The SCREEN and its STARS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12528, 13 April 1935, Page 10

The SCREEN and its STARS

PROGRAMMES EOT! THE WEEK. REGENT THEATRE To-day 10.30 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 pan. B>p.m., A lon,clay and Tuesday.— “The VMighty Barnum”-—Story of “the greatest ishowman on earth,” featuring Wallace Beery. .Wednesday and Thursday.— “Java Head”— Melodrama, starring Anna May Wong, Elizabeth Alien and John iLpder. Good Friday.—No screening. MAJESTIC THEATRE. To-day, 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m., Monday and Tuesday “Laches Should Listen”—French farce, featuring Cary Grant and Frances Drake; and “Smoky” Life of a homo, featuring Victor Jory and Irene Bentley. Wednesday and Thursday.—“As the Earth Turns”— Romantic melodrama, featuring Jean Muir mid Donald Woods. Good Friday.—No screening. KING’S THEATRE. To-day 10.30 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. 8 p.m., Monday and Tuesday.— “Imitation of Life” —Melodrama. starring Claudette Colbert, Warren William and Rochelle Hudson. Wednesday and Thursday. '‘Hell Dorado” Melodrama starring Richard Avion, Madge Evans; and “West of the Pecos”—Wild West melodrama, starring Richard Dix and Martha Sleeper. Good Friday.—No screening. CITY OF FILMS. LIFE IN HOLLYWOOD. Describing some of the features of life in America generally, and in Hollywood in particular, Dr Lewis, who is at- present conducting screen foists in New Zealand, told the Hastings Rotary Club that the population was about 2,500,000, and in the centre of the city was a park of 3960 acres. There were 41 churches and someone had said, “and you need them all, too.” The University of California haj 11,000 students, and the University of Southern California lia-tl about 5000 or 6000. The educational .facilities of Los Angeles,, in fact, were “rather startling.” Hollywood boasted also of Will Rogers, “the champion wise-cracker of the world.” Will Rogers was one of the greatest aviation enthusiasts in the world, and had flown as a passenger probably more than, any other person Tn the United States. Aviation in the United Stater-, the doctor added, had developed remarkably. One line last year had carried 600,000 passengers „and had a much smaller ratio of accidents 1 than any other American system of transport. There were 58 air-lines operating, and one'line flew over a 452-mile route in one hour 58 minutes. Another line, operating on the Pacific Coast, had flown for seven years without a fatal accident. In the picture industry alone there.were 32 qualified pilots. One .of the reasons behind the establishment of the film industry in Hollywood was . the tremendous amount of sunshine that the city enjoyed. Also it was near to mountain country ranging up to 15,000 feet-. There, were more than 1,000,000 cars in Los Angeles, and the traffic made excellent “shots.” Also , the city had a very, healthy class of people. On the Pacific Coast, said the doctor, were the healthiest people in the world. Talking pictures had transformed the industry, and had made it necessary’ for the players to have real ability'. 'Audiences had become more discriminating, and it was worth mentioning that 180,000,000 people attended cinemas throughout the world every week. Producers were realising more than ever their responsibility to the public, and realising also that the public wanted better pictures than they had been given in previous years. There were about 25,000 “extras” listed by one casting agency alone, and most of them iioped that they were going to get a “real break” some day, and that they had a rosy career ahead of them. ;There were some 2500-starred players, and 357 | directors, who were responsible for the success or failure of films. In rfdddition, there were 345 scenario writers. The doctor mentioned in conclusion that there are 12,000,000 negroes in the United States, pr about one in ten of the whole population. Though there was a strong line of demarcation between them and the white population, they were not by any means a menace. Many of them were very successful citizens, and the negro population was generally- respected.

(By the Movie Fan).

WILL .NUT LEAVE SCREEN. Bing Crosby is not going to retire from the screen, all rumours to contrary. “Nothing to it,” the singing star declared. “Pd like to retire so I could have more time to play golf, but I’m not going to. The date of my depai ture from the screen is strictly up to fho public. As soon as T. see that my pictures aren’t doing any business I’ll quit ■voluntarily. None of this hanging around and dying on the vine toi me.” Now working in “‘Mississippi,’ Ring has no immediate assignment for "the future, hut the company l»ae throe films available for him. “THE MERRY WIDOW.” » Glamorous romance, beautiful women, whimsical humour, and the haunting strains of Franz Lehar’s famous miis'C, blend into an entertainment of indescribable charm in Ernst 'Lubitseh’s production of “The Merry Widow.” With Maurice Chevalier arid Jeanette MacDonald as co-stars, singing the world-beloved song hits and enacting the wlymsical romance .of the musical masterpiece, the picture is staged on a massive scale unique in the production of this type of picture. Deft “Lubitsch touches” add to its continental gaiety and humour. Miss MacDonald is singularly’ beautiful in the gorgeous Adrian-created gowns, and sings the Lehar music beautifully. LubitsclFs whimsical humour is ever apparent amid the joyousness of the gay r Viennese music, and the com-ically-conceived situations. Edward Everett Horton, as the comical ambassador, appears with Chevalier and Miss MacDonald in many hilarious situations. Refreshing Rumour is also supplied in the sequences in the royal palace, with Una Merkel and George Barbier as king and queen, and the romantic garden scene, the comical trial scenes and other episodes spice the romantic theme with merriment-

