FILM AND STAGE NOTES AND JOTTINGS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 256, 26 September 1935, Page 10

FILM AND STAGE

NOTES AND JOTTINGS.

An Emotional Adventure. For the commencement of its season of ehirley Temple, the wonderful child actor, in “Our Little Girl,* the State Theatre on Saturday will feature five sessions—at 10.30 a.in., 2 p.m., 5 p.in., 8 p.m., and 10.30 p.m. Shirley Temple’s big birthday party will be held on Saturday morning at the 10.30 session, when birthday cake, hats, etc.,' will he distributed. Shirley Temple admirers throughout the world thrilled with pleasure over the recent award to her of a special statuette by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The six-year-old screen sensation (she turned six this month), was singled out by this respected body for making the greatest contribution to pictures last year. “Our Little Girl” is the first picture Shirley has made since the award. It goes without saying that her numerous following takes pride in knowing that their love for the young screen star is backed by the Academy. Those who are as yet stranger to the Shirley Temple spell

should seize this chance to see the work of this inimitable child. Shirley Temple not only acts but sings in “Our Little Girl.” Her supporting cast includes Rosemary Ames. Joel McOrea, Lyle Talbot, Erin O’Brien-Moore, Jack Donohue, Poodles Hanneford, Gus Van, Margaret Armstrong, Rita Owin, Leonard Carey, J. Farrell Macdonald, and Jack Baxley. Famed Mystery Author. “Mark of the Vampire,” the new mystery film opening on Saturday at the Ivosy Theatre, is said to eclipse any thriller over presented on the

screen. This is easily believed when it is considered that one of the coauthors of the story is the man who wrote “The Werewolf of Paris,” the eerie tale of a man who turned into a wolf, which amazed the literary world when it was first published a few years ago. The writer is Guy Endore who, together with Bernard Schubert, concocted even more hairraising situations for the new film thriller. Tod Browning, • past master at the art of directing blood-curdling dramas, filmed “Mark of the Vampire,” and its star-studded cast includes Lionel Barrymore, Elizabeth Allan, Bela Lugosi of “Dracula” fame, Lionel Atwill, Jean Hersholt and Henrv Wadsworth.

Big Musical Spectacle. “Gold Diggers of 1936,” mammoth musical spectacle, opens at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. The picture is said to carry more unique and unusual numbers, greater song hits and more hilarious fun than any other musical produced by this company. Bushy Berekely, musical comedy genius, not only created and staged the numbers, but directed the entire picture. The story is a rollicking comedy with threo separate love tangles. There is a play within the play, a wealthy widow producing a milk fund show at a swanky summer hotel. Dick Rowell and Gloria Stuart have the romantic loads, with

Frank McHugh and Dorothy Dare in a senii-comic love affair and Glenda Farrell taking an eccentric millionaire in hand. Alice Brady has the role of the rich widow who is bilked of a considerable fortune by a theatrical producer, a part played by Adolphe Menjou, Joseph Cawthorn in the role of a scenic and costume artist and the hotel manager, Grant Mitchell. Winifred Shqw, the former musical comedy stage star, sings in the show. Dick Powell also sings catchy airs which were .written by the famous song team of Warren and Dubin.

i Charles Laughton has been offered the role of Bill Sykes in “Oliver I Twist,” in which Freddie Bartholomew i is to play the title-role. I Marie Tempest started rehearsals reI oentlv for a new play, “Short Story,” I by Robert Morley, an actor who has I appeared in the Cambridge Festival | Theatre and Stratford-on-Avon. This | is his first play, described as “A very I modern comedy,” and it was “discovjered” by Miss Tempest’s husband, W. Graliam-Browne. [ Max Reinhardt will in all probability direct a screen version of “Green Pastures,” the play by Maro Connelly which won the Pulitzer prize a few years ago.

