SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 5

SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Bing Crosby’s next film (to follow ‘Waikiki Wedding’) will be ‘Double or Nothing.’ * • * • Paramount have offered Emlvn Williams a contract to play the lead in their film version of ‘ The Red Hair. **» , • Mary Boland, Hugh Herbert, and Frank M'Hugh have been teamed by Warner’s in a new comedy, ‘ Marry the Girl.’ . . • Benita Hume has been given the second feminine lead in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s ‘ The Last of Mrs Cheyney. Joan Crawford is starring. ft £ * *• > Ann Sothern is to play opposite Robert Young in Metro-Goldwyu-Maver’s ‘ Dangerous Number.’ Reginald Owen is also in the cast, with Richard Thorpe directing. *«* * ' P. G. Wodehouse is working at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on a scenario called ‘ Yours and Mine.’ Originally intended as Jessie Matthews’s first Hollywood film; it will now be a co-starring picture for Eleanor Powell and Ray Bolger. * * • A huge autograph book filled with the signatures of more than 10,000 prominent persons throughout the world nas been presented to Adolph Zukor, founder of Paramount Studios. One page is devoted to signatures of prominent politicians and business men in New Zealand. * * * * Upon completing ‘ Maid of Salem ’ Frank Lloyd will begin preparing the Gilbert Gabriel adventure story, L James Lewis/ which deals with the famous voyage of the ship lonquin when John Jacob Astor opened the American fur trade in the Pacific ISorthwest in 1810. • * • • Rouben Mamoulian, prominent director at the Paramount Studios, has been a fairy godfather to the ranks.of.extras in announcing that he will require 000 men and women for certain of the major scenes in Irene Dunne’s first Paramount picture, ‘ High, Wide, and Handsome. • • • • Warner Baxter, Wallace Beery, and Mickey Rooney have all been signed by Twentieth Century-Fox to play in ‘ The Last Slaver.’ This will be the first time Beery and Baxter have ever appeared together. • * » * Ra Hould, the 11-year-old New Zealand boy under contract to Paramount Pictures, Hollywood, has been required to devote much qf his time to learning the art of violin playing for his role in ‘ A Doctor’s Diary,’ which is the first picture to be made under his contract. Ra appears with George Bancroft, John Trent, Helen Burgess, and_ Ruth Cole_ 'nian. Prior to leaving New Zealand he was widely known in Dunedin as a promising young pianist, having studied the piano for seven years. Many will remember his concert renditions of A Persian Market,’ by Albert , Keteloy. New Zealanders will look with the keenest of interest to the arrival of Ha’s first picture, which the local Paramount, company expects to arrive in the Dominion within the next few weeks. • • * • Some of the .greatest pictures ever made have taken the world by storm practically “ unheralded ami unsung.'” So it was with ‘lt Happened One Night,’ ‘ The Thin Alan,’ _ and ‘ One Night of Love ’; and so-it is now with the United Artists’ release, ‘ The Gay Desperado,’ which comes to the Regent Theatre on Friday next. Although comparatively little had been heard of the film while it was in process of production, the critics who saw the first preview in Hollywood immediately predicted that it would prove one of the biggest “surprise successes ” ever known; and the reception which The Gay Desperado ’ has had since its public release in America has more than borne out that prophecy. The distinction of the film lies in its blending of all the musical comedy arts—the arts of writing no less than those of singing, direction, acting, composing, and photography. There is a distinct air of novelty and brightness right throughout, and the whole show moves with a | swing to the tune of gay music. The fine voice of Nino M'artini, Metropolitan Opera star, is heard in both “ popu-

lav ” and scmi-operatic numbers, but it is mainlv as an accompaniment to vigorous action; while the pleasantly sentimental side of the romance is balanced by rousing comedy. 'lhc dominating character is Briganza (Leo Carillo), a cheerful and lovable Mexican bandit chief, who gets the idea of introducing American gangster methods into his band through seeing too many lurid motion pictures. Because he likes the singing of Chivo (Martini) he forces him to join the hand. They kidnap an eloping couple (Ida Lupino and James Blakely) and hold them for ransom. But Chivo falls in love with the girl and helps her to escape, and finally marries her with Briganza’s blessing. In the words of a leading critic: “ ‘The Gay Desperado ’ is very good fun and splendid entertainment.” * » * *

Keen interest surrounds the Columbia Frank Capra production, ‘ Lost Horizon,’ starring Ronald Column, which is due to arrive in New Zealand shortly. American critics who have reviewed the film have acclaimed this picture as the famous director’s most outstanding contribution to the screen as well as rating it as one of the 10 best pictures

since the introduction _ of films. Columbia expended two. million, dollars on the making of ‘ Lost Horizon,’ which took two years to complete, while Ronald Column heads a cast that includes such well-known names as ltdward Everet Horton, .lane Wyatt, Isabel Jewell, Margo, and H. B. Warner. The production, which is of a giant nature, embraces a gripping, fantastic story from the pen of the English author, James Hilton.

