The SCREEN its PLAYS and its STARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21326, 29 October 1932, Page 11 (Supplement)

The SCREEN its PLAYS and its STARS

Clark Gablo and Mary Astor have been substituted for John Gilbert and Jean Harlow in " Red Dust," a 6tory located in tlie Chinose ricefiekls. Robert Montgomery is recovering from an operation for appendicitis. Meanwhile, " Tinfoil," the production in which he supports Tallulah Bankhead, is being delayed. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer announces that John and Lionel Barrymore and possibly Diana Wynyard will have leading roles in " Reunion in Vienna," scheduled to go into production at Culver City following completion of the untitled story co-starring the three Barrymores, Ethel, John and Lionel. " Reunion in Vienna " is the Theatre Guild prize comedy play by Robert E. Sherwood. The last picture, a British one, which the late Edgar Wallace, pastinaster author of crime stories personally directed and produced was the Gainsborough picture " The Ringer." Throughout this production Mr. Wallace took a leading part in suggesting and advising novel settings for his story and one hundred-and-one salient points that his keen brain devised to make the completed entertainment more replete as a mystery drama. Starring in " The Ringer " are Gordon liarker, Franklin Dyale and Carol Goodner. Richard Barthelmess, Warner Brothers First National principal, and his party, recently left the liner Reliance at Copenhagen, after a month's cruise round the North Cape and to Russia. After a stay of several days in Copenhagen, he will go to Germany, where ho has planned a brief walking tour, with his two children, in the Rhino country. At the end of this expedition, the children and he will meet Mrs. Barthelmess and proceed to Paris, where they will remain for a short time. From there they will go back to Hollywood—and to work. As the direct result of her brilliant performance in " The Bitter Tea of General Yen," in which Barbara Stanwyck and Nils Aster are starred, Toshie Mori, the talented Japanese actress has been placed under a long term contract by Columbia Pictures. She is the first of her race since Sessue Hayakawa to receive the opportunity to develop into a great screen star. Miss Mori, who is just nineteen years of age, was born in Japan and educated in Los Angeles where her father is a prominent physician. She is proficient in Russian ballet dancing. Miss Mori was discovered by Frank Capra.

FILM TOPICS

Among other roles, Henry B. Walthall, veteran actor of the screen, well-remem-bered for his Little Colonel in " The Birth of a Nation," has just been signed by Warner Brothers' First National Pictures for an important part in" The Cabin in the Cotton," in which Richard Barthelmcss is.starred. Their joint appearance in this picture will mark the first time these two have played together since the old Griffiths days, when both were on the distinguished list of players developed by that director. The story is of the Louisiana cotton plantation country. Work has begun on " Yes, Mr. Brown," a new British and Dominions feature which is starring Jack Buchanan and Douglas Furber from the German film success ' Ein Bisschen Liebe." " Yes, Mr. Brown " is a modern light comedy with musical numbers by Paul Abraham, the composer of the music of " Sunshine Susie " and "-Viktoria ajjd Her Hussar." Elsie Randolph appears opposite Jack Buchanan as the branch manager's secretary, a characterisation giving full scope to her talents as a comedienne. The part of Mr. Brown is taken by Hartley Power, the American character actor. H. Clonstan, a New Zcalandcr who is walking round the world, has stepped into the film business. Having traversed New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Alaska and the best part of the United States, he is now " doing " the British Isles before trekking through the Continent and the Orient. It was while visiting the Cathedral ut St. Albans that ho learned of the proximity of Elstree nnd decided that a world tour was incomplete without a visit to England's premier film studio. Accordingly ho arrived at 8.1.P.'s studio and was taken for a tour round the sets. So interested was he that Norman Lee enrolled him as a German soldier for a sceno in " Josser Joins the Army." " Fredric March will bring an ideal Marcus to the screen," said Cecil B. de Mille, who chose the actor for the part in Paramount's new vehicle, " The Sign of the Cross." I know of 110 player better suited to portray this Roman whose character so curiously combines ruthlessness and sensuality with an inherent fineness of character. Several weeks ago I tried to secure him for the part, but plans for starring him in another production to be filmed at the same time as ' The Sign of the Cross ' made this impossible. A switch in production schedules, however, now makes it possible for Fredric March to appear in what 1 am convinced will be the greatest role of his career."