SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 21784, 28 July 1934, Page 6

SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Noah Beery, noted character actor, is enacting the role of a Hungarian innkeeper in ‘ Caravan,’ Erik Charell’s gigantic musical production now in its fifth week of production at the Fox Film studio. Lionel Barrymore has also been added to the cast. ♦ * * R. L. Grant, general manager for New Zealand for British Empire Films, has just received the cable news from Loudon that ‘ The Great defender,' the new 8.1. P. feature starring Matheson Lang, was - screened for the trade and Press with sensational success. No film in the past twelve months has evoked the reaction of this screening, and its future is‘assured as one of the big attractions of the film year. ‘ The Great

Defender " deals with the criminal, law courts of Great Britain and the life of Sir Beestou Rolls, K.G., the central character, a great law advocate in a most dramatic and unusual story. Supporting Matheson Lang are Sam Livesey, Arthur Mnrgettson, Laura Cowie, Robert Horton, .Jeanne Stuart, Lawrence Hanray, 0. B. Clarence, Richard Bird, Jimmy Godden, Mary Jerrold, Frank, Atkinson, J. Fisher White, Alec. Fraser," and Ronald-, A. Shineiv. The picture, which was produced at ISVehyyn Studios, necessitated' the entire and faithful reconstruction-of No. 1 Court 01d j; Bailey, “'where, in an identical atmosphere, Sir BeeSton Rolls, the greatest defender of his day fights for the life of a young artist,'accused of the murder of a gin with whom he has had an affair. Directed by Thomas Bentley, ‘ The Great Defender ’ is based on, and inspired by One of the famous murder trials in the career of the late Sir Edward Marshall Hall, K.C., the adaption and dialogue being written by John Hastings Turner. ,

‘ One More River,’ John Galsworthy’s novel, written just before his death, will be filmed at Universal City. James Whale has been assigned to, direct and R. C. Sherriff has already written the screen-play for it. AVlien Whale was in London for two mouths recently ho conferred with Sherriff, who is attending Oxford University, and together they worked out a treatment of the Galsworthy novel. It was possible for them to visit locations mentioned in the book, as most of the action in ‘ One More River,’ takes place in and around London - . * * * ♦ “A newspaper story that’s different.” That is the report preceding ‘Hi, Nellie 1’ starring Paul Muni, which coiijes to the Strand Theatre in the near future. One of the “ different " features of ‘ Hi, Nellie!’ is its star. No previous production with an editorial room background has featured u player of the theatrical importance, both on stage and screen, as'Mufti. For Muni himself, ‘ Hi, Nellie!’ is a dennrture too. Following the powerfully dramatic but sombre characterisations he has contributed to the screen in ‘ I Am a. Fugitive ’ and ‘ Scarface,’ his role iii this fast-moving, lightly handled and breezy story is said to represent an amazing contrast. For the first time in his screen career, the star essays comedy, in a fast picture that combines thrills and hilarious laughter. As the hard-hitting managing editor of a big daily paper, he finds himself suddenly‘in disgrace. He has failed to handle a sensational story as his publisher commands, and is assigned to the * Heart Throbs ’ column of the newspaper. He has to turn out daily reams of “ lovelorn ” copy—and the crudest cut- of all is his by-line: “ Nellie Nelson.” But this crack newsnapenmin Holds to his creed. While he writes balm for broken hearts, he still keens working on the story that has brought him low. That is, on his theory of the story—which has to do with the sensational disappearance of a public figure. His resolution of the case and his restoration to the publisher’s esteem provide the swift ami dramatic climax. Glenda Farrell,- in her first assignment ■is a leading lady, is seen opnesite the star. She plays a girl reporter whose long feud with the ncc newspaperman ends in romance. Other well-known players in the cast are , Ned Smirks. Maying a lugubrious reporter Donald Meek, as a fifty-year-old office boy: Edward Ellis, Kathryn Sergava, Berton Churchill, Dorothy Le Baire, Douglas Dumbrille, Robert Barrat, Hobart Cavanaugh, and George Meeker. * * * * “ Jadaau,” the famous grey stallion which the late Rudolph Valentino rode to film fame in 1 The Sheik,’ will be ridden by Richard Dis in RKO Radio’s ‘ Stingaree,’ the E. W. Hornung story with an Australian locale. In this colourful tale of an Australian bushranger and an opera singer Dix will depend on this horse to save him from capture many times when he is attempting a romlntic rendezvous with Irene Dunn, who appears in the picture with him.