“ I think our filin industry is, on the whole, overpaid and under-rehearsed,” said Sir Cedric Hardwicke, the actor, who. with other members of the cast of the film . ‘ Tudor Rose,’ was entertained by the Italian circle of the Ljceiinr Club at luncheon in London recently. “We film actors,” he said, “ really get a great deal more than we should do—though we don’t say so —(laughter)—and sometimes the expenditure is far more than the story is’ worth. But expenditure on a story like the execution of Lady Jane Grey is worth while.” Sir Cedric said that they were particularly proud Bp win the international prize for the ‘ Tudor Rose ' film in Italy, because he regarded Italy perhaps as the greatest artistic centre of the world.

The winning of the Western States during the decade 1866-76 is the basis of Cecil B. De Mille’s first American epic, ‘ The Plainsman,’ a tribute to the hard-riding, hard-fighting men of action who opened this part of America for civilisation and more particularly, immigration. Paramount’s ‘ The Plainsman.’ named after Wild, Bill Hickok, the famous plainsman, tells-of the love Hickok bore the frontier beauty and woman of action, “Calamity Jane.” Paramount has cast Gary Gooipcr as Wild Bill Hickok and lias teamed him with Jean Arthur, marking their first

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

appearance together since their memorable performance in ‘Mr Deeds Gees to Town.’ Behind this story stretches a vast'" canvas, which embraces all the forces and intrigues at work during the ora which resulted in me opening of the Western States and d.c building of a bigger America. Hickok is sent into tho territory at the end of the Civil "War to find out who is responsible for the illegal selling of arms to the Indians. On the way ho meets “Calamity Jane,” who •' t the time is employed as a stage coach driver between Leavenworth, and Hays City. Ho is in love with her, but doesn’t toll her so because he resent her familiarity with other men. It is after the annihilation of General Custer and his men at Little Big Horn that Cooper discovers the identity of the gun-rnnners and pays dearly for it. Such familiar characters as “ Buffalo Bill” Cody, played by James Ellison; his wife, Louisa, played by _ Helen Burgess, the girl whom Do Mill© recently discovered in a Hollywood cafeteria and who makes her screen debut in this picture; John Lattimer, a bad man, played by Charles Bickford; Jack M'Call, "another notorious frontier

figure, portrayed by Porter 'Hall; Genera! Custer, played by John Mdjan; and Abraham Lincoln, enacted by Frank M'Glynn, sen., all eomc to life in ‘ The Plainsman.’ Over 2,000 Cheyenne Indians and several troops of cevalry were employed in filming the battle" sequences. f ♦ ♦ ♦

‘ Pagliacci ’ is finished and has been trade-shown in London. This is a Trafalgar Film directed by Karl Grime, and stars the noted opera star, Richard ’•'"liber, with Steffi Duna, Jliana Napier, Arthur Margetsou, Jerry Verno, and Esmond Knight in featured roles. The script of Leoncavallo’s famous opera was writteu by Mouckton Hoffe and Roger Burford, with special lyrics by John Drinkwnteiu About a third of the production is in colour, a special British colour process known ns chemi-colour having been used. Lnited Artists will release at an early date.

Flora Robson, one of the greatest actresses on the English stage, will be remembered for her brilliant portraval of the Empress Catherine in London Films’ production of ‘ Catherine the Great ’ with Elizabeth Bergnev. Born in South Shields on March 28, 1902, she has had a long career of successes on the stage, including recently ‘ Alary Road ’ and ‘ Mary Tudor.’ She is now under long contract to London Film Productions, and is the star in ‘ Fire Over England,’ recently made by Alexander Korda.

Duke Greene, stunt man and screen player, drove a loaded array truck through a heavy barricade of sandbags ami furniture for one of the spectacular battle scenes in ‘ The Plough and the Stars,’ 'soon to lie released by R.K.O. Radio. Director John Ford and members of his camera crew had to work

in a Cage of Heavy timbers' to protect themselves from flying debris as Greene sent the big truck crashing through (he barrier. ‘The Plough and the Stars,’ considered by R.K.O. officials a« one of tho most important pictures ot this season, is a screen version of the famous play by Sean O’Casey, winch the Abbey Theatre Players from Dublin presented throughout the United States and Canada. Barbara Stanwyck stars in the feature, with Preston Poster opposite, and with five of the Abbey Players bringing to the screen the roles in which they scored on the stage. • • * •

