SCREEN AND STAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22353, 29 August 1934, Page 3

SCREEN AND STAGE

FROM GREEN ROOM AND STUDIO

BY HARLEQUIN

Effect of Third Dimension Introducing a new plan of photographing • motion picture, which,' it is said, gives the screen the illusion of a third dimention, director Ralph Murphy filmed “ Private Scandal," which Charles R. Rogers produced for Paramount. A series of experiments convinced him of the feasibility of the scheme. “ This new method of editing and shotting gives the effect of a third dimension •without actually having , it,” Murphy declared. "In shooting ‘ Private Scandal ’ I used this new system. It differs from former production methods in that the audience is shown the depth of every scene u well as the front view. To accomfilish this, I kept the camera moving or requently changed the camera set-up to especially planned angles that will not, however, impress themselves on the audience and detract from enjoyment of the picture.” The actual third, dimensional scredn Murphy considers only a remote _ possibility, probably not . to be seen in the time of any person/now living. 'Such stereoptican effects as are obtained by the red and blue film viewed through blue and red glasses he considers important experiments, but impractical because of the eyestrain involved. "If I Were Free” “If I Were Free ” —the terse phrase often voiced by the harassed housewife, the man behind the bars, the henpecked husband, the enslaved worker—provides

not only the title but also the theme of the EKO-Radio drama, which co-stars Clive Brook and Irene Dunne, and will be shown at the Grand Theatre to-day. Miss Dunne and Brook, fresh from their respective triumphs in “Ann Vickers ” and “ Cavalcade,” are seen in the complications of a very modern love. Both are married to despicable'mates and are about ready to end their respective' lives when they meet at a party! The encounter k brings renewed interest in life, and they fall in love. When the couple decide to throw the bonds of Sirs Grundy to the winds and take up a clandestine romance, Miss Dunne's , . ex-husband launches a - blackmail,. campaign,, against Brook and Brook’s wife refuses to. release him.' 1 : . . {=- - , 11 John,,.Van, Drqten is-the. au thereof ,' r the. London stage success, “ Behold, We Live,” from which Dwight Taylor adapted “ If I Were Free.” Elliott Nugent directed* a east , which...also includes - Hejary Stephen-, son, Laura Hops Crews, ; and Lorraine .Mlwlteam 1 ' Lavish Spectacla ■ ;

“Fashions in.-lOSI" opefaing gt the fit. James ‘ Theatre : on i Friday, -hUs able, attractions. The to.be among the, most lavish produced, stars: William Powell and 1 Bette' .Davis, romance based on a tale by Harry Collins and Warren Hut!. It revolves about a high-pressure promoter who corners the Palis and'New York fashion markets. . WillianY Powell plays the' role of thej personable promoter whose ambitious,' although unscrupulous, schemes ahimi'one step;j ahead' .of trouble, y Berkeley has directed the. spectacle’‘.number of “Fashions of 1934," which ' has ■received applause, every time it hafcjieeh viewed, Fan dancers provide the colour ‘and beauty in this daring daneei- Bette Davis., has the leading femiiiine role opposite Powell, while Verree Teasdale is her rival in love. Others in the cast are Frank M'Hugb, Reginald Owen, Henry. O’NeilL Hugh Herbert, Phillip Reed, Gordan Westcott, Dorothy Burgess, and many others. WilDieterle., directed the picture .from the screen play by. F. Hugh Herbert. and Carl Erickson, popular Tvriters. Story of a Dancer ’

Screens, lovers have their.., first' opportunity to “fee Sally Hand depict her worldfamous " Han- Dance ” in oParamOunt’s “ Bolero,” coming on Friday to ]the Empire Theatre.it is'George "Eaft'fe laitest starring picture,, and,,besides Miss Rand, Carole Jjombard, and Frances Drake are featured. ” Miss Rand plays the role of “ Annette,” one of the beautiful dancing partners who help a world-famous dancer on his road to fame. The picture, in which Maurice Ravel’s famous music is also presented, was directed by Wesley Ruggles. Raft is

■hown as a hard, ruthless youth, whose all-consuming ambition to be a famous dancer, fails of results- unti). he . gets, a beautiful partner. One after another ,he discards them iis they 'outlive their usefulness, refusing always to become emotionally tied 1 to anyone. The partner who brings him to the top is Carole Lombard, and for the first time in-his life, he falls in love. At the height of his success the World War intervenes. How it affects the relationship between Raft and Miss Lombard and their happiness, brings the story to stirring heights.

