STAGE AND SCREEN SAVE MOVIE STUNT MEN "FAST COMPANY."

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 132, 1 December 1938, Page 21

STAGE AND SCREEN

SAVE MOVIE STUNT MEN

"FAST COMPANY."

INTERESTING RECITAL. Music lovers will enjoy the opportunity of attending an exceptionally interesting recital at the Concert Chamber on Monday, December 5, when six "^pianists who are studying with Miss "Valeric Corliss, will present a programme of pianoforte music. They are Miss Dorothy La Roche, Miss Isa Anderson, Miss Kate Jourdain, Dr. Arthur Fieldhouse, and Messrs. Lionel Harris and Bryam McMillan, ft The programme is one of exceptional inter 4 est, varied in period, nationality, and character, and will range from earlier works ,to those of modern British, French, Spanish, Russian, "and Polish composers. $c^rlatti, Bach, Schumann, " Chopin, Brahms will be represented. A feature pj the recital will be the performance -iof for two pianos. : -^

"LITTLE MISS BROADWAY." '"Little .Miss Broadway," Shirley. Temple's latest, starring: picture, has1 been completed and is scheduled for early release in this country. Those who have seen .the production say that it demonstrates why. this young lady is America's Number One Star. It is an acknowledged fact that to millions throughout tile world each hew Shirley Temple ' picture is an advent of major magnitude. ? Recently India capitulated to her.charm when an ageold rule against feminine entertainers dropped its barriefs. Of "Little Miss Broadway" the .prevjewers say that Shirley dances and sings with greater ease and talent, than she has in any previous film, and her dramatic ability continues to amaze her audiences. The cast which supports Shirley is headed by George Murphy, Hollywood's ace actor-dancer;««fum y v" rante, a droll comic, ■•who needs no introduction; Phyllis Brooks, the rapidly, rising young blonde beauty; and Edna May Oliver who is known to myriads of fans as the austere old maid. Six sparkling tunes ranging from ballads to swing lend themselves to Shirley's singing.

NATURAL-BORN ACTOR. Sinclair Lewis himself played a role in his own play "It Can't Happen Here" when it was presented at Cohasset, Massachusetts, United States. The season lasted a week and all seats were sold in advance when it became known that Mr. Lewis was to turn actor. He played Doremus Jessup, Vermont editor, whose -editorials unwittingly aid the advent of Fascism in Vermont. He did a most effective piece of acting in the final scene, in which, as a forlorn figure broken by Fascism, "he bids' farewell to his daughter and prepares to flee to Canada. He apparently impressed his audiences, for Director Dean commented thai he was a natural-born, actor. ;

A DANCING STAR. ■ Helene Denizon, who plays the part ; of the angel in "I Married an Angel,*' , was born in New York. Michel Fokine, ; the famous choreographer and dancer, was her sole teacher v As a girl of 14 ; she danced with Fokine at the Metro ' politan Opera House, New York, and ; later appeared;with the Fokine Ameri- ■ can Ballet. She danced the concerto in Mendelssohn's "Midsummer Night's ' Dream" Ballet; danced in the Tchai- ' kowsky Sixth Symphony Ballet; and [ in the Spanish Ballet of Rimsky-Kor- , sakoff, Olitoro. "With the "Municipal ; Opera-.Co. of St.; Louis, she danced and acted iri" operettas, and appeared in ' films with Fred Waring. Three years I ago she was guest artist with the Phil- . harmonic Symphony Orchestra of New . York, and was the first woman on the , tilted chromium-plate stage of the . Radio City Theatre, New York, when [ she appeared as the Queen in "Swani lake," and in Leonidoffs "After the [ Ball," .based on "Spectre de la Rose." ;■' "I Married.an Angel" will be produced i by Ernest C. Rolls in Melbourne on Saturday next.'

