The SCPEEN and its STAR

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11955, 27 May 1933, Page 10

The SCPEEN and its STAR

MAJESTIC THEATRE. To-day, 2• p.m., and S 'p.m. Monday and Tuesday ‘.‘The Trial of Vivienne Ware 1- —Drama, starring Joan Bennett; and “Fires of Fate’’ —Drama, starring Leslie Matthews and Kathleen O’Bcgan. .Wednesday, Thursday and . Friday—“lt/s Tough To 33c Famous”—Satire on modern heroes, starring Douglas Fairbanks, Junr., and Alary Brian.

REGENT THEATRE. To-day 2 p.m., ■ o- p.m., and Span., Monday and Tuesday “Smilin’ Through”—Lovo story, featuring Norma Shearer, Fredrio March, and Ralph Forbes. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday——“lnnocents of Chicago”— Burlesguo on gangsters, -featuring Henry Kendall, Margot Cm name, V. alAace Eopino; and “The last Alan”—Drama. mystery, featuring Charles Bickford and Constance Cummings.

three leading- men

SEP,PORT BARBARA STANWYCK IN “BABY FACE ”

Barbara Stanwyck will have three leading men in her next Warner starring picture, “Baby Face,” which is now in preparation, at the ’ Burbank studios.

One of the trio has already been selected. Ho is George Brent, now appearing opposite Kav Francis in “'The Keyhole.”

“Baby Face” wit. be filmed from a screen {play by Gene ATarkey and will lip directed by Alfred E. iGreen, who, by the way, was the director of “Silver Dollar,’ Edward G. Robinson’s new picture.

Barbara, Stanwyck recently 'finished “Ladies They Talk About,” in which she is supported by Prestor Foster, Lyle Talbot, Dorothy Burgess and Lillian Roth.

THE QUEEN’S MTCKEY MOUSE

BOUGHT ON WAY TO CINEMA

LONDON, April 1. The Queen is very fond of Afiekey Alouse..

His antics on the screen have often been discussed with Princess Elizabeth and when the him programme shown at. a, Laughter Matinee at the Now Gallery, Regent- street, AY., was under discussion, the Alarchioness of Cambridge, who arranged it and persuaded the Queen to he present, selected a Afiekey Alouse picture.

On 'her way into the theatre the Queen bought a velvet replica of Afickoy Alouse and carried it to the royal box with lier. Slip also purchased a child’s jumper with a Afiekey Arouse border.

The programme, at which the Queen laughed heartily, included “.Tack’s the Hoy/’ 'in which Mr Jack Hulbert and Miss Cicely Courtneidge .are featured; “Twice Two," with Laurel and Hardy : a. coloured “Silly Symphony” picture—“ The Babies in the Wood.” and a. surprise film showing the Queen arriving at various public functions in the last two rears.

HOLLYWOOD SEN’S A TTOX. JOAN CRAWFORD OBTAINS HER DIVORCE. Th'o cablegram from Hollywood announcing that Joan Crawford ha.s ohtnined a divorce from Douglas Fairbanks, Junior, doubtless came as a, great surprise to many, lor Joan and her husband have always been looked upon as Hollywood's most contented couple. Recently, however, it was rumoured that all was not going too well in. their household, and finally came the announcement that r Ivey had agreed to separate.

The sensation caused by the announcement was all the greater because it followed the citing of her husband in a suit for £IO,OOO brought by Mr Jorgen Dietz, of Los Angles, for the alleged alienation of the affections of Mrs Dietz. Mr Fairbanks denied tho accusation and Joan joined him in describing the,suit as an attempt at extortion.

Some time later. Miss Crawtord, in conversation with the ‘Daily Express, London, said:— ■ “We separated because wo were unhappy. That’s all there is to it. We couldn’t get- along ns husband and wife. That’s not unusual, is it? That Bn't confined to Hollywood, is it A Miss Crawford is said to have stated that after she and her husband returned from their recent trip to Europe. tliSy had become more estranged than ever. Somehow, ,sho said, they could not hit things off. She dented that there was any other man in her life, and asked that no blame should ho placed on her husband ior anything that had happened. The husband’s version of the whole affair has not been given much, piomiu once so far, although ho is reported to have heen very definite in his assertions that the breach,would be healed. That, of course,, was before the divorce proceedings bad been instituted.

“SORREL AND SON”

HERBERT MARSHALL CO-STAR-RED WITH JEANETTE MACDONALD.

According to a cablegram received from London by British . Dominions ■Films, Ltd,, .the. British film in which Herbert Marshall and Jeanette, MacDonald will ho co-starred is “Sbrrel and Son,” adapted front tlie novel by Warwick Deeping. “Sorrel and Son” was made as silent film by Unfted/Artists and proved exceedingly pop xilar. iPresiimably Herbert Marshall Will 'have H. B. Warner’s role, while

(By the Movie Pan)

YEAR.'IN SCREEN MAKING

IN ‘WAKE OF THE BOUNTY’

Jenetto MacDonald will play the partfilled by Alice Joyce in 'the silent versi o n.

