Cinema Stars, Films and Stage

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 1 May 1937, Page 12

Cinema Stars, Films and Stage

FILM STAR IN SPAIN Whie Lilli Damita, the wife of Errol Flynn, the Australian film star, was Irantically seeking news of her husjand, who, it was reported, had been killed in Spain, he was flying from Madrid to Barcelona unharmed and fit. says a London paper. “I have been mad with anxiety,” said Miss Damita to a press man, adding, “Why does he stay in that terrible place? I implored him not to go. but he is mad for advfenture. “I was cross when he wanted to go and I shall be much crosser when he comes back. I’ll never let him out of my sight again.” On reaching Barcelona, Flynn described to newspaper correspondents his visit to the Madrid front, where he operated a machine-gun against the rebels. He is now on his way to Paris.

“THREE SMART GIRLS” The wisdom of the children shall be visited upon the father, even to. his great consternation. That, to twist the tail of a memorable quotation, is the theme of Universal’s comedy drama, “Three Smart Girls.” Three daughters, learning that their millionaire father is about to slip into the matrimonial net of a fortune hunting international beauty, hasten to save their parent from a foolish entanglement. The girls use desperate remedies to correct the situation and the unexpected results are highly amusing. Deanna Durbin, with her lovely soprano voice, makes her screen debut in “Three Smart Girls.” Leading roles are played by Binnie Barnes, Alice Brady, Ray Milland and Charles Winninger, remembered for his role of Captain Andy in “Show Boat.” Deanna Durbin’s sisters in the picture are played by Nan Grey and Barbara Read. Other prominent players include Mischa Auer, John King, Lucille Watson, Nella Walker and Hobart Cavanaugh. Deanna Durbin sings three songs in “Three Smart Girls.” The numbers are the classic, “II Bacio,” “My Heart is Singing,” and “Someone to Care for Me”

“BOLERO” “Bolero,” the Paramount picture with George Raft in the starring role, and featuring Carole Lombard, Sally Rand, the Fan Dancer, Frances Drake and Gertrude Michael, depicts the private and public life of the world’s greatest dancer. Directed by Wesley Ruggles, “Bolero” presents George Raft in a role that fits him perfectly, that of a romantic and adventurous fellow who climbs to success on a ladder of women’s hearts.

The thrilling and entertaining climatic dance numbers are woven around Maurice Ravel’s internationally famous musical composition, “Bolero.” Another interesting feature of the picture is the first screen presentation of the sensational fan dance created by Sally Rand; the dance that brought her fame, fortune, reams of newspaper headlines. It brought her to Hollywood and a contract with the Paramount company.

Criterion Films, currently producing “Thief in the Night,” with Douglas Fairbanks, junr., starred, will turn out five major productions in 1937. all being produced by Marcel Heilman who, with Fairbanks, heads the company. The first of the five will be “The Killer,” which Raoul Walsh is to direct. to be followed by “High Treason ' under thp direction of Tay Garnett.

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERA FILMS

Max Schach, of Capitol, Trafalgar, and Buckingham film companies, England, plans to make screen light operas. It is understood that arrangements are considerably advanced for the rights of a Gilbert and Sullivan piece, probably “The Mikado,” though nothing definite has yet been settled. Several concerns are negotiating for the screen rgihts of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. “The Beggar’s Opera” is under consideration. but there is no copyright attached to this.

The producer’s intentions with “The Mikado” and “The Beggar’s Opera,” is to feature Michael Bartlett in them. The American singer has lately been in England appearing in the film production of “The Lilac Domino.”

COLIN TAPLEY The only one remaining of more than thirty prospective players who went to Hollywood from all parts of the world as the result of Paramount’s “Search for Beauty” Contest about four years ago, Colin Tapley, of Dunedin, is making a real name for himself as a screen actor. He has just been awarded another long-term contract with Paramount. The latest news to arrive comes in the form of a cable to Mr S. H. Craig, general manager of Paramount in New Zealand, reading as follows:—“Colin Tapley leaving with expedition for Malaya to take lead in Paramount’s new animal picture ‘Booloo.’ (Sgd.) Luraschi, Studio Foreign Dept.” Since going to Hollywood Colin Tapley has appeared in approximately twenty Paramount pictures, but it is stated that this new animal film will give him his greatest opportunity to date. It will also constitute one of the longest location trips ever encountered by a motion picture company.

