ■the recital, described Mr. Alexander .as an experienced player. "He understands what the music is about, puts himself in sympathy with the composer, and never lets his performance become a mechanical routine." PREMIERS BROTHER-BALLET MANAGER. M. Rene Blum, brother of the French Premier, managed the Ballet-dc Monte Carlo for the Johannesburg Empire Exhibition season.

CAST FOR "PRINCESS' CHARMING." For the.Melbourne production of the English musical comedy "Princess Charming," which is to follow "Wild Violets," J. C. Williamson Ltd. has engaged Miss Romola Hansen and Mr. Herbert Browne, two popular artists who have been associated with many, of the firm's productions during the past few years, and who, after having given several performances with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, will make a reappearance on the legitimate stage under the firm's direction. Other performers in the cast will include Cecil Kellavyay (who will play his original role in this production), Don Nicol, Kenneth Tuckfield (a young recruit from the Gregan McMahon Repertory Players), Leslie Holland, Lois Green, Sydney Wheeler, and others. The play was first produced at the Palace Theatre, London, by Clayton and Waller. In the original London cast' several famous performers appeared, including Alice Delysia and W. H. Berry.

WITH THE RUSSIAN BALLET.

The beauty of the women, the magnificent statute of the men, and their amazing grasp of the English language are features of Colonel W. de Basil's Monte Carlo Ballet of Russian dancers who are to commence a Dominion tour at Auckland on March 3, concluding on March 17. - At social functions in their honour in Australia the ballet members have utterly charmed everyone with their grace and naturalness, the chic appearance of the women, and their consuming interest in all that is happening to them offstage. They are delightful people; young, lovely women and handsome men. whose work in intricate ballets has been acclaimed in all parts of the world as masterpieces. Leori Woizikowsky is the maitre de ballet, and his striking-looking daughter. Sonia, is in the ballet as • well. Other famous people include Helene Kirsova, Valentina Blinova, Mina Raievska, Natalie Branitzka. Tamara Tchinarova, Anna Scarpa, Jean Hoyer. Valentin Froman, Roland Guerard. Paul Petroff, Igor Yousskeivitch. etc. The company performs at Hamilton on March 18: New Plymouth, March 19; Wanganui, March 20- Palmerston North, March 22; Hastings, March 23-24: Masterton, March 25; Wellington. March 27 (Easter Saturday) to April 10;,. Christchurch, April 12 to 21; Timaru, April 22; Oamaru, April 23; Dunedin following. "BELOVED ENEMY." Karen Morley returns to the screen after an absence of two years in "Beloved Enemy," the Samuel Goldwyn production starring Merle Oberon and Brian Aherne. She spent the.interim taking care of her small son Mike, aged two. She is the wife of the director Charles Vidor. Karen owes her screen career to an eavesdropper. During the shooting of a picture in which she was engaged as an extra, Clarence Brown, the director, overheard her speaking to another player. He was struck by the rich timbre of her voice and arranged a test. As a result she won the second feminine lead in Garbo's "Inspiration." The actress was born in Iowa; lived there for thirteen years before going to Los Angeles, where she attended Hollywood High School, later entering the University of California; left college to join the Los Angeles Civic Repertory Theatre and the Pasadena Community Playhouse; took extra work in the studios to supplement her earnings; and was discovered by Brown. Her films include "Susan Lenox," "Sin of Madelon Claudet" "Cuban Love Song." "Mata Hari," and "Our Daily Bread.' "Beloved Enemy" is released through United Artists. "LOVE LETTERS OF A STAR." Mary Alice Rice, whom the late Florenz Ziegfeld termed one of the twelve most beautiful women on the stage, has signed a long-term contract with the New Universal. Miss Rice played a year in the chorus of "Flying High" and was then signed by Mr. Ziegfeld for three of his shows. These were "Follies of 1931." "Hot Cha," and the New York revival of "Show Boat." She was the first president of the Ziegfeld Girls' Club. Last year Miss Rice played in "Music in the Air" and has understudied Helen Chandler in "Pride and Prejudice," and finally played the role-when Miss Chandler left the show. Her first role in motion pictures was in "Love Letters of a Star." a mystery picture which is well sustained and has a surprise ending. The action turns on the determination of the Todd family to avenge the death of a daughter due to the intrigue of a blackmailer. Prominent in the cast are Henry Hunter, Polly Rowles, Ralph Forbes. Walter Coy. Halliwell Hobbs, Warren Hymer, and C. Henry Gordon. SET IN YUGOSLAVIA. A comedy with a Yugoslavian background was presented in London re-cently—"Ride-a-cock-Horse." It , features local folk-songs and dances, and its authors are Robert York and George Bruhl. All the action takes place in a village in Croatia.

