FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 22526, 19 December 1936, Page 5

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

SCREENLAND JOTTINGS Bing Crosby’s brother, Bob, has been offered a job by Paramount. He is at the moment touring America with his dance orchestra- *■ *„ * * Busby Berkeley, famous dance director, has been acquitted of a charge of manslaughter after the case has been tried three times, two juries having failed to agree.

■ The contracts,. winch most players sign with Hollywood studios cover periods of five to seven years, hut contain “ option, clauses,” under which the studio renews its contract every few months. In this manner, after any of the option periods, the studio can drop a player it does not want any more. The youngpst player in Hollywood to have an option “taken up” by a studio is Beverley Firestone, a nine-months-old baby, who will appear in Loretta Young’s new picture. The infant’s appearance with Miss Young pleased ■ studio officials so much that they continued her contract for a further six, months. The child’s father is well known in Holly wood as the operator of a doughnut factors.

The news that Sonnie Hale will not be appearing on the screen any more will be received with regret the world Over. The inimical comedian of many uproariously successful films, Sonnie Hale has been promoted by GaumontBritish to the directorial staff and will in future work only behind the scenes. This means that he will direct the making of, his wife’s—Jessie Matthews’s—pictures. Sonnie has accepted his new and important, position gladly, ft will give'him, he says, greater scope to do' all the things in film production that have - been denied him so far. Also, no .one ‘ is so' well qualified to direct Jessie Matthews as debonair Sonnie. Despite Sonnie Hale’s promotion, everybody will be genuinely sorry that they won’t be seeing Sonnie’s comic burlesque on the screen, or hearing his merry quips anymore. His last film is . appropriately .in partnership with : Jessie Matthews, ‘ It’s Love Again.’-

by “Loiterer”

New songs are sung and new dances executed by Shirley Temple in ‘ Dimples,’ her latest Fox-20th Century picture, which will shortly be released) in New Zealand. Six new' musical numbers written by Jimmy M‘Hugh and Ted Koehler are featured in the production. Frank Morgan, Helen Westley, and Robert Kent are featured in the supporting cast.

Sam Goldwyn is going ahead with his plans to film ‘ Othello.’ He will try to persuade Walter Huston to play the title role, with Merie Oberon as Desdemona.

Preparations are being competed by Michael Balcon, director of productions at the - Gaumont-British studios at Shepherd’s Bush, to make 1937 the best year Jessie Matthews will in films. While she has been ill her husband, Sonnie Hale, has been working on three original stories in which Miss Matthews will be starred. The first will be ‘ Sparkle,’ an original musical comedy written by Dwight Taylor, author of ‘ Top Hat ’ and ‘ Follow the Fleet.’ Second of the series will _be ‘Hearts and Anchors,’ an original story by Selwyn Jopson. Her third picture will be ‘ Marriage a la Mood,’ a comedy designed, c±o present Miss Matthews in a series of highly amusing situations.

The glorified beauties who tried their wings in ‘ The Great Zeigfeld ’ .were rewarded by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by receiving “ acting ” roles in ‘ Small Town Girl,’ starring Janet Gaynor and Robert Taylor. Producer Hunt Stromberg and Director William Wellman signed the entire group, including Monica Bannister, Bonnie Bannon, Edna Callahan, Helen Collins, Diane Cook, Paulino Craig, Doris Davenport, Hester Deane, Virginia Grey, Mary Jane Halsey, Mary Lange, Lorna Lowe, Margaret Lynam, Virginia Meyers, Wanda Perry, Clarice Spence, and Vanita Varden.

Zasu Pitts is building a new 14-room house in Brentwood Heights. In it will he Hollywood’s first round kitchen. It is the kind Miss Pitts has always wanted. She has long been known as one of filmland’s most expert cooks, and now she is compiling a recipe book.

Jottings on the people of the Stage and Screen and on the latest recorded Music.

