SCREEN AND STAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23556, 20 July 1938, Page 13

SCREEN AND STAGE

FROM GREEN ROOM AND STUDIO

“The Buccaneer” This is a purely personal view, and I run the risk of ugly looks from tne thousands of actors I have worked with in the last 35 years, but I’ll still venture the statement that the best workman as an actor I have met is Akim Tamirofl (writes Cecil B. de Mille). This is said simply as a tribute to a man whose thoroughness, artistry, acting intelligence, and constant alertness to directorial wants are a source of delight to the director. Thoroughness and hard work are nothing new to him, however. He works day and night on a characterisation—studying, reading, rehearsing. For the part of the Chinese general in “ The General Died at Dawn.” he even shaved off his eyelashes twice, and if you do not think that is a painful operation try shaving them some time. I cast him as Dominique You, Napoleonic renegade turned pirate, in the Paramount’s production “ The Buccaneer,” in which Fredric March stars as Jean Lafitte and Dominique is his chief lieutenant. He gave a characterisation of the gruff, gross cannoneer whom Lafitte described as “the world’s worst cutthroat and best shot” that frequently

had even the stage hands beaming with admiration. But it was more than his characterisation that impressed me—it was the work behind it. He came to the studio every day as early at 8.80, though he was not needed until later to see the rushes —scenes shot the previous day—to criticise his own performance and see how he could improve it. He studies not only his own performance, but the performances of the other players, so that he can the better blend his with theirs. In The Buccaneer ” there are at least three people —new people—in whom I think audiences are going to be greatly interested. They are Hugh Sothern, Franciska Gaal. and a new Fredric March Fredric March has seldom had a betterpart than the role of Jean Lafitte, the; pirate who became a hero at the battle! of New Orleans, but lived to face the ruin of his hopes and ambitions. In “The Buccaneer” he becomes a new personality, giving the human .character a vigour and pathos that is going to win him new laurels throughout the world. “ The Buccaneer ” opens at the Regent Theatre on Friday. Zanuck in London Darryl Zanuck, ace Holly wood producer. having arranged to spend £5,000,000 in making 52 films in the next 12 months, is now in London (writes Seton Hargrave). Darryl Zanuck still sticks to his theory that the most saleable sentiment in the world is British sentiment. Among the films he named as his biggest this year were “Suez” “Stanley and Livingstone,” and “Hudson Bay. He hopes very much to play Sir Cedric Hardwicke in the role of Livingstone, and for Stanley he has chosen. Tyrone Power. The expedition he seni to Africa at a cost of £60,000 has produced a film that will run for 20 minutes. He tells me that of the 63,000 letters received each week by his studios most go to Shirley Temple, with Sonja Henie. Tyrone Power. Alice Faye, and Don Ameche closely following. Darryl Zanuck is very eager to talk about his stars, but, after all, he says, he is in London for only six weeks, and he has 25 polo games to play with the Rangers, when he may help to win or lose several envied cups.' I gathered that when _ these polo games are decided he will be ready to talk about “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” starring Alice Faye; “ My Lucky Star,” with Sonja Henie; “Kentucky, starring the famous racehorse Man o War; “The Life of Jesse James ”; and many other important films he is to produce. "seeing,” he added, “there are some foolish people who say there is a- slump in Hollywood.

by harlequin

Strand Theatre Changes Detective film drama fans who like to solve the mystery on the screen before the detective does will be able to indulge their hobby by a visit to the Strand Theatre on Friday, where “The Black Doll’’ will be shown. This Universal Crime Club production features Donald Woods, Nan • Grey and Edgar Kennedy. Not only does it present six suspects in connection with the original murder, but it is further complicated by two other slayings in a police-guarded house. Based on a Crime Club novel by William Edward Hayes and a screen play by Harold Buckley, “The Black Doll” tells the story of Nelson Rood, unscrupulous mine owner who has murdered one of his partners. When " The Blacx

Doll,” a crude child’s toy, appears on his library desk he knows it is a symbol of approaching doom and lays his plans accordingly. However, fate strikes him down, and from then on the complications come thick and fast. C. Henry Gordon, veteran screen villain, is featured as Rood. Syd. Saylor. John Wray, Doris Lloyd and William Lundigan play important roles in this film. Running with laughter. Columbia’s “She Married an Artist is due next Friday at the Strand Theatre. John Boles and Luli Deste are co-starred in this battle of wife against model, amidst the wild, merry whirl of New York’s gay. reckless studio life.