EXTRAS,

.Nine hundred costumed extras were used in a single scene in Frank Lloyd's production, "Maid of Salem," for Paramount.

"WINTERSET." i Six short years ago Burgess Merei dith was scrubbing the decks of a New York to South America liner. Today he is conceded one of the brightest young stars in the American theatre and acclaimed as the season's screen discovery following his exceptional performance in "Winterset." bringing to a, wider public the role he created in the footlight version of "Maxwell Anderson's play. Such.. extraordinary achievement in such a ; remarkably short time leads one to believe that Burgess Meredith unites genius and luck. But it is due primarily ■to ability, supported by "breaks." Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Meredith, as a boy, was endowed with a splendid soprano voice. It earned ' him positions in church choirs. Later, at grammar school, he played Bottom . in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and j the title role in "Peter Pan," first cvi- i dence of a histrionic career, SIR GUT STANDING. 1 To Sir Guy Standing falls the dis- I Unction'of being the earliest of Para- ; mount contract players who remains ' active on the screen today under the company's banner. Research in con- ; nection with Paramount's Silver Jubilee for Adolph Zukor, disclosed that Sir Guy signed a contract early ,in i 1914 with Famous Players Picture : Company, forerunner of the present j Paramount, formed -by Mr. Zukor in \ association with Daniel Frohman. He \ was to have starred in "The Silver ! King" and two other pictures. When \ war clouds loomed Mr. Zukor granted j him a release from his contract with- \ out reservation to serve his country, j Sir Guy consequently, although signed \ to a contract in 1914, made his debut } in 1932. A NEW IRENE DUNNE. \ In "Theodora Goes Wild" Columbia presents a ravishing new Irene Dunne. \ Known already as one of the screen's foremost dramatic stars, Miss Dunne i covers herself with glory as a capti- :' : vating young comedienne in a role en- \ tirely different from any she has done before, in "Theodora Goes Wild"—a ■ story that emerges under the directorial touch of Richard Boleslawski a ". mad, convulsive comedy. For sheer in- -j :sanity and entertainment nothing with which "Theodora Goes Wild" could be ; compared comes to mind. Many femi- i nine hearts will be set a-fluttering by i the handsome Melvyn Douglas, who more than surpasses himself as the young artist responsible for Theodora's . new outlook on life and subsequent "wildness."

"THREE SMART GIRLS."

One of the brightest ever produced by Hollywood is the new Universal surprise comedy, "Three Smart Girls," which is due for release here early in March. The notable feature of the picture is the debut of Deanna Durbin, the soprano who has astounded musicians throughout America.. Even though she is just fourteen, this girl has a mature soprano voice in which the officials of the New York Metropolitan Opera Company are deeply interested. Under the tuition of Andres de Siggurola. famous baritone who himself was a Metropolitan star, Deanna has reached a level of performance unsurpassed by anyone of her age Besides being such a perfect singer Deanna Durbin reveals her latent ability as an actress, .and, the freshness of her performance ,as one of the three smart girls who give the picture its title endears herself to any audience There is no lack of seasoned artists who contribute valuable performances to Three Smart Girls." Charles Winninger, original Captain Andy of "Show -Boat, again shows complete command of a new comedy role. Alice Brady whose success on stage and screen is almost incomparable, repeats her success in "My Man Godfrey." Then there are Binnie Barnes, Ray Milland, Mischa Aver, John King. Ernest Cossart, Lucille Watson, and many other wellknown faces are to be seen. Theatregoers are promised as diverting an experience as they had when they saw ' My Man Godfrey." But "Three Smart Girls could hardly be classed with any other picture, as it is entirely different from anything else which has been screened in the past. ALMOST ALL-BRITISH. Practically the entire cast of the'2oth Century-Fox production, "Lloyd's of London, is British, except Tyrone Power, who plays the lead. Tyrone's fathqr, however, was British born and was a big figure on the English stage for many years. Starring Freddie Bartholomew and Madeleine Carroll with Power, Sir Guy Standing,. C. Aubrey Smith, and Virginia Field with a mammoth cast, "Lloyd's of London"' was directed by Henry King of "Cavalcade" fame, with Darryl F. Zanuck in charge of production. Appropriately enough, "Lloyd's of London" was insured for 1,000,000 dollarswith Lloyd's against production delay caused by sickness or accident, but the studio had no cause to collect on the policy. As a result of their work in "Lloyd's of London" two actors won long-term contracts with 20th CenturyFox. One is Douglas Scott who plays Horatio Nelson as a boy, and1 the other Miles Mander, who has the role of a Lloyd's underwriter. Just a few years ago Mander was one of England's most-noted screen personalities as writer-director-actor.