Three motion picture stunt men were saved from possible death by Cary Grant and Victor McLaglen recently, when an automobile driven by John Alban, former double for John Barrymore, rolled over a rocky embankment near Lone Pine, California, and : plunged into a mountain creek eight feet deep Alban, with two compan-ions,-was'returning from Lone Pine to the mountain location where RKORadio is filming "Gunga Din." Grant "and McLaglen were following them in a second car. Blinded by the lights ,of an approaching car, Alban drove ; his machine too far to the right. The •wheels missed the edge/of the narrow ■dirt road, and the car "rolled fifteen feet down the ropky slope into the waters of the creek.. Grant and McLaglen leaped from their car, scrambled down the bank, ripped the door of the submerged'car open, and helped the dazed men to safety. None of the three was hurt beyond a few bruises and, a thorough soaking. DOG STEALS STEAK. Punky, Henry Fonda's dog, has had his first and last visit to a motion picture set, as a result of eating a three-inch porterhouse steak needed for the RKO-Radio picture "The Mad Miss Manton." The steak, used1 as a "prop" in one* of the comedy sequences, in the film, was broiled especially for the scene by the chef at the studio cafe. It. is served to Fonda as he lies in a hospital bed, pretending to be close to death from a gunman's bullets. When Barbara Stanwyck arrives on the scene for a "last farewell," the steak is hastily shoved under the' bed Everything went according to schedule until the property man reached under the bed to get the steak for a close-up. There was no steak. A search of the set failed to reveal the- porterhouse, and it was not until Fonda went to his dress-ing-room $nd found Punky carefully polishing a» large bone that the mystery was solved. ■ . \ _____ ORANGES TIED TO TREES. Filming of RKO-Radio's ''Fugitives tor a Nighi;" was delayed nearly two hours one i\iight while a frantic prop man roundqd up 22 boxes of oranges —at 11.30 ia.m.—and tied their contents to the' trees of a San Fernando grove. It was almost midnight when the" company arrived at the location site for scenejs in which Frank Albertson and Eleatnor Lynn raid an orange grove—only to find that due to a misunderstanding the entire orchard had been carefully picked the day before After a whirlWind trip to town, where" he bought out the entire stock of two startled orangie dealers, the prop man returned to thie fruitless groye, set the entire company! to tying the contents of 22 orange .boxes to the trees. "BACK i:N CIRCULATION." The newspapier office influence made itself strongly felt recently on the "Back in Circulation" editorial room set at Warner JBros.' studio. The set was used in a combination murder-mystery-newsp?4per drama co-starring Pat O'Brien arrid Joan Blondell. The expression, "Putt it to bed;," used by many city editors when a new edition is okay and recisdy for the final press run, was adopted by director Ray Enright to signitfy that a scene was right for developing and printing. Many are the ""sign-off" expressions used by-different directors in okaying scenes. "That's ■, history"—"That's it!" —"Forget it!"—a-jje a few. - "Back in Circulation" is saSd to be the most exciting newspaper; movie yet filmed. MACHINE-G*UN GUARDED. Although he dt^esn't appear on the screen, "John Law" plays an important role in RKO-Radio's "The Mad Miss Manton," in whiclh. Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda .are starred. Because a machine gun is carried by one of the players, a representative ,of " the Los Angeles county sheriff's office had to be on the set at all times to keep watch on the "typewritetr" while it was in use. In addition, the Officer had to keep the gun in his own hands when it was not actually being used in.a scene. Tommy guns" are hired by the studio when needed for a; scene, and the men who rent them hiiye to be licensed by the United States Government. The officer on duty is charged with seeing that the machine-gun is returned to the company from which it was hired. Even during lunch time, the officer in charge of the machi.ne^gun had to hold it on his lap while he ate. , DANIELLE DARIiIEUX IN "RIO." Anatole Litvak hiadbeen signed to direct Danielle Danrieux in Rio." The starting date of the? French star's second American production depends upon her arrival mi America. Litvak directed Darrieux aaid Charles, Boyer in "Mayerling," the' French production that was responsible for Universal's signing her to a contract. He also did "The Woman I Love" for RKO and "Tovari.ch" for Warner Brothers. "Rio," willl be pro.duced by Joe Pasternak. VINCENT FtRICE. If you think that haindsome leading" men who have the hajDpy combination of looks and acting ability are to be found in every nook > and. cranny of Hollywood Boulevard, you just don't know your movies. Situdio executives grow grey and old hunting for the type of young man Vwho.-.will jolt movie audiences into iidmiration and bring a .steady stream of shining silver dollars pouring into the box office. The search exteguds over the face of the civilised w<pl?ld, and, like the brook, goes on for eyer. Never in the history of motion pictures has there been such a desti'th. of young acting men with all the necessary to transform^ them into overnight screen sensatikjps. And an agent who ferrets out match a young chap is considered something of a genius and earns the envy of his competing ferreters. The finst day Vincent Price made his dsibut before a motion picture camera ito Universal s "Service De Luxe" opposite Constance Bennett, five Hollywood .argents of the first water telephoned tfiiW studio for permission to come and' thatch him work. Not that any, one of them could do a thing about itt. •He "wasn t their boy. And he was .signed, sealed, and delivered. But? they must have been moved by a sligThily sadistic feeling. They wanted to see what they had missed by not beibig on their toes. And the better-he was, the worse they would feel and Jhke it. BRUCE CABOT. Bruce Cabot was born in JNew Mexico on April 20 and christen ed Jacques De Bujac. He comes from a distinguished family. His grandfather was French Ambassador to the United States, and an uncle is Herman Harjes of the Morgan-Harjes Bank in Pans. He received his first schooling in New York, then in New Mexico, where he earned his first dollar cow-punching during vacations. After knockilng about Europe, he returned to the« United States and wandered about pi bking up whatever job he could find. Cabot s first acting experience was with the ■Goodman Theatre, where lie spent ■three months in the stock company. His first screen work developed as a result of being .called at tbe RKO studio to secure the unique job* of kiss tester. It meant he was to arjpear in tests opposite film beauties. Hie showed up so well in these tests that he was placed under contract as a featured player. Bruce Cabot has been signed oy Action Pictures for their comedy drama of the airlines, "Lovei.Takes FUght."

