STARS IN THE PICTURES TO COME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 19 December 1936, Page 11

STARS IN THE PICTURES TO COME

AUTUMN SEASON IN LONDON TWENTY OCCASIONS The formal opening of the autumn film season in London promises 20 brilliant occasions. The star of the year in Hollywood j may be Gary Cooper of “Mr Deeds Goes to Town,” and “The General ; ! Died at Dawn.” This is a drama of modern China which is also the setting of “Lost Horizon,” with Ronald Colman and “The Good Earth,” with Paul Muni. The international star of the year may be Marlene Dieitrich with the new colour version of “The Garden of Allah” and “Knight Without Armour',” in which she is starring at Denham with Robert Donat. ‘ At Denham, also Charles Laughton is ! completing “Rembrandt,” while Richi ard Tauber is playing in “Land Without Music” and “Pagliacci.” At the Gaumont-Britiah studios it is hoped very much that Jessie Matthews will be able to complete “Head Over Heels.” Gaumont will shortly complete their big Army film, “0.H.M.5.,” and “Sabotage,”' starring with Sylvia Sidney. There will be more American film stars in the British films of 1936 than in any previous year. It is good to note that British film producer's are showing more resolution in bringing to London only stars of first rank. One of the best of recent discoveries in Hollywood, Errol Flynn, of “Captain Blood,” is to be seen in “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” now being made in Hollywood, which is making “Lloyds of London” and is starring the Queen Mary with Walter Huston and Ruth Chatterton in “Dodsworth.” Eleanor Powell, the brilliant dancer of “Broadway Melody of 1936,” is to star in “Born to Dance,” while Joan Crawford and. Lionel Barrymore will be seen in a historical spectacle, “The Gorgeous Hu-sry.” Hollywood i; filming “The Plough and the Stars” probably bocam>e of the success ol “The Informer.”' John Ford, of “The Informer,” is th£ director, and Barbara Stanwyck, -the star. I Two films from. Twickenham, “Spy |of Napoleon,” willh Richard Barthel'mess and Dolly Haas, and “The Man | in the Mirror,” wftth Edward Everett Horton, promise to be exceptional British productions. Hollywood is stilf supreme in film making, but London has made substantial progress. SABATINI'S “THE MARRIAGE OF CORBAL” One of the greatest successes in 1 years stands to the credit of “The 1 ! Marriage of Corbal” Capitol Film I Corporation’s adaptation of Rafael i Sabatini’s novel, “The Nuptials of Corbal.” The picture was first pr esented to 'a capacity house which included many social celebrities of *the stage and screen at the Leicester Square Theatre on 28th May, to roceive a welcome that predicted world-wide triumphs. The film marks the screen debut of Hazel Terry, Karl Grune’s seven-teen-year-old discovery, who is a grand-niece of Ellen Terry, and who lis featured here with Nils Asther, Hugh Sinclair and Noah Berry. “The Marriage of Corbal” is a tale of love and adventure, spt against the background of the French Revolution, and the story centres in the romance between two young aristocrats, overshadowed by the grim persecution of their class by the Sanscullottes and their fanatical leaders.

PAUL MUNI Not since he played the role of a convict in “I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang,” has Muni. appeared in a picture of such dramatic importance and such outstanding ruggedness as in “Bordertown.” He instills both life and fire into the character of a foreign youth who is torn by conflicting emotions in his desperate battle to win success and love against insurmountable odds. • Stung by the injustices done to his people, he decides that only the rich get the things worth while in life, and goes to a resort town on the United States border where ;he acquires both riches and power as the proprietor of a night club and gambling resort. It is in this picturesque setting that most of the scenes are laid; a community wild and lawless; a cabaret frequented by persons of every caste, rogues and outlaws and adventuresses, and by American millionaires and society women seeking diversion.

Bette Davis has the role of an adventuress. %

“FANG AND CLAW”

Frank Buck’s famous slogan, “Bring ’Em Back Alive,” should have been changed to “Send ’Em Back Alive” when the S.S. Glenbank sailed for India recently. Included in its cargo were two enormous specimens of American black bear, which the noted animal trapper had sent to the Calcutta zoo.

The bears, a male and female, weighed about 350 pounds each, and were natives of Pennsylvania. “There are very few American animals in Asiatic zoos,” said Buck. “Some years ago I took an American bison to India and presented it to the Sultan of Jahore, who maintains a' large private zoo adjoining the royal palace. At the same time I took a pair of these bison to the zoological garden at Rangoon, Burmah. These were the first American animals ever seen in Indian. “The natives have always expressed deep curiosity concerning American animals, and those bears I shipped should create quite a sensation. For the American black bear is about three times as large as the honey bear of the Asiatic countries. The latter is the smallest member of the bear family.” Buck’s third motion picture, “Fang and Claw,” made in the Malay Peninsula and northern India, is announced for early showing. * * *

Crooner Bing Crosby refused to employ a double in his latest film “Pennies From Heaven,” and went for a ride in a dangerous loop-the-loop car during one of the sequences, to the horror of Director Norman McLeod and the excitement of the spectators.