FILM AND STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 121, 22 April 1938, Page 10

FILM AND STAGE

Popular Narrative. Tlie screen demonstrates forcibly again that it can add new charm to the old beauty of the theatre. The time-honoured stage hit, “Madame X.” commences at the Mayfair Theatre to-morrow, witli Gladys George in the title role and proves fine entertainment. The remembered story of the woman who was drawn by circumstances into a life of degradation and was at the last defended by her son, who did not know her, has been one of the most dramatic stage vehicles in many years. It gains a greater quality of suspense in the adaptation. The producers have also brought the narrative closer into the present without detracting in any way from the original. Gladys George has played the role on the stage. She brings to the screen characterisation a wealth of artistry and delicate understanding. John Beal is the son and Warren William plays the part of Fleuriot, the husband* They are accomplished actors who contribute precisely the right qualities to their characterisations. The supporting cast is notably good, including Reginald Owen. William Henry, Henry Daniell, Phillip Reed. Lvnne Carver and Emilia Dunn.

Clever Child Actress. A juvenile character actress who troupes like a veteran; a comedienne who wrings tears and laughter from her audience with equal ease; a song stress and dancer with an amazingly natural sense of rhythm; and a clever mimic who impersonates screen, radio, and stage notables. This is Jane Withers, whose latest and funniest picture, “45 Fathers,” featuring Thomas Beck, Louise Henry and the Hartmans, is to commence at the State Theatre on Friday. April 29. After viewing the first motion picture she can remember, Jane Withers mimicked one of the players so successfully that the radio station in her home town featured her in impersonations. Hundreds of letters were received, each week, reliable proof of Jane Withers’s rising popularity. In Hollywood, before entering motion pictures, she made several personal appearances at benefit shows and club meetings. Her diversified talents in these appearances served to bring her to the attention of film executives. From then on, her career was assured. Spectacular Sequences.

One of tlio strangest tricks the human mind plays is the sensation of going through an experience which seems to have occurred before, with tlio same incidents and scenes repeating themselves. Psychologists have an explanation for this which requires several chapters to unfold. Robert Wilcox, the film actor, found himself

in this odd situation while he was making one of the spectacular sequences in the romantic comedy drama, “Carnival Queen,’’ which opens at the Kosy Theatre to-day. A few years ago Wilcox worked on a construction crew at Boulder Bain. Often he had to toil in mud, with tho pcnumatic hoso snaking all over the place. Everybody wore hip boots. At the same studio years altera aid, Wilcox was making a picture m front of the cameras. Everywhere there was mud. Rubber hose coiled and twined, carrying 50,000 gallons of water to overhead sprinkler towers, _so that the studio could produce a driving rainstorm. The carnival crew wore hoots and slickers. In the background, 100 tents circled about the set. Featured in “Carnival Queen” with Wilcox are Dorothea Kent, Hobart Cavanaugh, Ernest Cossart and David Oliver.

Extended Season. “Mad About Music,” which has been extended for a lew days at the Regent Theatre, presents Deanna Durbin as a student at a girls’ school in Switzerland. Her mother, played by Gail Patrick, is a Hollywood star who acts glamorous ingenue roles and consequently cannot acknowledge she is a widow with a daughter of high school age. All the other girls have noted fathers, so Deanna invents an explorer dad for herself and tells the girls tall stories about him. Then Herbert Marshall arrives in the Alps with his manservant, Arthur Treacher. Deanna adopts Marshall as her father and soon has him entangled in her web of fiction. Each time Miss Durbin tells a particularly bounching lie she closes her eyes .and crosses her fingers. This is her signal to herself that she does not mean what she is going

to say. Naturally, she uses the signal all through the film. The cast besides Herbert Marshall, Gail Patrick, and Arthur Treacher, includes William Frawley, Marcia Mac Jones, Helen Parrish, Jackie Moran, Christian Rub, Charles Peek, Nana Bryant, Elizabeth Risdon, Joan Tree, Charles Judells, Franklin Pangborn, Bert Boacli and Sid Grauman. Musical Comedy. Grace Moore’s newest picture, one that even surpasses her highly-popular “One Night of Love,” comes to the Mayfair Theatre on Wednesday and its title is “When You’re in Love.” Cary Grant joins the ranks of the opera star’s leading men for this film. Tullio Carminati, Leo Carillo, Robert Allen and Franchot Tone have preceded him as recipients of Miss Moore’s favour on the screen. This also marks the first occasion that Grant has appeared in a musical picture. He was recently seen in “Wedding Present” and “Suzy.” The story deals with an Australian opera star who is forced to leave the United States because of immigration laws. She is very much disturbed at this, because she has set her heart on singing at the song festival to be sponsored bv her old teacher and guardian. The star is a vain' person who has surrounded herself with several fawning sycophants. Among those featured in support of Miss Moore, besides Grant, are Aline McMahon, Henry Stephenson, Thomas Mitchell, Catharine Doucet, and Luis Alberni,