One of the most remarkable performances in the history of tho American theatre was that given some years ago by Bela Lugosi, Hungarian actor, soon after ho arrived in America from his native country.. Lugosi has a featured role in ‘Postal Inspector,’ coming on Wednesday to the Grand. He appeared in New York as an apache in ‘ The Rod Poppy,’ and registered a decided hit—but bo knew only in a general way what he was saying! Unable to speak more than a few words of English, he assured the producer that he would be letter perfect in his part when the play was ready to open. He kept his promise. There was not sufficient time to learn a new language, so Lugosi engaged a tutor and began an intensive course of memorising. Within a few weeks be had learned his entire role phonetically, just as a parrot learns to speak phrases. At rehearsals ho was the only •member of tho company' who knew his part perfectly. 'Through his interpreter-tutor he_ knew tho meaning of each sentence in his role. Thus ho was • able to give the part such authentic expression that Alan Dale acclaimed him “ the greatest actor ever to come to America.” The success that Lugosi scored on the stage and screen in ‘ Dracula ’ has identified him in the public mind with, that sort of role. However, he has done equally well in straight dramatic parts winch were not tinged with the supernatural. The most recent was his performance in ‘ Invisible Ray,’ which is only' ono of a score of splendid characterisations he has done, _ without the aid of “ spooks ” or spirits, banshees or pixies. In ‘ Postal Inspector ’ Lagosi is cast as a night club owner who plans a 3,000,000d0l mail robbery.

Kipling’s line “ East is East find West is West ” is, in Hollywood at least, rapidly becoming a false doctrine. Warner Oland and Keye Luke are the twin reasons why the famous poet’s lines are being discarded. Oland, through. In's long experience in portraying Charlie Chan on the _ screen, is rapidly becoming Oriental in thought and mannerisms, while Keye Luke, native-born Chinese, is displaying a definite Occidental tendency. Making his latest appearance as Earl Derr Biggers’s famous sleuth in ‘ Charlie Chau at the Race Track,’ Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox picture at the State, Oland could readily pass for a citizen of China and it is all the more remarkable when it is considered that Oland plays Chan without the least bit of make-up. On the other hand, Keye Luke, attired in the height of masculine style, could easily ho mistaken for an American. Oland ascribes his transition to an Oriental appearance to the fact that ho has portrayed Charlie Chan on the screen so many times that he is beginning to think and act liW the actual character. Indeed, during the production of a Charlie Chan film, Oland makes every attempt to submerge his personality in .that. of. the Chinese detective. Ee even confines his reading to" Oriental poetry and philosophy. Keye Luke, in contrast, thinks and acts like an American. His mannerisms resemble those of a typical college undergraduate, and his speech is as slangy as that of the average citizen of the United States.

Stars may come and stars may go, but Holt’s popularity seems to run on ■forever. There is a strong belief in Hollywood that the average length of a screen star’s vogue is live years, but the career of Jack Holt is a constant refutation of that idea. He began in Western films and then established himself as the star of exploration and adventure pictures which have made him increasingly popular. Many are the hazardous and interesting occupations that he has interpreted in different pictures. He has gone from deep sea diving to flying a plane over tire Andes. Far above the ground he has balanced himself on a skeleton steel structure, pumping rivets into beams to lock them in place. Holt has flown in a dirigible that was wrecked in Arctic wastes. He has worked on cables in lofty bridge towers, with black swirling water far below him. He has been a war correspondent faced with the dilemma of losing his story or losing his head. Holt has been a ship captain during a storm at sea, with the waves crashing over the decks, pouring tons of water'over the side. He declares" that of all these roles one of the inost exciting is his portrayal of a motor cycle policeman in Universal’s ‘ Crash Donovan,’ which opens at the Grand on Wednesday. In this offering the star risks new dangers at breakneck speed. Two feats required of him are riding through a circle of flame and clashing down a steep hill on a motor cycle to crash through a door at full speed.

Before Robert Taylor makes a second trip to New York he intends to cool off and gain his second wind after his first one. Taylor recently took his first flying trip to New York, and things happened to him -that he will long remember. He told Barbara Stanwyck about them during their first day together on ‘ His Brother’s Wife ’ set at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the picture which opens at the Empire on Friday. “ I was only there five days,” said Taylor, “ but they were five days I will never forget. One night I went to see ‘ Head End,’ and when I came out of the_ theatre I was surrounded by a mob. Before I got back into the theatre I lost my necktie and all the buttons on my pocket, and my pockets were torn off. The same thing happened when I made a radio appearance at a broadcasting station on the seventeenth floor of one of New York’s skyscrapers. A huge crowd broke down the door, and when I started to leave the stairway leading up the light well for seventeen floors was crowded with people waiting for mo. It was a surprising experience. If I had gone to New York without being recognised I would have felt badly about it. But I can’t get over the surprised feeling I had when they looked me up. I certainly didn’t expect it.” • * * » Two hundred Pomona College students had a free-for-all on their own campus and wore paid for it, when they were used as extras in several scenes fur Eox Film’s ‘Bachelor of Arts,’ based on Author-professor John Erskine's novel, which comes to the Strand on Friday. When Director Louis King was ready for takes, he found 200. hand-picked students, ready for a scrap, awaiting him. Charles E. Fitts, Pomona alumnus, had put in a telephone cali to one student each in Pomona, Claremont, Pasadena, Santa

