FILM AND STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 305, 22 November 1934, Page 10

FILM AND STAGE

Drama of British Borneo. British North Borneo in the Butch East Indies, a laud of approximately 60,000,000 Malays and 100,000 whites, is the exotic background of “Pursued,” a new Pox Film drama, which is showing as part of the double feature programme, now current at the State Theatre. A land of jungles and malaria, rubber plantations and wild game, thousands of white men and only a scattering of white women, Borneo, the world's largest island, daily sees enacted many dramas rivalling those of the screen. In the principal feminine role of “Pursued’ 1 is Rosemary Ames, Chicago Socialite. Based on a story by Larry Evans “Pursued” chronicles the romance of a lovely cafe entertainer and a man who goes to Borneo to take charge of a plantation. A scheming and jealous lialf-caste, the role. played by Jory, provides the barrier in the course of true love. It is her third major part since her screen debut in “I Believed In You.” Prominent also in the cast are Victor Jory, Pert Kelton and Russell Hardie. The picture, adapted by Lester Cole and Stuart Anthony was produced by Sol M. AVurtzel and directed by Louis King. “The Scarlet Empress.” On Saturday “The Scarlet Empress,” starring Marlene Dietrich, will begin its long-awaited Palmerston North season. The scene is set in cold, mysterious St. Petersburg, the imperial heart of Russia. To' Russia’s cold fastness came an innocent young German princess, who later became the most notorious woman in Europe, the most powerful and treacherous ruler of all times, Catherine, the Second, the “Scarlet Empress.” Produced with a lavishness that is truly amazing, “The Scarlet Empress,” which will be presented at the Regent Theatre on Saturday, will go on record as the most spectacular production in which Marlene Dietrich lias yet appeared. ' The pictorial magnificence of the film; which is a pageant of sumptuous splendour, beautiful music, and spectacle, is enriched by natural sound, ""dialogue, and magnificent _ settings. There aro several exceptional seenesp-ihat impress- the memory through , their .vividness and magnificenee.ilAmong these ' are the marriage of tlieS,Grand Duke Peter to the girl from Germany; the swaying of the ritual Ho the famous strains- of “Kame’noip- Ostraw” ; • the wedding feast; i the bizarre and grotesque figures of the palace, set amid barbaric splendour, and the sensational climax when Catherine II rides at the head -of the Cossacks to gain the throne. Marlene Dietrich may be said to reach one of the heights .of her life with the portrayal of the role of Catherine in “The Scarlet Empress.” In addition to Marlene Dietrich, who again is directed by Josef von Sternberg, there are, John Lodge, Sam Jaffe and Louise Dresser in the cast. Zasu Pitts and Ned Sparks. Zasu Pitts entered a new phase of her laugh-provoking career when she was given an opportunity to join with the sad-faced Ned Sparks in a hilarious comedy that is also a thrilling mystery. It is entitled “Private-Scan-dal,” and will be screened shortly at the Kosy. Miss Pitts- plays -the role of-a twittering secretary to, the man who is the focal point of the mystery. AVlien his body is found in his office, Ehe and the rest of the office staff are questioned by the sour-faeed. detective, played by Sparks. Each tries to outdo the other in telling lies, however, since in. each life is a “private scandal” that cannot stand investigation. And Sparks’ exasperation, combined with Miss Pitts’ twittering, is calculated to drive any audience-into gales of laughter. The comedy, combined with thrills and'suspense, furnishes no end of entertainment. Mary Brian and Phillips Holmes are the film’s romantic interest. Lew Cody, Olive Tell and June Brewster. give fine performances. The picture is a brand-new idea as a comedy-thriller.

London can boast of an unexpected distinction. It is, at last, the meeca of musicians. It is the world’s unchallenged capital of melody. The day when great artists dreamed of success in New York, Milan, or Paris has gone, for not one of those cities now has the allure and.artistic prestige of London. Among the celebrities who will appear during the present season are Lottee Lehmann, the great prima donna and lieder singer; Joseph Hofmann, Mischa Elman, Harold Bauer, Elena Gerhardt, jWilliam Backliaus, Gigli, “of the golden voice,” Yehudi Menuhin, Lil Pons, John McCormack, Kreisler, Tauber, Horowitz, and the famous Lener Quartette. The Berlin Philharmonic Orches■fcra, under Dr. Furtwangler, has also been “booked” for a series of concerts at the Albert Hall.