As fourth of,a series of films fitted to their unique comedy talents, Paramount announces the purchase of ‘People Will Talk ’ for Charlie lluggles : and Mary Boland, based on a story by Ralph Spencer. Kent Taylor and Ida, Lupino are set for the juvenile leads,, and Norman M'Leod will direct. • »* ; * » A perfectly-balanced comedy team appears with'great success in “ Sis of a Kind,’ the nest release, • at, the St. James Theatre. There is Charles Buggies, with his dapper mannerisms, W. C, Fields with his sublime self-as-surance, Mary Bolatul, the matronly young wife, Alison Skip-worth, the shrewd and" masterly woman of the world, Grade Allen and George Burns, those nonsensical radio entertainers, not to .mention .a Great Dane, which obtrudes iteclf into the tale in several amusing ways. ■ The story opens with Haggles and Mary Boland , about to

take their annual holiday. They plan to make a motor tour from New York to Hollywood. ‘With the idea of economy the wife inserts an advertisement in a newspaper for someone to share expenses, with the result that Graeie Allen _ and her fiance join the party. The picture moves with fast action and makes hilarious entertainment. * * ' * ■ * Although Lanny Ross, radio, tenor,..is making his acting dehut in “‘‘Melody in Spring,’ he comes /from a itheatrical family. His father, Douglas Ross, is a noted Shakespearean actor, and his brother, Willis, is bn the English stage. :*, * ♦ * Victor Varconi is. principal in ‘ Menace,’ .a inystery “thriller ” just completed at Sound City. Varconi appeared in ‘ The Volga Boatman ’ and later _as Pontius Pilate in ‘ The King of Kings.’ He played in Continental productions for several years, and is one of the few silent stars with the ability to master the microphone from the start. * * * ♦ One of the strongest casts for any picture or this year’s Fox Film programme has been announced for ‘ Servants’ Entrance,’ which will be the next Janet Gaynor production. Lew Ayres will be reunited with Miss Gaynor for the first time since their memorable perfbrmancG in ‘State Fair.’ The cast also Will include Ned Sparks, Louise Dresser, Siegfried Rumann, the Broadway character .actor who won fame in ‘Grand Hotel,’ and recently csompleted his first film part in ‘ The World Moves On,’ and Frank Melton. * * * -* Arrangements have been made between Cinesound and Bert Bailey for the next picture to star this well-known character actor. Whilst the picture will be named ‘ Granddad Rudd,’ it will not in any way.be a sequel to ‘On Our Selection,’ and will revolve'round a less broad type of comedy than was used in the earlier picture. The idea is to make ‘ Granddad Rudd ’ still the lovable loud-voiced old character he was, but to make the others and the picture more' representative' of Australians.