A Story of the Circus H.R.H. the Prince of Wales attended the first public showing of “ Red Wagon,” which will open a season on Friday at the Regent Theatre, when it was given a Royal premiere at the Regal Kinema, Marble Arch, London. Against panoramic backgrounds , of Great Britain's beauty spots, “ Red Wagon,” a virile story of the loves and hates of half-primitive people of the open air, unfolds.* It represents a triumph in perfect casting, for the motley of circus and gipsy characters which make up the human fervour of this remarkable. story are chosen from the peoples of several nations. Joe Prince, the American-born circus owner, is played by Charles Bickford, the Hollywood “ he-man.” Zara, the blonde Continental tiger tamer, is portrayed by the lovely Norwegian, Greta Nissen, while Joe Prince’s gipsy wife and her nomad lover are played:by Raquel Torres, the Mexican,’and Don Alvarado, romantic half-Spanish son Of globe-trot-ting parents. There is the renegade Englishman, played by Anthony Bushell, and the simple-hearted Irishman, represented by Frank Pettingell; the suave German, played by Paul Graetz. a pupil of Reinhardt;, and the fresh little Cockney ele-phant-keeper, .sketched by the versatile, Alex., Field. ' , Jackie Cooper Starred. . •

' /‘'tone Cowboy,” the story of a killer’s regeneration through, the love of n child, starring Jackie Cooper of “ Skippy ”

fame, is coming on Friday to the Strand Theatre. In addition to_ young Cooper, the picture, which was directed by Paul Sloane, features Lila , Lee, Addison Richards, John Wray and Gavin Gordon. It tells the story of “ Scooter” O’Neal, played by Jackie, who is lifted suddenly from hi s tenement home in Chicago to the wide, open spaces of Nevada. Here he is. reluctantly accepted by a hardened killer who wants “no kid hanging around.” With, characteristic child-like innocence,..“Scooter” tries to prevent a murder almost at the cost of his own life and wins himself a life-long place in the heart of the man who has learned to. love him. ' : -v

Twelve Best Voices Who would you credit with the 12 best voices in -Hollywood?- This question.' has been put to Oliver Hinsdell, a well-known American dramatic coach and voice culture expert. He chose Lionel Barrymore, George Arliss, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Ann Harding, Katharine Hepburn, Herbert Marshall, Robert Montgomery,' May Robson, Norma Shearer, Pete Smith, and Lewis Stone. In defence of his Selections,

Hinsdell declared that “the voice of each of those listed is entirely different, and is particularly valuable _ to the owner because of its extreme individuality. “To have a voice that can make you successful in filths it is-not even necessary to appear on the screen visually. Pete Smith, comic commentator of short subjects, is never seen in person—and yet there is a peculiar cadence in his voice that irresistibly attracts laughs. “ Stage training has been the foundation of some of, the greatest screen voices, but there are two brilliant exceptions to this rule in Norma Shearer and Greta Garbo, who entered pictures with no preliminary stage training at all.”

However, Hinsdell called particular attention to the value of long, careful .cultivation of the voice, and mentioned:as his examples May Robson, George Arljss, and Lewis Stone. “ These people are past middle age,” he'said, “yet their, most important stock in trade is as fresh to-day as when they started. The voice of Arliss is the voice, of cultured intelligence. It is a vocal synonym of uncanny cleverness. Btone’e voice similarly stands -as the symbol of authority. H«- talks, ' and in your imagination you can see the man of authority, bending-people to his will. "The Voice of/Ann Harding lias made her successful because of its crisp, cleau clarity. , " Garbo’s voice is one that stands entirely by itself, I doubt if you will ever have another one with such a great combination of sex—and power. Her low tones have a terrific puli on the emotions.”