Elinor Fair, who once earned £SOO h week as a film star, is now destitute in Hollywood. ■ She was within an hour of being turned out of her apartment for non-payment of rent when her second and divorced husband, Thomas Daniels, a broker, came to her rescue with an arrangement whereby she was able to retain it. “ The actress is destitute and suffering from nervous exhaustion,” said her mother, Mrs Helen Crowe, with whom she has been living during the last'few years. Everything has gone now—money, jewels, furs, cars,” she added. “ I do not know what we are going to do when another rent day comes round. If Elinor could only just get her health hack I know she could go into pictures again. But her nerves will not stand it.” After Miss Fair’s successes in ‘ The Volga Boatman,’ ‘ Driven,’- and ‘ The Yankee ’ Clipper.’ several years ago, "sh© married William Boyd, the actor, and retired. “ She wanted to he a housewife, so she ‘quit.’ It was her greatest mistake,” her mother said. The marriage lasted) three years. Miss Fair and Boyd were divorced in 1929. She married Mr Daniels three years later, but divorce ended that marriage in June, 1935. • • • When William Shakespeare wrote “ Each man in his time plays many parts ” he might well have penned that lino for William Powell, who stars with Carole Lombard in the new Universal film ‘ My Man Godfrey,’ coming to the Empire, shortly. Powell adds his interpretation of a butler to the many different screen characters he has portrayed before. It can truly be said that 'he has had more parts than a jigsaw puzzle. William Powell was a theatrical producer in ‘ The Great Ziegfeld,’ a doctor in ‘ The Ex-Mrs Bradford,’ a detective in ‘ The Thin Man,’ and some six other offerings, including the Philo Vance series. He was a lawyer in ‘ Evelyn Prentice ’ and ‘ Lawyer Man.’ He was a spy-catcher in ‘ Rendezvous,’ an artist in ‘ Escapade,’ a gambling master-mind in ‘ Street of Chance,’ and a horse owner and sportsman in ‘ Reckless.’ Powell was a spectacular figure as a Foreign Legionnaire in ‘ Beau Geste ’ and ‘ Beau Sabreur.’ He was a swordsman of the French romantic period in 1 Under the Red Robe,’ and a knight-at-ams in ‘ When Knighthood was in Flower.’ Now as a butler be experiences just as much romance as he did in any of his other varied roles, and a great deal more hilarious comedy. William Powell was born in Pittsburgh. He was educated there arid at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. He spent 10 years on the dramatic stage and made his screen debut in 1921. ‘ Bea,u Geste ’ brought him film faine, and he r has continued to hold the front rank river since. Whether Powell,’ in his portrayal, is wielding a surgeon’s scalpel, a fenepr’s sword, or a knight’s lance; whether he is detecting criminals, trapping spies, or entangling witnesses; whether he is gambling for money or for his life; whether ho_ is battling against men’s wits or toying with women’s affections, he is always the polished actor. However, in ‘My Man Godfrey ’ there is no toying. A debutante loves him, but he loves his freedom. But he finally surrenders.

Recovering in her Californian home after a fight against bronchial pneumonia—the. illness that recently killed her producer husband, Irving Thalberg —Norma Shearer told a close friend that she did not think she would resume her acting career. “ I do not think 1 shall ever appear in another picture,” she said. “ When I played the potion scene from ‘ Romeo and Juliet ’ on the radio (her last acting performance) I had a strange presentiment that I should never act again. It was just as though a voice whispered it to me while ,T was talking into the microphone, and even at that time, when I had not a worry in the world, I sensed what lay behind my premonitiop. Now I cannot hear to think of work.” Asked if she might take a trip abroad, she replied; “ In this home that Irving built for us I have spent my happiest days. Here I shall remain with Irving Junior and baby Katharine. Everything in the house fills me with lovely memories, and I want those memories about me always. I do not know what I should do without my children,” she added. “ I could not leave them now, and_ I do not want to take them away, leaving this house shut up like a place of mourning.” It is probable that in business Miss Shearer will find her mental haven. As one of the heaviest stockholders, she will no doubt be an important factor in the running of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, hut for the present she is still engaged in discussing with lawyers the administration of her husband’s vast estate.