Adolphe Menjou and Elissa. Landi have been teamed to enact the leading roles in ‘ The Great Flirtation.’ Menjou will assume his new role on the completion of his current picture, 1 Little Miss Marker.’ David Manners lias also been signed to a role in this production, it being his first for Paramount since he appeared with Claudette Colbert in ‘ Torch Singer.’ * * * * ‘ Strike Ale Lucky,’ the new Cinesound production starring “ Mo ” (Roy Rene), is something new for the Australian studios to tackle. An original comedy, ‘ Strike Mo Lucky ’ derives its title from one of-“ Mo’s” favourite expressions, and has proved a suitable vehicle for the popular comedian’s character acting. The production will be directed by Kep Hall, who made that epic of the Australian screen, ‘The Silence of Dean Maitland.’ The cast includes “ Mo,” John D’Arcy, Eric Masters. the new juvenile lead, imported from repertory work, Joe Valli. who will be the foil for “ Mo’s ” comedy, Dorothy Duhckley, Les Warton. Stan Tolhurst, Yvonne iianyard, and Baby Bevan, a new child find, who plays Miriam,” and comes into some very important scenes with Mo. Judging by the productions Cinesound has already given us, ’ Strike Me Lucky’ will bo keenly anticipated in .New Zealand as another Australian success. • '* » »' The changes which have taken place in the motion picture industry are never more forcibly realised than when an oldtime star, turns- up oh a set playing a -small part. Fifteen years ago William Fanium was one of the most popular and highest paid stars in filmdom. Recently he sat opposite Henry Wilcox on on Cecil B. De Mille’s ‘ Cleopatra’ set at ‘Paramount,' playing a “ bit ” part. Wilcoxon, who recently arrived from England to 'play the role of Marc Antony for De Mille, was an ardent admirer of Farnum when the latter was in his heyday, pddly enough,

one of the roles which brought fame to William Farnum when he was bn the stage was that of Marc Antony in ‘ Cleopatra.’ There were times in the past when Do Mille wanted very much to have William Farnum as a star in his pictures, but the star’s salary was a bit too prohibitive. De Mille Started out his career twenty years ago by bringing William’s brother, Dustin, out to' California - and starring him, ip his first picture, ‘ The' Squaw Man.’ Recalling Rudolph Valentino, Wallace He cry says the star of ‘ The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse ’ was of a most nervous, excitable type, "and was always afraid he had some wrong' slant on his characterisation. He suffered acutely from excesive modesty’, and was quite indifferent to tlio opposite, sex. He was' very religious—practically so—; regarding superficial beauty as one of the least of this world’s advantages. He looked for soul and character. His

greatest happiness was among children, and at the studio grounds it was' not unus.ual to . see “ Rudy ”' treating a crowd of children to sweets and regaling them with Biblical and fairy stones. At the'extravagant 'Hollywood parties, which were once the order of the day, and at which Valentino was often chief guest, it was amusing to observe how completely nonchalant he was to the attentions of the fairest charmers. He would choose the homeliest-looking lady as his supper partner, wait hand and.'foot on other -elderly persons present, and talk art and lofty subjects in a way that delighted those who took an interest in the better things of life.

, John Lougden, the noted English stage and screen star, who brilliantly interprets the role of the Dean in Cinesound’s stirring drama, ‘ The Silence, of Dean Maitland,’ was by a coincidence actually intended to enter the church, his father, a Wesleyan missionary, having chosen that career for him. John Longden was, born in the West Indies in 1903. and during the thirty years of his, existence has crammed more into life than moshmen at fifty. With the object of training forthe' church John was sent by'his father to Kiugswood School, Bath, for liis early education. The war came along, and John proudly joined, the R.N.V.R. for a year, a, boy of fifteen. Tho war ended, and he became a mining student in Yorkshire, and later soent two years underground in a Welsh .colliery. “ Somehow,’,’ said Mr Longden, “ coal seams did not suit my temperament. They’re rather uninspiring,. aren’t they '(•' ■ So Mr Longden went looking for some form of creative expression, and he became a member of an amateur theatrical group. Then in 1921 a solicitor friend introduced him to Seymour Hicks and a chance to get on the professional, stage. There, wasn’t much wealth to it at the start, but he walked on in ‘ Old Bill, M.P.,’ at the London Lyceum, and liked it. Then wealth enmo his way. ■ Thirty shillings a week in ‘ My Old Dutch ’ with Albert Chevalier! Longden was now laying the foundation of future success. He worked hard and got a long engagement, two years’ run playing Richard in ‘ The Farmer’s Wife ’ at the Court Theatre, Sloane square, in its three years’ run. After that the screen began to beckon. After a couple of small parts in English pictures Mr Longden was given a long contract with Gaumont-British _to write scenarios and act; and w‘th the.arrival of talking films he appeared in the first feature-length British talking film. ‘ Blackmail.’ Under contract to British International Pictures at Elstree he then appeared in ‘ Atlantic,’ the first tr lingual film; 1 The Flame of Love,’ with Anna May Wong; ‘ Two Worlds’; ‘Juno and the Paycock ’; and with Elissa Land! in her last English picture, ‘ Children of Chance,’ and Galsworthy’s ‘ Skin Game.’