who was absent, from only one of Miss Moore’s films since “One Night of Love.” Four performances of “The Marquise,” by Noel Coward, were given last week by the Wanganui Repertory Society. Gladys George has been given the part of Madame Du Barry in Norma Shearer’s “Marie Antoinette.” Also in the cast will be Melvyn Douglas and Maureen O’Sullivan. Lupe Velez will appear in support of Simone Simon in “Jo and Josette,” if the former finishes her Mexican picture in time. Lupe is famous in Hollywood for her impersonation of Simone. King Haakon of Norway lias made Sonja Henie a Knight of St. Olaf, in recognition of her world fame on ice and on the screen.

I Famous Story. Barry K. Barnes appears in many scenes and a number of remarkable disguises—as a tumbril driver with long matted hair and protuberant teeth, as a window cleaner with bulbous’ nose, and finally as a rather deaf old colonel with bushy eyebrows and a hawklike nose. He is, of course, also seen as himself, the handsome English dandy Lord Blakeney in “The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel,” which commences to-day at the State Theatre. Among the spectators of the trial scene is Margaretta Scott who plays the part of Theresia, a Spanisli actress living in Paris, and a famous historical figure. It is she who lures Lady Blakeney to Paris and causes her famous husband to follow where the Revolutionaries can catch him. With these exciting incidents a strong vein of humour runs through “The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel.” Anthony Bushell plays the role of Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, the part he played in the original production which starred Leslie Howard. Hospital Romance.

An original story by Erich von Stroheim, once a. distinguished Hollywood director, “Between Two Women,” comes to the Regent Theatre soon, with Franchot Tone, Maureen O’Sullivan and Virginia Bruce. It is a dramatic narrative of life, death and romance in a great metropolitan hospital and it has been produced with lavish resources.- Tone, as an ambitious young interne, plays an effective role with an artistic depth of understanding. Maureen O’Sullivan is a nurse, unhappily married to a brutal surgeon, and secretly in love with Tone. Miss Bruce is a cool and beautiful heiress who comes into the hospital as a patient, and goes out as an intended bride of the interne. The supporting players handle their roles with uniform ability. Cliff Edwards is a good reporter; Helen Troy appears as a telephone operator- Janet Beecher, stage veteran, is head nurse; Leonard Penn is a sadistic surgeon. Others in the cast are Charley Grapewin, Grace Ford, June Clayworth, Edward Norris, Anthony Nace and Hugh Marlowe. Alpine Musical. Laden with romance and drama in snow-silvered settings, “Girl In A Million,” the spectacular musical film that thrillingly glorifies the girl in a million, loved Sonja Henie, comes soon to the Meteor Theatre. With a hundred gorgeous girls in sensational icerevels amid a dazzling winter wonderland of breathtaking beauty, it has a cast that includes, in addition to Sonja Henie, Adolphe Menjou, Jean Hersholt, Ned Sparks, Don Ameche, the Ritz Brothers, Arline Judge, Borrali Minevitch and his gang, Dixie Dunbar, Leah Ray and Shirley Deane. The daughter of a Swiss innkeeper, Sonja Henie is being trained by her father, Jean Hersholt, to capture the Olympic figure skating championship. Miss Henie wins the Olympic title, but when Hersholt hears that she lias skated professionally, he returns the medals to the committee. Don Ameche, with the assistance of Ned Sparks, is able to prove that Sonja Henie is guiltless. The resourceful young reporter further proves to her satisfacfaction that they were meant for each other.

The Auckland Operatic Society commenced rehearsals of “The Vagabond King” this week. Claude Rains attains official stardom in “White Banners,” bv the author of ‘‘The Green Light.” It goes into production as soon as a leading lady lias been found to play the ser-vant-girl. Both Helen Hayes and Helen Menken refused. The Hamilton Playbox hopes to put on two stage productions this year — one within the next two months and the other towards the end of the season. Gladys Swarthout, brilliant mezzosoprano of the New York Metropolitan Opera Company, has just completed a picture which will reach the world as “Romance in the Dark.” John Boles and John Barrymore will appear opposite her. Helen Westley, noted stage and screen actress, who has just completed a feature role in “I’ll Take Romance,” has been added to the cast of “I Married an Artist,” in which Lull Deste, John Boles and Frances Drake have the leads. The Lottie Beinnett, 59-year-old schooner used in "Windjammer,” starring George O’Brien, is one of the few remaining vessels of its type still in active service. Ann Sothern, co-starred with Jack Oakie in “Super Sleuth,” chose the name Sothern because of her admiration of the late E. H. Sothern of Sothern and Marlowe. Ann is the first syllable of her mother’s name, Annette.

