FILM and STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 81, 4 March 1938, Page 10

FILM and STAGE

Music, Comedy, Romance. The millions who laughed and wept and thrilled with the smash hits of the year will welcome this new picture, '‘The Bride Wore Red.” which comes to the Regent Theatre to-morrow. Those who remember “Grand Hotel” —“San Francisco” —“The Good Earth” and “The Great Ziegfeld” — will greet this new production, with Joan Crawford starring .and with Franchot Tone and Robert Young in the leading male roles. Do.rothy Arzner, Hollywood’s only woman director, directed “The Bride Wore Red.” The cast went up into the High Sierra ranges to film the mountain wilderness for beauty of setting and background-I—but 1 —but ' down in the studio they provided the stirring dramatic

plot that made the original story, “The Girl from Trieste,” one of Ferenc Molnar’s greatest stage hits. Billie Burke and Reginald Owen form a noni:ed,y team that is incomparable. Lynne Carver, the Kentucky beauty, has a lomantic role, and others in the sparkling cast are George Zuoco. Mary Phillips, Paul Porcasi, Dickie Moore and Frank Puglia. New Mystery Film. After a long career of screen adventures involving daring skirmishes with the most dangerous and desperate of international criminals, Charlie Chan, famous Oriental sleuth created for the screen by Warner Oland from

the original character by Earl Derr Biggers, finds his greatest match of wits and test of courage in New York City, stalking murder through Manhattan’s Great'White Way.-'ln his latest filin, “Charlie Chan On Broadway,” opening' at the State Theatre on Eriday, March 11, Oland makes a neat and interesting combination or the Chinese detective’s characteristic “Cha.n-o-grams,” bits of laconic philosophical observation, and the newest of the new American fads, the craze of candid-photography. Customarily a shrewd and intense observer who hnhs facts where less keen minds perceive nothing, Chan is baffled by the double murder which has Broadway aghast, -until the first glimmerings of a .clue are furnished by the accidental “shots” snapped on the “candid-cam-era night” run by the night-club which is the scene of the crime. This isan entirely new angle in his detective method, Oland admits, adding that he likes to keep himself completely modern, one of the reasons for the immense popularity of the likeable screen detective. , ,

Joseph Calleia and Cora Witherspoon have been added to the cast of Mane March lias had to postpone the Broadway opening of his play, on account of illness. He is suffering from blood poisoning. , n Robert Spindola, the 10-yeai-old Mexican who was the flute-playing donkey-boy in “The sneaking part> in 1 Madolon. 1 Thomas P Mitcliell has been given a contract following his work m Humcate.” He is at present P'a ying M “ “Everybody was Very Nice. Mona Barrie is also in the cast Frank Capra’s next Picture will be “You Can’t Take It with You, a Broadway success for which £50,000 " A P real balalaika stage band, a beautiful Russian ballet and dancers „ ]lf i sinners figure in the expensive musical spectacle, “Balalaika” wluch Messrs J. C. Williamson announce as their Easter attraction for the Dominion, commencing at Auckland on Easter Monday. It is a most romance play, dramatic in parts, full of comm situations, and has an all-star cast of international repute. Golden-haired Kirsten Flagstad, Norwegian dramatic soprano, is coming to New Zealand shortly., under lait management. She is young, and . ncknowledged to be the most beautiful Isolde ever heard in “Tristan and Isolde.” She was a big attractioni in jbondon during Coronation month. Also due for a season in Australia and -New Zealand is Lawrence Tibbett, the tall, handsome American baritone, probably the finest baritone of the present generation, who is one of Richard Crook's closest friends.

Romance in Turbulent Spain. War-time Spain is still the reckless land of ardent love. Bombers roar and big guns thunder, but who’s afraid of romance? Not entrancing Loretta Young or tempestuous Don Ameche, who hurdle the Spanish barbed-wire barricades and trip headlong into romantic excitement and adventure in “Love Under Fire,” a comedy-drama, which opens to-night at the State Theatre. Loretta Young, gayer and lovelier than ever, arid Don Ameche make love by the light of bursting starshells. to the tune of whining shrapnel, and the mad music of Borrah Minevitch and his gang, whose catchy rhythms make machine-guns rat-tat-tat in saving time. The cast also features Frances Drake, Walter Cat-

lett, the goggle-eyed, blustering comedian; John Carradine, new screen “menace”; Sig Rumann, and Harold Huber. Fun and furore reign as the Spanish conflict brings together . a Scotland Y’ard detective, a fugitive beauty, who believes, erroneously, that she is a thief, an entertainment troupe and their smart-alecky manager, and the men engaged in war. “First Lady” a film version of the Broadway stage hit of the same name, is due for screening in New Zealand a,t an early date. Kay Francis is the star of this comedy of society and politics. Supporting her are Preston

