Director Takes a Holiday

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 123, 26 May 1937, Page 11

Director Takes a Holiday

troops with Oriental bandits, tanks and armoured cars swooping on hordes of brigands, the blowing up of a greac bridge 300 feet in the air, and the firing of an Eastern city.

Every ounce of dramatic action has been packed into this by Director Raoul Walsh, who adds yet another feather to his directorial cap that already bears the triumphs of “Cock-Eyed World” and “What Brice Glory.”

As “.Sally,” Anna Lee gives a vivacious performance that fulfils all the promise she has shown in the past. Ann has everything—beauty, talent, and above all—brains. Wallace Ford, who returned to England for the first time in many years to make this film, has never done a better piece of work than the tough-guy “Jimmy Tracey,” and tho same may be said for John Mills, who will bo remembered for his line performance as Brown in * ‘Brown on Resolution.”

The war has proved a fascinating Rheme and a never ending source of dramatic fodder for film producers. We *>ve had epics of the air, sagas of the Rea, and Flaggs and Cuirts. Yet with one unpretentious exception, one of the most absorbing dramas of the war has been neglected. That is the story of the * 4 Q’’-Ships. This omission is rectified and some of the mystery removed in Victor Saville’s new film “Dark Journey.” Scenes have been reproduced showing a thrilling fight between a •‘Q ’’-Ship and a German submarine which results in the destruction of the latter.

Robert Riskin, who wrote the screen play for Frank Capra’s “Lost Horizon,” and directed Grace Moore in “When You’re in Love,’ ibis first directorial effort, is planning a vaoation in Europe, his first in several years. On his return he will bo assigned to his next picture, which he will probably both write nnd direct.

Riskin adapted all the recent successes brought to tho screen by Columbia’s ace director, Frank Capra.' Among these were included “It Happened One Night,” with which Mr Riskin won the prize for the best adaptation of the year. He has been associated with Columbia for a number of years, and was responsible for the scripts of “Lady for a Day,” “Broadway Bill,” “Mr Deeds Goes to Town,” and “Passport to Fame.”

Barbara Stanwyck and John Boles will co-star in Samuel Goldwyn’s revival of “Stella Dallas,” in which Ann Shirley will have an important supporting role. The production will be directed by King Vidor from tho script by Sarah Mason and Victor Heerman based on the novel by Olivo Higgins Prouty. •$> ”$> <s> <3> Jane Wyatt, who plays the leading feminine role opposite Ronald Colman in Columbia’s new Frank Capra picture “Lost Horizon,’’ is ono of tho few screen players who have contracts allowing them to return to the stage for six months each year.