SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 22328, 2 May 1936, Page 5

SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Victor Varconi and Jack La Hue have been added to the cast of ‘ Dancing Pirates,’ the new colour musical Pioneer Pictures are making. » * • * Madeleine Carroll and Henry Ifonda have been -signed to play in a picture for Warners. Miss Carroll recently went to Hollywood under contract to Walter Wanger.

Apart from appearing as “ Lady Cleone,” Jeffery Farnol’s famous heroine, in the film version of ‘ The Amateur Gentleman.’ now being made at Elstree, Elissa Landi will also be seen as Sarah Siddons, perhaps the greatest actress who ever graced the English stage, immortalised in the paintings of Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough. She will appear in the film in a tableau vivant of Sir Joshua Reynolds’s well-known portrait of Mrs Siddons as ‘ The 'Tragic Muse,’ which in the story will be a feature of a ball given at Carlton House in honour of the Prince Regent. The costume has been copied exactly from the Reynolds canvas, _ matching in colour, texture, and design, while the wig worn by Miss Landi _ took weeks of careful fitting and designing before perfection was achieved.

Wallace Beory has just started a vaudeville tour of America, for which he is being paid £1,500 a week. In addition, he gets 50 per cent, of the profits above the average takings.

Warner Brothers are planning to spend over 1,000,000d0l on ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’ which will go into production almost immediately in order to profit by the present popularity of costume pictures.

Humphrey Bogart, whom Warners brought from Broadway to play in ‘ The Petrified Forest,’ has made such a good impression that they intend to build him as a “ heavy ” actor. He will next play a hard-boiled editor in ‘ The Voice of Life.’ •***»' Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse and ‘ Silly Symphony ’ films were recently shown in Moscow for the first time. A programme which consisted of ‘ The Band Concert,’ ‘ Three Little Pigs,’ and ‘ Peculiar Penguins,’ attracted enthusiastic audiences, who cheered and applauded wildly. Soviet critics hailed Disney as a genius, but also read a social significance in the antics of Mickey Mouse. According to one reviewer. “ Disney is really showing us the people of the capitalists’ world under the masks of pigs, mice, and penguins.”

‘Three Orphan Kittens’ traces in typical Silly Symphony fashion the adventures of three young and intrepid felines who come out of the storm to face unknown clangers in a warm and welcoming _ house, with the chief menace being people’s feet rather than their faces. ‘ Cock o’ the Walk ’ is one of the most elaborate Silly Symphonies the Disney studios have turned out in recent months. It has all the adult appeal of a spectacular musical comedy feature, plus the simplicity that readily makes it understandable to children. It introduces a new group of characters (most of them of the barnyard variety), and an even newer combination of sports and dance routines. All Walt Disney productions are released through United Artists.

Charlie Chaplin's new picture, ‘ Modern Times,’ which cost £400,000 to make, is expected to realise £1,500,000 at sie world’s box offices. The two-rcelers which brought fame to the comedian were usually made in a week and cost about £2OO.

One of the high lights of the new Criterion film, ‘ The Amateur Gentleman,’ with Douglas Fairbanks, jun., and Elissa Landi in the star parts, is a sensational _ escape from an eighteenth century prison, under cover of dense fog. Gunther Krampf, the cameraman lyho is “ turning ” on this film, insisted on sending to the. Continent for the latest thing in fogs, which arrived promptly by plane. This new “ fog ” is white, smells pleasantly of a wood fire and has the merit of remaining stationary far longer than the oldfashioned flare-produced smoke. But. after several “ takes.” an outbreak of coughing occurred, which threatened to ruin the sound recording, and so, with the promptness of which film studios are famous, the floor staff was provided with gas masks. ‘ The Amateur Gentleman ’ is to be released by United Artists.

Warner Brothers have decided to remake ‘ The Sea Hawk.’ as a successor to ‘ Captain Blood.’ The picture was done in the silent days by First National, with Milton Sills featured. Harry Joe Brown, who supervised ‘Captain Blood,’ will handle production reins on the talkie version, and Errol Flynn will be in the title role, * * * * Zolton Korda, who is to direct ‘ Revolt in the Desert,’ the film about the late Colonel Lawrence, “ Lawrenc* of Arabia ’’—for London Film Productions, left for Arabia on January 25, where ho will make arrangements for the production of the picture. Ho is accompanied by Colonel Stirling, who was Lawrence's right-hand man during the latter part of the campaign, and ho is described in the book, ‘ Revolt in the Desert,’, as “ Stirling—the tactful and wise.”