Hinsdell stated that the metallic, brittle quality of Katharine. Hepburn’s voice gives it a compelling influence upon the public. “Technically, it has faults,” he insisted, " but if those faults were corrected, perhaps much of the Hepburn personality would be gone.” . . Lionel Barrymore, in Hinsdell s opinion, has the greatest known voice for pathos either on stage or screen. “The Barrymore voice has proved .equal to drawing tears whenever they were wanted.” Clark Gable, according to Hinsdell, has an extremely fine voice, and most certainly belongs in a list of the twelve most valuable screen voices.” “ Montgomery and Herbert Marshall, he stated, “are exact opposites in the appeal of their voices. Marshall’s voice is international. Montgomery’s is strictly American. Marshall has been successful because of the reserve in his voice. [Montgomery’s voice attracts one because of Jts light, lilting 'good-time’ quality. You could never mistake the two voices. “Norma Shearer’s voice is a voice of fine culture. It is richly, voluptuously feminine. It is both warm and very srhart. It is undoubtedly the reason why ’Miss Shearer was able to play with equal ability the crinolined heroine of 'Smilin’ Through" and the chic, modern heroine of 'Rip-Tide.’”

When the Stars Have Gone When the last Hollywood star has departed through the studio gate after the day’s work is completed the picture companies are officially “ closed ” for the night, and the daytime glamour that has been publicised to the world is supposed to fade. But to' the workers on the night shift” a strange and little-known side of studio life is presented under the glow of thousands of incandescent bulbs. Heavy production schedules during the day make it necessary, for, a large staff of construe-

tioii experts to prepare settings to be moved on sound stages before daylight. At Metvo-Goldwyn-Mayer a large mill department operates continually from 6 p.m. to 6 am. to turn out essentials for the studio’s daytime glory.

Under white spotlights the construction centre x-oars with activity as thousands of feet of lumber are- cut in sections and assembled for use in. various pictures. In one corner of the vast floor many thousands of feet square stands a glass wall brilliant with reflections to be used for x setting in “The Barretts of Wimpole Street.” Experts with polishing cloths brighten the surface that will mirror a love scene between Norma Shearer and Fredric March the following morning. Another section of the mill is devoted to the construction of upper sections of a ship’s hull built to represent the Hispaniola, famous adventurer’s boat in “Treasure Island.” As parts of the cabins and masts are completed they are immediately loaded on huge trailers to be transported to Los Angeles Harbour, where another crew awaits to build them into the deck of the Nanuk, famous Arctic boat used for the filming of ** Mala the Magnificent.” When their task is complete the ship will be a four-masted sailing ship of the eighteenth century.

Another mill corner contains a complete balcony section elaborate in Continental design. This balcony will bear the weight of Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald while they sing a duet for ‘'The Merry Widow.” Along the balcony railing are placed dozens of supports tor “spots” tint will illuminate the scene on the stage.

In the firm laboratory hundreds of thousands of feet of exposed negative are being put through developing processes by technicians who are the first to see the images recorded on film. Blue-clad men operate trucks clown dimly-lighted streets on the “ back lot ” to where thousands of wall sections are stored. On trailers and supported by electrical cranes the walls are moved to yawning stages to be erected and dressed for future scenes.

A staff of more than 50 janitors and night watchmen moves through deserted office buildings at the studio. Rooms littered with papers from hectic production conferences are put in order. Glasstopped desks are polished to a mirror surface, while anything that may repose on the desk is carefully returned to its original position. On sound stages the janitors gather the magazines and papers scribbled with lines of dialogue in the handwriting of Joan Crawford, Marion Davies, Clark Gable, Wallace Beery, and others.

At midnight the siren blows ns it does at noon, and the workers all atop to eat. The janitor who happens to be working in the dressing room building has his choice—and often picks . Greta • Garbo’s private suite to rest while he eats a sandwich.

Grenadier Guards’ Band

Jack Buchanan’s Latest Jack Buchanan has the leading role in “That’s a Good Girl.” which will be shown at the Octagon Theatre on Friday. The story introduces one Jack Barrow, played by Jack Buchanan, an impecunious young man-about-town, who suddenly hears that he can claim half a million pounds in the South of France from an aunt he has never seen. The one stipulation which qualifies the bequest is that he_ must take with him,-.when he goes to claim the money, some attractive and distinguished young men, this being to protect Aunt Helen’s ward, Moya, who also inherits half a million,, from the attentions of fortune-hunting gigolos. The only even vaguely respectable companions whom Jack can take are Timothy and an opera singer, Francis' Moray. Moray is bethrothed to a jealous opera singer. Berata, who only lets him go on the understanding that Jack-does not let him look at another woman. As soon as Moray gets to the South of France he falls in love with Moya—and from this fact, and the suspicions of Berata, the fun emerges. Jack BuchanSn is supported by a firstclass cast, including Elsie Randolph, who re-creates the role she played in the stage version. Vera Pearce plays Berata. Garry Marsh is Francis Moray. William Kendall is blithely vacuous as Timothy, Dorothy Hyson makes an attractive Moya, Kate Cutler is the aunt whose word is law, Anthony Holies pnd Frank Stanmore play other significant parts. Film Company’s Research Work