'The new film lias been scheduled for early production at the British and Dominions Imperial slucho at .Boreham Wood.

FILMED ON PITCAIRN ISLAND

In the “Wake of the- Bounty.” the talkie which is now on the New Zealand circuit, and which is an extraordinary departure from the accepted travel 'picture, was a year «n the making. To film the correct background and atmosphere of this most romantic, and tragic saga of the seas entailed trips by Charles Chnuvel (who produced this picture) and, his camera staff, to Tahiti, to the. Island do Mooroa, to the Tetnroa Atolls, and then, to lonely Pitcairn Island. . ,

A beautiful bench in the historic district of Fa a was'rented, with palm groves and coral reefs complete, and it was here that the scenes of olden days, when the names of ‘Wallis, Cook, Bougainville- inn <3l Bligh were syponomous with this exotic isle beneath the sun. were made to live again. >

The arrival at Pitcairn was made in open boats during a storm, when it seemed that the party would have to hade with, the seas all through the night without any covering from the elements and with the possibility o', being lost for over at- sea.

The steamer which was to call for the Channels at Pitcairn never arrived, and an extra month of anxious waiting was spent in this isolation with never a sound from th outside world 1 . Hie kindness and hospitality of the islanders will never he forgotten hy the» Chnuvels, and it was with much regret (that the party at last had to leave these lonely people upon their rock at the bottom of the world.

NOTE? AND NEW?. Model gowns valued at over LI,OOO, 000 which anticipate the- forthcoming fashions have been designed exclusively for scenes in the new 8.1. P. film “Hoads Wo Go !” now being produced at Elstree.

In order that he may perform his difficult athletic tricks in his motion picture role, Johnny Weissmuller has to take a strenuous physical culture course. Every morning he goes either for a. run or a -swim before breakfast, and after the meal be spends an hour or more in the gymnasium with his train w. Tennis and riding keep the afternoons occupied, and five nights out of 'seven he is m bed bright, and earlv.

The mueh-Reralded “Grand Hotel. Metro-Gold wynMaycr's version the novel by Vicki. Baum, was screened privately in Wellington during the week. This' great film Its one of the most ambitions items on the M-G-M programme, lor it is a) super-attiac-tion not only as regards story. hutalso as regards the cast, which is made up of some of the most noted names in the film world. Those taking part in “Grand Hotel’ are Greta Gnibo and) John Barrymore. Joan Crawford Wallace Beery and Lewis Stone. Undoubtedly the honours must go to Greta iGarbo and -to Wallace Becrv, with, Joan Crawford running a- close second. The story follows the hook as far as American and New Zealand censorship will allow, and tells of incidents in-th.e lives of a- group o£ persons who are- staying at the “Grand Hotel,’ which might he any hotel ini any city, in any country. Wallace Beery is comm-vtuy convincing in the- role of a ruthless businessman, and Greta Garbo lives the role of a dancer who finds happiness after years of searching, only to be robbed of it in a few hours. Joan Crawford plays the part of a. stenographer to whom money means everything, and Lionel Barrymore, that of a crushed office clerk, who, faced with death, determines to have a good time while life and hope last. “(Grand Hotel” will be released in Gisborne.

Tragedy, pathos and tender romance are contained in “Smilin’ Through,” the latest Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, which will commence at the Regent Theatre to-day. In a film of sentiment, which never descends to sentimentality, the players contribute portrayals notable for dramatic restraint. Norma Shearer is charming \in a dual role, and a convincing performance is given by Fredric March, also in a dual part. Then there arc Leslie Howard, Ralph Forbes, Beryl Mercer, and' the Wf&ll-known character actor, 0. P. Heggie. Adapted from the silent picture? version, in. which Norma Talma dge portrayed the role now allotted to Norma Shearer, “Smilin’ Through” relates the story of a tragic romance which blossomed, anew in another generation..

• • • Britain, in a comparatively short time, has achieved wonders .in film production. The latest effort by that country to obtain something essentially English in the tvay of a story, and then to produce it with every possible degree of realism, is, to he found in British International . Pictures’ , outstanding success, “Fires of Fate,” which will be commenced at the Majestic. to-day Few have not been enthralled by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s story, “The. Tragedy of the Korosko,” a. thrilling nari'atve of adventure in the desert. It is from this that “Fires of Fate” Fas been adapted so successfully, Tho whole company of actors, producers, and technicians travelled tq/Egypt and 1 tho Sahara Desert in order to make the pietttre on .the actual locations,