i \ "ROMEO AND JULIET." This is a magnificently-produced, splendidly-acted, and profoundly..moving picture.' Although Howard . and Norma Shearer, as, Romeo. and Juliet, have the major roles, the'fine' success of the film is attributable, at least as much as'it is to them, to the finished performances :of the many subsidiary players, who appear. John Barrymbre, for example, as Mgrcutio," and Basil Rathbone as Tybalt, magnificent old C. Aubrey Smith as Lord Capulet. As Romeo, Howard was faced with the difficult task of presenting to the sophisticated audiences of 1937 the romantic, poetical lover. Such a role is by no means easy. The actor handled it in a manner that calls forth admiration. Those who recollect the number of years Norma Shearer has been in pictures will be astounded ;at the' youthfulness she brings to her interpretation of Juliet. She not only looks young; she is young; and to this fresh charm she adds an emotional depth that reaches its greatest when, after her marriage, she has to bid farewell to Romeo when he is forced to flee to Mantua.'

HISTORIC SQUARE. Historic Parnell Square was erected in replica on the back lot of the United Artists studio for scenes in Samuel Goldwyn's production, "Beloved Enemy," a romance of love under fire which stars Merle Oberon and Brian Aherne. Every available Irish actor in Hollywood was summoned for duty in these scenes. The entire square, as well as numerous streets in its vicinity, was faithfully reproduced for the film', with an Irish market-place beinj: erected in one section and stocked with produce, livestock, and fowls. In addition to tons of fresh vegetables,, a score of pigs, 500 geese. 500 ducks. 700 chickens, 10 donkeys, 10 horses, 10 goats, and 1000 pigeons jammed the market stalls. "Beloved Enemy" was directed by H. C. Potter, for release through United Artists.

"THE KING AND THE CHORUS i ' ■ .< •. ■ girl." , • :«;.■,. '• ' Production of /'The King 'and .the '■ Qh'orus Girl" produced and directed by i ; Mervyn Leßoy for Warner Brqs., re- ;,' lease, and' starring Fernand; Gravet, s noted French' cinema favourite,; with s Joan Blondell. • has commenced at the i Warner studios; according to latestradf . vices. • Edward. Everett Horton," "will !, have a prominent comedy .part; .other 1 well-known actors signed for this proi duction are "Alan Mpwbray and'-. Luia s Alberni.' "The King and the: Chorus 5 Girl" will be one of the most elaborate - productions' ever filmed on the- Bur- . bank lot. . . - \ V ■ I BRITISHERS IN TJ.S.aL j. r Helena Pickard, wife of Sir;; Cedris, l Hardwicke, .wasin the cast of the JTew j'York presentation- of "The Country - Wife," while'her. distinguished hjisb'and s was -acting in -"Promise." Botri were l under Gilbert Miller's direction.!' In i "Promise" ■ there was another English r actor —Frank Lawton, who ha^ done 1 some excellent stage and screen; work. ) He is the husband of Evelyn Laye,fan= other Britisher popular in the States.

INSURANCE. Richard Arlen. star of G.B.s "The Great Barrier," which will have its premiere under the patronage of Queen Mary at "the opening of., the Gaumont, Haymarket, could not obtain, insurance coverage for one feat in the film. In the film he has to make: a flying "leap from a galloping"horse to the old C.P.R. engine No. 374 to warn the engineer of impending disaster. Arlen tried to secure insurance against injury or death before essaying the feat, but his application was rejected as being too risky. He went through with it successfully, performing ah-ex-cellent "catch" of the engine before the cameras. Much to his mental discomfort, he had barely recovered from the tricky ordeal when he heard the request of "Once again, please, ; Mr. Arlen" from Milton Rosmer, directof of the picture.