Living Colour Spectacle. ! Inaugurating what many believe is to ; he a new era in screen entertainment, . R.K.0.-Radio’s first full living colour [ feature, “Becky Sharp,” is now ready for its premieres. It comes to the State Theatre on Saturday, October 5. Based , upon Thackeray’s famous fiction classic, “Vanity Fair,” and the Langdon Mitchell stage play “Becky Sharp,” it ' stars Miriam Hopkins. Produced entirely in the new three-component living colour, it promises a revelation in beauty, fidelity to life, and clarity. It is the first full length dramatic motion picture in this process and may, as many predict, revolutionise the entire future course of the film industry because colour perfection is now available. Ahove and beyond this technical triumph, “Becky Sharp” offers an absorbing, perfectly executed drama, rich in striking characterisations and entertainment values, one which, even without colour, claims a place among the year’s most noteworthy cinematic achievements. As fiction’s immortal coquette, the blonde and lovely Miss Hopkins has a role demanding both sparkling humour and tense emotion. She is brilliantly supported by Frances Dee, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Billie Burke, Alison Skipworth, Nigel Bruce, Aim Mowbray, G. P. Huntley, jr., Colin Tapley, William Faversham, and other notable players. An Outstanding Actress. ( - Isobel Elsom, who stars in the role of La'dy Sylvia Meeton in “The Thirteenth Candle,” which comes to the Rosy Theatre on Wednesday next, is one of the most distinguished personalities on the London stage of which she has been a leading member for many years. Miss Elsom commenced her theatrical career in the Adelphi Theatre in “The Quaker Girl” in 1911, and continued in musical comedies until the end of 1914, when she succeeded Gladys Cooper in “My Lady’s Dress,” in which play she portrayed six different characters. It was not until after the war that she made her greatest triumph, as Lalage Sturdee in “The Outsider,” at the St. James Theatre. She followed this with the role of Lucille opposite George Arliss in “The Green Goddess.” Miss Elsom’s film career commenced in 1919, when she played leading parts in approximately 60 silent films with nearly all the outstanding British actors.

A Gripping Story. Few indeed are tire pictures that have been received with such enthusiasm as that which has greeted “Abdul' the Damned,” which comes to the Regent Theatre on Wednesday next. Produced on a most ambitious scale under the direction of one of the world’s greatest directorial geniuses, Karl Grune, and featuring a colossal cast, headed by three internationally famous stars, in Fritz Kortner, Adrienne Ames and Nils Asther, “Abdul” was confidently anticipated to prove an epoch-making event in screen history. But even the most optimistic did not prophesy the tremendous triumphs that now stand to the credit of this remarkable production. No other picture since “The Private Life of Henry VIII” has commanded such amazing interest. The reception accorded the picture l

by the entire British Press was most | enthusiastic. “Abdul the Damned” I had its Australian premiere at the St. James, Brisbane, and once again capacity houses were attracted day and night by this epic production. And with every subsequent presentation the success has been equally great, definitely proving that here is a picture—miles apart from the usual type of ordinary screen fare —providing most acceptable entertainment for all audiences. This sensational, gripping story of the amazing life and loves of Abdul Hamid, the most sinister monarch of modern times, is a brilliant screen triumph. Poignant Drama. Reaching supreme heights, in characterisation and in strength of emotional appeal, “The Informer,” now showing at the State Theatre, in a big double feature programme, ranks as one of the most powerful dramas ever brought to the screen. Superbly enacted by a brilliant cast, the picture brings to vivid, unforgettable life the characters and scenes of Liam O’Flalierty’s widely-read and much-discuss-ed novel. Here, indeed, is drama; stark and real; poignantly human. In the role of “The Informer,” Victor McLaglen reaches even greater heights than those to which he attained with his universally praised performance in “The Lost Patrol.” A brilliant addition to the roster of Hollywood talent is Margot Grakame, blonde star of tire English stage and cinema. She gives a mrenificent performance. Other sterling performances are contributed by Preston Foster, Heather Angel,!

Wallace Ford, Una O’Connor, J. M. Kerrigan and Donald Meek. Against the colourful background, of Dublin. Ireland, the picture has the troubled years just after the World War as its period. The other big attraction at the State is “Chasing Yesterday.” Rollicking Comedy. A distinctive and well balanced cast was selected for the leading roles in the rollicking comedy, “Friends of Mr Sweeney,” whtch comes to the Rosy Theatre on Wednesday next. Charlie Ruggles, the inimitable comedian and the screen counterpart of the “Timid Soul,” who in this instance turns into a raging lion, has the leading role. Ruggles will be remembered especially for his characterisations in “Alice in Wonderland,” “Gentlemen of the Press,” “Mama Loves Papa” and “Love Me To-night.” The leading feminine part is handled by Ann Dvorak, who recently appeared in “Side Stfieets,” “Heat Lightning,” “Mas-

