IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20426, 30 November 1929, Page 11 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

Lano Chandler, popular motion-picture player of silenj, days, has been engaged by Paramount to make an .all-talking western story. The title for the new production has not yet been announced.

Miss Ruth Ohatterton has been selected to star in Paramount's all-talking picture, " The Laughing Lndy," in place of the late Miss Jeanne Eagels. Clive Brook will play opposite the star and Miss Dorotdiy Hall 'and Dan Hcaly are included in the supporting cast.

Miss Nancy Carroll's next starring talkie for Paramount will be the film adaptation of Joseph Conrad's famous novel, " Victory." Richard Arlen will play the leading male role and Warner Oland will be featured. The production is now in rehearsal at the Hollywood studios. William Weilman is directing.

Miss Edna West, who first appeared in pictures with the Edison company, returned to the screen to play tho part of Charles Rogers' mother in his next Paramount producfion, '' Here Conies the Band Wagon." Miss Jean Arthur plays opposite the star and Paul Lukas and Miss Helen Ware are included in the i cast.

Claude Flemming, noted Australian actor and musical comedy star, who made his last appearance here in " Lilac Time," is directing the dialogue in " Mamba" for Coloart Svnchrotone. He was called upon to jump in and play tht character of Major 'Cromwell, the English officer, as well. Flemming is said to be especially suited to the role.

" The Return of Shprlock Holmes," Paramount's " talkie" version of Sir A. Conan Doyle's famous story, was recently completed at the Long Island studios. Clive Brook is featured in the role of the famous detective and the supporting cast included H. Reeves-Smith, Miss Betty La'wford, Donald Crisp, Harry T. Morey and Hubert Duce. The noted London producer, Ba-sil Dean, directed.

Miss Clara Bow's third all-talking picture for - Paramount, " The Saturday Night Kid," received its world premiere at the Paramount Theatre, New York, on October 18. " The Saturday Night Kid" was "declared by critics to be Miss Bow's best talking picture to date. James Hall has the male lead. Miss Jean Arthur, Miss Leone Lane, Tully Marshall and Frank Ross are featured in the cast.

Herbert Brenon is to be given free rein in producing " The Case of Sergeant Grischa" for Radio Pictures; the celebrated war novel is to be filmed on a scale comparable with " Rio Rita," " Hit the Deck," " Vagabond Lover," and " Radio Revels." Mr. Brenon, who has done such productions as " Peter Pan." " Beau Geste," and " Lummox" is now conferring on the " Grischa" production at the Hollywood Studios.

The Hollywood Revue," Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer's huge musical motion-picture, which will be released here shortly, differs from all the other sinking and dancing films, so far produced, in that it is. distinctly of the revue school of entertainment rather than of the musical comedy type. It consists of songs, dances, skits, tableaux and " blackouts" with no connecting story. In the cast are most of the prominent players at the film studio and a host of stage celebrities.

Realising that much of the comedy and dialoguewas lost in early "talkie" comedies, owing to the fact that the actors resumed their lines before the laughter had subsided, technicians made exhaustive tests during the filming of " Why Bring That Up ? " the Two Black Crows' first Paramount all-talking picture, to determine just how long an audience should laufirh at each joke. Six hundred extras, divided into two separate audiences, aided in the experiment. Moran and Mack presented their .funny dialogue, and the time necessary for the laughter to expend itself was carefully 7-ecordcd. The comedy lines in " Why Bring That Up ? " arc so carefully timed and spaced that not one word of the dialogue will be lost.

The first original operetta to be produced on the talking screen is Paramount's all-talking, singing and dancing picture. " The Love Parade." starring Maurice Chevalier, which will be released in Australia shortly. " The Love Parade," was adapted from the play " The Prince Consort" by Ernest Vadja, author of "Sally," Hit the Deck" and other famous musical comedies. Guy Bolton wrote the libretto: Victor Schertzinger composed tho. musical score and Clifford Grey, the lyrics. The songs, specially written for the picture, include " The Love Parade." "Anything to Please the Queen," a duet sung by ( bovalier and Misr, Jeanette McDonald. " My Dream Lover," a solo by Miss Mac Donald; "Paris Stays the Same,'-' a Chevalier solo; '' Let's be Common," a comedy duet by Lupino Lane and Lillian Roth, and the enchanting chorus number, " Song of the Grenadiers."