Behind the Cameras

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 15, 18 January 1940, Page 16

Behind the Cameras

THODAY Charles Laughton is genH^H^^^^^H erally regarded as HHpHH^ probably the great■BH I est character actor nßßjiUll "How does the HlifllH^^^H fellow do it?" is what you mostly BninnUßHH| hear from the fans amam^^m^m^ about his characterisations of Nero. Bligh, Ruggles, an< Henry VIII, characterisations that made celluloid literally ooze personality—the personalities of characters, not that of Laughton, the solid Yorkshireman and resident, after some time in Hollywood, of one of the few old tree-lined squares in London.* left perhaps as an appeasement to oldfashioned souls like himself. Well, Laughton has put another character on to film now, and it is one that jolts its way like high blood pressure through "The Beachcomber." How Laughton created the outrageous, pitiful, and comic Ginger Ted. of "The Beachcomber," is mysterious enough. But how he did it and at the same time managed his production job with his partner, Erich Pommer, in their new Mayflower Film Company, attended script and story conferences on future productions, the while being nagged by the realisation of how much depended on this initial shot in the dark of film production as it has been in England this past year—that is incredible if you know him. Yet it was, and is, being done. That he has got away with this dual identity, actor-producer role is incredible, because he gets "on the lines" of a character the hard way, pulling it out of himself painfully, and until it is "on the line," as he calls it, is bedevilled by doubts.

Samuel Goldwyn is remaking "Raffles" on the theory, no doubt, that a film that has proved highly successful three times can be equally good the foujth. This new "Raffles," which will co-star David Niven and Olivia de Havilland, creates for Hollywood something of a record in the matter of perpetuating a popular story. Its nearest competitor in the matter of "remakes" is "Within the Law," which has been produced successfully three times. The new "Raffles" will be a streamlined version, with smart, up-to-the-minute dialogue directed by Sam Wood, who directed "Good-bye, Mr. Chips." Unlike its predecessors, which employed London fogs for dramatic effects, the present version will be without this synthetically-produced background. This may disappoint the numerous "Raffles" fans, but the soupy fogs that characterised the three other "Raffles" were out 01 place. John Van Druteh. who wrote the current screenplay, made that, plain in his script. "As the entire action of the picture happens within a couple of days in London during the cricket season," he observes in a footnote, "there .annot be any fog as there hac always been in previous "'Raffles' pictures. London fogs, however bad, do not happen in summer; and cricket doesn't happen in the winter."

A temperamental pose? Nonsense. The man suffers; and to those associated with him the torment is passed on. Bartlett Cormack played the typewriter in the quartet that made "The Beachcomber," and when Charles had the "worries" badly, Erich Pommer chewed cigarette holders in twain and talked three languages at once, and Cormack—reputedly a hard-boiled Chicago ex-newspaperman—quivered in 9 daze. Laughton hates all this, and once the tempest is past he is rather ashamed of himself and more than ever in awe of the "natural" actors who, with an instinct' for technique, whistle themselves through their roles, so to speak. What inner balances in Laughton allow him to harmonise the escape into .solitude vital to imaginative creation and the other sleazy practicalities of the market place are beyond conjecture. Perhaps it is the Englishman tn Laughton, the blend of poetry and solid common sense that is strong in the race. Physically, of course, he is as strong as an ox, and that helps. He loves flowers—is a member of the Royal Horticultural Society—as well as vast quantities of food. He is in the cold business of production, almost wistfully eager to learn and determined that he shall. And there is in him. ordinarily hidden by heartiness, graciousness, and charm,.'a streak as stubborn as glue, the tenacity of purpose that, against opposition, made him an actor the hard way, that made him successful in his fight not to be "typed," that sent him home to England to "be himself" as he saw it, when he could have stayed in Hollywood as long as he wanted, raking it in.

Cecilia Parker, who has come to be known to millions as Mickey Rooney's sister, Marian, in the famous Hardy Family, series, believes that aspiring actresses are wiser to pick the most difficult path to follow for their screen careers. "When I first decided to embark upon a motion picture career there were many paths open to me," says Miss Parker, who makes her latest appearance as Marian in the seventh Hardy Family hit, "Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever." "I could have taken the stage route, the stock player's route, or the drama school route, but none of these appealed to me because they meant a long wait without actual daily screen experience of a responsible type. Figuring that it would be better experience to be a leading lady in a small picture than to be a bit player in a large picture, I decided to try for a lead in a serial short subject, and just to make it a bit more difficult I went after a 'Western' short subject. • I've never worked so hard in my life. Riding horses for twelve hours straight, being thrown from wild broncs, all of these things helped me to build up a 'character reserve' that I now find very handy in meeting painful disappointments, both on and oft; the screen." -j

The Catholic Players' presentation of "The Kingdom of God" will take place in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Friday, Sunday, and Monday, February 2, 4, and 5. The production of Martinez,.Sierra's work promises to be one of the* most important features of the National Eucharistic Congress. This famous play has invariably attracted tremendous interest when performed in various parts of the world. Although performed before people of all faiths, "The Kingdom of God" is really a Catholic Action play. Main interest in the forthcoming performances in Wellington centres in the appearance of Madame Dronke, who, besides taking the main role of Sister Gracia, is the inspiration and driving force behind the rehearsals. The Congress executive is fortunate in having such a brilliant actress and personality as Madame Dronke for the production. Madame Dronke <who is now resident in Wellington) has played important parts in leading theatres in Berlin, Vienna, and other European capitals- She has played Juliet under Max Reinhardt;. was associated with the celebrated Alexander Moissi; and has taken big parts in the famous Vienna Burgtheatre. On one occasion she -was understudy for Elizabeth Bergner in the part of Juliet. Madame Dronke has also given verse-speaking recitals in England and the big cities of the Continent. Always prominent in Catholic activities, Madame was particularly active in the youth work in Cologne. There are about 30 parts in the play, also a number of small parts for the younger folk. In the cast are such well-known local players as Algernon Deuber, who made such a success of the leading role in the recent Repertory production "Robert's Wife"; Miss Mary Butler and Messrs. Geo. Cooper and W. O. Phillips. The settings are being specially designed and painted by Will J. Conroy.

"THE RAINS CAME."

RAFFLES THE FOURTH,

CECILIA PARKER'S ADVICE.

All the colour and pageantry of India are caught in the climax of Darryl F. Zanuck's production of "The Rains Came," the great Louis Bromfield novel, starring Myrna Loy, Tyrone Power, and George Brent. The scene shows the coronation of the high-caste' Hindu, Major Rama Safti, played by Tyrone Power, in a sumptuous palace, and includes fireworks, elephants, and all the other features of this dazzling ceremony. Although the Bromfield novel ends with Safti about to ascend the throne,: and the 20th Century-Fox film is faithful to the story, Zanuck decided to add this stirring sequence in order to provide his production with a climax as thrilling as the other spectacles which high-light it—the earthquake, the torrential rains, the dam break, the flood, the fire. Myrna Loy plays the amorous Lady Esketh in "The Rains Cams." while George Brent is cast as Tom Ransome.