Freddie Bartholomew goes on record as the first actor to play ‘ kittle Lord Fauntleroy ’ without benefit of' the traditional long golden curls and plush suit in the .Sclznick International film version of the world-famous Frances Hodgson Burnett story, which co-stars the popular child star with Dolores Cooteilo Barrymore. This departure from the tradition is the direct result of public reaction to the announcement that David O. Scl/.nick, who makes his debut as an independent producer with this film, would lot the fans ” decide whether Freddie should wear the long golden curls or his own short chestnut locks. In all other respects, however, Hugh Walpole, who adapted 1 Little Lord Fauntleroy ’ to the screen, has faithfully adhered to the universally beloved story of the little American hoy who became a nobleman, went to England to Jive in a castle with the irascible Marl of Dorincourf, and transformed that gentleman from a surly old hear to a lovable old grandfather. Dolores Costello Barrymore makes her return to the screen in the role of “ Dearest,” the little fellow's beautiful and adored young mother; C. Aubrey Smith is seen as the earl; Guy Kibhce and Mickey Rooney play Fauntleroy’s American friends; Mr Hobbs and Dick the bootblack. Others in the east are Henry Stephenson, Jackie Scnrl. K. E. Clive. Tina O’Connor, Ivan Simpson, and Jessie Ralph. John Cromwell directed the film, which is released l through United Artists. * # * * Charlie Chaplin is famous as an actor, writer, director, and composer, hut few people are aware of his ability to draw. It is his practice to make the preliminary sketches of his sots, which are then passed on to the art director for amplification. In 1 Modern Times ’ all the principal sets were designed from his original drawings. As a hobby lie is particularly fond of designing hook plates, and ho has given many away to his friends. In New York recently a sclf-sketchcd caricature of himself was sold for charily.

Charles Boyer, rapidly emerging as one of the screen’s finest romantic actors, meets in ‘ Shanghai,’ which opens to-day at the Mayfair Theatre with ‘ Front Page Woman,’ a role completely worthy of his talents and of his sensitive portrayal. Starred witn Loretta Young in an absorbingly dramatic story of the new East, Boyer is the mystery figure of the new Shanghai, the man who had come from nowhere to win virtually complete financial control of China. Prominent in the supporting cast of ‘ Shanghai ’ are Warner Gland, Alison Skipworth, and Fred Keating. ‘ Front Pago Woman,’ one of tlio- most realistic and exciting of any newspaper .screen drama, has Bette Davis and George Brent in the stellar roles. It is entirely different from any other newspaper play, dealing with the hitter rivalry of two star reporters, a man and a woman on opposition papers, who arc really in love with each other, hut do their best to ” scoop ” each other. Bette Davis plays the role of the newspaper woman, and George Brent is the reporter who is in love with her but who scorns her ability until she evenutally beats him at his own game. Roscoo Karns plays a comedy role as Brent’s photographer, while Winifred Shaw has the part of a Broadway stroller who finally confesses to slaying a wealthy playboy after Gordon Westcott, who was with her at the time, had been convicted of the crime.

The legend is that gentlemen prefer blondes; however, there are examples of blondes preferring gentlemen, and, in rare instances in the movies, blondes prefer blondes. In this latter category the tow-headed Gene Raymond must be placed. In his current picture, RKO Radio's comedy ‘ Love on a Ret,’ Raymond plays opposite his fourth blonde—-golden-haired Wendy Rarrie. Following that ancient law of physics that positive attracts negative, directors usually east blonde opposite brunette. Raymond has a natural preference for blondes, and it was first manifested when he played opposite Rette Davis in ‘ Ex-Lady.’ He was later starred with lovely Loretta Young in 1 Zoo in Budapest,’ and recently he played opposite the yellow-tressed Ann Sothorn in 1 Hooray for Love.’ Ho also played opposite blonde Lilian Harvey in ‘ I Am Suzanne.’ Miss Rarrie is not the extreme blonde type, her hair having a tinge of red. The only other woman in the cast, Helen Rroderick, is also a natural blonde.