Eskimo as Leading Man. Produced by Col. W. S. Van Dyke, who made “Trader Horn,” “Mala the Magnificent” was filmed in Alaska, a period of twelve months being required to make the picture. Romance with an extremely new flavour is provided by a type of leading man entirely new to the screen. Mala, who heads the native cast, has become a real sensation as a result of. this production. Tall, handsome, the swarthy son of the icelands has the features of a bronz9 statue. A great hunter and tribal leader, he stages the thrills of polar bear and walrus capture, and fights with wolves. Such outstanding action is perfectly natural—.it is only what he has done all his life. They loved —but the white man came and their love was outraged. Truth is stranger than fiction, and the fact that every single inch of “Mala” was photographed and recorded in the Artie, entirely free from Hollywood fictional staging, makes it a production masterpiece. One can hardly believe what one’s own eyes see. A tremendous human drama picturing the terrific struggle for life in the Arctic Circle, enacted by Eskimos amidst the menace of fierce wild beasts and fiercer nature. This is indeed a mighty drama of love, desire and hitter hate, revealing the strangest moral code on the face of the earth —men who share their wives, but kill if they are stolen. This most unusual but highly entertaining film comes to the Palace Theatre on Saturday next.

Made-to-Order Film. Mary Boland and Charlie Ruggles, who have been featured together in numerous recent pictures, are co-star-red in Paramount’s “Mama Loves Papa,” a comedy written especially for them, which comes to the Kosy Theatre on Saturday. The story permits both Miss Boland and Ruggles to display their particular types of comedy to the best advantage. They are cast as a middle-aged couple who live outside a big city and commute to town eaCh day, Ruggles to tease fellow office-workers with his puns, Miss Boland to absorb ideas of “culture” at popular lectures. After one of these lectures, Miss Boland decides her husband must dress in formal clothes on every possible occasion. The next day he goes to work in cutaway and bowler. His boss concludes there was a death in the family, and gives liim tlie day off. Charlie wanders into the park, where the political boss, dissatisfied with the park commissioner, decides Charlie wouk do as well as any one else, and appoints him to the job, aTid a series of hilarious events follow. In addition to Miss Boland and Ruggles, the cast includes Lilyan Tashman, AValter Catlett and George Barbier in important roles.

A Spectacular Production. With one' of the largest and most imposing casts ever assembled for a motion picture production, Fox Film’s latest release, “Stand Up and Cheer 1” will make its appearance on the screen of the State Theatre on Saturday next. Among the many star names that stud the roster of players are Warner Baxter, James Dunn, Madge Evans, Ralph Morgan, Shirley Temple, Nigel Bruce, Arthur Byron, John Boles and Stepin Fetchit. The story is that of a Broadway theatrical producer -who is called upon by the President of the United States to help restore prosperity by reviving the spirits of the people through a gigantic amusement campaign. Among the thousand and one wonders in the picture there are hundreds of dazzling girls, a vocal chorus of 500, 1000 players. 335 scenes, 1200 wild animals, and 5 bands of music. Advance reports on the film indicate that it is one of the most elaborate undertakings Hollywood has ever endeavoured to create. The story springs from an idea supplied by . Will Rogers and Philip Klein, the song • numbers being “Our Last Night Together,” “Baby, Take a Bow.” “I’m Laughing,” “Broadway’s Gone Hill Billy” and “Out of the Red.”