“ Have you a picture of a man in a coma?” When Director Mitchell Leisen asked this question of the Paramount Research Department recently before starting “Death Takes a Holiday,” no one was startled. Among other things he wished to kno# was: “Do Britons eat kidneys smothered in onions for breakfast? ” “Is Sherry or Champagne sauce used on Italian omelette?" “If the department had a photo of Lake Como?” Such requests are typical, according to Gladys M. Perqey, head of this department for the past 10 years, who cited a list of rfecent unusual requisitions. What type of telephone did Theodore Roosevelt use when Assistant-secretary of the Navy? How long is the crack in the Liberty Bell? Is Hawaiian poi intoxicating? The proper Mandarin Chinese method of serving toasted grasshoppers? How long does it take a hansom cab to drive through Central Park, New York? Gladys boasts that she has never been “stumped" during her long studio service. , In addition to a library of its own, the department gets close co-opera-tion frojk, public and private libraries. In the Paramount Research Department are 16,000 reference volumes: bound volumes of all magazines and periodicals published since the Civil War: 2,000,000 photographs, clippings,' inserts, historical data, 'legal seals of all“ : countries and States,- passports, menus; certififcates of death, birth, and marriage—in fact almost any information;'

An Australian Bushranger “ Stingaree,” a, spectacular dramatisation of the career'and. personal-romance of the Australian bandit of that name, reaches the talking picture screen this season as a venture into a new locale and as a recognition pf the popularity of melodrama. Those. two stars. Irene Duane and Richard Dix, who scored several seasons ago when teamed in “ Cimarron, a production of similar scope, play the heroine and the hero respectively, with Mary Boland featured in a strong serio-comic character part. Adapted from the vividly colourful storiec by E. W. Homing, creator of “ Raffles ” and laid in' the Australia of the seventies, “ Stingaree ” is the tale of a dashing adventure of the Robin Hood type, who steals from the rich in order to finance his benefactors. The film deals with his supreme adveriture, his love for a poor girl whom he promotes into a world-famous operatic success. Presented by Merian C. Cooper, producer of “Chang” and “Grass,” similar big successes, " Stingaree ” is an RKO-Radio Picture which has been lavishly produced. William A. Wellman directed “ Singaree,” which has as one of its outstanding features »songs by Miss Dunne. She sings two new songs composed by Franke Harding, with lyrics by -Gus Kahn, and several classical opera selections. In the supporting cast or “ Stingaree ” are such featured players as Conway Tearle, Andy Devine, Henry Stephenson, and Uno O’Connor.

“ Stingaree ” will be shown at the State Theatre on Friday.

3 The announcement that the Grenadier Guards’ Band will visit Australia and New Zealand has been welcomed everywhere, with the greatest enthusiasm, and it is safe to predict that enormous crowds will gather to greet the band wherever it appears. His Majesty the King, in granting this special permission for the band’s visit to the centenary celebrations in Victoria, realised the great patriotic value of such a visit. The firm of J. and N. Tait feel greatly honoured that the management of such' an important event has been entrusted to them. Cabled advices have just been received by Mr Stringer, the firm’s representative, setting out a tentative list of the dates allocated to the New Zealand visit of the Grenadiers.

According to this, the band will be in Dunedin from January 2 to January 5. On January 7 two performances will be given at Invercargill, and the band will return to Dunedin for a farewell appearance on the following day. On January 9 an afternoon, performance will be given at Oamaru.