NOTES AND NEWS. Wallace Beery, Jean Harlow and Clark Gable will he co-starred in “China Seas,” based on the novel of that title by Crosbie Garstin. which Tay Garnett is scheduled tn direct. The supporting cast will include Lewis Stone and Charles Lutterworth. * vc at at The new Jan Kiepura-Sonnie Hale picture entitled “My Heart is Calling,” is due for release in the not-clis-T.ant feature. This musicale, in which Marta Eggerth will take, the leading feminine role, was directed by' Carmine Gallone. Other members of the cast are Hugh 'Wakefield, Ernest Thesiger and the well-known W olsh tenor. Parry Jones. Marta Eggerth and Jan Kiepura recently became ongaged. ® » « Gertrude Lawrence, who is starring with Douglas Fairbanks, jun., in “Vie de Roheme,” at Elstree, is telling a good story about herself. W hen she was playing in a very dramatic play’ which was touring in Scotland a crowd of admirers came round to the dressing vcom after the .performance to talk to her. They regarded her in •silent admiration for a few minutes, when one young Scotswoman came out with: ‘You’re a woe .suin’ person for so much emotion!” SC T 8 Two million dollars worth of jewellery, all fake, is being made to he used in connection with “Diamond Jim/ which Al Santell will direct. Some of the elaborate settings are being made by a \Los Angeles goldrsmith, anil some are being made under the personal direction of P. Morell, author of the novel from which this picture is taken. Parker Morel! is a <>Kew York jeweller himself. The jewellery will he worn byEdward Arnold :in the role of “DiaTmTridMim” Brady. & VF W A. biting English criticism of the American ban on. ‘‘Nell Gwynn” says tliap -Anna Neagle is bitterly disappointed about it. A new epilogue will be made to show the dashing Nell poverty-stricken, and neglected by everybody, fighting to pay her debts and dying in disgrace. Then the American censon; will he satisfied .and tli© ban will ' be lifted, because the new portion of the film will .show clearly to nice. American girls that they- should not he too friendly with kings. Oif course, the present version not. in the least offensive to rudc-miiided people like the English. To. the Americans,, being accustomed to Map West .and sensitive in their tastes for'comedy, it seems vulgar.-and demoralising.

BRITISH FILM FIRM. OPENS WITH CAST OF ONE. .LONDON, March L. A new motion picture company Is going into production here—with a staff of two and a cast of one. The oldest member of the firm is 18 years old. The publicity agent is 16. The star is said to be about nine. r Hio' camera is probably five. The head of this new company is Mr B. V. Braun. His film is to he the chronicle of the adventures of a small provincial hoy- lost in London. It will cost £SO to make, and, it is hoped will he shown commercially. When Mr Braun was 17 he made a “short” called “Beyond the Open Road,” which was exhibited by the Pilrn. Society. His ideas for his new film were so good that he persuaded a director of a well-known film company to hack him with the £SO. A friend became publicity’ agent.

THE GOVERNOR’S CABBAGE „ The fate of a nation may at times depend on so small an 'object as a cabbage. Jn a scene from Mr Charles Chauvel’s new film “Heritage,” winner of tho Commonwealth Government’s prize of £2500 for the best film produced in Australia, Governor Phillip is shown dilating to one of his officers' upon the untold possibilities of -a cabbage which haij . been grown at Rose Hill, as Paramatta was then called. As a matter of fact, the future of Australia was wrapped in the capacious leaves cf that Weighing 271b5., it was placed <m the table Of our first Governor on the King’s Birthday in the year 1789Hitherto, the colony had known untold hardship. The spectre of famine, staring and real, was never very far away from the infant settlement. But when Governor Phillip’s faith m the productivity of New South Wales was confirmed by the growing of cabbages at Rose Hill, he was able to instil in others a. similar belief. In time, he was convinced Australia would provide her own foodstuffs.

