"SERVICE DE LUXE."

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 102, 27 October 1938, Page 21

"SERVICE DE LUXE."

With the first scenes of Universal's "Service De Luxe" finished and coming through the laboratories to projection room screens, the,introduction of Vincent Price to motion pictures has become a fact. Reluctant to leave Broadway until offered a screen role peculiarly suited to his talent. Price is among the last of the New York stage favourites to "go movie." Costarred with Constance Bennett in "Service De Luxe," the newcomer's Hollywood debut is being watched with unusual interest by the many major studio executives who dangled contracts since his memorable New York success with-Miss Helen Hayes in "Victoria Regina." "Service De Luxe," which is one of Universal's important new season, top-budget attractions, is directed by Rowland V. Lee under the able production guidance of Edmund Grainger. A notable supporting cast has been assembled and includes Charles Ruggles, Helen Broderick. Mischa Aver, and Joy Hodges.

During the eight weeks when the London Films' unit were in Switzerland photographing location scenes for 'The Challenge," every jpember worked harder than ever befo^j in his life. The continuity girl who went with them also made the climb to the summit of the Matterhorn repeatedly. Luis Trenker had been working in Zermatt for some weeks before the English members of the unit joined him. These were Milton Rosmer, the director, Robert Douglas, who plays Edward Whymper, Joan Gardner, Mary Clare, Frank Birch, Geoffrey Wardwell, and Moran Caplet. It was the first time that a motion picture camera had ever been taken to the summit of the Matterhorn, 14,782 feet above sea level. The unit's base of operation was the Belvedere, a rest hut halfway up. Several weeks were spent there, often in extreme discomfort owing to Ihe high altitude and intense cold at night. With the exception of Luis Trenker, none of the players had previous climbing experience and a great deal of vigorous training was necessary before they could carry out 'their parts to Trenker's satisfaction. The artists had to rise at 4 o'clock in the morning, long before daybreak. Trenker has long wanted to film this thrilling story of the climbing of the Matterhorn for the first time. He started life as a guide in the Dolomites, later serving in the Austrian Army. Perhaps one of his best-known films is "The Doomed Battalion." "The Challenge" is released through United Artists.