WHISPERING WIRES

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7241, 12 June 1930, Page 5

WHISPERING WIRES

HOT FROM HOLLYWOOD. THE FLAGG-QUIET TRIANGLE. Lilyan Tashman, wife of Edmund Lowe, at present playing a prominent part in "The Gold Diggers of Broadway,” at the Palace, is tho leading lady in Victor McLaglen’s new picture, "On the Level,” which Fox Alovictouc is making. That puts the well-known Flagg-Quirt combination of "What Price Glory” and "Tlic Cock Eyed World” on a new basis. Incidentally Miss Tashman does a more thorough" job of bringing AlcLaglen to grief in "On the Level” that Quirt, that is Lowe, did in his two pictures. John Barrymore heads the largest all-star cast of players that have yet been gathered together to make a talking picture. In fact, there are 77 famous stars and many other lesser luminaries in "Tlic Show of Shows.” Favourites of the screen world, such as Winnie Lightner, Irene Bordoni, Dolores Costello, Alice White, Richard Barthchness, Nick Lucas, Aiyrna Loy, will also bo seen and heard.

Eight distinct song hits arc introduced in Paramount’s intimate all-star frolic, "Paramount on Parade.” The songs, composed by stall writers at the Paramount studios, arc sung by Alauricc Chevalier, Charles (Buddy) Rogers and Lillian Roth, Jack Oakie and Zclma O’Neil, Helen Kane, Ruth Chatterton and Dennis King.

Jeanette MacDonald, -loading ; print a donna of the’ screen, is a native Ou Philadelphia. "The girl with the red Jtair and sea green eyes” got her first theatrical engagement in the chorus of a Ned Wayburn show at the Capitol theatre in New York.

Two airplanes were wrecked in spectacular crashes for "Young Eagles” an all-talking picture of aerial warfare, starring Charles (Buddy) Rogers, dean Arthur plays the feminine load, and Stuart Erwin, Paul Lukas and Gordon do Main arc in the cast. W illiam Wellman, the maker of "Wings,” directed the new production.

Nancy Carroll has been assigned the leading feminine role in "Follow Through,” a new musical film farce, shortly to be produced in Hollywood. Charles (Buddy) Rogers is starred in the leading male role. Warner Bros, have purchased the screen rights to the David _ Bolasco play. "Sweet Kitty Bcllairs,” which will be filmed as an all-talking Vitavdione production, with Marian Nixon starring.

■Ramon Novarro, who will sing opera luivni era for the first time on the screen in “The Singer of Seville,” keeps two pianists busy on his set. They relieve each other accompanying him as he practises his numbers. Novarro says that fatigue in an accompanist ruins practise. G'corge Bancroft’s next all-talking picture for Paramount has been titled “The Caveman.” Dialogue and adaptation arc being handled by William Slavens McNutt and Grover Jones, who performed similar services for “The Mighty.”

Frank Richardson, the singer who rose to movie popularity via the master of ceremonies route, has been warbling ever since he was a small boy. He got his first.job when lie was 12 years old, singing in a picture show. He was also drafted for service in his church choir. This extra singing proved something of a strain on his voice, but it was one of those things he couldn’t get out of without a good excuse. Frank iinally decided it would be a good gag to tell the choirmaster his voice was changing. The master was sceptical at first, but Frank put on such a good act that he finally was convinced and the' kid skipped out to keep his theatre engagement. A|s a matter of fact, his voice had changed to the high tenor it is to-day at the age of 31. Frank sings and dances in “Tox Movietone Follies of 1930.”

Gene Tuuncy, the new heavy-weight, champion of the world, was offered a contract to appear in the film. He stipulated that the film must be CL B. Shaw’s play “Cashel Byron’s Profession.” An offer of 75,000 dollars was made to Shaw, who demanded 100,000 dollars. Negotiations fell through, and Mr. Tunney then said it was a poor play any way, and that Mr. Shaw doesn’t understand the prize-fighter’s psychology. In reply, CLB.S. politely suggested that Mr. Tunney re-write- the play himself!

Lawrence Gray, Robert Montgomery, Kay Johnson and Nina Mao McKinney have all signed new contracts for an extended period. All of these players have been prominent in recent, dialogue pictures. Gray appears opposite .Marion Davies in “Marianne,” and Montgomery played opposite Joan Crawford in “Untamed.” Miss Johnson made a successful screen debut in Cecil 13. do Millets “Dynamite,” and Nina Mao McKinney is the young coloured actress who scored such a success in King Aider's “Hallelujah.”

With Lucille Powers, Lt-ycar-old extra, assigned to the principal feminine role and Russell Simpson given one of the leading character parts, King Vidor is rapidly getting things in shape to begin filming his production of the life of “Billy the Kid.” John Mack Brown will have the leading role in this production, which will be made largely on location in the south-west.

Air travellers m England, during a recent, period wore asked why they were flying. Out of 508 passengers, 253 were on business, PIG for the “joy ride,” 103 because they preferred the air, 53 to visit friends, theatres, etc., 12 on a tour, and only one to take part in a sporting..event.