All the vanished colour, fragrance, and elegance of Paris in the 1870’s is revived in ‘ Nana,’ Samuel Goldwyn’s long-heralded introductory American screen vehicle for his his new star, Anna Stem AH heard and read of Miss Sten’s ravishing beauty, her unique and irresistible personality, her great histrionic ability is declared inadequate ns a true estimate of this really great new star on the Hollywood horizon. As the heroine of Emile Zola’s famous .novel, who rises from street gamin to music hall star ,and toast of Paris, Miss .Sten is said to be a revelation. Not only does she look well and act well, but she sings well into the bargain—a plaintive ballad entitled ‘ That’s Love,’ written for her by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. * * * i * After eighteen months of separation, Janet Gay nor and Charles Farrell, the screen’s most romantic team, will be reunited in Fox Film’s latest release, ' Change of Heart.’ Heeding the request of thousands of “fans" to reunite those two screen sweethearts, the studio searched for n story that would be suitable for their reunion. Kathleen Norris’s modern novel. ‘ Manhattan Love Song,’ was finally selected out of hundreds of stories- as the perfect vehicle. The screen, play adapted from

the novel is a modern drama of youth’s epic struggle for love and happiness in the turmoil of Manhattan. The film relates a big city’s grim challenge to four youngsters out of college, two boys and two girls, who, banded together by ties of loyalty and common interest, enter its portals, accept its challenge, and begin their brave fight to achieve success, realising their dreams of ambition and possible fame. James Dunn and Ginger Rogers are billed as featured players in support of the two stars, Janet Gaynpr and Charles Farrell. They complete the quartet of youth around which the drama revolves.

Roy Del Ruth has been signed to direct ‘ The Treasure Hunt,’ the now Samuel Goldwyn “musical,” storing Eddie Cantor, for llnited Artists’ release, in which the banjo-eyed comedian appears as an African hunter. ■ Nun-, nally Job nson, Arthur Sheekman, and N’a't Perrin are writing the screen play, and Seymour Felix ;will -stage the eu.sernblcs. . , »»• * ' i: . . ; . Honours continue to be poured into the ; lap of Walt Disney.: creator of Mickey Mouse and the; Silly Symphony : featurettes.' He: has just been presented with a, gold medal by the American Art Dealers’ Association “ in • recognition of the contribution, both technically, and aesthetically,, he, has made to the art of the motion picture —an outstanding;achievement in design, movement, and the humour of human: existence.” . , , , i *.* * * . ... “That’s a Good Girl,’, Jack Buch-, anan’s'latest production, is based'upon ; tlio , famous , stage success ,t which he : produced, and appeared,in at the Lon-; don Hippodrome’. :The/story introduces an inpecunious. young . iiiaii-abou't-toa n, i dunned by creditors and besieged by bailiffs, who suddenly hears that ho can claim half a million, potinds in tbo south; of France from an aunt he has never seen. -But one condition is that when he goes to claim the money, he must take with him some attractive and distinguished young men to protect his aunt’s ward, Moya, who also inherits half ’ a 'million,' from the attentions of fortune hunting gigolos.