IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20490, 15 February 1930, Page 11 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

Paramount on Parade," a mammoth multi-star rqvtic, is rapidly nearing completion at tho Hollywood studios. Several of tho stars, including Maurico Chevalier and Miss Nancy Carroll, have already completed their contributions. Many of tho big scenes designed by Albert Wenger, tho famous set designer, aro being filmed in colour.

" Marco Himself," a now Paramount alltalking comedy co-featuring Jack Oakie and Richard ' Skeets" Gallagher, has gono into production at tho Hollywood studios. " Marco Himself" was adapted from the story by Octavus Roy Cohen. Harry Green will play ono of tho chief supporting roles, and Frank Tuttle will direct.

Talking pictures have claimed Rudolph Friml, composer of " Rose Marie," "The Vagabond King," " Three Musketeers," and other musical hits. Ho will compose tho score for " Bride 66," Arthur Hammerstein's first musical play for United Artists. Mr. Friml's first connection with tho screen was establishd through a contract signed with United Artists.

George Arliss makes his Vitaphone debut in " The Green Goddess," a Warner Bros. production. In it he gives on of his most interesting performances in the famous rolo of a villainous rajah, who is also a cultured and lavish host. Tho supporting cast includes Miss Alice Joyce, H. B. Warner and Ralph Forbes.

When it was announced that " All Quiet on the Western Front " would be filmed with as close conformity to the book of Erich Maria Rermarque as possible, people l began to ask why Miss Joan Marsh was announced in the cast. Miss Marsh, who is returning to the screen at the age of sixteen, is to enact the Poster Girl, to whom a very investing chapter in tho book was devoted.

" Song of the Flame," a First National Vitaphone production, entirely in technicolovir, will, it is announced, employ nine thousand players before tho final scene is completed. " Song of the Flame," adapted from.tho operetta, will bo the most elaborate production . ever made by First -National. Miss Bernioe Claire, Alexander Gray, and Noah Beery :have the leading roles.

" Dangerous Nan McGrew " has been selected as the title for a new Paramount " talkie" to feature Miss Helen Kane. Miss Kane plays tho title role of the sweetheart of a trooper of the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police who always " gets her man." " Dangerous Nan McGrew " will go into production shortly at the Long Island studios under tho direction of Victor Schertzinger.

Paul Fejos, the noted Universal director, who is ill as a result of an injury sustained while he was directing " La Marseillaise," starring Miss Laura La Plante and John Boles, has relinquished direction of the picture, and John S. Robertson has been assigned to complete the remaining scenes. Fejos fell from a high scaffolding from which ho was directing a big battle scene and was painfully injured.

Miss Kay Francis, screen vampire, and William Austin, tho eccentric comedian, play their first married roles in "The Marriage Playground," Paramount's screen version of Edith Wharton's " The Children." They are cast as man and wife in the production. Frederic March and Miss Mary Brian aro co-featured. Others in the cast are Huntley Gordon. Miss Lilyan Tashman and David Newell. Lothar Mendes directed.

" Slightly Scarlet,"' a current Paramount " talkie" co-starring Miss Evelyn Brent and Clive Brook, is a gripping story of adventure and intrigue on tho Continent. Paul Lukas has been assigned to tho role of Malatroff, a mysterious criminal genius. The supporting cast includes Miss Virginia Bruce. Henry Wadsworth, Eugene Pallette and Claude Allister. Louis Gaznier and Edwin Knoph aro co-directing.

With the signing of Miss Emily Fitzroy for an important role in the Fox-Movie-tone production starring the famous tenor John McCormack, and directed by Frank Borzage, the cast, is complete. Fox Films has given McCormack for his screen debut a truly marvellous cast including Miss Alice Joyce. John Garrick, J. M. Kerigan, Farrell Macdonald, Miss Maureen O'Sullivan, Tommy Clifford, Miss Efiio Ellsler and Miss Gwendolyn McCormack, daughter of the famous singer.

The enthusiastic reception which the public has given to Warner Bros, naturalcolour Vitaphone productions has led the company to increase substantially its future plans for the use of colour. Therefore, colour figures prominently on Warner Bros, future productions. The allcolour pictures to be shown following tho phenomenally successful "Gold Diggers of Broadway," are " Song of the West," " Golden Dawn," " Under a Texas Moon," "On With the Show," and " Hold Everything." -The part-colour productions are " Show of Shows," " General Crack," starring John Barrymore, and " Mammy," starring A 1 Jolson.

First National announces that tho forthcoming production of tho internationally successful operetta, " Thq Lady in Ermine," will be known as " Tho Bride oi the Regiment." This is not tho first time the title has been changed; the original production was frequently known as " Tho Lady of tho Rose." Miss Vivienno Segal has tho title rolo in the picture, with Walter Pidgeon, Alan Prior, Lupino Lane, Wallace Beery, and Miss Louise Fazenda in the cast. " The Bride of the Regiment " will be directed by John Francis Dillon instead of Alexandra Korda, the hitter's contract with First National having been terminated by mutual consent.