FILM WORLD.

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 October 1939, Page 9

FILM WORLD.

News of Pictures and Players.

TALENT RECOGNISED.

DAVID NIVEN’S SUCCESS

David Niven, whose performance as the airman in “The Dawn Patrol,” ’ displayed his ability for comedy, is I slowly getting the recognition he deserves in Hollywood. By far his most spectacular performance to date, it is rumoured, is in “Wuthering Heights.” As a reward for his work Samuel , Goldwyn has given him an important I supporting role in a forthcoming | “super” called' “The Real Glory,” previously titled, “The Last Frontier.”

Gary Cooper and Andrea Leeds are the stars of the film, which is laid in the Philippines and centres on the adventures of a devil-may-care captain of the American Army. Walter Brennan, double Academy Award winner, is in the supporting cast. True to the Goldwyn tradition of authenticity, no matter what its cost, the studio have erected on their grounds a complete Philippine village, covering six acres, which is an exact copy of one actually in existence. It is here that most of the action will take place, and shooting is scheduled to last for three months. FAMOUS DIRECTOR.

David Wark Griffith has returned tc active production as an associate in the Flat Roach studio. According tc current plans he will act in an advisory capacity till he finds a storj suitable to his fancy as a director. Griffith has made only one picture since he sold out his interests in Unitec Artists six years ago. That was a remake of “Broken Blossoms,” in England in 1936.

SPENCER TRACY.

IN TRUE-LIFE DRAMA

Spencer Tracy, who portrays the role of a. priest for the second time in 'his career as Father Flanagan in “Boys Town,” was born April 5 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended various schools in Milwaukee and Kansas City. At Ripon College he was a classmate and close friend of Pat O’Brien. After trying a number of professions, among them life with the navy, Tracy decided to go on the stage. He enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts where he remained until his money gave out. He then obtained a job which netted him 15 dollars a week in “R.U-R.,” produced by the New York Theatre Guild. A period in stock followed, taking him to White Plains, Pittsburgh, Grand Rapids and Brooklyn. Returning to the Theatre Guild he was spotted by film scouts and appeared in “Up the River.” Tracy, who won the last Academy Award for his performance in “Captains Courageous,” began his rise to film stardom following his role as Father Tim in “San Francisco.” Since that time he has been one of the screen’s most active stars appearing in such recent successes as “Mannequin” with Joan Crawford, and “Test Pilot,” with Clark Gable and Myrna Loy. In “Boys Town,” Tracy is seen as the idealistic Father Edward J Flanagan, who established Omaha’s famous Boys Town. “Boys Town” is a factual relation of the history of Boys Town, the most famous juvenile community ever attempted. In addition to giving the dramatic background of the famous school, it describes the manner in which a tough kid (Mickey Rooney) is brought to the school and how he is regenerated by the methods instituted by Father Flanagan.

DEANNA DURBIN HONOURED.

At the eleventh Motion Picture Academy Awards Banquet, Deanna ivas presented with a special statuette, her first Academy award. The. statuette carried the following inscription: "To Deanna Durbin and Mickey Rccney for their significant contribution in bringing to the screen the spirit and personification of youth, and as

AUSTRALIAN STAR.

BERT BAILEY AGAIN.

Because of the remarkable success both in Australia and overseas of his

last picture, “Dad and Dave Come to Town,” Bert Bailey will again star in Cinesouscl’s next production, titled, "Dad Rudd, M.P.” It will go before the cameras shortly. Meantime, the dialogue continuity is fast reaching completion. The. announcement was made by Mr Ken G. Hall, produceidirector of Cinesound, recently. “Though we were entertaining the idea of other types of stories, the amazing enthusiasm for “Dad and Dave Come to Town” makes another Bailey picture the wisest commercial ■ choice, said Mr Hall. “We feel that, by placing ‘Dad’ in politics, we will ; inject any amount of comedy material which is typical of Bailey at his best." “Dad Rudd, M.P.,” too, is an excel- ' lent title and one which should catch ’ on, not only locally, but with interna- ' tional audiences. Mr Hall will personally direct the picture, but the screen play will be written, as was the case with “Come i Up Smiling,” by Mr William Freshi man, the young Australian, who rei cently arrived’ from 8.1. P., and who ■ directed, the Will Mahoney starrer, ' “Come Up Smiling.” ■ | The picture will be Bert Bailey’s i I fourth for Cinesound, and the com- [ pany’s 18th production. Commencing • with “On Our Selection,” he then made ■ “Granddad Rudd” and then “Dad and Dave Come to Town.”

TAIL SPIN.

