FILM TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 10 (Supplement)

FILM TOPICS.

Paramount has just signed Lily Damita to play the title role in an original song romance, tentatively titled "He' Met A French Girl." It is a rapid.moving comedy, with manifold complications and quick changes of European backgrounds. Opposite Miss Damita will bo Gary Grant, former stage slar, while Charlie Ruggles will have a comedy lead An intensely dramatic role is played by Barbara Stanwyck in her new Columbia starring drama " Forbidden." Miss Stanwyck's role takes her through four stages of womanhood, and it is to her credit that she is convincing in all of them. She is seen as a girl, a youtfg mother, a middle-aged woman and finally as an old and worn woman. Adolphe Menjou and Ralph Bellamy play supporting roles. " Cock of the Air" will be retained as the permanent title of the, Howard Hughes aviation comedy in which Billie Dove and Chester Mortis are the principals. The story is a farce based upon the pranks of an American aviator during the World War. It was directed by Thomas Buckingham under supervision of Lewis Milestone, and the cast includes Matt Moore. Walter Catlett and Ethel Sutherland.

Bebe Daniels will next be seen in tho First National and Vitaphone romance, " The Honour of the Family," which is an adaption of a talc by Honore Balzac, one of tho world's greatest novelists. " Tho Honour of tho Family " is marked by sardonic humour, daring situations, and all the glittering panorama of life which only Balzac could portray. Warren William, fresh from his triumphs as a stage actor, plays the part of the duelfighting young French nobleman m " The Honour of the Family," and establishes himself as one of the foremost actors on the screen to-day. James Mack, character actor of the screen, and former stage player) was recently added to the cast of Metro-Oold-wyn-Mayer's " Arsene Lupin," which brings John and Lionel Barrymore together 011 the screen, for the first time. He will play the French florist with whom John Barrymore changes identities in a thrilling adventure in the new picture, which Jack Conway is directing. Mack is well known for his work in " Anna Christie," " Hello Sister " and other recent pictures. A notable cast appears in the new mystpry thriller, including Karen Morley in tho leading feminine role, Tully Marshall, Nicholas Soussain, Theodore Lorch, Mary Jane Irving and others.