sacre” and “College Coach.” Eugene Pallette, the famous Sergeant Heath of the S. S. Van Dine detective novels, the most recent of which to be made into a picture being “The Kennel Murder Case,” has an important role as a breezy westerner and pal of Charlie Ruggles. Dorothy Burgess and Dorothy Tree are also prominent members of the cast. Miss Burgess has recently appeared in “A Modern Hero,” “Fashions of 1934,” “From Headquarters” and “Play Girl,” while Miss Tree’s recent pictures include “Side Streets,” “East of Fifth Avenue,” and “Husband’s Holiday.”

Dorothy Wilson will play opposite James Dunn in “Bad Boy,” a sequel to “Bad Girl.”

Buddy Rogers and June Clyde are going to appear together in “Star of the Circus" for a British Company. They recently made “Dance Bauch ’ together in Lngland. The new film will be a musical one. An original point about it is that the whole'of the action takes place during a single rehearsal and one performance of the circus. Commencing a New Zealand tour at Auckland in November will be the Viennese Boys’ Choir. A feature of their programmes is the performance o” one-act operas, in costume, the small lads impersonating female characters as well as male, looking like outsize dolls against the colourful background. Then, in demure sailor suits, or snowy surplices, they sing bright folk songs, sacred music, modern compositions, and ballads.

Suspense and Laughter. A mystery story replete with suspense,, loaded with laughs and sprinkled with a delightful romance marks the comedv-drama, “One New York Night,” which is now showing at the Regent Theatre. Introducing a new team to the public, Franchot Tone, romantic loading man and light comic, and Una Merkel, pretty comedienne, are co-featurcd in this film. The story revolves around a mysterious murder which takes piace in a cosmopolitan' hotel where a unique cross-section of | life is reflected in the various guests

who became involved in the crime. Mystery' enters when the body of a wealthy broker disappears under unusual circumstances, thus catapulting several people into a scandal. A cowman from Wyoming, bent on finding a brunette to marry in the big city, joins a blonde telephone operator in endeav-

oring to clear the name of a beautiful Russian Countess. His ultimate success is crowned by falling in love with his pretty assistant despite her light tresses. Franchot Tone is cast as the man from Wyoming, Una Merkel as the blonde telephone girl, Conrad Nagel as the private secretary to the deceased broker, and Steffi Duna as the Russian

Countess. Also prominent in the cast are Harvey Stephens, Charles Starrett and Louise Henry.

Clem Dawe, Eric Edgely, and Dorothy White left Australia last week for England, where they will open on the Moss circuit in November.

The Dunedin Repertory Theatre is giving four perforrrfancas of “The Skin Game.’' by John Galsworthy, this week. Jane Baxter has started work on “Line Engaged.” “There’s- Always Juliet,” John van Druten’s charming comedy, was read by the Hawke’s Bay Little Theatre Society at Napier recently. Alice Brady has been given a leading role in “Metropolitan,” the operatic satire in which Lawrence Tibbett is to play the lead.

Tom Walls is directing his next picture, a play called “Get Out of It,” in which he plays opposite Yvonne Arnaud. Also in the cast are Ralph Lynn and Robertson Hare. Miss Gladys Moncrieff is shortly to undertake a tour of the principal provincial towns. She will be supported

by artists who have already made themselves popular “on the air”—Gil Deck, the famous pianist; New Zealand’s own champion cornetist, John ! Robertson; Victor Apsey, a violinist jof outstanding ability ; Wilson Ewart, I a young baritone, whose rich voice | and pleasing style will make him a most popular member of the party;

and to add variety, spice and humour to one of the strongest musical programmes ever presented, Frank Perrin, one of the most popular comedians that has visited New Zealand has been included. The company will be seen in Palmerston North late in October.

Constance Collier lias refused an offer to appear in “Jubilee” on Broadway because of her film work. The Hamilton Playbox is to produce “The Dover Road,” A. A. Milne’s comedy. “Earthbound,” the film of the spirit world, and one of the most successful pictures of its day, is going to be remade as a talkie. Mr Harrison Cook, of Wellington, producer of “Sally” for the Palmerston North Operatic Society, has been appointed producer of the Wanganui Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society’s forthcoming production, “The Geisha.”