FILM TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 11 (Supplement)

FILM TOPICS.

The spirit of adventure is again reflected in Ronald Colman's latest picture, " The Unholy Garden." It is a story of adventure of the Algerian desert. George Fitzmaurice directed, and the cast includes Fay Wray, Estelle Taylor, Tully Marshall, Warren Hymer, Ullric Haupt, Henry Armetta, Kit Guard, Lawrence Grant and Lucille La Verne. Columbia's " Forbidden," the Frank Capra productionin which Barbara Stanwyck is the principal, is a story written specially for the star and is soon to be released. This is one of the company's outstanding productions of the season and gives Miss Stanwyck every opportunity to display the talents for highly dramatic interpretation which have made her famous. While Miss Gaynor is enjoying a welldeserved vacation, Charles Farrell will be the principal in " Devil's Lottery," which Hamilton MacFaddcn will direct. " Devil's Lottery " is based on a novel by Nalbro Bartlet. The remainder of the cast includes Greta Nissen, Mae Marsh, who makes theatrical history as the result of her triumph in " Over the Hill," and Ann Dvorak.

As a tribute from the people of Japan, where she ranks among the most popular film stars, Marlene Dietrich recently was presented with a rare ceremonial robe of great value. The robe is silk and trimmed in gold and is of the kind worn in Japan- by royalty only on special occasions. Kimura explained that Miss Dietrich's pictures, " Morocco " and " Dishonoured," have been popular in Japan, and that "Morocco" was the fust talking film to have Japanese titles superimposed in the form of " balloons " like those in newspaper comic strips. When John Barrymore first read the script of " The Mad Genius," his latest Warner Bros, and Vitaphone production, lie knew it offered the kind of role which comes but once in a lifetime. The story of " The Mad Genius " moves relentlessly to a tremendous climax built about .the powerful personality of the one man, Tsarakov. Few moments in pictures have been so awe-inspiring as the last hundred feet of film of 1 lie Mad Genius." Marian Marsh, young beauty of the screen who climbed to fame in " Svengali," again supports John Barrymore in " The Mad Genius.