Ana, Ontario, and Glendora, and his delegates did the rest. So heartily did tho collegians enter info tho spirit of tho pacifist brawl provided by the script that the scene was finished a day sooner than was expected. They overturned several carts, fired oranges, apples, hot dogs, buns, ice cream cones, and mashed potato balls with the ardour of AllAmericans on the football field and the deadly aim of Babe Ruth at the bat. Long training in freshman-sophomore meets spurred them to perfect tackles of Tom Brown, who was given a day off to recuperate from minor abrasions. There are no half measures about the new Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musical, ‘Follow tho Fleet,’ now at

the Mayfair. It uses not one, but four, bands to present the Irving Berlin tunes composed especially for the nautical adventures and land romancing of these master's of song and dance. A wing-footed, music-mad sailor in the R.K.O. Radio film. Astaire himself batons one 10piece hand, and presents the first of Berlin’s seven compositions with it aboard a battleship in San Francisco harbour. The piece is ‘We Saw the Sea.’ The same gives the nimble star ' reason for singing and dancing his opinion, ‘ I’d Rather Lead a Band.’ For these and other sequences on the deck of a United States battleship a navy band provides traditional marine music. A 12-piece dance orchestra playing in a San Francisco dance hall sets the fox trot rhythm for Ginger Rogers in her rendition of the rollicking ‘Let Yourself Go.’ Astaire’s band backgrounds the costars when they dance and sing ‘ Let’s Face the Music and Dance,’ and ‘ I’m Putting All My Eggs in One Basket.’ Another large dance orchestra accompanies R.K.O. Radio’s singing _ discovery of the year, Harriot Hilliard, who steps from the featured vocalist’s spot in “ Ozzic ” Nelson’s orchestra and from national broadcasting rooms to bow to film-goers, rendering ‘ Get Thee Behind Mo, Satan,’ and 1 Hero Am Ij But Where Are You? ’ Mark Sandnclf, of ‘ Gay Divorcee ’ and ‘ Top Hat ’ fame directed. Pandro S. Berman produced.

Dick Foran, singing cowboy star of the Warner Bros, picture, ‘ Moonlight on the Prairie,’ which comes to the Strand on Friday, has been warned by his landlady that if ho ever again attempts to turn his Hollywood home into a stable, he will he evicted. Foran returned from location at Kernville, California, at daybreak one day during the filming of the picture, on a roan stallion ho had purchased in the High Sierras. Ho could not find stable accommodation for the horse at that hour, and having a sizeable kitchen and an ample door leading from his lawn, ho took the animal into the house and proceeded to make it comfortable. Everything might have been all right about stabling “ Smoke ” in the kitchen, and the neighbours might not have been aware of this strange boarder at the Foran house, but about noon the animal began to whinny. It seems that there had been no. provision made for food. Foran had become so accustomed to horses neighing that he slept through it until awakened by neighbours who had become curious about the strange sounds. Ho explained to his landlady, who bad arrived with early. complainants, that bringing “ Smoko ” into’ the kitchen was just an emergency measure. ‘ Moonlight on the Prairie ’ is packed with romance and thrilling action. It is ,a big production, typical of all Warner Bros, pictures. The cast includes Sheila Manners, George E. Stone, Joe Sawyer, Gordon Elliott, Joseph King. Robert Barrat, Dickie Jones, and others.

Justifying all that has been written and said regarding it, ‘ The White Angel ’ has proved so successful in Dunedin that it has been transferred to the St. James for a further season. The story of this wealthy English girl, who renounced a life of social frivolities to become a. war nurse and laid the groundwork for what subsequently became the Red Cross, is filled with romance. Jn bringing the story of Florence Nightingale to the screen First National has searched out the intimate details of a career rich in. theatrical values. Months of research, a trcmcn-

dons programme of construction, and lavish and elaborate settings have made this picture one of the most costly productions ever screened. The picture is set in the period of the Crimean War, and brings an entirely new locale and atmosphere to the motion picture public. Although the picture begins in London. Florence Nightingale’s homo, where she fought to clean up the disreputable hospitals of the time, and ends when the famous nurse is decorated by Queen Victoria, the most dramatic scenes take place, in the English military headquarters, barracks, and base hospital at Scutari, a Turkish town on tho north shore of the Bosporus.