FILM TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20762, 3 January 1931, Page 9 (Supplement)

FILM TOPICS.

Jack Oakie, tho freckle-faced Paramount comedian, ran away from home to enter tho pictures. He was educated for tho church. Tho English actress, Lilian Harvey, is now tho leading film star of Germany. Although sho was born in London, she possesses a perfect knowledge of German, and plays tho principal parts in German and bi-lingual productions. Dorothy Peterson is ono of tho latest additions to Hollywood's population of screen stars. Sho has joined tho Warner Brothers company, after scoring great success in tho leading rolo in " Mother's Cry," which was recently completed. Go striking was Marjorio Rarnbeau's work in "Min and Ball," the latest Mario Dresden picture, that sho has been signed to play a rolo with Greta Garbo in " Inspiration." Following her performance in " Min and Bill," Miss Rambeau was placed under long-term contract by Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer. Olarenco Brown is directing tho Garbo film, a story of modern Paris. Robert Montgomery is in tho romantic lead, and the supporting cast includes Lewis Stone, Joan Marsh and Edwin Maxwell. Columbia's drama of dance-hall life, which will servo as the first starring picture for Barbara Stanwyck under her now contract, following on " Ladies of Leisure," has added to its cast Sally Blano and Monroe Owsley. Lionel Barrymore is directing, with Ricardo Cortez. in tho leading malo rolo. Sally Blano mado her screen debut in tho " Collegians " series. Among her recent pictures aro " Tanned Legs," " The Very Idea," " Vagabond Lover " and " Littlo Accident." Owsley lias to his credit outstanding roles in numerous stage successes, and " Holiday," his first picture, proved so successful for him that ho was awarded his present role.

Fifi Dorsay will shortly begin work as a featured player in " Charlio Chan Carries On," a Fox film adaption from a novel by Earl Derr Biggers. Charles Rogers and his mother nro at present taking a holiday in Europe, 'lbis is Rogers' first visit abroad sinco his university days, when he went to Spam as ono of a party of collego youths which went as grooms to a ship-load of Kansas mules. Phillips Holmes, who appeared opposito Nancy Carroll in " The Devil's Holiday," will be with tho star again in " .Stolen Heaven," Aliss Carroll's latest Paramount production. It is adapted from an original story by Dana Barnett and was previously known as " Two Against Death." Tho First National and Vitaphono production, " Bright Lights," presents Dorothy Mackaill for the. first time as a star of tho first magnitude. " Bright Lights," which is filmed entirely in technicolour, is a story of the stage, its loves and its hates, and is composed of a stellar cast including Frank Fay, Noah Beery, Inez Courtney, Eddie Nugent and many others. Erich Yon Stroheim has had a real homecoming celebration at Universal City. Sixteen years ago ho went to America from Austria as an emigrant with ambition but no definito plan. In 1917 Carl Laeminle gavo him a leading rolo in a war-play, " The Heart of Humanity," and Von Stroheim becamo " the man you love to hate." Laemmlo also gave the actor his first opportunity to write and direct a picture and gave him £300,000 to spend on his second film drama, "Foolish Wives," a sensation of the period. After " free-lancing " as a director, and recently as an actor, Von Stroheim is back at Universal City following a trip to Europe, and will soon begin work on an original story, " Blind Husbands."