Melvyn Douglas, who has recently climbed to new screen heights with his deft comedy ptortrayals, adds new laurels to his car eer as a modern rare book sleuth in "Fast Company." Florence Rice as thet feminine lead is given a complete personality change with the aid of specital mature hair dress and make-up as* a distinct contrast to the ingenue?; of her recent pictures. She plays tiJae ultra-modern wife of Douglas, wh<r> believes that domestic and business life Can be combined. ' The plot presents a novelty background for a fast-mtoving blend of romance, mystery, dranjia, and thrills. An inside revelation of the' littleknown traffic in stolen rare books provides a diverting series of incidents leading to a murder and breaking up of an international racket. Miss Rice and Douglas share the adventures of the picture with ; a delightful tongue in cheek spirit that defies the villainous attempts of tfcie book gang to stop their efforts to scilye the mystery. Claire Dodd provides blonde allure in the role of an inside member of the book' gang, who finds that romance is more dangeitous than a knowledge of gang secrets. Her revelations to Melvyn Douglas, who masquerades as a roving swain with the knowledge of his wife,' finally breaks up the book racket. Others featured iri the cast are Shepperd Strudwick, Louis Calhera, Nat Pendleton, and Douglas Ducnbrille Edward Buzzell, who recently directed the highly entertaining picture, "Paradise for Three," added his capable knowledge of high comedy and fastmoving action to "Fast Company." "KILLER" (COMPOSITE> McCOY. The central character of "The Crowd Roars," starring Robert Taylor, with Edward Arnold, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Jane Wyman, is a composite character, combining the characteristics df many v champions, and enacting incidents in the careers of others. He is credited with a "lucky punch," with which he knocks opponents out, after being well behind on points. His famous namesake, Al McCoy, won the middleweight title of the world from George Chip, with what was universally believed to be a very lucky punch, a wild right swing to the jaw. McCoy hates the ring, and wants to educate himself. So did Gene Tunney, ex-world champion McCoy kills a man in the ring, and stands his trial for manslaughter. So did "Kid" McCoy, who was acquitted He retires when in line for a title fight with the world champion. So did Mickey Walker, the "Pocket Battleship," who quit the ring when he was the outstanding contender for Maxie Rosenbloom's world title. In one of his fights he takes a terrific beating for eight rounds, then knocks out his opponent. This was a feature of the famous Bob Fitzsimmons's fight with James J. Corbett, when Fitzsimmons, after taking a hSdting for twelve rounds, smashed home a right which gave him the. heavyweight championship. In one of Taylor's film fights, the one in which he strikes Johnny Martin, ex-champ., a light blow, and kills him, the crowd yell, "Fake!" and "Frame-up," thinking that no one could be knocked out in such a fashion. When Primo Camera killed the late Ernie Scha.af, the crowd thought that Schaaf was shamming, and threatened to wreck Madison Square Garden. NAVAL MELODRAMA. How times have changed the relationship between motion picture producers and the authorities was demonstrated during the making .-of "Our Fighting Navy," the thrill-teeming naval melodrama. Ten years ago, Producer Herbert Wilcox was making a film with Dorothy Gish and wanted to shoot some exteriors in -Hyde Park. He took his unit there and set up his cameras—the next thing he knew was being bundled out of the park by a mounted policeman. That incident created a sensation at the time. Questions were asked in the House of Commons, and the Commissioner of Works made a statement to the effect that it was undesirable to grant public facilities for shooting films. But that was ten years ago, and when Herbert Wilcqx set out last year to produce "Our Fighting Navy" he sought and readily obtained the enthusiastic co-operation of the Admiralty and the Navy League. Some of the most famous ships in the Home Fleet were placed at his service—among them H.M.S. Nelson, H.M.S. Rodney; H.M.S. Iron Duke, H.M.S. Royal Oak, and the cruisers H.M.S. Curacao, H.M.S. Cairo, H.M.S. Express, H.M.S Erebus. Altogether about 14 ships participated in the filming. H.M.S. Royal Oak and H.M.S. Curacao became literally floating film studios for a couple of weeks. "Our Fighting Navy" deals with the work of the Navy in peacetime in the odd corners of the globe. It concerns a group of English people caught up in a revolt in a southern port, and shows the Navy going into action to protect them. The cast is headed by' H. B. Warner, Richard Cromwell, Robert Douglas, Hazel Terry, and Noah Beery. TELEVISION DINNER. A special programme with Gracie Fields, C.8.E., of "We're Going to be Rich," as an outstanding star, was " arranged by the 8.8.C. Television Department for the "Television Dinner," which was given by the Royal Photographic Society, at the Dorchester Hotel, London, on November 2. The Duke of Kent presided at the dinner. "FOLLOW YOUR STAR." Arthur Tracey, the popular street singer, got his big opportunity which he has seized with both hands in the G.B.D. attraction, "Follow Your Star," a* musical drama which enables him to exploit his excellent voice to the fullest advantage. "Follow Your Star" has a heart-appealing plot which is unfolded amidst pretty scenic backgrounds. Outstanding in the cast is Nina Boucicault, a daughter of the famous actorplaywright, the late Dion Boucicault, i sen. Her characterisation of Tracey's I mother is said to be a "personal ' triumph."