“TOO MUCH HARMONY” Paramount’s “Too Much Harmony” has a cast of favourite screen stars including Bing Crosby, Jack Oakie, Skeets Gallagher, Judith Allen, Harry Green, Lilyan Tashman and Ned Sparks. The film reveals Bing Crosby as a musical comedy star who is engaged to the wrong girl, a scheming, golddigging blonde. He falls in love with another girl, campaigns for her behind and before the footlights and finally wins her after an amusing series of highly interesting sequences.

“SAINT GEORGE ARLISS” The production of “His Lordship” at the Gaumont-British Studios must have coincided with “intelligence tests” set to pupils in schools, judging from numerous examples of “howlers” in such tests sent to George Arliss bv amused school-masters. A Weybridge master had been talking dn “The Canonisation of Saints,” and asked, in connection with honouring of Sir Thomas More, “What great man is it intended to make a saint?” A solitary hand went up. “Saint George Arliss.”

“What was the Duke ot Wellington called before they made him a duke’'”’ was asked in a Liverpool classroom “George Arliss, sir,” was the reply. An essay written by a small girl contained the information that Disraeli was a great statesman who afterwards went into the movies. And in a New Zealand examination, to the question, “Who was the man who purchased Britain’s shares in the Suez Canal?” came once again the answer: “George Alliss.”

BIG PICTURES FORTHCOMING WIDE DIVERSITY OF ATTRACTIONS METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER RELEASES The consistency of M.G.M. product will be maintained by the forthcoming national release of a wide diversity of attractions. Already landed by the company, their exhibition will be awaited with interest and it is expected they will continue the momentum created by films of “The Great Ziegfeld” and “San Francisco” calibre. Of paramount importance is of course “Rose Marie,” with a cast headed by Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, who first gained their unique popularity in “Naughty Marietta.” Then comes “After the Thin Man,” with William Powell and Myrna Loy, supported by a long line of favourites. The teaming of Greta Garbo and Rober Taylor was an astute piece of showmanship on the part of M.G.M.’s studio executives in “Camille.” To follow in the footsteps of “After the Thin Man” some idea of its advance popularity may be had from the fact that it tops the poll of a nation-wide contest conducted by the Australian office of M.G.M. through the columns of the “Woman’s Weekly,” “Woman,” and “Smith’s Weekly.”

A THREE-STARRED FEATURE Comedy of the “Libelled Lady” brand is the keynote of “Love on the Run,” which has a box-office cast practically as potent as the former film. Starred in the comedy-drama are Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Franchot Tone, whilst Reginald Owen, now quite popular for his able characterisations, supplies what menace there is in the happy-go-lucky film. The “Last of Mrs Chaney,” which received further popularity when produced in picture form, is listed for release again. Joan Crawford, William Powell and Robert Montgomery head the cast of the film, which was the last directorial assignment of Richard Boieslawski before he died. His monument is a fast-moving comedy-drama of the type which will prove immensely popular with audiences m every location.

“THE GOOD EARTH” But the production upon which M.G.M. will concentrate all the resources at its command is “The Good Earth,” a picturisation of the famed best-seller from the pen of Pearl Buck and starring Paul Muni and Luisc Rainer. The film is possibly the most important production yet to emanate from the Culver City studios. Its two years of preparation were commenced by the late Irving Thalberg, and concluded after his death by Director Sidney Franklin and a huge army of associates. Many of the scenes, such as the locust plague and Chinese drought and famine, have never been equalled in any motion picture to date. From an analysis of the foregoing, it is easily discernible that the roaring head of Leo will be well represented in future months by fine products.