One of the most impressive sets in the new Tom Walls picture, Pot Luck,’ coming on Wednesday to the Grand, is an old mansion where a gang of thieves store their stolen goods in the vaults. Visitors to the studios while the film was being made remarked on the reality of the “ancient” beams and woodwork. Many asked the ciiief plasterer how, with lath and plaster, he could produce such astonishing effects. But the plasterer kept his secret to himself! One old lady, visiting the studio, cornered him and tried to drag his secret from him. “ Tell me,” she said, “ how do you put the worm holes in the old oqJs beams?” But the chief_ was not to be caught. Thinking quickly, hex replied: “ We have a farm, of specialty trained woodworms, madam, and _we apply a squad of these industrious little creatures to the portions of scenery we wish to treat.” _ _ The plasterer, however, had not anticipated that the good lady would take him at his word. When the story appeared in print he feared a summons from the r.s.p;o.a.i

‘ The Charge of the Light Brigade,’ one of Warner Brothers’ most important pictures of the_ year, will he re-, leased throughout New Zealand in the near future. Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, who made such a great success together in ‘ Captain Blood,’ have , the leading roles, supported) by Patric Knowles, Donald Crisp, Nigel Bruce, and many other popular players. ‘ The Charge of the Light Brigade ’ was inspired' by Lord Tennyson’s famous poem. The picture was directed by Michael ■ Curtiz from a screen play by Michel Jacoby and .Rowland Leigh; it was more than three months in production. The action of the plot begins on the frontier of India and) comes to its climax on the battlefield of ' Baladlava, where the Light Brigade made its' famous charge on the Russian guns in. the War of the Crimea.

Charlie Chaplin is < ready to begin work on his first talking picture. For months past technicians have been busy at the Chaplin studios installing talkie apparatus and new soundproof cameras. Charlie has written the script aiid will produce and direct the picture, but will not appear in it himself. Paulette Goddard, now his wife and once his leading lady in 1 Modern Times,’ will be the star. Following his usual custom, the comedian is displaying a marked reticence concerning the film. It is tentatively titled ‘ Production No. 6,’ and is said to be a comedy-drama with colourful Shanghai, Honolulu, and other foreign locales as backgrounds. Shooting will begin within the next few weeks. This will be the second Chaplin picture in which the comedian himself does not appear. The first was ‘ Woman of Paris,’ produced in 1923, which created a sensation for its unique treatment, and established Adolphe Menjou as a star. To follow ‘ Production No. G ’ Chaplin has purchased the D. L. Murray novel ‘ Regency,’ which will serve as a second subject for Miss Goddard.

One of Charles Dickens’s greatest novels, ‘ Dombey and Son,’ will soon go into production at the Warner Brothers’ studios. William Ulhnan, who wrote the forthcoming screen play of ‘ The White Rajah,’ in collaboration with Errol Flynn, is now at work on the adaptation of the famous novel about the love between Mr Dombey and his son, Paul. Florence, Major Bagstock, and other characters familiar to Dickensians, will appear in the film. The cast of the picture, which is expected to be one of Warner Brothers’ most important pictures of 1937, will be announced in the near future.

No male star on the screen to-day is more widely mimicked by children than Joe E. Brown, now appearing in his latest Warner Brothers’ comedy, ‘ Six-day Bike Rider,’ at the Octagon. Although exploitation has capitalised on its width, the comedian’s mouth is really but slightly larger than that of the average huiffeii being. The tunnel effect results from his practised use of his mobile lips. Children won’t believe tills, however, and that the height of their joy is te bo told) that they have a big mouth like Joe E. Brown was clearly evidenced during the production of ‘ Six-day Biko Rider,’ when the race scenes were heing_ made at the Winter Garden track in Hollywood. During the 11 days of productions at this spot the youngsters were given an opportunity daily to see Joe and talk with him. Always before Joe could enter the Garden he would have to pass before a line of youngsters displaying their “ big ” mouths. Topping it all was the occasion when a youngster, his mother, and grandmother, all fcpm Now York City, made a special trip to the

Garden and pleaded that the youngster might have an opportunity of meeting Joe. “ Back home they tell us he has a mouth just like Joe’s,” explained the mother. The youngster crossed the track, and when introduced to the comedian he opened, his mouth, then raced for his mother. It was the laugh of the day for the cast and crew. ‘ Sixday Bike Rider ’ is a hilarious comedy of thrills and spills on a racing track. Supporting Joe E. Brown are Maxine Doyle, Prank M'Hugh, Gordon Westcott, Arthur Aylesworth, and Dottier Williams. Lloyd Bacon directed the picture from the story and screen play by Earl Baldwin.

