FILM TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 12 (Supplement)

FILM TOPICS

An independent Hollywood ccm pa cry is to mate "little Men," the sequel to "little WomfiQ." "Tittle Men" wtII show Jo in charge of her boarding school. Douglas Fairbanks. Jnr., is selling his house and his Hollywood possessions. It is rumoured that he will apply for British nationality and stay in England permanently. Negotiations are at present proceeding with Ronald Colraan. who may possibly play Sir Percy B'akenev in Alexander Korda's forthcoming production of " The Scarlet Pimpernel." Billy Lee. a three-year-old singer arid dancer, has been placed under contract to Paramount- Universal has replied hy casting three-year-old Juanita Quigley for a part in "Imitation of life/ Having completed a major role in the forthcoming Warner Baxter film Grand Canary/' Marjorie Rambeau has been signed by Fox Film for a part in the picture " Man Lock/' formerly titled " Sand Hog." which tells the ' story of the men who dig the tunnels under big cities. * Herbert Mundin. who gained screen fame in " Cavalcade " and other Fox Film productions, has been assigned to four forthcoming pictures—" Nymph Errant " with " Pas 11 Paterson, " 2-t Hoars a Day " with Claire Trevor, " What Am I Bid?" with Will. Rogers and " Hell in the Heavens " with Warner Baxter.

" Schooldays/' a new rehirfe for Cicely Corartneidge, n®w in prod act ion at tbe Gararnont-Britisfe studios,, inetudes Suzanne Lenglen, of tennis fame, in its cast, as well as the young Australian actress Judy Kelly. A Fm product ton unit is travelling to the bandit-infested Yangtze River to make a picture called Yellow Water, which will deal with the struggle- for existence of the thousands of Chinese coolies who live along its banks. A screen biography of the King has been compiled from old news reels, and was recently shown in London. The accompanying commentary was written and spoken by John Drinkwater, the famous English novelist and playwright. Ricardo Cortex, who has a leading role with Kay Francis, Warner Olacd and Lyle Talbot in the First National picture " Mandalay/' is the only Hollywood actor ever billed above Greta Gar bo. It was in " The Torrent," her first feature. Merle Oberon, Benita Hume, Joan Gardner, Bincie Barnes, Natacha Paley and Athene Seyler, the six principal ladies in *' The Private Life of Henry VLLi,'* will reappear on the screen, with Douglas Fairbanks, in li The Private Life of Don Juan." The picture wa3 directed by Alexander Korda from a story written by Frederick Lonsdale and Lajos Bird. The adventurous times of 16th-cen-tury Italy offer the screen a rich and colourful background in " The Affairs of Cellini," 20th Century's dashing new comedy, starring Constance Bennett and Frederic March. The film depicts the love escapades of the great goldsmith who brought fame to Florence when Michael Angelo and Leonardo da Vinci were doing their part to make that city the centre of Italian art. Frederic March portrays Cellini, while Constance Bennett is cast as the Duchess of Florence, and Frank Morgan has the role of her consort, the Duke Alessandro.

Joan Bennett, who has just returned from a European vacation, is signed by Paramount for the leading feminine role in support of Francis Lederer in " Pursuit of Happiness," which Ralph Marphy. now finishing " The Notorious Sophie" Lang" for that company, is scheduled to direct. Lederer is a Czecho-Slovakian actor and this will be his first role for Paramount. Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland are also included in the cast of " Pursuit of Happiness "