NEW ZEALANDERS IN HOLLYWOOD

Evening Star, Issue 21636, 3 February 1934, Page 6

NEW ZEALANDERS IN HOLLYWOOD

COLIN TAPLEY'S SUCCESS That the presence in Hollywood of Joyce Nielsen and Colin Tapley, who represented New Zealand in the Paramount picture, ‘The Search for Beauty,’ assisted in focussing attention on the dominion, is evidenced by recent reports from Los Angeles. Reports state that Nola Luxford, remembered for her stage appearances in New Zealand, and now a Press correspondent in Hollywood, took care of the social activities of the two young New Zealanders, introducing them_ to a wide circle of friends. It was noticeable that the Los Angeles Press gave more space to items concerning New Zealand after the arrival of Miss Nielson and Mr Tapley than before. On Armistice Day a special broadcast over station KFI to Australia and New Zealand was arranged. Later, Miss Luxford also gave another broadcast programme from the same station as a farewell to Admiral Byrd, which programme was scheduled to coincide with the date of departure of the Antarctic expedition from Dunedin. In this special programme Colin Tapley was selected for the important part of broadcasting Paramount’s message of goodwill to the expedition, his selection being on account of the fact that he was a New Zealander, and also because he was associated with Byrd’s previous expedition. Miss Luxford’s stories state that Colin Tapley is doing well at Paramount’s studios in Hollywood having been retained there for further pictures after the completion of ‘ The Search for Beauty.’

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have completed ararngements for the loan of Herbert Marshall to play a leading role in ‘ Rip Tide.’ Norma Shearer and Robert Montgomery are the other stars of this new picture, which is an Irving Thalberg production, based on an original screen story by Charles MacArthur. ‘ Rip Tide ’ will be directed by Edmund Goulding. whose pictures include ‘Grand Hotel’ and *The Trespasser.’ * # ★ Studio work on a big scale has now ben started on British and ‘ The Queen ’ at Boreham Wood. This new British and Dominions picture is the legitimate successor to ‘Bitter Sweet,’ and reintroduces the co-star-ring team of Anna Neagle and Fernand Graavey, with direction by Herbert Wilcox. ‘ The Queen ’is a satirical romance set in the mythical kingdom of Sirocco, where life is free and easy and political opinions change with the wind. Music is by Ocsar Strauss, and he is the composer of the tune which, sung in waltz time, is introduced as the national anthem of Sirocco, later converted by Carl into a march to symbolise the introduction of the new regime. Stuart Robertson is once again leading a specially picked male voice chorus. Other members of the cast are Gibb M‘Laughlin, Muriel Aked, and Miles Malleson. • + * * Universal’s ‘ By Candle light ’ is said to be the gayest, most sparkling screen comedy of the season. Fitted with sophistication- and . smart lines, the picture fairly radiates cleverness, and presents many interesting sidelights on the lives of philandering Europeans of noble birth. Spicy, deliciously humorous situations follow one another in swift succession, with dangers from susspicious spouses always lurking around the corner. The cast is exceptional, headed as it is by Elissa Landi, Paul Lukas, Nils Asther, and Esther Ralston, four altogether charming people. The locale is Vienna and Monte Carlo, two places in Europe where joy has always been more or less unconfined, even though the roystering is done in a consistently refined manner.