Jessie Matthews, the star of the Gau-mont-British song and dance success, ‘ It’s Love Again,’ can claim to he favourite of the world by now. Latest

American news shows the _ amazing popularity of Britain’s dancing star, who has won the enthusiasm of young and old alike. Soon after ‘ It’s Love / gain ’ was finished, a transatlantic broadcast was arranged for Jessie, who t rng several of her numbers in a London studio. They were relayed to New York, and thence were broadcast from coast to coast. The immediate reaction tf the public to this “personal” broadcast was seen in America’s reception of ber film, ‘ It’s Love Again,’ which is now enjoying a remarkable popularity. Americans call her by various names —■“ Personality Girl,” “ Britain’s Glamour Girl,” “ The Hot Foot Girl,” and “ The Lady with the Lovely Legs.” Despite many offers to go to Hollywood, Jessie still insists on making films for Gaumont-British, and is content to batter American picture houses with her long-range salvoes of gay songs, marvellous dances—and what the Americans call her “ poisenality ” 1 ft « • « Merle Oberon, the London film contract star who has been for some months in Hollywood, loaned to Sam Goldwyn, is returning to be again directed by Alexander Korda opposite Charles Laughton in ‘ I, Claudius,’ in England. Sh© will play the part of Messalma, the vestal virgin who becomes the Empress. In this picture she will wear some amazing clothes specially designed by John Armstrong. *, • * • Richard Dix recently purchased n ranch near San Diego, which is 130 miles from Hollywood. Feeling that the distance was too groat to waste in motor trips, Mi' Dix then bought a now four-seater plane in which to fly between Hollywood and the ranch.

If you have the purchase price you should have little difficulty in buying a second-hand hat. But did you ever try to purchase 500 of them ? Such was the assignment given the property man working with the technical staff of the ‘ Kelly the Second ’ company at the Hal Roach studios when that hilarious feature comedy was in production. With his pockets filled with cash, “Props” left the studio early in the morning assuring the company manager that he would he hack in an hour or two with the desired headgear. It wasn’t until late in the evening that ho returned with his car loaded down with hats of every description. But he failed to secure more than 300 of them, despite the fact that he visited nearly every second-hand clothing store in an around Los Angeles. For some unexplained reason, there had been a drought of used chapeaux in recent months, “ Props ” said, and although ho offered liberal payment for the 200 hats he still required, ho was, unable to locate any more. The hats—straws, felts, Derbies, and others—are tossed into the ring in a prize _ fight scene in which a new champion is acclaimed in the Hal Eoach-M.G.M. feature, ‘ Kelly the Second.’ It comes to the St. James on Friday. Featured in the notable cast of this full-length fun film are, among others, such wellknown players as Patsy Kelly, Charley Chase, Pert Kelton, Edward Brophy, and Guinn “ Big Boy ” Williams. Gus Meins directed. The story of ‘ Kelly the Second ’ concerns the hilarious and sometimes thrilling adventures of Molly Kelly (Patsy Kelly) and “ Doc ” Klum’ (Charley Chase) when they endeavour to “ make a boxing champion ” of Cecil Callahan (Guinn. “Big Boy” Williams), a fighting truck driver. • « * * Because ‘ The Witness Chair ’ depends on sheer histrionic merit and not trick photography and varied locales to amplify'its drama, the producers of this new Ann Harding photoplay, now at the State, afforded the story an extra powerful cast. At the_ top of the acting roster is Miss Harding. _ Miss Harding has shown unusual ability for handling emotional roles. Her performance in ‘ The Witness Chair ’ as the girl who remains reticent until an innocentman appears to be doomed to the electric chair is said to eclipse all her former performances. Opposite the star is Walter Abel, a handsome importation from the Broadway stage. Abel was appearing in ‘ Merrily We Roll Along ’ when RKO Radio offered him a contract. Under this long term commitment, he appeared first in ‘ The Three Musketeers,’ portraying the dashing d’Artagnan. His next screen role was the lead in ‘ Two in the Dark,’ which was followed with a featured role in ‘The Lady Consents,’ co-starring Ann Harding and Herbert Marshall. In ‘The Witness Chair’ he plays the_ defendant, with whom Miss Harding is in love. ‘ The Witness Chair ’ serves as a dehut vehicle for Frances Sage, 21-year-old footlight personality, who served her acting apprenticeship in the Group Theatre aud Theatre Guild. Another member of the cast of ‘ The Witness Chair’ who graduated from the Theatre _ Guild is Moroni Olsen, who made his screen debut as Porthos in ‘ The Three Musketeers.’ He was also seen as the dynamic Buffalo Bill in ‘ Annie Oakley.’ Douglas Dumbrille, Margaret Hamilton, Paul Harvey, Murray Kinell, Frank Jenks, Hilda Vaughan, and Maxine Jennings are in the cast, under George Nicholl’s, jun., direction. ‘ The Witness Chair ’ was adapted from Rita Weiman’s Cosmopolitan magazine story. * * * * Grunting expressively and making faces which would put a professional wrestler to shame, Frank M'Hugli picked up Glenda Farrell for the fourteenth consecutive time, gave her what is known among the mat grunters and groaners as an “ airplane spin,” and deposited her neatly on the top landing of a flight of steps. . This startling bit of horse-play was for a scene in First National’s production ‘ Snowed Under,’ which comes to the Strand on Friday. It was lucky that the fourteenth “ take ” w r as a good one. For M'Hugh was “ all in.” And so, for that matter, was Glenda. It was necessary to make the scene over 14-times because M'Hugh and Miss Farrell failed to land in the proper place for the camera setup. Close-ups of the same scene also had to be taken, and altogether it was a trying morning for the comedian and his feminine opponent in the rough and tumbling wrestling match. When it was all over M'Hugh had to be helped to his dressing room, and Miss Farrell deposited herself in the nearest cushioned property chair and refused to budge for a half-hour. “ I’m hurting all over,” said Glenda, “ but mostly where I was slapped down.” ‘ Snowed Under ’ is a rollicking comedy romance in which a playwright is snowbound in a Connecticut farmhouse with two exwives and a sweetheart while he is madly trying to finish a drama. Besides M'Hugh, the cast includes George Brent, Genevieve Tobin, Glenda Farrell, Patricia Ellis, John Eldredge, Porter Hall, and Helen Lowell. _Ray- ( raond Enwright directed the picture from the screen play by F. Hugh Herbert and Brown Holmes, based on the story by Lawrence Saunders.