Frcsli from their triumph, in 1 Barhary Const,’ Miriam Hopkins and Joel AFCrca appear together again in ‘ Splendour,’ the Samuel Goldwyn film released by United Artists, which will, start at the Regent Theatre on Friday next. The new production is a remarkable, tribute to the stars’ versatility, for they turn with consummate ease from the clamour and vice of old San Francisco to the polite sophistication of the upper circle of society in modern New York. The romantic conflict in which they are involved, however, is oven more gripping and unusual in their now environment than it was in the old. The screen play of ‘ Splendour ’ is a fine example of scenario writing by Rachel Crothers, who wrote 1 When Ladies Meet ’ and other successes. It contains originality, clever dialogue, and dramatic, romantic, ami comedy situations in full measure; while the lavish and careful presentation with which the name of Samuel Goldwyn is always associated gives to the production an atmosphere of complete authenticity. Goldwyn's habit of having only the very best of everything in his films is revealed also in the choice of players to support Miriam Hopkins and Joel M’C'rea. One and all are artists, and it is their acting perhaps as much as that of the stars that makes the drama so convincing. Paul Gavanagh, Billie Burke, Helen Westley, Katherine Alexander. Ruth Weston, and Arthur Treacher arc but a few names in a cast that carries a guarantee of quality entertainment. Miriam Hopkins and Joel M'Crea arc the romantic leads, and as such they rightly attract most of the interest; but it is the character played by the veteran actress, Helen Westley, that really dominates the plot. As the old head ot a once proud Now York family she it is who plans to recoup the family fortunes and prestige by making a “ successful marriage ” for her son. He upsets her scheming by marrying a beautiful hut penniless girl from Virginia; hut she is not defeated, and it is in the conflict between the girl, striving to save her marriage from disaster, and the matriarch plotting subtly to steer it on to the rocks so that her sou may ho free to do ns she wishes that the real interest of tin’s daring and highly dramatic film is centred. * k * * Between dangerous thrills and dangerous romance, there is something doing every minute in ‘ China Boas." the new all-star Mctro-Goldwyn-Maycr drama which is now screening at the Empire Theatre. The stars are Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, and Wallace Beerv. It is a picture in which interest never slackens, and action never lags. Jt takes its place among the finest entertainment vehicles of the new screen season. Part of the story is played m the howling fury of a tropical hurricane on the last frontier, the wild south-eastern coast of Asia. It is one of the most spectacular sequences ever filmed. ‘China Seas’ deals with the odd love story of the hard-bitten young skipper of a coastwise liner, played by Gable, and “ China Hoi I,” a lovely wanderer in the Asiatic ports, played by Miss Harlow, involved with them is a mysterious trader, Wallace Beery, who is suspected of being the master mind of a piracy plot. Action takes place entirely on the wheezy old liner Kin Lung as it plows down the China sea between Hongkong and Singapore. Under the polite veneer of thn passengers runs a tremendous dramatic iindcr-cniTcut of fierce loves, bitter hates, and sinister intrigues, to which the typhoon and the sudden catastrophic pirate raid are fitting background. K » » *

CDace Moore recently “ walked nut ’’ on licr Columbia contract with Harry Colin—for whom she made 1 One Night of Love.’ ‘ Love Me tor liver, 1 and ‘ The King Steps Out ’—because she objects to having to “ stand around 'and sing all day.” “My voice is my living,” she told the studio executives. “ and I like butter with my bread.” Interviewed in Detroit in the course of a concert tour, she said she would not return “ until Hollywood learns to treat mo more like a human being and less like a machine.” She continued: “ In the last picture I made in Hollywood ” (this would be ‘ The King Steps Out.’—Ed.) “ thev made mo sing all day and milk a cow into the bargain. 1 don't mind milking a cow nr two in the course of a day, but also to sing all day is something else. I have another public besides that one in Hollywood.” Miss Moore planned to return to New York and to sail within a few weeks for Europe, where she is booked lor a number of appearances this spring and summer.

Walter Connolly. Columbia's noied contract player, lias a leading role in Grace Monro’s forthcoming starring vehicle ‘ The King Stops Out.’ now in production under the direction ni‘ Jos-of von Sternberg. .Franchot Tone plays opposite .Miss Moore, while the mush; is by Fritz Kreislcr. Mr Connolly recently coninletod a feature role in the Harry Pichmaii-Pochclle Hudson co-starring musical production, 1 The Music Goes Hound.’ Coining directly from the X:;w York stage where ho starred in numerous Broadway productions, Mr Connolly made his screen debut three years ago in Columbia's ‘ The Bitter Tea of General Yen,’ and since then he has appeared in a long list of successful screen productions.

