FORTHCOMING FILMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 29 November 1938, Page 3

FORTHCOMING FILMS

STARS AND STORIES OF NEW M.G.M. PICTURES RELEASE IN NEW ZEALAND A large film deal was completed last week when the 1939 output of motion pictures from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Ltd. studios was obtained by Fullers Theatre Corporation Ltd., and John Fuller and Sons, Ltd., J. C. Williamson Picture Corporation Ltd., and New Zealand Theatres Ltd. The films will be presented in Nelson at the Majestic and the Regent. In 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will have many outstanding productions. Among the famous and popular performers will be Norma Shearer, who has returned to the screen after a considerable absence following the death of her producer-husband, Irving Thalberg, and who will be seen in the spectacular production, “Marie Antoinette, in which Tyrone Power, Robert Morley, John Barrymore, Anita Louise, Joseph Schildkraut, and Gladys George also appear. Other stars who will be seen in a wide variety of films are Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Luise Rainer, Robert Donat, Robert Taylor, Spencer Tracy, Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, Mickey Rooney, Wallace Beery, Freddie Bartholomew, Margaret Sullavan, Melvyn Douglas, Maureen O'Sullivan. Also there will be Rosalind Russell, Frank Morgan, Judy Garland, Lewis Stone, Henry Hull, Cecilia Parker, Robert Young, James Stewart, Walter Pidgeon, Franchot Tone, Janet Gaynor, Walter Connolly, Reginald Owen, Mary Aster, Paulette Goddard, H. B. Warner, Nat Pendleton, Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore, Denis O’Keefe and Herbert Marshall. Every possible kind of entertainment is embraced by the productions which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will present. In addition to “Marie Antoinette,” major attractions will include, “Sweethearts,” with Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, Frank Morgan, Florence Rice,

Mischa Auer. “Too Hot Too Handle,” with Clark Gable and Myrna Loy; “The Great Waltz,” with Luise Rainer and Fernand Gravet; and “The Crowd Roars,” an exciting boxing story and successor to “A Yank at Oxford,” with the same stars—Robert Taylor, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Frank Morgan. FILM STORY OF “THE CITADEL” In view of the sensation caused by Dr Cronin’s book of the same name, special interest centres on the film version of “The Citadel,” with Robert Donat and Rosalind Russell in the principal roles. Another feature which is said to break clean away from the usual is “Boys’ Town,” with the popular character actor, Spencer Tracy, playing for the second time in his career, the role of a priest. “Boys’ Town” is the actual story of Father Flanagan’s vast camp of that name for homeless boys in Nebraska. It was founded 21 years ago by Father Flanagan, who insisted that the boys should govern themselves. As Father Flanagan is still alive, Spencer Tracey’s task in faithfully portraying him is made all the more difficult. Another unusual film will be “Boy From Barnardoes,” with those two splendid young actors, Freddie Bartholomew and Mickey Rooney, and a talented newcomer, Terry Kilburn. All the great traditions of Dr Barnardoe’s British institution are brought out in his story.

There will also be “Love Finds Andy Hardy,” one of the increasingly popular and wholesome, “Judge Hardy’s Children” series, with Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Lewis Stone and Cecilia Parker. “The Shining Hour” will have a notable cast in Joan Crawford, Margaret Sullavan, Melvyn Douglas, and Robret Young; likewise “Three Loves Has Nancy,” with Robert Montgomery, Janet Gaynor, Franchot Tone, Claire Dodd, Reginald Owen, and Guy Kibbee. “Stablemates” will star Wallace Beery, Mickey Rooney, and Margaret Hamilton. “Shopworn Angel,” Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart and Walter Pidgeon; “Listen Darling,” Freddie Bartholomew, Judy Garland, Walter Pidgeon and Mary Astor; “Rich Man, Poor Girl,” Robert Young, Lew Ayres, and Ruth Hussey; and “Fast Company,” Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice. In addition to “The Great Waltz,” Luise Rainer will be seen in “Dramatic School,” in which she is supported by Allan Marshall and Paulette Goodard, and in the big success, “Toy Wife,” in which Melvyn Douglas is her leading man, and there also appear Robert Young, Barbara O’Neil and H. B. Warner.

Other features wil. b “Young Doctor Kildare,” with Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymor “Christmas Carol,” Reginald Owen, Terry Kilburn and Lynne Carver; “Vacation for Love,” Denis O’Keefe, Florence Rice and Reginald Owen; “Spring Dance,” Maureen O'Sullivan and Lew Ayres; “Woman Against Woman,” Virginia Bruce, Herbert Marshall, Mary Astor and Janet Beecher; and “The Chaser,” Denis O’Keefe, Ann Morris?, Lewis Stone and Nat Pendleton. Laurel and Hardy, the popular comedians who recently broke their long partnership, will be f rewelled in what is described as their funniest comedy, “Blockheads.” THE SHORT SUBJECTS An outstanding feature of all Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer programmes has been the excellence of the short subjects, the standard of which promises to be even higher next year. There will be a series of the uproarious Robert Benchley comedies, and of the entertaining Pete Smith specailties. Sporting subjects will be % dealt with in several “Miniatures,” and there will be the usual popular Fitzpatrick Traveltalks in colour. The intriguing “Crime Doesn’t Pay” series will be continued. An innovation will be the “Passing Parade,” short features 'which can be best described as miniature “Marches of Ti and there will also be included the M.G.M. musicals, the Metrotone News, and the Our Gang comcdProminent directors under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer are Frank Borzage, Clarence Brown, Jack Conway (“A Yank at Oxford”), George Cukor (“Romeo and Juliet”), George Fitz Maurice, Victor Fleming (“Captains Courageous”), “Sidney Franklin (“The Good Earth”), Robert Leonard (“Maytime”), Walter Ruber., George Seitz, and the celebrated W. S. van Dyke, who made “After the Thin Man” and more recently was responsible for “Marie Antoinette.”