NEW ZEALANDER INT FILMS. Miss Anne Twigg, whose parents left Napier for London before she was born, has the leading part in one of Warner Bros.' latest "shorts," "Under the Mistletoe Bough," writes "The Post's" London correspondent on November 3. Everyone knows the tale of the game of hide and seek, and of the bride-to-be, who, wearing her wedding dress on the night before her marriage, hides in an old trunk and is suffocated. The film retells this story,, and Miss Twigg, as Sophy, is the bride who selects her own coffin. To add a brighter finish, Warner Bros, provide a modern sequel, with a cocktail party, a scheming uncle and nephew, who plot the death of an heiress (Anne Twigg) to gain her money. In a modern version of hide-and-seek, with a new car to the winner, she is enticed by' the nephew (Henry Kendall) to hide in the ancient trunk where the bride of long ago lost her life. The base scheme fails, however, when Sophy's ghost directs a searcher to the trunk. The story is not strong, the direction is not brilliant, but the halfhour film provides Miss Twigg with her first leading part, which plays well. It is not her first appearance- in films, and she is hoping that she now has her foot well on the first rung. Miss Twigg was present with her mother to see a private screening of "The Mistletoe Bough" at the Cambridge Theatre this week. KITTENS TO MEN: CATS TO WOMEN. There is much marriage advice and philosophy in "The Women," a play of wives, their woes, and their dangerous gossip, now at the King's Theatre, Melbourne. "It's matrimonial suicide to be jealous when you have a realy good reason," says one of the wives. "Don't confide in your girl friends," advises the mother of another. !.<., . : ; .

