IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 11 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

Miss Evelyn Brent is to play the feminine lead in the first Paramount talkiug picture, " Backstage Blues," starring and Mack, the "Two Black Crows." The two comedians aro now busy rehearsing many important scenes.

Charles Gilpin, a celebrated negro actor, will make his screen debut under the Fox banner in the all-talking negro production, " Hearts in Dixie." A mixed chorus of fifty negro voices, singing spirituals and plantation songs, is a feature of this production.

Miss Janet Gaynor will soon be heard by the public on tho speaking screen. Voice tests recently conducted by Fox Film Corporation were so satisfactory that it was decided to put a dialogue sequence in her new picture, " The Lucky Star." Charles Farrell again plays opposite Miss Gaynor.

Rehearsals have started for the Paramount all-talking picture, " The Greene Murder Case," another mystery story bv S. S. Van Dyne. William Powell will again have the role of the detective, Philo Vance, and others in the cast include Miss Ruth Chatterton, .Paul Lukas, Miss Mary Brian, and Eugene Pallette.

Miss Bebe Daniels has been engaged for four big pictures under the Radio Pictures banner. Stories and directors are now being selected for the newly-acquired star. Miss Daniels,' contract is a prelude to a number of announcements on engagements of other outstanding stars. Miss Olive Borden. Miss Betty Compson and Miss ■Sally Blane also have been engaged for Radio Pictures.

Metro-Goldwyn-Maver will shortly release " Broadway Melody." a talkie production. It i 3 described as a spectacular screen musical extravaganza, with many sequences filmed in technicolour. " Broadway Melody" has drama, musical comedy, ana farce comedy in its composition, together with a notable cast. There are at least two song numbers which have proved popular hits.

As the result of his success in the Paramount all-dialogue pictures, " The Canary Murder Case" and " Interference," William Powell has been assigned an important role in another Paramount all-talking picture, "The Marriage Holiday," which has just gone into production. Other members of the cast include Miss Ruth Chatterton, Clive Brook, and Miss Mary Nolan,

Joseph Conrad's story, " The Rescue," has been made into a film by Samuel Goldwyn and released by United Artists. To film-lovers its chief interest is that it furnishes Ronald Colman with one of his finest stories. Joseph Conrad was twentv years in writing the story, which proved to "be one of his favourite works. The plot was so exacting that when publishers began to press him for " quick copy " he would lay it aside and start another story. The film version will be seen here shortly.

Hailed as the film that will revolutionise talking pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's " The Broadway Melody " was given the most enthusiastic reception ever accorded a " talkie " at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood at its . premiere recently. At the conclusion of the film, according to press reports, the cheering and applause was so prolonged that John Gilbert, acting- as master of ceremonies, had to step aside for five minutes before he could get in his own word of praise. Miss Anita Page, Charles King, and Miss Bessie Love, principal players in the. picture, wero presented to the audience, with their director, Harry Beaumont.

Though long deferred for many reasons, production of the Earl Derr Bigger story " Behind the Curtain" has begun at Hollywood Irving Cummings, who, during the past year has had such successes to his credit as " Romance of the Underworld," Dressed to Kill," and "In Old Arizona," will bring the famous my star v story to the sceen via Fox Movietone. Warner Baxter, the " Cisco Kid" of "In Old Arizona," has won the coveted role of Colonel Beetham and Lumsden Hare will play the very important role of Sir Frederick Bruce, of Scotland Yard. No selections have been made of the other roles, though the screen, tests are under way daily.

Mr. Ernest Turnbull, managing director for British Dominions Films Limited, has completed arrangements whereby his company will distribute the highly praised Herbert Wilcox British talkie programmes, embracing features and short subjects of first grade merit, throughout New Zealand and Australia. The features include " Black Waters," the first talkie made by a British company, which has already proved most popular in Britain. Another item of especial interest is that arrangements have been finalised whereby leading producers and technicians are coming to Australia to make two talking pictures annually of *' The Covered Waggon" type. The first, already scheduled for production is " The Trail of the Southern Cross."

Because the voice of Miss Laura La Plante has proved outstanding in talking pictures, Universal Pictures Corporation, has contracted for a £50,000 policy insuring it against injury. If the star should suffer a total and permanent loss of the ability to " talk clearly and distinctly as now," Universal would receive £50,000 to offset expenditures on whatever starring vehicle might be in production. A movietone test was made of Miss La Plante's voice in order, to preserve the evidence of its present quality. In case of injury the test would show to what degree her voice had changed. The policy covers loss of voice either Through accident or through conditions developing from illness. _lt will bo in effect as long as the star is under contract.