NOTES AND JOTTINGS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 64, 13 February 1936, Page 10

NOTES AND JOTTINGS.

“The Good Earth,” tlie adaptation nf a prize-winning novel of tlie same name bv Pearl Buck, will shortly be produced. The principal stars in the production will he Paul Mum and Luise Rainer. ■ Leading roles have been announced for Lionel Barrymore in a forthcoming production of George Eliot’s novel, ‘‘Silas Marner, and m an adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’s latest novel, “It Can’t Happen Here.” The eagerly anticipated now play oy Sir James Barrie about which close secrecy is still being maintained has a very strong cast and is his first play for 15 years. Sir John Martin-Harvey is supporting Miss Elisabeth Bergner

in tho all-star cast witli which Mr Charles B. Cochran is presenting tlie play at Edinburgh this month. Janet Gaynor lias been signed for the leading role in “Small Town Girl,” from tlie noval by Ben Ames Williams. The choice of leading man rests between Robert Taylor and Robert Montgomery. Five important American artists have been engaged in New York for the J. C. AVilliamson, Ltd., production of “Three Men on a Horse,” the farce-comedy which is the comedy sensa.tion of tho United States, where it is

being presented by no fewer than six different companies. These are Ray Seabroolc, a noted actress who appeared in Will Rogers’s last picture; Fred Sherman, Jonathan Hole, Betty Hanna and Louis Tanno. The first performance in Australia of “Three Men on a. Horse,” which has a racing interest, will be given at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, early in March. After six years of retirement from active Soviet film production, Sergei Fisenstein, Russia’s foremost film producer, is again hack at work in the studios. His latest filin', “Bejdiin Meadow,” is expected to be released tor Soviet and foreign screening hi March. The film deals with vital problems of the contemporary Soviet life. It mirrors the struggle in the village between the last remnants ot the “kulaks” and the collectivised majority of the village. One of the biggest theatrical ventures ever undertaken in Australia will be initiated by J. C. Williamson Ltd., provided that a guarantee of sufficient public support is forthcoming. This will be the importation of a complete Russian opera company to open an Australian tour at His Majesty s Theatre, Melbourne, in May or June. The company, comprising 90 performers. would include a ballet ol 30, a chorus of 30, and two conductors. Light operas would be presented. It is pointed out by J. C. Williamson Ltd. that in Europe, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and Covent Garden Opera in London, opera is supported by the guarantees of the Government or by syndicates of wealthy patrons.