A Celebrity Concert The music-loving public is promised a treat in the Town Hall on Tuesday, August 9, when, as part of the seventyfifth anniversary celebrations, the Choral Society’s Madrigal Club will hold a popular celebrity evening. A number of Dunedin’s best-known solo performers are taking part in what promises to be a highly interesting concert. Of special interest will be

the appearance in piano solos of Mrs Mac Andrew (nee Miss Jennie West, daughter of one of the soioety’s earliest conductors, who herself conducted a performance of “ The Messiah ” in the Garrison Hall in 1891).

“Popeye the Sailor Man” Mr Frank Neil has cabled from Sydney; “Popeye the Sailor”- gigantic success. Crowds turned away at each performance. Have arranged tour of New Zealand with complete overseas company, commencing Auckland July 25. Wellington about August 17.” The interpretation of the message is that Mr Neil, the well-known manager, has imported the original voice of “Popeye,” the screen caricature, who is evidently specially entertaining as a vaudeville act.

“ Dinner at the Ritz ” Annabella, the sensational star discovery of two continents, whose activities have been important news to moviegoers everywhere since she arrived In Hollywood to make her starring debut in the film capital, is acclaimed as the loveliest thing on the screen in “Dinner at the Ritz, 1 coming on Friday to the State Theatre. In ’ a story said to be as exciting as its star is lovely, the most dangerous intrigue that ever involved a beautiful woman in love whirls Annabella from the salons of Paris through the gaming rooms of Monte Carlo to a private yacht on the Mediterranean. Paul Lukas. David Niven, and Romney Brent are featured in the cast. Shortly after the apparent suicide of a Parisian banker, an event which precipitates a financial panic, a gay adventuress turns up at the famous Monte Carlo resort, playing the dangerous game, of tracking down the banker's enemies. A lovely, carefree girl one. day, Annabella is the daring adventuress the next, for tile banker was her father. Annabella traces each elusive clue until, as the guest of the ringleader aboard his private yacht, she finds the information leading to a fast-paced climax. In the background of the thrilling story Paul Lukas and David Niven supply added romantic interest, as they vie for the love of Annabella. A Robert T. Kane production, ‘Dinner at the Ritz ” was directed by Harold D. Schuler. Roland Pertwee and Romney Brent wrote the screen play, and the cast also includes Francis L. Sullivan. Stewart Rome, Norah Swinburne, and Tyrrell Davis. “ Beg, Borrow or Steal ”

Frank Morgan, of the nervous eyebrow Morgans, heads an all-star comedy cast in “Beg, Borrow or Steal,” which comes on Friday to the Empire Theatre. Also featured are Florence Rice and John Beal. “Beg, Borrow or Steal” is hailed as a fast, nonsensical, madcap feast of entertainment. Among the comics, male and female, are Reginald Denny. George Givot, Cora Witherspoon, Herman Bing E. E. Clive, Erik Rhodes and Vladimir Sokoloff. Others importantly cast are Janet Beecher, Tom Rutherfurd and Harlan Briggs. The picture is suggested by William C. White’s Saturday Evening Post story, “A Matter of Pride,” and concerns one Ingraham Steward 11, who is making a precarious living in Europe as a “ steerer ” of rich tourists. His companions are crooks and fakers of every description. Leading his estranged wife and beautiful daughter in America to believe that he is wealthy, he carries out the bluff when he hears of her impending wed-

ding to a banker’s son by sending his congratulations and regretting that there is not time for them to come to Europe and be married at his chateau on the Riviera. The socially ambitious mother of the bridegroom-to-be decides that they will make time. The marriage is postponed and Steward is advised that they are on the way. Steward, in a stew, has to promote a chateau. With the aid of his crook friends, he sets the stage. Things happen fast and furiously from then on and reach a startling climax. It is mad comedy from start to finish, but, according to preview reports, it is a lot of fun. “Dr Syn"