The following opinion of 1 Bengal Tiger,’ which comes to the Strand on Friday, has been given by the ‘ Sydney Morning Herald ’ : —“ Snarling lions and tigers make up in ‘ Bengal Tiger ’ the blood background, which is apparently always essential to films with a circus setting, ‘ Satan,’ the name part, particularly red in tooth and claw, kills the hero’s best friend, maims another, and ends up by killing the hero himself. Yet the circus authorities persist in keeping this creature about the place. How’ever, apart from this and one or two other minor inconsistencies, this is an exciting and well-directed Jilin. Brutality is certainly the keynote, but an essential realism, both of camera work and characterisation, is honestly maintained. The acting of Barton Mac Lane assists this, for iris portrayal of the animal trainer is remarkably accurate, stinking a fine balance between savagery and courage. A sub-plot, involving the time-honoured complex of love and dutv, is less convincing, but this is made tolerable by the restraint of June Travis. For the rest, the really vivid animal photography and the glamour that always hangs around the circus tent make ‘ Bengal Tiger ’ a worthwhile variation on a well-worn theme.”

The star of the immortal ‘ Seventh Heaven,’ Janet Gaynor, and the sensation of ‘ Magnificent Obsession,’ Robert Taylor, have joined hands to bring to the screen one of the most stirring modern romances in their latest picture, ‘ Small Town Girl,’ commencing shortly at the Empire. Miss Gaynor was never more lovely in her sneessiul career than she is in the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production. For the first time she is allowed to dress up—and in this she reveals a new Janet Gaynor. With the sensation of tlio screen season, the dashing Robert Taylor, as her co-star, a perfect screen team is formed. Audible comments from the audience proclaimed Taylor s dramatic work to be even-finer than that in ‘ Broadway Melody of 1936 ’ and ‘ Magnificent Obsession.’ Taken

from Ben Amea Williams’s famous novel, brought to the screen by John Lee Mahin and Edith Fitzgerald, the. plot of ‘ Small Town Girl’ concerns a country girl who marries a handsome young doctor while ho is intoxicated. Her efforts to win his affection after she has fallen in love with him bring tears and laughs alike from the audience. The Hunt Stromberg production, directed by William Wellman, has a strong supporting cast, including Binnie Barnes, Lewis Stone, Andy Devine, Elizabeth Patterson, Frank Craven, and James Stewart, all of whom do well by their respective roles.