EPIC OF WOMEN PILOTS. Although the screen has given many “epics of the air” and countless stories of aviation in one form or another “Tail Spin” is the first attempt to tell the story of women who fly, the thrills that come with their split-second escapes and the heartthrobs behind their spectacular lives. With Alice Faye as Trixie, Constance Bennet as Gerry and Nancy Kelly as Lois, “Tail Spin” is the exciting tale of three who brush wings with death in the gamble they can lose only once. Trixie flies for the money that’s in it, Gerry because she finds the sky’s a place to hide from love, and Lois because it brings her closer to the man she loves. Nothing quite like “Tail Spin” has come to the screen in many a season. Alice Fay, Constance Bennett and Nancy Kelly offer sterling performances in the starring roles and there is a splendid supporting cast featuring Joan Davis Charles Farrell, Jane Wyman, Kane Richmond, Wally Vernon, Joan Valerie and Edward Norris.

NEW COMEDY ROLE. Edna May Oliver is stated to give the most hilarious performance of her long career in Irving Berlin’s “Second Fiddle” starring Sonja Henie and Tyrone Power. She plays Sonja Henio’s hard-headed aunt. The angular character star of dozens of big pictures indulges in terpsichorean modernistics for the first time, wears slacks and the smartest of Hollywood clothes and' acquires a penchant for wild parties.

juvenile players setting a high standard of ability and achievement. In Deanna’s simple and effective acceptance, she. said, “Two and onehalf years ago when I came into this business, I had one desire. That was to be as good as I could be. To-night you have made me very, very happy. My aspirations had not reached such a peak. I am extremely grateful.

“THE LONE RANGER.”

For tho past few months “The Lone Ranger” has been one of the most widely listened-to radio programmes I in the country. The shrill cry of “Heigh-Yo Silver" is familiar to thou-1 sands of listeners young and old. Now | he is coming to the screen in the most >

LONG ABSENCE

b'eturing to the screen for the first j time in 10 years. Beatrice Joy has been signed to portray Deanna Durbin’s aunt in the singing star’s new Universal picture, “First Love.’’

expensive and exciting serial over produced—" The Lone Ranger. ’ Just as his identity has been kept unknown on the air, so will it be on the screen. His features will not be shown until tho final chapter. The story of "The Lone Ranger” is laid during the reclamation of Texas immediately following the Civil War.

Miss Joy, who was one of Hollywood’s top stars during the silent picture era, definitely retired from the screen in 1929. However. Producer Joe Pasternak persuaded her to return to play the very important rolein “First Love.”

FAST DANCING. ELEANOR POWELL’S IDEA. If you want to become the world’s fastest tap dancer, keep your feet close to the ground. That is how Eleanor Powell did it. The Metro-Gol£wyn-Mayer dancing star never has found an orchestra that can play music as fast as she can dance to it. Her cwn personal accompanist, Walter Ruick, regarded as the fastest piano player in Hollywood, is many minutes behind in a perpetual contest of dancing and playing speed that these two have carried on for their own amusement. “Compactness of motion and co-or-dination of the feet and the mind is the secret of fast tap dancing,” explained Miss Powell, “just as it is the thediy of speed in every form of athletic achievement. The longer the step, the longer time it takes to make it. Tap dancing is a matter of control of the feet, and balance. “One method of developing this compact style of dancing is to practise with a book or some other object balanced on the head. To keep it in place it is essential to keep the motion of the body to a minimum. Bobbing up and down or swaying from one side to the other will throw off the book.” I As an example of what she means, she suggests that those who are interested watch her head instead of her feet when she goes into a rapid “tap routine.” It will be observed that the level of her head is not alI tered even a fraction of an inch duri ing such a dance.

“INSIDE STORY-” NEWSPAPER DRAMA. “Inside Story” is a good continuance of the roving reporter series, this time with pretty Jean Rogers opposite the care-free reporter, Michael Whalen who with photographer pal, Chick Chandler, trails up the particular mystery of the film dealing with the murder of a youth in a night club .by the owner, Douglas Fowley. Hostess Jean has witnessed the killing and considering the club the worst place in the world for her on account of her knowledge, accepts an invitation published by Whalen to spend Christmas on the farm of an uncle. The meeting at the farm brings two hearts'together, but unfortunately they are not allowed much time to harmonise,' as Fowley has followed the girl and kid; naps her, with the intention of murder. This is frustrated and he is grabbed and tried for the offence, but Jean hoping to ingratiate herself with him commits perjury which frees him. He again places her life in jeopardy, by forcing her to accompany him to his cottage in the country,, which has already been visited by Michael and Chick. The film is fast < and exciting and well acted.