DOUBLE ROLE. There is at Jcasb one Mekyll and Hyde' in every good actor. Even though lie-may never play that famous 'double role in the Stevenson -story itself, there comes a. time when he must ac-fi (the .part of a man who is half fiencl and half honest citizen, like the unfortunate Jekyll. Claude Rains has such a role in “The Mystery of Edwin Brood." The character which Rains playis, the diabolical John jasper, is a choirmaster not only respected, but- also revered in his town. In his hidden life which he manages to conceal from his friends and admirers/he is an opium addict, following his desire for the drug into the 1 owe ft dregs of the London slums. 'From these excesses he comes back to the -cathedral to sing hymns in the choir. The supporting east of “The Mystery of Edwin DrocCt,” includes Douglass Montgomery, Heather Angel, Francis L Sullivan, Valerie Hobson, and many others. The pronunciation of Irving Pichel’s name, one of six letters and two syllables, doesn’t deem difficult. But Mr Pichel (himself ,is authority tor the statement .it is .probably the most mispronounced name owned by any . actor in .Hollywood." The favourite i pronunciation seems to be “Pi-shell," with'the accent - on the last syllable. Bi.it "he has, been called “Pea-shelf,” • PPikelj” with a. long “i”j arid even, “PickeL”, The accent in Pichel’s na-mo is on the first syllable, the “i” is short, and the “ch” Is pronounced like “ch’ in “Pitcher.” Piefbr is now playing an important role, with Mary A sto r- and Ricardo Cortez in “I Am a Thief.”

MONA .-.BARRIE’S LATEST. Described by pro-view commentators in America as one of tho most ingenious melodramas produced in Hollywood in many months is the production “Mystery man,” featuring Mona Barrie, -Gilbert Roland, John Halliday and Rod la Rocque. “Mystery Woman” is a story of a gallant wife’s struggle to clear her husband from disgrace. Written by Dudley Nichols, one of the screen’s most able authors, in collaboration with E. E. Paramour, jun., it was turned into script form by Phillip McDonald, who has authored tho “Charlie Chan-’ mystery films since the death of Earl Derr Biggers. Mona. Barrie, headed straight for .stardom fn the opinion of Hollywood’s ablest prophets, has the best role she .has played on the screen, as tho courageouswife; and that fine actor, John Halliday, appears as an arch-criminal. Roc! la Rocque, making, his first film appearance after three years’ retirement abroad, is cast as the husband.

RAFT S PARTNERS. The new formula for success in Hollywood is.to dance with George Bait. Carole Lombard, . Margo and Iris A,-Irian, nTT to he featured with Baft m “Ruba,” started their dancing careers with him as their partner. bliss Lombard, although already noted as an actress, never danced :t professional step in her life until she was cast in “Bolero,’’ opposite George Raft. She is now considered one of the best dancers on the screen—a necessary adjunct to a film career. Margo, tho little Spanish dancer, was dancing at the Waldorf-Astoria with no thought of the screen when Raft selected her as team mate for an engagement at the film studios in New York. As a result Margo, has just arrived in Hollywood with a film contract, and will play tho exotic Havana dancer in “Rumba.” Iris Adrian, flaming-haired actress, was singing and dancing in New York stage productions —but not outstanding—until she toured major American cities with George Raft for seven weeks last spring.

VISIBLY EMBA RRARSED. Baby Jane, who is only three .veara old, becomes a -star in her third picture, “Straight From the Heart." She , is the pet of everyone at the studio, 'from directors to script clerks, but the adorable tot is, nevertheless, delightfully lacking in' self-conscious-ness. She has none of the precociousness that .SO' often mars the infant prodigy. For Baby Jane, making movies, is just a grand game. She had never seen a moving picture until her mother took her to see herself in “Straight From the , Heart’’ in, the studio projection ~room. ,she : cried out with delight when ishe recognised Roger Pryor and Mary Ast,or, but to everyone's, .surprise was silent, when she. recognised her own picture and heard her own voice. In fact, she was visibly embarrassed- ; “Have you ever had any regrets or grieved because ydu Are not beautiful?'” Ediffi May Oliver'was intervied by a Hollywood writer, on this question. Her reply should warm every, woman who goes through life eyadirig the mirror : ‘Being>hohielyi,” said Elfia gravely, “has brought me success on the stage • and on the screen. It has given me "friendships that will survive until death. It has freed me from the bondage of fear, qnd. has endowed mo with an appreciation of beauty that makes life wonderful.” , . . ; i .1