AS THE VAGABOND

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 112, 24 April 1936, Page 14

AS THE VAGABOND

Chevalier’s Latest

One of the most interesting things I have seen in recent weeks is the making of the “two-version” Chevalier film at Ealing, comments a London film critic. This is “The Beloved Vagabond.” In casting the film the producers have engaged as many play era as possible who are experts in French as well as in English. Chevalier, of course, has the role of the Vagabond. Betty Stockfield is Joanna, Austin Trevor has another important part. Margaret Lockwood is doubled in the French version by a girl called Helene Robert, and Desmond Tester by a young boy whom Londoners may have noticed in “Sans Famille” with Robert Lyncn; his name is Serge Grave.

Owen Nares is working in the film, too, but you won’t see him on the screen, for his job of work is to see that Maureece pronounces his English properly. In other words, Mr Nares is Dialogue Expert, English version. The day I was there, adds the critic, an amusing scene was in progress. The Vagabond, with his two young followers, Blanquette and Asticot, were at a reception in London society. The period was 1900, and the costumes suggested the family Album come to life. First the English players did their stuff, and then, with lights and cameras all set, the French actors took their places and in a very short time both renderings were “in the bag,” as they say in studio language. Margaret and Helene spent their off time teaching one another French or English, as the case might be, and Desmond Tester, too, taught Serge to master some of the strange English pronunciations.