i Universal’s ‘ Diamond Jim.’ dealing both with the life of James Buchanan 1 Brady, bejewelled super-salesman, and with the colourful days and nights of the gay ’nineties, will open at the Grand on Wednesday. Edward Arnold, who pladys Brady, the purveyor of railroad equipment, the man who lost and made, fortunes again and again in Ids career, who wore £500,000 worth of jewellery, and gave parties which cost £20,000 cadi, “ steals ” the show, while Jean Arthur and Binnie Barnes, as Lilliatn Russell, Hie two women he really loved in the course of his amazing career, come close to taking his honours. Life on Broadway is one of fhc features, hut Preston Stnrges, in writing the script from the best-seller and magazine story by Parker Morell, has not neglected iho thrills. There are, for instance, two train wrecks. That the production reveals a clear cross-section ot life during the most colourful era in the history of the country is shown by the fact that early theatrical productions, automobiles, tads, horse racing, parties, and even characters come to life on the screen. In the cast of the production, in addition to Arnold, Miss Arthur and Miss Barnes, are Fade Blore, Hugh O’Connell, George Sidney. * * * » Fresh from radio triumphs and a sensational career in opera and concert performances, Nino Alartini has arrived on the screen of the State Theatre, where Ids ‘ Here’s to .Romance ’ opened, to prove that he is not only the greatest tenor in a decade, hut a magnetic screen personality whoso acting skill, extreme good looks, and vital personality hid fair to make him an overnight sensation. In ‘ Here’s to Romance,’ Jesse L. La sky has produced a picture miles above the level of ordinary motion picture offerings, a skilfully written and directed love story that is chock full of gorgeous music and exquisite and unusual dancing. In the gala cast which supports Martini arc Genevieve Tobin, Anita Louise, Madame Ernestine Seliumaim-fteink, Reginald Denny, Maria Gambarclli, and Vincente Kscudero. The hectic career of Martini, who as a young singer is sent to Paris by Mi ss Tobin, is the principal tlicmc of the picture plot. He falls in love with Anita Louise, is divided between his loyalty, to Miss Tobin and his now love. Later he makes a debut that proves a terrible fiasco, and returns to New York. He is a failure until Miss Louise comes to his rescue, wins him a chance with the Metropolitan, and finally consents in marry him—without revealing that she is the one who brought him success. That is the essential story. But (he thing which interests audiences morels Martini’s golden voice in selections from ‘La Tosca,’ ‘ Cavallcria Rusticana,’ and innumerable other operatic favourites, as well as the two popular numbers with music from the fertile pen of Con Conrad. The astonishingly beautiful dancing by Maria Gambarclli, who learned her art from thn imifiortal Pnvolwn, and the gypsy interpretations of Vincente Escudcro are other artistic treats which help to make ‘ Here’s to Romance ’ a miracle of entertainment. Even lovolv Anita Louise, who is superb as one of the romantic principles, contributes dance numbers to the picture. « * * * Mr Robert T. Kane, chief of the new company, New World Pictures, announced recently that the first colour feature to he made in England, will he ‘The Snort of Kings,’ based on ‘ The Talc of the Gipsy Horse.’ by the Irish novelist, the late Donn Byrne. It will he produced at the new Denham studios of Alexander Korda, and will cost between £IOO,OOO and £120,000. Tcchnieolour experts will arrive from Hollywood in a week or so to begin work on the film. Lighting equipment for colour production costing £15,000 has been bought. Several big English race meetings are to he filmed for the picture. « • « • Alexander Korda, announces that he has signed George Robey, English stage star, to a three-year contract. Robey, who has been a prominent stage comedian for more than 40 years, will be assigned an important role in a forthcoming London Filins picture. He will he remembered by film audiences as Saneho Pnnza in ‘ Don Quixote,’ and as Ali Baba in ‘ Chu Chin Chow.’ * » # »

Douglas Fairbanks, sen., wants Douglas Fairbanks, jini., to play the leading role in his forthcoming production. ‘ Marco Polo.’ The c"’r was promptly

made when the son, now in London, made a Hying visit to Hollywood after an absence of two years. Fairbanks, jun., declared that ho probably would he nnahlc to accept the offer, as ho was ton busy with his new production company, Criterion Films. The younger Fairbanks was in Hollywood from London to complete a deal with United Studio, in which his father is a partner, for distribution of Criterion pictures. Ho was also attempting to borrow sc,-oral American a Tors for roles in his pictures which are produced in Loudon. Fairbanks, jun., formerly married to .Joan Crawford, laughed off reports that he was romantically interested in either Elissa .Land! or Gertrude Lawrence.