FILM TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20862, 2 May 1931, Page 12 (Supplement)

FILM TOPICS

Carraol Myers, the well-known player of " siren " roles, recently made a sensational success in vaudeville in America. Although she has a beautiful einging voice, it was only recently that she began to cultivate it, and it is likely that she will be heard on the screen shortly in some musical play.

Susan Fleming, a former Ziegfeld Follies girl, has been engaged on a longterm contract by Columbia Pictures. Miss Fleming is the second girl to bo selected as a result of the firm's recent quest for new material. In addition to being a Ziegfeld star, she is a specialty dancer and a singer of some merit.

Josephine Dunn, who is featured in. the Columbia picture, " Madonna of the Streets," was born in New York, where she was educated at the Holy Cross School. She received her early training in tho legitimate theatre and the celebrated Ziegfeld Follies, making her first screen appearance in tho Paramount picture, " Fascinating Youth."

The sons of the late Austin Melford, who toured " Tho Silver King " for some 27 years, Jack and Austin, have made their talking picture debut under the auspices of Gainsborough Films. Austin, the author of " A Warm Corner," " It's a Boy," and "Oh, Daddy!" appeared with Leslie Henson in the screen production of the former, while tho other son, Jack, plays an important role in Leslie Henson's second screen, comedy, " The Sport of Kings," adapted from lan Play's play.

Lew Cody, the well-known screen actor, has been given the leading role in " Meet the Wife," a Columbia version of the uproarious comedy which scored such a great success on the New Zealand stage a few years ago. Laura La Plante will play the leading feminine role. Cody, who is noted for his suave and sophisticated characterisations, has made 6ome notable appearances, including those in " Rupert of Heritzau," " Beau Broadway," " A Single Man,'' and " Divorce Among Friends."

Elsa Lanchester, who is well-known on the English stage, mainly for her comedy work, has completed her first talking picture role in the British colliery drama, " The Stronger Sex," in which Colin Clive, the star of " Journey's End," plays the leading role. Miss Lanchester is regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the theatre, and her large eyes and halo of dark brown hair have formed the subject of a much-discussed portrait ia the Royal Academy.

Edgar Wallace's third film will be his \JTyndham Theatre success, " The Calender." This is not a crime play but a racing drama, and is said to be full of fun. It was the first West End production in which Margaret Bannerman appeared after her return from a tour of New Zealand and Australia. Many of the original players will appear, including Margaret Bannerman, Cathleen Nesbit, Albert Drayton, Gillian Lind and Gordon Harkor. Qwen Nares plays the leading masculine role.