SCREEN AND STAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21773, 12 October 1932, Page 11

SCREEN AND STAGE

FROM GREEN ROOM AND STUDIO

BY HARLEQUIN.

An Interesting Career Josef Szigeti, the celebrated violinist, who arrived in Dunedin from the north yesterday afternoon and will give his opening concert in the Town Hall tonight, is accompanied by the pianist, Prince Nikita MagalofT, who, although comparatively young, has had a remarkably interesting career. Born in Petrograd, in Russia, in 1912, Prince MagalofT had to leave his native city after the revolution, which forced the members of his family to escape with their lives, leaving everything behind. Music has appealed to him since very early childhood, but it took years before he went into serious piano and composition work.

The Prince spent years of travelling in Europe and America while still a small boy, giving himself to free composition improvisation, and appearing in some places ns a pianist prodigy. _ Rachmaninoff heard him in New York and, finding him unusually gifted, strongly advised his parents to concentrate on his studies and send him to the Paris Conservatoire, perhaps the most prominent music school in the world. -It was there that MagalofT started hard_ and enthusiastic work under Isidor Phillip, the great teacher. It was from there that a few years later he brilliantly graduated with first honours. Later the Prince was fortunate ' enough to meet Szigeti, with whom he has toured for several seasons throughout the world, everywhere with brilliant success. The critics predicted for him a triumphal career, which has already begun in a most encouraging way. It may be of interest to mention that Prince MagalofT has composed extensively ever since his childhood, and has lately achieved a piano concerto, with orchestra, which is to be performed next year in Europe and America.

Dunedin Symphony Orchestra At the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s concert, to be given next week, three outstanding items will be presented for the first time in this city. Perhaps the most important of _ these is the “ Antar ” symphony by RimskyKorsakoff. The initial performance of this symphony took place under the direction of Hans Bulow, at a concert of the Russian Musical Society at Leningrad on January 24, 1882. It is said that no work of Rimsky-Korsakoff’e ever received so enthusiastic a first performance and the great Russian composer achieved a veritable triumph with it from the very start, The story of Antar runs thus: Antar rescues the fairy Gul-Nazar (as a gazelle) from the pursuit of a giant bird. As a reward she promises him three great delights of life—revenge, power, and love. These episodes form the basis of the four movements, of which the finale is the best —an exceedingly skilful combination of the fairy-theme and an_ Oriental dance. The overture to Berlioz’s opera, “ Benvenuto Cellini,” should be a particularly impressive piece of work. The autobiography of the gifted and lawless sculptor, Benvenuto Cellini, is _ familiar to English readers in the admirable translation of the’ late ’ John Addington Symonds. The libretto of Berlioz’s opera is partly founded on certain incidents recounted in that highly sensational book. Cellini .plotted to'run away with Theresa, the daughter of Balducci, an officer of high position ip the Papal household. In the course of the adventure he stabs an opponent, and he is in danger of being condemned to death, but is pardoned on condition that he immediately completes his. wonderful statue of Perseus. The opera was originally produced in Paris in 1838, but without success. It was given in London in 1853, under the direction of Sir Michael Costa. The overture “ Carnaval Remain ” is built upon thematic material taken from this opera. The last of the three is the funeral jMir'ch from “ Gotterdammerung ” ("Twilight of the Gods”), Wagner’s splendid opera. This is taken from the last act, in which the death of Siegfried takes place. The great Teutonic hero ia treacherously slain by Hagen, and dies with the name of Brynhilde upon his lips. Night has begun to’fall, and the comrades of Siegfried lift his body on to his shield and bear it up out of the, valley. Before it enters the gloom of the forest the moon breaks through the clouds and sheds a cold light upon the grim procession as it moves to the strains of this incomparable funeral march. It is doubtful if any example of elegiac music—not excepting the slow movement 6f the “Eroica Symphony” (Beethoven) —equals this expression of heart-chilling grief. It is superhuman' threnody; the utterance of a lamentation which awes as deeply as it touches us.

St. James Theatre Attraction A brand new William Powell —a smooth and delightful comedian —is revealed in “ High Pressure,” the feature film for the next change at the St. James Theatre. It is a story of stock promoters and their ladies, and presents Powell in one of the most dynamic characterisations of his career. It is a role that reveals the , poised and heretofore yillianous Powell as a high class comedian. The story deals with characters who are generous and good-hearted, but so irresponsible and so anxious to get rich quickly that they go dretty close to the border line of the law. The fast and furious sequences of “ High Pressure ” are laid in Manhattan, in gorgeous skyscraper offices, in Harlem night clubs, Turkish baths, speakeasies, thronging streets, and the pier of a great ocean liner. The production has been richly and accurately ■dressed as to setting, and the supporting cast includes Evelyn Brent, Evelyn Knapp, George Sydney, Guy Kibbee, Harry Beresford, John Wray, Luis Alberni, Allison Skipworth, Charles Judels, young Ben Alexander, Harold Waldrudge, Bobby Watson, and Frank M'Hugh. “ An Art Attraction ”

