BIOGRAPHICAL FILMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21716, 3 February 1934, Page 12 (Supplement)

BIOGRAPHICAL FILMS

TREND OF THE CINEMA MANY COLOURFUL SUBJECTS • J, The * film, which has proved such a comfort to the industry in its worst moments, is coming in again with a rush at a time . when imagination and ingenuity are running admittedly low. It is a little more than 20 years ago. since biographical films came into existence as a result of Sarah' Bernhardt's film version of the life of Queen Elizabeth. It iT a little more than 10 years ago since Germany came back into the post-war market with films of Danton, Ann Boleyn, Lucrezia Borgia, Dubarry, and other famous figures from the international gallery. Less than five years ago /George Arliss's " Disraeli " persuaded the niodern generation that motion pictures might talk and still remain sane. To-day, the studio executives, at a loss for stories which will give their j stars an opportunity to make history, have wisely decided to sit back for a little and let history make their stars. This is a tremendous economy of labour, and one which all practical people must applaud, comments 'Miss C. A. Lejeune in the London Observer. In the first place, the drama is implicit in the character: —history has already written the script. In the second place, the film is 6old at the box-office before ever it goes on the floor—the department has only, to get, out its Echoolbooks and lftfc teacher do the rest. In the third place, it keeps the stars happy by providing their subconscious yearning for immortality with a legitimate wish-fulfilment. Some of these suppressed yearnings have their startling side, she adds humorously. It is rumoured that Mae .West, for instance, is anxious to replace Claudette Colbert as the current candidate for Cleopatra, and insists that Cecil de Mille should give Antony the opportunity to " come up and see her sometime." There are further suggestions that Charlie Chaplin might

play the part of Hitler in a picture entitled "The Mad Dog of Europe," while an American writer disclaims the •whisper that George Arliss is anxious to turn the German Chancellor into "dear old. Uncle Adolph." Meanwhile, two of Hollywood's brightest stars are reputed to 'be making film- biographies of one another, and without reading the script it is not difficult to hazard what that wish-fulfilment might be. Fox, who made a film of the life of Mayor Czermak, recently shown under the" title, " The Man Who Dared," have announced "an intimate biographical saga " of Anna Pavlova, and invited the Soviet Government to cooperate with them in the search for a suitable star. George Arliss having finished a biography of Voltaire, is now scheduled to appear as " The Great Jtothscliild." Greta Garbo is working on the life of Queen Christina, Charles La'ughton's Henry VIIT. is now being screened, Edward G. Bobinson is announced as the next Napoleon. Gloria Swanson ; is said to be planning a life of the divine Sarah, Elizabeth Bergner and Marlene Dietrich are both likely to appear as Catherine the Great of Russia, Madeline Carrol is expected to play Mary Queen of Scots, and Norma Shearer is preparing for an epic of Marie Other biographies in production or contemplation include P. 'J 1 . Barnum, General Villa, Cecil Rhodes, Flo Ziegfekj, Bruce Lockhart, Frank Luke, the Grand Duchess Marie, Prince Michael Romanoff, Diamond Jim Brady, Senator Huey Long, Walter Wincheil. and von Richthofen, the Red Knight of j Germany, to which rumour adds the names of Isadora Duncan and Chanel.