According to present arrangements the band is scheduled to leave for London by the Rangitata on January 18, as it must arrive back in London by March 1. The intention is to allow the band to appear at as. many centres as conditions may be able to make possible. New Sensation Wanted It is high time Hollywood had a new sensation, a player endowed with those attributes which set the entertainment world agog, a discovery, in short, that will fill some producer’s pockets with gold (writes a correspondent in the Sydney Telegraph). It is approaching the two-year mark since Katherine Hepburn flashed across the screen with her strange beauty. From now on Katherine Hepburn will make sensational pictures, but, personally, she no ■ longer is a sensation any move than are Garbo, Gable. Dietrich, and the rest — sensations all in their day. What possible material have we for the next sensation? There is Carl Brisson for one. He is new neither to pictures nor to song. Brisson is famous in the British Isles and Europe, and has established a reputation for himself on the radio equal to that of Vallee or Crosby. He is a stage idol of London; but still, he may become a Hollywood sensation. His first picture, “ Murder at the Vanities,” reveals him as possessing those tangible talents and intangible assets which make for sensationalism in a player. A beautiful baritone voice, in

perfect key, a flashing personality, with the vim and . zest of Fairbanks, senior, and minus the interfering athletics. All these things are sensation assets. He was the idol of Greta Garbo's heart when ho played in the Old Country, and she was Greta Gustaffson, working in a barber’s shop, and waiting at the stage door to peep at the leading man. Garbo pave him a knot of violets —the story goes —blushing furiously, for she was a shy girl then, and has grown into a shyer woman. The Paramount picture, "Murder at the Vanities," starring Carl Brisson, with Kitty Carlisle and Earl Carroll’s

famous Vanities girls, will be seen in the near future in New Zealand.

Chinese Film Talent According to the late George Hill, who had just returned to America from China, after collecting material for the M-G-M film, “ The Good Earth,” when his tragic death was announced, Chinese studios have modern sound equipment and laboratories. and turn out 100 features yearly with Chinese stars that compare technically and-dramatically, with the Hollywood product. He made tests of some of the Chinese artists, with a possible idea of borrowing talent. The theory that the Chinese, with their age-old endowment of Oriental stocisim, do not display emotion was contradicted by Hill. “ I saw many Chinese pictures,” he said, “ and in their casts are some of the most interesting and skilful actors I have ever seen. They can portray emotions as well as any actors of any country, and there are Chinese film stars—a large number—as popular there as ours are here.

"They have their 'it' girls, and screen ‘ vamps,’ their ‘ he-men,’ and so on, and all are regarded there with the same adulation that our stars receive. Ilesides this, however, the genuine, fine talent

Film Topics

for character acting must amaze everyone who sees it.”

Chinese pictures are long; some of them consist of 16 reels. The Chinese like long films, but they do not like two separate features on one programme.

Gaumont-British announces the signing up of Max Miller, the famous stage and screen comedian, to a contract which, including options, extends over a period of three years. Roles will be assigned to him which will give full scope to his quick-fire patter and comic byplay, and it is probable that he himself will be responsible for many original treatments. Max Miller—” The Cheeky Chappie ” of the London music hall stage—is a favourite with vaudeville audiences throughout the country. He was “discovered” as a screen comedian by GaumontBritish, made his film debut in “The Good Companions,” and followed up his success in film with a clever study of a second-hand goods denier in “ Friday the I3th.” Soon he will be seen again, in a leading role in “ Princess Charming ” with Evelyn Laye. Always the words fall from his lips with such bewildering rapidity, and his “ business ” is so spontaneous that it is next to impossible to compel Max to “keep to the script.” He is, in fact, one of the very few film actors in the world who is allowed, and even encouraged, to change his written

lines to suit his own interpretation of the part in hand. , For the leading male part in “Evergreen.” playing opposite Jessie Matthews in that spectacular musical comedydrama, produced by Gauraont-British, which Fox Film will distribute in Australia and New Zealand, a complete newcomer to the screen has been signed. His name is Barry Mackay, and he has played big stage parts in London theatres in “ The Desert, Song ” and other West End productions. Shortly after he married Natalie Hall, the leading lady of the “Ball at the Savoy" Company with

which he also had an engagement, he received a cal! to Shepherd’s Bush, and made a satisfactory test before the microphones and cameras, on neither of which had he ever set eyes before. Barry Mackay is dark, good looking, unaffected and still in his twenties. Saville, having seen big stage work, picked him out as the type of juvenile lead most in demand for British films. He can sing, dance, act, and has an engaging sense ot humour.