Lavish New Musica^ Said to outdo previous sensational combinations of stars and spectacles, the long-heralded musical revue drama, “AA 7 onder Bar,” opened its Palmerston season at tlie Regent Theatre last evening. Kay Francis plays the leading feminine role opposite A 1 Jolson, who portrays the proprietor of the “AVonder Bar.” Ricardo Cortez and Dolores Del Rio are east as two dancers, while Dick Powell and Henry Kolker have the roles of an American composer-orchestra leader and the husband of Kay Francis, respectively. Hal | Leßoy sensational Broadway dancer, ! plays himself in a thrilling sequence, j Guy Kibbee and Hugh Herbert play I the two American tourists with Ruth Donnelly and Louise Fazenda as their wives, in important comedy and character roles. Robert Barrat lias the part of an army officer who drives his motor car over a cliff and unconsciously covers up a murder. Fifi iD’Orsay and Merna Kennedy will be i seen as two flirtatious hostesses in the j fashionable Parisian night-club. As “AA 7 ondcrbai\” this unique musical ! proved an international sensation a few years ago. It played for months in all of Europe’s capitals and was brought to America as a stage vehicle for A 1 Jolson. Janet Gaynor’s Best Picture. On AVednesday next there commences at the Palace Theatre a return season of “Paddy the Next Best Thing.” Janet Gaynor, always a firm favourite with picturegoers, won hosts of new admirers when this film was completed. The teaming of AVarner Baxter with Janet Gaynor was highly successful and each plays with a naturalness that is in keeping with the simplicity of the story. Miss Gaynor is a young and impish colleen who adds a strong dash of roguishness to her famous wistfulness and thereby creates a new kind of character for herself. Baxter has th© part of a big-hearted fellow who, much as he may try, cannot help falling head over heels for her. The story centres around the romance of these two persons. At first they are separate—Miss Gaynor’s affections are for another man and Baxter’s for another girl. But the development of the plot finally does send them to each other and makes them admit their mutual love, oven against their wills. Wlil Rogers as “Judge Priest.” AVill Rogers—in the most human and lovable role he has yet played! That is the screen fare furnished in tho current double feature programme at the State Theatre, where Will’s latest Fox picture, “Judge Priest,” is being screened. According to reports, the star has never been so well suited as by this screen character, the shrewd, kindly but strong-willed Kentucky jurist, who is already famous in the stories of Irvin S. Cobb, perhaps America’s most noted humorist. This time he plays a wise old fellow who, following the Civil AA 7 ar, has settled down in his native Kentucky village with his Confederate cronies. The story opens in his court room on a lazy spring day in 1890. One does not expect drama in a village, perhaps, but in “Judge Priest” plenty of it transpires. The Judge’s nephew, a novice lawyer, and his sweetheart, a girl whose birth is shrouded in mystery, figure importantly in the touching and dramatic story. Always there is Judge Priest, who dilutes justice .with tho milk of human kindness and who helps to shoulder the troubles of the town. The notable cast includes Tom Brown, Anita Louise, Rochelle Hudson. Henry B. AA 7althall, David Landau and Stepin Fetcliit.

“The Tale of Two Cities,” held by many to be the best novel Charles Dickens ever wrote, is to be brought to the screen.

The boy violinist Yehudi Menuhin commences an Australian tour under Tait direction in April of next year; New Zealand will be visited about July. Robert Flaherty’s film, “Man of Aran ” has been awarded the Mussolini Cup for the best foreign film by the Second International Exhibition of the art of the cinema. This is tho first time a British film lias won tho award, and the achievement is regarded in film circles as being of great importance to tlie British film industry.

The New Zealand tour of “The Dubarry” company closed at Christchurch last week, and the company sailed from AVellington by the Monowai for Sydney. The • Christchurch season was very disappointing financially. After a fortnight in Brisbane the company will revive “The Dubarry,” in Sydney, where Christmas will be spent.

“The Last Gentleman,” George Arliss’s latest 20th Century picture, shortly to be released by United Artists, differs from the usual Arliss film in more ways than one. First, it is a whimsical comedy revolving about a crochety old millionaire’s sly efforts to pick a worthy heir from his many relatives, and secondly, Mrs Arliss docs not appear in it. There is a very good reason for this omission, however, for the only role Mr Arliss will permit his wife to play in his pictures is the one she plays in life—that of his happily wedded wife—and the old gentleman in the present film is a widower..

Mr John Wallace, whose association with the stage as comedian, dancer, and producer extended over a record period, died at Liverpool (N.S.W.) recently, aged 93 years. He made his debut in England in 1851, at the age of 10 years, and maintained an active interest m stage productions until he was well over 80 years old. It was in the play “La Fille du Tambour Major” whicli Mr Wallace produced for Mr George Musgrove in Australia in the early ’eighties, that Nellie Stewart obtained her first important part.

During the screening of “Voltaire” Mr Arliss was required to adopt a stooping posture characteristic of the historic Frenchman he portrayed. As the filming occupied several weeks and necessitated his continuous appearance before the camera for six hours daily, he feared he would Become round shouldered and took special exercise to counteract the effects.

Noel Coward’s delightful costume piece," “The Marquise,” was given by the Auckland Little Theatre Society as the final production of its 10th year, the opening performance being on Friday last. The play is a gay argument for the grace of light heartedness in life, and the story lias all that delightful air of fantastic improbabilitv which is one of the charms of French farce. The theme is the return of an old lover into the lives of two elderly men who many years before had determined that she was merely a memory of their rather tempestuous youth, and that her existence should never be allowed to disturb again their plans for a well-ord-ered life. Strangely enough, neither of them knew that the other had ever played a part in her romantic career, and it-is this ignorance which leads to one of the most unexpected developments in the plot.