Florence George, who won fame as a radio and opera singer, is . making her debut in motion pictures in “College Swing,” being featured with George Burns, Gracie Allen and Martha Raye.

Coral Brown, an Australian actress, is in Gracie Fields’s new film, “He AVas Her Man.” She plays the part of a music hall artist in Johannesburg at the time of the gold rush. Embarking upon his second independent production, “They "Won’t Forget,” based on the novel, “Death in the Deep South,” Mervyn Leltoy oast this picture with a group of players who are virtually unknown to filmgoers. Claude Rains, who appears as the unscrupulous, politically ambitious prosecuting attorney, and Otto Kruger, who plays the part of the attorney for the defence, are the only two players in the cast who could be identified ilyMary Maguire, pretty young Australian actress, who scored a Hollywood contract, following her work in “The Flying Doctor,” is currently playing the lead in “Sergeant Murphy” with Ronald Reagon as leading man. lteagon is a newcomer to pictures, having been discovered” when he was doing radid work. George Formby is the son of that famous old Lancashire comedian of the same name. He is 30 years of age and was born in Wigan. During his career as a jockey lie rode for Lord Stanley, Lord Derby, and J. Buns, as well as for his father. On his father’s death in 1921 he turned to the stage, under the nariie of George Hoy. When, by dint of hard work, he reached the top of tho bill he reverted to the name of George Formby. An English producer recently had five new films running simultaneously in the West End of London. They were “Paradise For Two,” starring Jack Hulbert and Patricia Ellis; “The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel,” with Barry K. Barnes and Sophie Stewart; “The Squeaker,” with Edmund Lowe and Ann Todd ; “South Riding,” with Edna Best and Ralph Richa.rdson, and “The Divorce oi Lady X,” with Merle Oberon and Laurence Oliver. This is a record for any company, either American or English.

Popular Actress Returns. Sally Filers went from Hollywood to London especially to play the part of Ann in the romantic drama, “Talk of the Devil,” which comes to the Rosy Theatre, to-day. She is supported by Ricardo Cortez, another old favourite, and Basil Sydney and Randle Ayrton are also cast. Sally Eile’rs has done a lot in a few years in pictures. Born in New-York, she was educated there, and at 17 made her debut in “Seventh Heaven,” with Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor. She has worked in nearly all' of Hollywood’s studios. She has acted with many great stars, such as Marie Dressier, Buster Keaton, Norma Shearer, and Eddie Cantor. Sally Eilers was signed up by an American company to play in “Bad Girl” opposite James Dunn. The film was such a success that the Sally Eilers-James Dunn team was formed and several other successes were made. Sally Eilers is married to Harry Joe Brown, and has a little boy, Harry Joe, junr., who is now two years old.

Tuneful Comedy. Joe E. Brown, the cavern-mouthed comedian, brings an unusually big package of laughs in his new romance, “Sons O’ Guns,” commencing at the Meteor Theatre on Tuesday. The picture is based on the rollicking Broadway stage hit of the same title, a tuneful comedy of World War days, dealing only with the bright and hilarious side of doughboy life in the Army. Joe Brown, who has three sweethearts in the picture, has the role of a Broadway entertainer who just can’t get mad enough to enlist. Beverly Roberts has the role of Brown’s fiancee, while Winifred Shaw

is the vixenish sweetheart from whom Brown flees into the arms, first of the army, and later the arms of a eliic French lassie, a part played by Joan Blondell. Eric Blore plays the part of a former valet of Joe Brown’s who becomes-his liardboiled sergeant. Craig Reynolds is tbo lieutenant who forces Brown to the front, and Joseph King the father of Joe Brown’s fiancee. Joe E. Brown gets into some hilarious mixups at the front, finally being arrested as a spy. ■

Miss Marie Ney, the New Zealand actress, lias the leading role in Dorothy Sayers’s new play, “The Zeal of Thy House,” in London. As soon as Isa Miranda has learned enough English she will star in “Zaza.” It has been filmed twice, first in 1915, with Pauline Frederick, then in 1923, with Gloria Swanson. The Auckland Repertory Theatre is rehearsing the old-time melodrama “Maria Marten, or the Murder at the Red Barn,” which will be staged at the end of April. The society will also produce John Masefield’s “Good Friday,” to be presented in a church. Two complete ballets, the first ever created directly for the screen, are among the many Highlights of “The Goldwyn Follies.” Madeleine Carroll, who has recently returned from Europe, is already a.t the studios in Hollywood, preparing her next role in the picture entitled “The River is Blue.” Enough saddles and bridles to equip a cavalry regiment are now in storage