Scenes that appear simple in motion pictures are generally those that are most difficult to make. Such a scene was made for the Warner Brothers picture ‘ I Found Stella Parish,’ which commences on Friday at the Octagon. Timing and footwork were of utmost importance, lan Hunter liadl to ba.ci£ up and accidentally step on the foot Of Kay Francis, the star. This is the 'unusual method of their meeting in the fashionable shop of a transatlantic steamer. Hunter is a large man, weighing 200 pounds. If he had not timed the final step of this retreating movement in order to come-down easy on Miss Francis’s foot, it might have resulted in serious injury to the star. The scene was worked out: with a metronome for rehearsal, and in the shooting Director Mervyu Leßoy used a baton for the timing. i Found Stella Parish ’ is a dynamic story of a beautiful actress whose past rises up to ruin a brilliant career. Besides Miss Francis and Hunter the cast includes Paul Lukas, Sybil Jason, Barton Mac Lane, Jessie Ralph, and Eddie Acuff. * * • * The inimitable team, Laurel and Hardy, are seen at their breeziest and best in ‘ The Bohemian Girl, an hilarious travesty of Balfe’s famous operetta, which occupies pride of place on the new Mayfair Large audiences of those who delight in this clever pair of comedians have been more than pleased during the past week, and consider that they are tunnier than ever, “ Stan n atid Oily depend to a largo extent on gags to produce laughs, and in view of the fact that this" time, they are cast'in an entirely now type of role they have been forced to produce a different repertoire, particularly in 'the case of Laurel’s finger tricks, which are more fantastic than ever. -The plot- reveals them as members of a roving band of gipsies', who are entrusted with the care of a little girl kidnapped from her parents. They find the task a little too much for them. The musical nuinhers have not been forgotten, aiid such songs as ‘ I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls ’ and ‘ The Heart Bowed Down ’ are presented with great artistry. The two principals receive plenty of support from the rest of th© cast, which includes Darla Hood, Mae Busch, and Antonio Moreno.

The masterly.acting of Bette Davis, in a. role that - is essentially ah unlovely one, makes ‘ Dangerous,’ which is to commence at the Mayfair on Wednesday, a film that is deserving of

the highest praise. In 'Of Human' Bondage ’ Miss Davis proved conclu-i sively that fine clothes, immaculately coiffured hair, and a beautiful face do not always make an., actress, and ii< ‘ Dangerous ’ she has a similar role* which she handles in a manner that i« a distinct credit to her. She is cast aa a drunken actress, who has fallen from her position of idol of the,. stage as the result of a scandal. Fran, chot Tone, who appears opposite her, has the part of a young architect, and it is his interest in the unfortunate girl, whom he meets by trance in a disreputable cafe, that forms the basis of the plot. He takes her to his week-) .end cottage and commences’ his self* imposed task of rehabilitating her, asj sisted by his housekeeper—a part adi mirably played by the veteran actress, Alison Skipworth. Against the back} ground of the little country cottage th© film is brought to a pleasing anq entirely satisfactory climax. John Ed) ridge, ,as the actress’s husband, and Margaret Lindsay, who takes the par| of the young architect’s fiancee, both give excellent characterisations iij minor roles.

It was a foregone ■ conclusion thal there was only one way to make ‘An] thony Adverse,’ and that was 1 on a bid scale. Warner Bros.’ studio knew ir advance that Harvey Allen’s novel waj a challenge to Hollywood’s . .provioui ideas of bigness. ' While the centra] character, Anthony, runs through, ij is not one story, but five. Each of th] five,' is complete enough in plot! counter-plot, characterisations, and scop© to suffice for a complete and un| usual feature picture. Director Men vyn L© Roy faced th© task of casting 93' speaking parts, of . which ,78 werj principals, and in addition used 2,55 fl minor players. Many of the latte] were such definite types that they had to he almost as .carefully, chosen _aJ principals. ‘ Anthony Adverse,’ whicl comes to the Regent on Friday next] is the biggest picture to comb out at Hollywood. It bad to be. Frednrij March appears in the title role, witl Olivia de Hayilland as Angela. Amoni the major principals are Claude Rainq Edipund Gwenn, Gals Sondergaard, Anita Louise. Louis Hayward, Georg] E. Stone, Steffi Dana, Pedro de Cor] doba, J. Carroll Naish, and many] others. ■ ' , ■ *■''