IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20402, 2 November 1929, Page 11 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

_ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has assigned William Haines the starring role in an alltalking version of " Got Rich Quick Wallingford," which James Cruze will direct. Production commences immediately. " The Virginian," Paramount's first outdoor " talkie," which has just been completed at the Hollywood studios, has a strong cast of screen favourites, Gary Cooper, Walter Huston, Richard Arlen, Miss Mary Brian, and Chester Conklin are among those foatured. With William Powell appearing again in. the part of Phiio Vance, the detective, " The Greeno Murder Case," Paramount's " talkie " thriller will be released in Auckland shortly. Other featured players are Miss .lean Arthur, Eugene Pallette, and Miss Florence Eldridge. Frank Tuttle directed. Among Gainsborough " talkies " scheduled for production in the immediate future is a screen version of the stage success " The Bill of Divorcoment." British Dominions Films have already secured many important Gainsborough talking productions, such as " The City of Play,". " The Valley of Death," " Taxi for Two," and " The Wrecker," all of which are to be released at the end of this year or the commencement of 1930. Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer is constructing one of the largest and most complete theatres outside of Ney York at its Culver City studios. The bifj theatre will be used for producing stones of theatrical life for the screen, and in addition, it is also a complete sound stage, being thoroughly sound insulated. Of steel construction with special acoustic walls, floors and ceilings, the new theatre will seat nearly 2000 people. The first talking picture to be made at Elstree, under the agreement between British and Dominions and His Master's Voice, will be a film version of the stage play, " Wolves." Miss Dorothy Gish and Charles Laughton will make their talking debuts. Others in the cast include Oscar Asche, Arthur Margetson and Jack Osterman. .The production will be directed by Albert De Courville, under the general production supervision of Herbert Wilcox. A cable from Berlin gives the information that Emil Jannings' first sound production for UFA will be called " Devil and Saint," and that Jannings will play the part of Rasputin. This film will be an Erich .Pomrner production, which is to be directed by Josef von Sternberg, who is already en route to Berlin from Hollywood. Von Sternberg produced "The Last Command," in which Jannings played in America. Lawrence Tibbett, the Metropolitan opera star, is to make his screen debut for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in " The Rogue's Song." Music for this production is by Franz Lehr and Herbert Stothart, and John Colton is responsible for the dialogue. Lionel Barrymore is directing, while the cast includes Miss Catherine Dale Owen (in the leading feminine role) Miss Marion Schilling, Miss Judith Vosselli, Wallace Mac Donald, Lionel Belmore, James Bradbury, jun., and Miss Kate Price.

The selection of » story for John Barrymore's aecoad all-talking Vitaphone vehicle has been announced by J. L. Warner. "The Man" is the working title given the next Bariymore production, which will be started this month. Though no further details concerning the screenplay vrere given out, it is understood that the story has a period setting. Barrymore, who recently completed " General Crack," a seventeenth century romance in which he portrays a soldier of fortune, is now working upon his contribution of " Show of Shows, which is a scene from Shakespeare's " Richard the Third."

There are few stars of the cinema world who would risk the possible danger of allowing three members of a supporting cast to run " wild " in parts almost as colourful and important as their own, yet Miss Norma Talmadge does this in "New York Nights,"- her first all-talking picture. Gilbert Roland, her leading man, for the fourth consecutive time, has a part which in almost a starring role in its own right. The same applies to John Wray, the distinguished New York actorplaywright, who is the " villain." Miss Lilyan Tashman, as the chorus girl-friend of Miss Talmadge, at times almost overshadows the star.

Miss Irene Bordoni, star of the Broadway footlights, has started her first picture, " Paris," her stage Vehicle of the past season. The picture is being made by First National. " Paris " will be an all-dialogue picture, with singing and dancing, and Miss B6rdoni will sing not only the song hits of the stage production, but/ also Eeveral added numbers which are now being written by songwriters at the studios. Jack Buchanan, favourite of the English stage, is playing opposite the star. Others who are in the cast are Jason Robards, Miss Louise Ciosser Hale, Miss Zasu Pitt3 and Mis 3 Margaret Fielding, another accomplished artist.

The world premiere screening, of Miss Gloria Swanson's first all-talking picturo, entitled ' The Trespasser,'" took place in London last month, and deeply impressed London reviewers. Her speaking voice is stated to be and she also reveals a soprano singing voice of unusually good quality. Ihe Jrcspasser is an original screen drama with a gripping story, and was directed by the author, Edmund Goulding. The picture is said to be a revelation in modern production methods. Goulding was also the author of " The Broadway Melody. Robert Ames 13 tho leading man and tbe Cast also includes several London and New York stage players. The picture will be released in New Zealand shortly by United Artist 3.