Mae West Returns. The world-famous star of stars, in her inimitable portrayal of a night club hostess, conies to' tho Kosy Theatre next Saturday, in “Night After Night.” Surrounding Miss AVest are George Raft, followed by Alison Skipworth, Constance Cummings, and Wynne Gibson. The action of the film is set in a luxurious New York night club, an okl brownstone mansion rescued from decay to serve as an oasis for Manhattan’s wealthy thirsty. Raft, a young player who has scored sensational success in minor roles, has his first leading role as proprietor of the club. Miss AVest, colourful figure of the Broadway stage, and Miss Gibson are two of Raft’s ex-sweetbcarts who find more difficulty in breaking the tie with him than he does. Miss Cummings is seen in the role of a society debutante who finds that the night club has been established in tlie house in which she was born and her frequent ,visits bring her in contact with Raft, who is fascinated by her. And a queer romance develops between tho two — a romance which is precipitated into startling channels by a series of unusual events. “Two Hearts in Waltz Time.”

Romance, music and song are delightfully interwoven in “Two Hearts in AValtz Time,” which will commence at the Regent Theatre next AVednesday. The iiicture is essentially a musical comedy, but its theme and presentation are something out of the or-' dinary. Carl Brisson and Frances Day, a newcomer to the screen, play the title roles. Both have beautiful voices, which find plenty of scojie in tho film. Although the story is perhaps slender, there is a feast of lilting melodies, lavish dresses, glittering scenes and beautiful girls. Brisson plays the part of Carl Hoffmann, a light-hearted composer of musical scores, and Miss Day that of Helene Barry, a leading English star. Although Carl is overwhelmed with women, he falls in love with Helene at first sight. After much deliberate delay, he unintentionally composes the theme song of a new musical comedy, and through this he eventually wins Helene’s love. The sequences are cleverly worked out, and some spectacular settings are presented during the first-night performance of the new play. Assisting the stars are Oscar Asche, Peter Gawthorne, Bert Coote, and many others'. The incidental musical numbers include “For Love of You,” “Give Her a Little Kiss,” “AVe Hate the Men,” and the most captivating l of the lot, “Two Hearts in AA 7 altzing Time.” The Inimitable Arliss.

The many triumphant roles to the credit of Mr George Arliss place him in a class of liis own as far as screen stardom is concerned. “Disraeli” introduced to us an actor of such ability that it would be difficult to imagine anyone else playing the part. A\ 7 e then formed the opinion that George Arliss had played tlie greatest role of his long

career on the stage or screen. But other pictures came and each one was a master-piece it seemed impossible for this great star to make a failure. The different types that he was called upon to represent were no obstacle to him and we saw him play to perfection “Alexander Hamilton, “The Man Who. Played God,” _ “TJie Working Man,” “The Millionaire”-and his most recent success “The House of Rothschild.” There are many, however, who hold the opinion that “Voltaire,” now showing at the Palace Theatre is Arliss’s greatest film. There is no question that it must be numbered among his most outstanding efforts, as he actually looked and lived the part, with such ability that large numbers will remember George Arliss as “Voltaire” rather than the historical character himself.

John Hastings Turner’s stage comedy “Lilies of the Field” has been translated to the screen and is said to provide a most wholesome and delicious film. It abounds with witty dialogue, clever acting, and humorous situations.

London newspapers are paying tribute to several plays delighting London theatre-goers. Ivor Novello’s latest play “Murder in Mayfair” has been playing to excellent business at the Globe Theatre. The lan Hay-King Hall comedy “Admirals All,” with its unusual situations following on the abduction of a lunch party by pirates, is a big success at London Shaftesbury Theatre. “Merrie England” lias been revived at the Prince’s Theatre and looks like creating new.records. “Ten Minute Alibi,” the fascinating mystery drama that was recently played in Australia by a J. C. Williamson Company, is also going strong in London. The Phoenix Theatre now houses the company, and the Armstrong thriller has already been going for over a year. “Blackbird of 1934,” is at the London Coliseum, the players being colour<?d people, and all London is flocking to see th" show. The stage is prospering in the Metropolis, the wave of success affecting new and old productions alike.

NOTES AND JOTTINGS

Marie Dressier’s estate has now been finally assessed at a little over £50,000. A New Zealand girl—Joan Beere, formerly of AVellington—is dancing in “The Merry Malones” in Sydney. Bombardier Billy AVells, the famous ex-boxer, will appear as a detective in “The Girl in the Crowd,” which is being produced in England. It is probable that the spectacular musical play, “AVhjte Horse Inn,” which lias been running in Melbourne for four months, will be the Christmas attraction at Auckland. A British studio has commenced filming George Arliss in his first English picture, “The Iron Duke,” at the Shepherd’s Bush studios, under the direction of Victor Saville. Though no definite dates are available, it is on the cards that New Zealand will be visited by the Russian ballet company, headed by Spessiva and Vilzak, early next year. The period costumes used in “Blossom Time” have cost in themselves a small fortune—£sooo is a low estimate of the cost of the thousands of period dresses which were hired or made for this interesting 8.1. P. production. The Hawera Operatic Society played “Firefly” this week. This beautiful musical comedy was a great success when produced by the Hamilton amateurs. Mr Harisen Cook was producer. It has been discovered that Katharine Hepburn is the possessor of a very pleasant singing voice. Consequently she has had a folk-song mcorported for her in “The Little Minister.”