Foster Veree Teasdale, Anita Louise, Victor’ Jory. Walter Connolly, Louise Fazenda, Marjorie Rambeau and a dozen other notables. Herbert Rawlinson and Johnny Harren, film stars of the screen’s silent days, appear in “That Certain Woman,” Bette Davis’s new drama due for early release in New Zealand. Henry Fonda. lan Hunter, Anita Louise and several other current favourites are the cast principals. Shirley Temple’s next picture will be “Little Miss Broadway.”' Irving Cummings, who directed her in “Poor Little Rich Girl,” lias just signed a new contract with the studio, and will direct Shirley again.

A Rare Production. Few motion pictures are able to stand the test of being reissued following their initial release, but Norma Shearer’s triumphant film version of the famous stage classic, “Smilin’ Through,” in which she is supported by Fredric March and Leslie Howard, is one of those rare productions which have lingered in the hearts of moviegoers the world over. So great has has been the demand upon the part of the public to see this picture once again that the producers are bringing “Smilin’ Through” back to the screen at the Mayfair Theatre soon. It is in the poignant story of “Smilin’ Through” that Miss Shearer first turned her back on her screen past for in this production she has a role far removed from those which took her along the bypaths leading away from convention. The role is a forerunner of her brilliant portrayal ot the poetess, Elizabeth Barrett, in “The Barretts of Wimpole Street.” Miss Shearer’s role in “Smilin’ Through” is frankly tinged with sentimental romance. It is completely devoid of that sophistication which marked her characterisations in “Strangers May Kiss.” “A Free Soul” ail'd “Strange Interlude.” The story abounds m pathos. Ever since Jane. Cowl first presented it on the New York stage, it lias served as the model by which sentimentality in drama is measured. “As sweet and poignant as ‘Smilin Through” has come to be a phrase by which critics point their comparisons. Gay Romance. Bing Crosby, who h.as entertained millions with his singing, lias at last realised a secret ambition to be a tap dancer. In his latest picture, “Two For To-niglit,” featuring Joan Bennett, Mary Boland and Lynne Overman, coming on Tuesday to the Kosy Theatre, he is given a chance to do a short tap routine. Although it is strictly a comedy routine, supposedly Bing’s idea of what a troupe of chorus girls should look like in action, the 6inger has danced and is content. “Two For To-night” is a gay, romantic comedy, with music, in which Crosby is cast as a singer, one of the three sons of Ma.ry Boland. In an effort to sell a song to a deaf music publisher, he is hurt when an aeroplane crashes. The pilot of the ’plane, Miss Bennett, given the impression by Miss Boland that Crosby is an author, arranges an interview with her boss, Lynne Overman, theatrical producer. Overman orders Crosby to write a play for his star, Thelma Todd. Events lead the singer to a night club in search of more material to finish his play. An exciting, laugh provoking climax brings Bing to the realisation of the girl he really loves. Mirth and Melody.

With songs by Irving Berlin carrying it to new heights of melody, “On the Avenue,” a sparkling musical production, is coining’ soon to the Meteor Theatre with a stellar cast ot entertainers and the latest hits by the man to whose music most of the world makes love. In this real-life romance of New York, gay and glamorous as the town itself, Dick Powell and Madeleine Carroll, a combination new to musical comedy, make a handsome and romantic team, ably surrounded by such masters of mirth and melody as Alice Faye, the Ritz Brothers and George Barbier. “On the Avenue” gets off -to a hilarious, start when Madeleine Carroll, as a wealthy debutante, George Barbier, as her father, and Alan Mowbray, as an explorer, enter a theatre just as Dick Powell, Alice Fave .and the Ritz Brothers are going into a farcical burlesque, of the home life of “the richest girl m the world. As the infuriated family stalks from the theatre, voicing threats ot damage suits to the manager, Madeleine head* for the stage entrance and briishnig past the doorman, snatches .Alice s wig off and starts to wreck . Dick s dress ing room before she is ejected. Ther is a riot of sequences too good to miss.