It is interesting to note, in connection with the visit to New Zealand of the J. C. Williamson Grand Opera Company, which opened its Dominion tour of the capital cities at Auckland on Wednesday last, that Mr Claud Kingston, who is personally directing the tour, classes the combination of operatic stars as in every way equal to any organisation of its kind in the world. “The expense incurred in bringing such a number of stars, with full chorus, orchestra, ballets, scenery (200 tons), is so great,” explained Mr Kingston, “ that the directors will be satisfied if they ‘ break even ’ on the New Zealand tour. The present visit is regarded purely as an art attraction, not a commercial venture in any way. The company is being sent over solely in the interests of music. The main reason for it is this: During the last quarter of a century the New Zealand public has always supported the best attractions brought to this country by the Williamson management, and the directors are leaving it to the public to see this enterprise through, realising that they will not make a profit, but that in the event of the tour not showing a loss future engagements of grand opera companies in Italy will include New Zealand in thd contracts. That has never been the case in the past, but we really hope that it will be so in the future.”

“ The Bird of Paradise ” If confidence may be placed in the review notices which havg been accorded 11.K.0. Radio Pictures film, “ Tlie Bird of Paradise,” in the American motion picture journals, the production may be looked forward to by local theatre-goers with pleasurable anticipation. “The Bird of Paradise ” presents Dolores Del Rio in a new exotic role as an Hawaiian princess who falls in love with a young American. The star, together with her loading man, Joel M'Crea, the director, King Vidor, and a complete crew of technicians, spent a month on location in Hawaii filming the picturesque native scenes, which are said to be amongst the most colourful yet depicted on the screen. “ Having applied some vision, some imagination, having an intelligent perception of the indubitable fact that what pleased and moved people of the last generation will do the same with people of this generation —provided the terms of presentation are in the language and form of today—Radio has made of this stage classic one of the most colourful and thoroughly pleasing entertainments of the year (states the Hollywood Herald). All the elements of the original have been wisely retained. “ The screen treatment combines the finest possible elements of mass screen entertainment; romance, beauty, pathos, melodrama, music, simplicity of theme.

appeal to all classes and ages. The original cost of the story was very heavy, tint the entire industry may profit by the experience, because it has proved to those who will see, who are not mentally blind, that it is perfectly possible and wholly feasible to produce an up-to-the-minute production from what originally might nave been regarded as a trite, oldfashioned yarn.

“ Dolores Del Rio gives the best characterisation of her motion picture career. She may be Mexican, or Spanish—or Czechoslovakian —but as a primitive Hawaiian beauty she is a real actress.”

“ Bachelor’s Affairs ” for Strand “ Bachelor’s Affairs,” which will commence its Dunedin season at the Strand Theatre on Friday, has been mentioned by reviewers as being one of the mo.-t hilarious comedies of the year. _ The story centres around a wealthy middleaged man who marries a beautiful blonde who requires all the canny plotting of an older sister to keep her at her vocation. The rheumatic and cynical bridegroom, quick to realise his mistake in forming the alliance, resorts to farfetched expedients to extricate himself from the web. One hilarious complication follows another in fast-moving scenes. The action is said to go along with exceptional deftnesa in the hands of a company of expert players. Minna Gombell, who will be remembered for her hardboiled roles in “ Bad Gird,” “ Stepping Sisters,” “ Dhnce Team,” and “ Careless Lady,” appears as the sister. Joan Marsh, a vivacious platinum blonde, enacts the role of the youthful wife who sets her aged husband such a pace that he is finally compelled to take a rest cure. Allan Dinehart, ■ddio was widely acclaimed for his performance as the district attorney in “ The Trial of Vivienne Ware,” plays an important role. Others in the cast include Herbert Mundin, the English comedian, who appeared in “ The Silent Witness” and “The Trial of Vivienne Ware ”; Arthur Pierson, Irene Purcell and Don Alvarado.