Extensions are to he made to the AVanganiii Opera House stage to facilitate the presentation of the bigger stage productions which are a development of present-day theatrical activity. Maurice Chevalier, international stage and screen player, has been signed to star in the elaborately planned n.m version of the “Folies Bergere de Baris,” for United Artists. Mr S. N. D© Vries, a Dutch baritone, who is to fulfil an engagement with Sir Benjamin Fuller, reached Australia recently. Last year at Amsterdam Mr De Vries took a leading part in “Heer Halewyn,” by Pyper, which, he claims, is the. first purely Dutch grand opera. Prominent musicians with whom he has been associated are A\ 7illielm Furtwangler Kleiber (conductor of the Berlin State Opera) and Richard Strauss. He studied at Milan unclei Pintorno, a friend of Puccini and Toscanini.

20th Century lias signed Ronald Colman to a new contract which will give his services exclusively to that company. Henceforth he will star only in special dramatic spectacles of which “Clive of India” will be the first. AV. P. Lipscomb© and R. J. Minney, authors of “’Clive of India,” have been engaged to do the screen adaptation of their eminently successful London play for Hollywood production. Dr. Merton Hodge, the ex-AVelling-ton doctor, wrote “The AVind arid the Rain,” a comedy-drama of medical student life in Edinburgh, a play that has been running for many months in London, and is just as big a success in New York. This play will come to New Zealand later—it has just opened in Australia- to splendid business—probably in February. George Thirlivell, a handsome young Englishman, plays lead, and is also the hero in “Ten Minute Alibi,” the mur-der-thriller -bv Anthony Armstrong that will also be in the company’s repertoire. •

AVinifrecl Sliotter is seen to advantage as “Betty,” one of the irrepressible rectory twins, who, by her pose as a demure AUctorian miss, obtains a much-coveted visit to London with her modern grandma. In modern blase Mayfair she is a sensation, and before long all’ London sport crinolines, curls and side-whiskers. Anthony Bushell, Judy Gunn, Ellis Jeffries, and Claude Hulbert lend excellent support, to Miss Sliotter.

New Zealand theatregoers will he pleased to learn from Mr H. Stringer,

New Zealand representative for Messrs J. C. Williamson, Ltd., that a Christmas attraction will be vaudeville-revue .on a scale never attempted here before. It will be remembered that Mr Frank Neil’s company toured. New Zealand last year under the aegis of Messrs J. C. Williamson, since when the alert entrepreneur has paid a visit abroad for new stars for another tour. This highly talented company has been playing to capacity business in Australia. The enterprise of Mr Neil, in conjunction with J.C.W. will be suitably , rewarded, as the company of 25 international variety stars will present the kind of entertainment New Zealand audiences mostly approve. The same lavish splendour that characterised the Australian productions will be staged here. Appropriately entitled “New Faces” this variety revue will introduce Nice, Florio, and Lubow, a brilliant dancing trio from New York; Joey Porter, a young English comedian with the drollest manners; Los Diamondos, a spectacular duo from . the Follies Bergeres, Paris, whose specialty is statuesque adagio dancing; Alec. Halls, Continental comedian, fresli from the Winter Garden Theatre, Berlin; the Three Ambassadors, a trio ot modern melody makers from London; Grace Hartington, an accomplished soprano from Daly’s Theatre, London , McDonald and Graham, and Hope and Ray, from London Alhambra; James Branson and Cora Whitwell; also “re charming Australian ballet girls whom Mr Neil acknowledges rival any ot the ballets he saw abroad.

One of the most unusual comedies to reach the screen since the inception of talkies is “The Last Gentleman, George Arliss’s new 20th Century starring vehicle shortly to be released by United Artists. The story, which depicts the amusing .and eventful efforts of an eccentric hut lovable old millionaire to choose a worthy heir among hia various and colourful relatives, offers Arliss another great role and the brilliant artist achieves another characterisation as rich and complete as, if in a lighter vein than, his recent triumph as Nathan /Rothschild m “The House of Rothschild.” There is an exceedingly surprising ending.