SCREEN TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 24007, 4 October 1941, Page 5

SCREEN TOPICS

by " LOITERER."

LADY FROM THE UKRAINE Anna Steu, who plays the role of the Russian girl, Lilo, in ‘ So Ends Qur Night,’ a United Artists, release, is one film player who has an option on the revival of the Cinderella story. She started her career in a restaurant. Miss Sten was born in Kiev. Her father, a Russian, conducted a ballet school at various times, and at others served as an itinerant dancing teacher in several countries. In Stockholm, he met and married Anna’s mother and took her to Kiev. Anna early showed a gift for dancing and mimicry. When her father was killed, the family was destitute, so 'Anna gave up playing in amateur groups and obtained a job in a restaurant to help keep the family going. When she was able to return to theatricals, her group had a lucky opportunity. . The assistant director of a Stanislavsky company undertook _to coach them, and Anna won the loading role in the presentation of Hauptmann’s ‘ Hanneles Himmelfafrt.’ She was 18 when she left for Moscow to try for bigger'things. This led to several picture roles with the Mesehaprom studios in Moscow, and was followed by an offer from Erich Pommer,'then head lof UFA. She went to Berlin and played opposite Emit .Tannings in ‘ The, Tempest.’ This was the real beginning i of her film career. She made her Hollywood debut in ‘ Nana ’ and then plaved in ‘ We Live Again ’ and ‘ The Wedding Night.’ Anna Sten has yellow-blonde hair, blue-grey eyes, a tall, slender' figure, and an expressive face. ! She' has an accent that tinges her English in a soft and appealing way. TALENT IN UNUSUAL MUSICAL Magic in Music,’ coming shortly to the Empire, has been greeted everywhere as a really beautiful musical film. Its story is woven round one of America’s famous music camps at Interlochen in Michigan, and with such a background ample opportunity is given to introduce scores of talented musicians, young and old. Featured in the production are three members of the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York, the Los Angeles Junior Symphony Orchestra, a young Finnish violinist, Hairao Haitto, a 14-year-olcl pianist, Dolly Loehr, and many other delightful children, and, of course, sensational Susanna Foster, the 16-year-old . soprano • whose golden voice can reach B flat above high C. Heading this wonderful galaxy of musicians is Allan Jones, who needs no introduction as a singer, with Margaret Lindsay and Lynne Overman. Susanna Foster does a great job in the picture, ranging from opera to the popular song. Among the musical compositions presented will he Greig’s ‘ Concetto in 1 A Minor,’ Rubinstein’s ‘ Romance,’ vocal arrangements of the ‘Stars and Stripes.’ excerpts from ‘ Carmen ’ ami, ‘ Faust,’Brahms’s others.",:,: V ' In addition Susanna gives impersonations of several famous filth stars, and last, but not least, Richard Hageman. late conductor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, plays an; important part as the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra. The New Zealand Schools’ Film Appreciation Committee says: “ A delight for all lovers of good music, especially young people. Allan Jones has a major part, but it is the young camp musicians who carry off the honours and ‘ make ’ the film.”

HOLLYWOOD'S “ ALEXANDER THE GREAT " Alexander Korda has become one of the more active of the independent operators in Hollywood since abandoning British production at the outbreak of the war. Since arriving there a year ago he has released ‘ Lady Hamilton,’ has completed ‘ Lydia,’ with Merle Olieron, and is well into ‘ The Jungle Book,’ with Sabn. ‘ Lydia ’ was inspired by ‘ Un Carnet de 8a1,,’ which Jalien Duvivier made in France. ‘ The Jungle Book ’ is based on three of Rndyard Kipling’s stories—- ‘ Tiger, Tiger,’ ‘ Lotting in the Jungle,’ and ‘ The King’s Ankns.’ Mowgli, played by Sabn, figured in nine of the Kipling stories, arid Korda and Laurence Stallings, who wrote the script, have hopes of using some of the remaining stories in. a second picture if the current one is successful.