Arlene Whelan is the feminine lead in “Kidnapped.” Freddie Bartholomew is featured. . A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has acquired the talkie rights to ‘‘Journey s , , It was last made in 1930, directed by James Whale. , Mr W. ltussell-Wood has accepted an engagement as producer for the Dunedin Repertory fc ool °ty and mil stage John Galsworthy’s The Show for a season of five nights m Apia. Mr Russell-Wood has for the past tour years been organiser and producer tor the Dunedin Playbox Club. Ella Logan; Scotch comedienne and singing star, who was prominently featured in Walter Wan gers 52nd Street ” has been added to the east of “The Goldwyn Follies.” The last song Gershwin composed for the film, a number called “I Was Doing All Bight,” was written specially for Miss Logan. . . ... Frank Noil, in conjunction witn Messrs J. C. Williamson, is presenting yet another of liis notable revue companies to Dominion audiences commencing at Auckland on Monday. Mr Neil rightly places reliance upon the standard of his acts, and regularly combs the world for turns of outstanding brilliance. In his company to tour New Zealand shortly he has two headliners in Ella Shields, famous male inipersonator, and Jim Gerald, comedian, both of whom are immensely popular among revue lovers.

Ladies in Adventure. With the most exciting and brilliant star combination ever to appear in one picture, “Ladies in Love,” a new production, opens to-riight at the Meteor Theatre, a bitter-sweet romance of four lonesome, lovely girls, and their adventures in search of love. A quartette of Hollywood’s most famous feminine personalities, Janet Gaynor, Loretta Young, Constance Bennett and Simone Simon. appears in the film, with the cast featuring Don Ameche, Paul Lukas, Tyrone Power, junr., and Alan Mowbray. Of the four lovely ladies, one gambles for love and-loses, one gambles and wins, one asks for love and gets it, love asks for the fourth —too Late. These four famous feminine screen favourites introduce four exciting new techniques for romance in “Ladies in Love,” which promises to bo one of the year’s outstanding triumphs. High-Class Comedy. Nick Arno is said to out-Apache the Apaches when he adagios diminutive Elsie Ames about a night club floor. They appear in “Double or Nothing.” the new Bing Crosby picture coming next Wednesday to the Regent The-

atre. The comedy adagio team’s ambition seems to be to discover how far each can fall without breaking any bones. But, so far Miss Ames lias been the only one hurt. One night a solicitous night club manager put dow-n a mat for her to fall on in one of their routines. She sprained her wrist. The Calgary Brothers, who toured the -world as stage comedians, appear in this musical comedy romance. It was Ted Reed, the director, in the east scouting for talent, who saw the comedians in their famous drunk act and signed them, for the current picture, which also includes Martha Raye, Andy Devine and William Frawley in the brilliant cast. A high record in comedy casting is reached in the picture. The cast includes

