SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 21090, 30 April 1932, Page 6

SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Ruth Chatterton, who left the stage to become a great lady of the speaking films, is now, it appears, about to turn play producer. She has acquired Gilbert Wakefield’s comedy, ‘ Counsel’s Opinion,’ which was presented in London not so many months ago, and will shortly offer it on the Pacific Coast. In the cast will be Rose Hobart, who lias given several good performances in New York, and Ralph Forbes.

John Barrymore magnificently portrays the strangely ominous personality of Tsarakov, master of the Russian ballet, in the Warner Bros, and Vita-, phone production ‘ The Mad Genius,’ a coming Regent attraction. The actor who was the greatest Hamlet of the American stage, worthily follows, his former characterisations as ‘The Mad Genius.’ Marian Marsh, recent screen discovery, again plays opposite Mr Barrymore. ‘ The Mad Genius ’ moves relentlessly on to a tremendous climax and few moments in pictures have been so awe-inspiring as the last few hundred feet of film in this picture.

In Paramount’s rendering of Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous ‘Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde ’ (now heading the Empire bill), the loading role is taken by Fredric March, whose interpretation of the part is said to be nothing short of amazing. Since 1887 this great drama-romance has been before the public, the original creator of the role of the dual personality being Richard Mansfield, the greatest American actor of his day. Later the role was again made famous by Daniel E. Bandmann, the German-American actor. Henry Brodribb Irving, son of Sir Henry Irving, also appeared in the part in London. On the films, John Barrymore was an outstanding success in the role. Fredric March, the latest one to iplay the part, is reported to be every bit as good as all the others.

‘Delicious,’ Janet Gayuor’s and Charles Farrell’s newest melody romance, coming to the St. James shortly, takes its name from the charming manner in which Heather Gordon, a little Scotch immigrant • waif, the heroine, mispronounces words. Miss Gaynor is really adorable as the little Scotch girl; and Mr Farrell is the real version of a handsome lover. The story is ns entertaining as it is beautiful, and the music, composed by George Gershwin, is bright and sparkling. El Brendel is at Ins best in the comedy role. ‘Delicious’ is a Fox production, and may certainly be said to rank among the most prominent releases ever turned out by this well-known corporation. Tho photography is perfect, and the general settings and the direction are among tho nigh lights of this splendid show, which is bound to have a lengthy run in Dunedin.

‘ Hell Divers,’ a romance of aviation in the navy, with Wallace Beery and Clark Gable co-starred, and a supporting cast which includes such prominent players as Conrad Nagel, Dorothy Jordan, Marjorie Rambeau, and Marie Prevost, is to be released shortly. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer drama, filmed on board tho aeroplane carrier - Saratoga at the Panama mnoeuvres, with the co-operation of the United States navy, has in it practically every air thrill the service achieves in its annual training.

Howard Hughes paid more than half a million dollars for ‘ Cock of the Air,’ his latest film-play. ‘Cock of the Air,’ with Billie Dove and Chester Morris, is one of the most lavish motion pictures of the year. Incidentally, Hughes is the only producer in the motion picture industry who makes pictures entirely with his own capital. This picture is to bo released by United Artists.

Subsequent to Reginald Fogwell Productions Limited’s acquisition of Gilbert Fraukau’s “ best seller,” ‘ Martin Make Believe,’ the British and Dominions Film Corporation have secured the film rights of that writer’s early novel, ‘ The Love Story of Aliette Brunion.’ The latter was originally produced at Elstree as a silent by Mauric Elvey. Frankau’s attitude toward the talking picture art has evidently changed with a vengeance. Not more than one year ago he was one of its most antagonistic opponents. Perhaps the novelist realised that money, like the screen, can talk with effect.