REMEMBER POLA? Pola Negri, siren of the Latter-day silent films, returned to America from Europe late in July, after almost six years’ absence. Still as slendey and alluring as ever, Miss Negri is looking forward to another fling at Hollywood (states the ‘ New York Times ’). And if reports are true, the producers apparently are equally eager to meet Miss Negri again. Paramount wants to test her for the role of Pilar in ‘ For Whom the Bell Tolls.’ ' Though • admittedly anxious to resume the career she dropped in 1932 after making her first talkie, ‘A Woman Commands,’ under the stress of illness, Miss Negri says she will not rush into any film. “ Fortunately, I can afford to wait until the righfrole comes along—something with character and emotional intensity, which will give my talents as a dramatic actress full play.” It was to prove to the producers that she was capable of being more than just “ a clothes showcase who could walk across the screen attractively and roll her eyes ” that Miss Negri went to Germany in 1935 to make films for UFA.

'PETER THE FIRST’ ‘ Peter the First,’ the fine Russian film which opens shortly _at His Majesty’s, presents a vivid picture of life in Russia at the beginning of the eighteenth century and of the activity of the great reformer of the Russian State. Its plot depicts the struggle of Russian reaction against Peter’s reform and the personal tragedy in the life of the Tsar, whose son and heir, the weak-willed Alexei, turns out-to be a .supporter of the reactionaries. The film begins with the Russian army in rout. The heavy defeat at Narva does not discourage Peter, who remembers for ever the severe lesson dealt him by the Swedish army. He untiringly rallies new troops, trains them in new methods of warfare, drives the Swedesfrom the Russian shores of the Baltic, and founds his now capital, St. Petersburg. The famous Catherine, the peasant girl whom Peter marries, and Menshikov, an orphan who becomes a counsellor-of the Tsar'and is elevated to the nobility with the title of prince, feature in the film. Peter and his courtiers, the clergy, peasants, merchants, and soldiers, all pass in review before the spectator. The film was given the highest award at the Paris Exhibition in 1937. Historically authentic, the story is told without Communistic propaganda. An interesting point is that St. Petersburg, which was founded by Peter, is now known as Leningrad, the city tlireatcncd by the Nazis.

INJURED: ONE MOUSTACHE When you work for John Ford you have to expect to take bumps, Barry Fitzgerald, famous Irish actor, and member of the Abbey Players, has discovered. Playing, the role of a mess steward in Ford’s Argosy production of ‘ The Long Voyage Home,’ Fitzgerald got all.tangled up in a free-for-all fight between members of ’the crew and was catapulted from a hatch top to the deck. Of course, mattresses had been placed for the ■ little Irishman to land on so he wouldn’t be injured when he did his nose-dive. But the propelling force behind him was so enthusiastic that he took off like an aeroplane and landed in a sitting position on the mattresses with considerable force; so much force, in fact, that half of a moustache ho wears was jarred right off his lip. MADELEINE CARROLL MEETS THE WINDSORS Madeleine Carroll and Stirling Hayden left their ‘ Bahama Passage ’ location at Harbour Island in - the Bahamas and flow 50 miles to be presented to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor at the Nassau opening of 4 One Night in Lisbon..’ The Duke and Duchess came to the lobby of the Savoy Theatre at 9 o’clock, and the stars were presented by the Hon. Kenneth Solomon, a member of the Bahamas House of Assembly. Later, Miss Carroll, who stars in the picture, made a brief speech from the stage. A few days later, after location work was completed, the stars returned to Hollywood to • finish off 1 Bahama Passage.’

SARONGS FOR SOLDIERS A request from an Australian regiment has raised to 10 the number of Dorothy Lamour sarongs which will be carried’ into battle by various units throughout the world. The latest plea came from members of the M.T. drivers of A Company of the 18th Battalion of the A.I.F. . . Miss Lamour, currently appearing in Paramount’s 4 Road to Zanzibar ’ has lijSEasHsaasßSßailEaa®®

been overwhelmed by the requests. Members of the R.A.F., as w9.1l as the Army divisions, companies of American armed forces, and various naval units, are among the others who have written to her. Miss Lamour is carrying on regular correspondence with the various units to whom she has sent sarongs. Oddly, in her next picture, 4 Caught in the Draft,’ the Army comedy with Bob Hope, she discards sarongs and appears in smart modern costumes.