eleven laugh-getters and most of these are top-notchers of vaudeville fame. In addition to Martha Raye, there are Andy Devine, William Frawley, the Calgary Brothers; Ames and Arno, slapstick dancers; Harry Barris, of the Rhythm Boys, Charles Irwin and Arthur Houseman. Gail Patrick is with Randolph Scott in the Arctic drama, “Angel in Fur.” Irene Dunne is with Edgar Bergen in “A Day of Promise.” Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are together again in “Carefree.” “Desert Song” will be revived in Svdney on Saturday night, following the long and successful run of “Balalaika.” Robert Halliday will appear as the Red Shadow, a role which he originated in New York. Margaret Adams will he Margot. Sonja Henie, after a bare year in pictures, has got herself into the “more pictures, less money” class. She has just signed a new contract for three pictures next year. Paul Muni, the film star, on arriving in Budapest with liis wife from Vienna, had to enter a nursing home witn larynx trouble. - „ _ • Mary Pickford tooir Lone] la Parsons’s place as film critic at the preview of “Hollywood Hotel,” because Miss Parsons herself appears in the "Mr Ken G. Hall, producer-director, announced recently that Neil Caiiton, the Australian who has made a name for himself in England, will be the juvenile lead in “Let George Do It, his next picture. Carlton will play opposite Gwen Munro, the Melbourne girl who gave a splendid performance in ber recent picture, “Orphan of Ihe Wilderness. Romance rides the screen again with the new version of another grand Baroness Orczy story, “The Return Of Tlie Scarlet Pimpernel. 55 Tlie film is a further chapter in the thrilling adventures of Sir Percy Blakeney, a character brilliantly created on the screen two or three years ago by Leslie Howard. In “The Return of The Scarlet Pimpernel” tins role is taken by a handsome young newcomer, Barry K. Barnes, who by his masterly perform an ce establishes himself immedlately as a starrring personality. In “The Squeaker,” a film based on one of Edgar Wallace’s best known plays, Edmund Lowe is the star, and lie is supported by an outstanding cast headed by Ann Todd. Sebastian Shaw, Tamara Desni, and Robert Newton. The story is a mysterious crime thriller in the best Wallace tradition. It deals with a .sinister character in the underworld known as The Squeaker. He is such a menace that the entire forces of Scotland Yard are directed towards effecting his arrest. But it is left to Lowe, a detective in disgrace, to bring about his eapturo, which lie does in a thrilling climax.

Drama of Girl Fugitive. The little things, artistic in themselves, artistically combined, which make for convincing and compelling picture entertainment, are essential tactors for proper set effects, according to Alexander Toluboff, art director. For a single artistic shot of a tenement house skylight in YValter Wanger’s film, “Mary Burns, Fugitive,” coming on Tuesday to the Kosy Theatre and starring Sylvia Sidney, Toluboff insisted that rain, pattering on the glass, be included in the scene to create the illusion and atmospheric effects of a detective’s shadow thrown against it, as seen by a girl fugitive from within, even though the rain added greatly to the difficulties in lighting. “Mary Burns, Fugitive,” traces the tragic experiences of a girl caught in the web of the law through an innocent friendship with a man she did not know was a public enemy. Convicted on circumstantial evidence, she gets a prison sentence, but breaks gaol, a girl fugitive hunted bv the law. She falls in love with a wealthy, brilliant, but temporarily blind young scientist, but her former sweetheart gangster, determined not to lose her,

-1 pursues her relentlessly. A series of r tense, dramatic episodes follows . the ' girl until a gripping, thrilling climax >! brings the picture to an exciting 11 finale. Gripping Drama. I Peter Lorre, known in the clipped idiom of the film world as Europe’s ’ one-man chamber of horrors, adds an- - other fascinating portrait to his . gal- . lery in “Nancy Steele is . Missing,” in which he is starred with Victor McLaglen and Walter Connolly, with . June Lang and Robert Kent fea- | tured. Newest and most interesting of screen menaces, Lorre was born in a little Hungarian village in the Car- . pathian mountains. A small part with ! a Breslau .company led to later lilts in

Zurich, Vienna and Berlin, where a vuz uang, noted German director, asked Lorre to appear in a picture he was preparing. It was almost two years before Lang called Lorre, but the picture. “M,” made them both famous. The strange little actor with the babyliko face and big expressive eyes became the most talked-about newcomer in pictures. He made the pathological child-murderer of “M” so terrifying, yet so sympathetic, that he was in danger of being “typed.” In America, Lorre appeared in “Mad Love” and “Crime and Punishment,” and in “Crack-TJp” he played a different type of character role, one of a sort he 'had never attempted before, combining both humour and menace in the part of Colonel Gimpy. The sum of £4OOO was raised for King George’s Pension Fund for Actors and Actresses by a matinee per-

formance in London, which was attended by the King and Queen. Two more London theatres have gone back to vaudeville after several years in films—the Ciaphani and the Kilburn Empire. “A Kingdom in His Hand,” a play centring round Bishop Pompallier, will be presented by the Auckland Catholic iiepertory Society this month. The film, “A Nation is Built,” orginally intended for oversea publicity for the 150th anniversary celebrations, but later fashioned into an intensely interesting record of a young country’s development, created an immense impression among those who saw it at a private showing in Sydney. Excellently photographed and conceived, the film records in realistic manner the main incidents that ded to the first important steps in the State’s material progress.