at the large American studio property building. They were used for the battle scenes of “The Adventures of Marco Polo,” but since they are replicas of equipment employed by Tartar warriors of the 13th century they probably will not see actioii again for a long time. Merle Oberon’s beautiful colouring will be seen for the first time in “The Divorce of La-dy X,” a gay technicolour comedy. The eave-set built for “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” lias 17 different scenes which arc part of one huge semi-circle of underground formations. To build it 90 tons of plaster. 30,000 board feet of lumber and 120 bales of fibre were consumed. Fifteen 50ft poles supported the canvas roof, which was streaclied over 3000 feet of steel cable and 0000 feet of rope. ,< Thu definite screen come-back of Gloria Swanson lias been announced by an American company. Her first picture, under a three-picture contract just signed, is to be “Ex-Love,” from a novel of the same name. Recently Miss Swanson made tests for the remake of “Holiday,” but instead Katherine Hepburn was borrowed for the old Ann Harding role. i

Elaborate Film. In the motion-picture world the milestones upon the road of production progress are often marked by outstanding sets, looming in the History of the films as triumphal arches mark the paths of conquerors in the history of mankind. The largest set ever built for any motion picture is that of "“Cafe Metropole,” a romance opening to-day at the Meteor Theatre, with Loretta Young, Tyrone Power and Adolphe Menjou in the starring roles. The “Cafe Metropole” set occupies the entire Will Rogers Memorial Stage, and is the equivalent in size of a whole city block. Roughly circular in shape, it is ringed about by twenty huge columns, with a maplelaid dance floor in the centre big enough for a skating rink. A cocktail lounge, foyer, offices and apartments are included. “Cafe Metropole” is one of the costliest and most elaborate films of the year, with Loretta Young and Tyrone Power carrying the romantic young-love story of an American heiress and ail American boy “broke” in Paris. Adolphe Menjou suavely guides the course of events at his Cafe Metropole, and Gregory Ratoff (who also wrote the original story), Charles Winninger and Helen Westle are featured in the cast. Double Feature.

Richard Alien, Judith Allen, Sir Guy Standing, Charley Grapewin, S. Matsui and William Frawley compose the case of “Hell and High Water,” the new feature which comes to the Kosy Theatre on Tuesday. Captain Jericho and Sally Driggs might never have met if they each had not hated the opposite sex so much. Jericho ah-

solutely knew that women were poison, and Sally’s colourful life around the docks had not softened her heart toward men in the least. When she dived into the bay that night it was for suicide purpose, but she landed right in the middle of Jericho’s fishing net, and thereby started a romance that resounded through the waterfront like a bombshell. How they fight their way into a seventh heaven love affair., after shipwrecks, ridicule, sickness, and death furnishes the climax to this interesting sea story. Zane Grey, author of “To the Last Man,” the outdoor romance, showing at the Kosy Theatre on Tuesday, spent three years on tile actual location of his story, the Tonto Basin, Pleasant Valley, Arizona, in order to thoroughly acquaint himself with the country, the people and their customs. Randolph Scott, Esther Ralston, Buster Crabbe and Jack Laßue are featured in the film. The Auckland Guild of Players intends to burlesque the old melodrama “East Lynne,” some time in June. Ruth Chatterton and Anton Walbrook. co-starred in the new drama of the Paris underworld, “The Rat,” speak English fluently. Although the production was filmed in the French capital, neither was asked to use a single French word. A colourful spectacle was prepared for the elaborate finale of “Varsity Shpw,” starring Dick Powell, Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians, and featuring Rosemary Lane, Priscillar

Lane, Walter Catlett, Mabel Todd, Lee Dixon, Ted Healy, Sterling Holloway and others. Henrik Ibsen’s five-act play, “The Lady from the Sea.,” was the subject for the Canterbury University College Dramatic Society’s first production of r tlie year. An amusing story of two dizzy, everfighting partners in a pill factory who permit personalities to disrupt their business, “On Again—Off Again,” the latest Wheeler and Woolsey comedy, is said to be one of their funniest vehicles for years. T 1 le Central Casting Bureau, melt-ing-pot of Hollywood, has been bringing out some figures. In 1937 the bureau supplied 294,307 extras at a. total cost of 2,986,372 dollars. Of those 198,922 were men who earned 1,773,675 dollars; 87,741 were women, earning 792,000 dollars; 4354 hoys earned 31,064 dollars; and 2290 girls received 24,311 dollars. These figures count up the positions, so the average income of 10 dollars a year for each extra is not quite a fair deduction. The statement from the bureau, however, gives an idea of an extra’s chance in Hollywood.