STAGE AND SCREEN NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 4 August 1945, Page 6

STAGE AND SCREEN NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By "Spotlight")

Gossip From Hollywood George Sanders has been chosen to portray the male starring* role in the psychological mystery drama “Hangover Square.” This picture will* be directed by John Brahm, and Robert Bassler will act as producer. Laird Gregar and Faye-Marlowe are prominently cast, while Linda Darnell will replace Merle Oberon as the London tavern entertainer. John Payne has been discharged from the Army. The studio was delighted and straight way cast him in “Waltz Me Around Again Willie” which co-stars Grade Fields and Monty Woolley besides a brunette. Joan Bennett as a heart interest for John. The village street scenes in “Greenwich Village ’ were reproduced with extreme care in Hollywood’s newest innovation in stages—-a wartime expedient which proved its worth. Called the “magic stage,” because within its confines, midnight can be turned to midday in 30 minutes and vice versa, this largest of studio stages (five times as large in ground area of any conventional stage) consists of a skeleton steel framework Covered with tarpaulin, which can be whisked aside as weather or wanted effects dictate. Built experimentally to overcome shortage of materials wanted for war, this stage was immediately pronounced a huge success and looks like remaining a fixture.

To Thomas Mitchell fell u> role of Willie Tulloch, one of the best beloved of all Cronin characters in “Keys of the Kingdom.” This is one of the most provocative parts in the film and is played by this master actor with fire and verve. Tulloch is a doctor, also an atheist—yet strangely enough he is Father Chisholm’s closest friend. The character of Father Chisholm incidentally is based on A. J. Cronin’s Uncle, one time missionary to China.

It is reported that a motor accident tc- Clark Gable (not serious) and doctor’s orders for a fortnight’s rest for Greer Garson have held up the start of M.G.M.’s “This Strange Adventure,’ 5 the first film in which the pair costar. Also on the sick list have been two Universal players—Gloria Jean, a victim of pneumonia, but recovering nicely, and Peggy Ryan, ordered a long rest after straining her back at dance - rehearsal for “On Stage.” Paramount player John Howard has been awarded the Navy Cross.

The English Studios An actress with an unusual job is attractive, brunette Diana Graves who is working with Michael Redgrave in Michael Balcon’s ghost film, “Dead of Night.” Redgrave plays a ventriloquist and Diana is the Dummy’s “voice” during shooting. “The whole idea of the job,” says Diana, “is to enable Mr Redgrave to get his timing dead right.” Redgrave himself has been taking lessons from a professional ventriloquist in order to get the movements of the dummy’s mouth synchronised with its lines. When the film is shown Miss Graves’ voice will not be heard. Michael Redgrave’s voice, disguised of course, will be “dubbed” on to the sound track. When she is not being a “voice,” Diana is an accomplished stage actress in her own right. She made her debut at the old Vic. eight years ago. Biggest crowd scene yet filmed was recently completed in the Technicolour production of Shaw’s “Caesar and Clepaftra” produced and directed by Gabriel Pascal at Denham studios, for G.-8.-D. release. One thousand extras, arrayed in the brightly hued costumes of that time, Egyptians, Romans, Jews, Nubians, and many other types—were called for rehearsal of the farewell scenes on the steps of the Palace of Alexandria. The occasion is the embarkation of Caesar (Claude Rains) for Rome, and his farewell to Cleopatra (Vivien Leigh). Close-ups of Apollodorus (Stewart Granger) swimming away from the Pharos, and the shot of the swinging up of the crane carrying the bale of carpet, Cleopatra’s gift to Caesar, in which she is hidden, were made at the huge tank at Denham. A Gallant Band! “Talking of broadcasting, I heard a beautiful remark the other day. There was a feature programme about Shackleton, and at appropriate moments the orchestra played sorrowful or stirring music. ‘Well!” said a listener. ‘That do surprise me. I shouldn’t of thought they could manage to have such a good band with ’em—not in all that snow’.” —“Life at Home,” a 8.8. C. overseas talk. Broadway in Uniform One out of every six moviegoers in the Times Square area is in uniform according to a tabulation of five Loew’s theatres for the period from September 1, 1943, to January 18, 1945. During this period the five houses issued 2,723,218 cut price tickets to men and women in uniform or 18£ per cent, of all admissions. “Hollywood Reporter,” April 10. Contracts For Players Tamara Toumanova has signed a contract with M.G.M., and returned to Hollywood at the end of the Metropolitan Opera season in June, first assignment under the new contract will probably be “Ballerina,” in which Margaret O’Brien will play the role of a child student at a Paris ballet school. Two prominent Broadway players have been signed at Warners. They are Becky Brown, who appeared in the stage version of “Doughgirls,” and Peggy Knudson, who enacted the title role of “My Sister Eileen.” They join Andrea King, William Prince and Helmut Dantine in “Shadow of a Woman.” Chester Morris has signed a new contract with Columbia, calling for four pictures in 1945 and 1946. Last picture on his current pact is the tentatively titled “Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion,” the Bth in the series ?in which Morris has starred.

London Premieres According to one London newspaper film ebrrespondent, the West End premieres of films are now more important than theatre first nights. An example was the distinguished audience for the premiere of Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” at the Odeon. Big crowds watched the arrival of notables in vehicles of peace-time magnificence. among the arrivals being members of the Diplomatic Corps, Cabinet Ministers, Mr Churchill’s daughter Diana, Labourites like Miss Ellen Wilkinson, Mr Hugh Dalton, Mr Arthur Greenwood and Mr Aneurin Bevan. Members of the nobility, and Mr and Mrs Arthur Rank, were also there. Miss Phyllis Calvert was chairman of the premiere committee, which rais ed no less than £BOOO from the first night for the film industry benevolent fund.