An Ambitious Film - G. W. Pabst, the famous German director of “Kameradschaft,” “West Front, 1918,” and other outstanding successes, was in London recently looking for players for the most ambitious film of his career, “ Don Quixote.” The. company behind him is prepared to spend £BO,OOO on the production. Chaliapin has been engaged to play the title role, Paul Morand, the popular French author, is doing the adaptation, and it is felt that, with Pabst directing, only good support for Chaliapin is needed to make the picture an outstanding success. Herr Pabst, however, jias not yet found his Sancho Panza or his Dulcinea, not to mention a number of minor parts. 'He had thought of Mr George Robey, the English comedian, as Sancho, but since Mr Robey had to leave London temporarily for Scotland there was no chance to arrange an interview. Instead, Herr Pabst was going to study two reels of one of Mr Robey’s more recent pictures. It had been stated that Herr Pabst wanted an ugly actress for the part of Dulcinea. What he does want is an actress capable of, suggesting the .buxom Spanish peasant girl that Cervantes’ Dulcinea of Toboso undoubtedly was. This rules out slender, willowy blondes, of the sort regarded as typically English, and even too ethereal brunettes, but Herr Pabst wishes to make it clear that the actress must possess charm as well as a gift of comedy. Most of the exteriors will be “ shot “ in Spain, in the districts actually referred to by Cervantes. The interiors will be filmed at the Associated Radio Studios, Ealing. “We feel,” the organiser says. “ that ‘ Don Quixote ’ will be notable, not merely as entertainment, but also as a study of the eternal struggle between idealism and materialasm.”

'Choice of the Story Mr Jack L. Warner, vice-president of Warner Brothers, has made a statement of policy which will be of considerable interest to film-goers. It is to the effect that in future no star will be consulted about the story. “The stars of to-day have been elevated to their present popularity through the careful and intelligent choice of stories and roles by the various producers,” Mr Warner declares, “The producer has a much greater opportunity to’keep in touch with the public, through theatres and exchanges, than has the individual star. We consider that the producer who invests a fortune in each picture should have the final word on the type of stories; he knows the demands of the public.” Most existing contracts with outstanding players give them the right to veto a story they consider unsatisfactory. In many cases they are also allowed to choose their director, scenario writer and “ opposite ” player. Neither system is wholly satisfactory. Some stars are the poorest possible judges of their capacity, as is proved by the failure of most of them when they venture into production on their own account. In this way Charles Ray, once one of the greatest favourites on the screen and a millionaire, reduced himself to poverty with two or three pictures. One night he gave one of the most elaborate parties ever seen in Hollyw’ood, and on the following day he announced his bankruptcy. The chief drawback of the other system, with , producers exercising arbitrary powers, is a tendency to “ play safe " and, cast a player in the same sort of role until the public is tired of him. Warners’ new policy will certainly lead to heartburnings in the studio, for most stars will not give up their rights without a struggle.

Film Topics It is not wise for two screen players to work together in too many pictures, in the opinion of Edmund Lowe and Victor MThaglen, who, for the fourth time are appearing together, this time in Paramount’s serio-comic murder tangle, “ Guilty as Hell.” " Danger for the separate careers of both players lies in appearing together too much,” Lowe explained. “We have avoided that danger by playing in the same picture only four' times in six years.” On the three previous occasions, Lowe and M'Laglen appeared as Captain Flagg and Sergeant Quirt in “What Price Glory?” “The Cock-eyed World,” and “ Women of All Nations,” all of which were outstanding hits.

Colin Clive, the famous English actor, plays an entirely now part in the latest Paramount British production, a film version of Michael Arlen’s delightful novel, “ Lily Christine,” which is set for New Zealand release this month. In it he is Rupert Harvey, the quiet English novelist, who lives in the country and who, through a change motor breakdown, is drawn into one of the strangest society dramas ever recorded. This is a great change from his famous part in “ Journey’s End,” or his masterful portrayal of an ideal-crazed scientist in the horror film “ Frankenstein.” This picture will be Mr Clive’s first for Paramount British Productions, although he originally came back from American especially to star in “ Women Who Play,” for the same company, but he was prevented from doing this at the last moment by an unfortunate riding accident. His place was taken by George Barraud, who had just finished starring in another Paramount British picture, “ Ebb Tide.” Fortunately, Colin Clive completely recovered, and in “Lily Christine,” it is said :that he gives one of his best performances on the screen.

Judy Kelly, 8.1.P.’s Australian protege has, in the short time since her arrival, b-’como “one of the family” in the Elstree Studios. On the first day she toured the executive offices and sets and quickly became acquainted with all those who will become her constant working companions. The ordeal of make-up tests has been accomplished and those tiring hours in the portrait studio happily negotiated. The hairdresser has already claimed her, and various coiffures have been tested for the most satisfactory and becoming style. Since production was in full swing, there was no opportunity to put Miss Kelly into a film at the time of her arrival, and she has been studying meanwhile the essentials of film technique by watching such artists as G’ene Gerrard, Viola Lyel, Gus M'Naughton, Jerry Verno, Renee Gadd, Molly Lamont, and Marion Dawson at work on respective films.