FILM TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20982, 19 September 1931, Page 11 (Supplement)

FILM TOPICS.

Mary Pick ford is said to bo writing her autobiography. My ma Loy, whoso contract with Fox expired recently, has been taken on by Radio. Roscoe '' Fatly " Arbucklo is dire®|ig a one-reel comedy, featuring Al. St. Jotu, in Hollywood. Anna May Wong's second American film will bo " Java Head," by Joseph Hergesheimer. . . The League of Nations offers a prize of £6OOO for tho best film story glorifying international peace. J. B. Priestley is said to bo asking £30,000 for the film rights of his novel, " The Good Companions." A film showing the construction of Sydney Harbour Bridge from beginning to end is to bo screened in Middlesbrough, where the steel was made. Joan Bennett has been thrown from a horse and is suffering from injuries to her hip and spine. »She may not bo ablo to work again for three months. Cliff Edwards, of ukelclc fame, has a new plaything. Ho has fixed rubber bands to tho handlebars of his bicycle, and when iri motion the wind vibrates them and produces a musical note. By manipulation, Cliff can play tunes on it as he rides. Neil Hamilton is now dividing his time between stars in Hollywood and those in tho heavens. He has been going in for astronomy, and recently spent two dtiys at tho famous Mt. Wilson observatory, which boasts the world's largest tcloecopo. Henri Bernstein, a noted French playwright, has been placed under contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Mr. Bernstein is now in New York, and is working on au original story for the screen, lie is the author of •" Melo," in which Basil Ratbbono and Edna Best appeared on Broadway.

Eddie Quillan lias recovered from an attack of ptomaine poisoning. Sound is being added to " Tlie Big Parade" in preparation for a re-issue. Dorothy Lee, the screen partner of Wheeler and Woolsey, lias been awarded a final decree of divorce from James Fidlcr, who, she said, took all her earnings. Vicki Baum, author of " Grand Hotel," (ho Continental stage success, is to write Maurice Chevalier's next talking-picture, which Ernst Lubitsch will again direct. Tho title ot George Arliss' next picture is " A Successful Calamity." it will be adapted from n stage play produced in 1917 with William Gillette (of " Sherlock llolmes " fame) as tho star. " Tho Ghost, Train " pursues ils eerie way at. tlios Islington studios, where tho studio is at present haunted by a coach off tho " Cornish Iviviora." Wallor Forde, tho director, is looking forward to his departure this week, where at the station ho will continue staging all sorts of awesome happenings while enjoying tho experience of directing the.movements of two complete Great Western railway trains. Cicely Courtneidgc and Jack Hulbcrt aro playing tho leading roles. Production of tho locally-made sound film "Shattered," is now rapidly approaching, and tho picture will bo screened in Auckland early next month, according to tho director, Mr. Robert Fearn-Steele. The filming of the scenes has been completed, and tho editing staff is now engaged on tho finishing touches in connection with the sound portion of tho picture. An interesting story of (ho war experiences of a young Aucklander, and tho subsequent effect upon his career of tho horrors through which ho passes, is handled by a capable cast. All of the scenes havo been produced in and around Auckland, and tho picture is said to have some remarkably fino photographic effects.