PRIESTLEY AS ACTOR. The well-known British author and dramatist, J. B. Priestley, has a,dded another achievement to his long list of successes; at 24 hours' notice he took the leading part in his latest play, "When We Are • Married," although he had never been on the stage before, writes "The Post's" London correspondent on November 3. A motor accident prevented Mr. Frank Pettingell from appearing, and Mr. Priestley took the part believing that no professional actor could have filled the gap at such short notice. The, critics and audience were unstinted in their praise, allowing for his inexperience. Mr. Priestley's role was that of a drunken Yorkshire photographer of Edwardian times: drooping moustache, red nose, greasy brown velvet waistcoat, grey check trousers, and straw hat. He did the Yorkshire dialect perfectly; lustily sang "When We Are Married" and "Love Me and the World is Mine" at-the piano, with Mai Bacon (this tour-de-force just about brought down the house); and in. all "gave a highly enjoyable performance, suggestive of a good-hu-moured Charles Laughton at the beginning of his career. He put up a grand impromptu." Mr. Priestley confessed that he had not been so nervous for 23 years (when he sat in a listening post in 1915). He joined British Equity, the actors' trade union, and received his membership card.

INTERESTING PERSONALITIES. All Melbourne is eagerly awaiting the production of "I Married an Angel" on Saturday next. This is New York's latest musical comedy success, for which a complete cast, of principals has been imported by Australian and New Zealand Theatres, Ltd. Bernice Claire is the soprano who plays the Countess, sister of the Hungarian nobleman. She has done much film work in Hollyw.ood, in lead of Victor Herbert's "Kiss Me Again," with Jack Whiting ,(who was with Jessie Matthews in "Sailing Along," in "Top Speed," and with Walter Pidgeon in "Moonlight and Pretzels"). She was with the young Englishman George Curzon in "Tw's Hearts in Harmony.", Jack Arthur, - a light baritone, who plays the Hungarian Count, is a Ziegfeld Follies actor, who has done considerable work in U.S.A. radio of recent years. Maryon Dale is a personality comedienne, playing the soubrette role, and tap dances with George Dobbs. Fred Harper is an English comedian, who was demobilised from the Army, and crossed to America in 1919 to join Charles Dillingham in revue. His earliest success was with Gertrude Lawrence in both "O-Kay," and he has made numerous musical shorts, including "Gem Off the Ocean" with Jean Aubert and Michael Bartlett. George Dobbs and.Kathryn Crawford played together in "You Never Know," a New York musical play, which starred Lupe Velez. Miss Crawford was cast with Marie Dressier in the film "Emma." THEATRICAL MARRIAGE. A theatrical marriage of some interest was that celebrated in London recenlty between Mr. Rich, manager of the London Hippodrome, to Pamela Titheradge, a niece of the famous actress, Madge Titheradge.

POPULAR PLAY. Most New Zealanders who have been in England during the past two seasons have been to the Criterion Theatre to see "French Without Tears." A good many have been more than once. This play has begun its third unbroken run, with its 833 rd performance at thej theatre in Piccadilly Circus. It has made more than £60,000 at the Criterion, it has been on tour, and has played for four months in New York, wrote "The Post's" London correspondent on November 7. For its author, Terence Eattigan, it has earned over £25,000. This is his first play. He has lately completed a second one, a serious play. Eight' actresses have at different times played Diana, the lead; Miss Kay Hammond for fourteen months, Miss Gertrude Musgrove for five months, Miss Avice Landone for three months, and Miss Constance Carpenter, its 'present exponent, for two months. Miss Elizabeth Nolan and Miss Mavis Clair have occasionally deputised,' Miss Phoebe Kershaw (a niece of Miss Ada Reeve) played it on tour, and Miss Penelope Dudley Ward in New York. A midnight-till-dawn, party was held on Saturday-Sunday' inthe theatre. Almost every member of the casts who have played it in England and America were present ai the party of 200 people. Guests included Frank Lawton, Evelyn Laye, Elizabeth Allan, Constance Carpenter, Constance Cummings, Jane Baxter, Anne Casson, Mackenzie Ward, and Kay Hammond.