Before commencing work on “ Dr Syn,’’ which comes on Friday to the Octagon Theatre, George Arliss had a long holiday at Monte Carlo, mecca of so many holiday-makers, and also known as “ home of the Russian ballet.” Looking fit and youthful as he stepped on to the studio floor, Arliss went into his part of Dr Syn. parson by day and smuggler by night, with remarkable zest. The story of “Dr Syn” is full of action —it deals with the smuggling exploits of a well-known Kentish fishing village more than a hundred years ago; it has humour, tension and excitement, and shows Arliss in a completely new type of role. The story was written by Russell Thorndike, one of the famous theatrical family, whose novel of this name was a best seller. Pretty 19-year-old Margaret Lockwood, who appears as George Arliss’s daughter, is looked upon as one of Britain’s greatest star discoveries. She has already appeared in many films, including “The Beloved Vagabond,” with Maurice Chevalier, but this is the first really good part in which Gainsborough has started to build her up to star rating. She and John Loder provide the romance in “Dr Syn.” Graham Moffatt, fat boy of so many G.B.D. releases, has another fat boy role in “ Dr Syn.” This lad has played with just about all or Britain’s most famous screen stars, including such folk as Jessie Matthews. Barry Mackay, the Crazy Gang, and now George Arliss.

Opera Tour Cancelled It was with regret that Senor Franco Izal announced recently the cancellation of the proposed tour of the Commonwealth by the Italian Grand Opera Company owing to the attitude adopted by the Italian Government regarding the “export of money.” The decision is a big disappointment to the public, and Sir Beniamin Fuller and J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Plans had been completed only recently for the opening of the season in Melbourne. Senor Izal said he could have overcome the difficulties himself, but. realising that the tour could not be opened before September, when summer would be approaching, he had been reluctantly forced to let it drop for the time being. He had forwarded an airmail letter to his impresarios, explaining the possibility of the tour being a financial failure owing to the hot weather, and invited Count d’Alvermi and Dr Morettini to visit Australia before Christmas. They would then obtain first-hand experience of the difficulties to be overcome. Satisfactory arrangements, he thought, could have been made for the tour through an agreement with the Italian Chamber of Commerce or some importing firm. He was fully aware that many Australian artists would be disappointed at the decision, but they would readily understand his reluctance to embark upon a tour that might be a failure, not from the standpoint

of the artistic quality, but from the lack of capital. He spent considerable money during the past few months on organising work, but he could not be selfish and run the tour for the mere sake of the money he expended. He was still prepared to spend more later, when the probabilities of success were greater Grand Theatre Films

Dancing in the clouds one minuteknee deep in a murder case the next! Gloria Stuart and Michael Whalen plan their honeymoon in Manhattan’s highest spot, only to find what they think is “just another routine murder case” is what it is said to be, just about the most exciting mystery of the year. “Island In the Sky,” coming to the Grand Theatre to-day, brings these screen sweethearts together again 70 stories above Broadway. When Assistant District Attorney Michael Whalen announces his engagement to secretary Gloria Stuart at the “Island In the Sky” night club, Paul Hurst marches in with news of a new murder which knocks the couple’s plans for a honeymoon into indefinite postponement. It’s just an open-and-shut case to Michael, for young Robert Kellarad, suspected of the crime, refuses to talk. His subsequent sentence to the chair almost breaks the spirit of his sweetheart, June Storey, whose courage is maintained only by Gloria’s determination to risk Michael’s reputation in some sleuthing of her own Gloria suspects there is more behind Michael s simple solution, and she tracks down Paul Kelly in the. State prison to prove her point. This leads to the exciting climax. . , The second feature is Command Performance,” in which Arthur Tracy, the popular “street singer,” is starred. The Poor Stars Adolphe Menjou, famous screen actor, told me in London what it costs a film star to live, and said it was difficult to save out of £60,000 a year in Hollywod, writes L. V. Dodds m the Daily Express. "Saving for your old age. or that day we all dread when popularity goes, is next to impossible unless you are very careful with every cent,” Mr Menjou said. 11 Fm not talking about my own money —that’s the first piece of sense a star learns—but this is how £60,000 a year goes. There are a lot of stars on that salary—William Powell. Carole Lombard, George Raft “To begin with, £6OOO at least goes to your agent right away. You never see it. Federal taxes and State taxes on income together take about £17,000, "Now take living. We’ve all of us had to cut down.since this high taxation came in two years ago, but if you’re a star you’ve got to live like

one, or you don’t get jobs. Also you work so hard that you must have servants to do things for you. “Around five servants will be the average for the single man. He’ll have a valet, a cook-housekeeper, a maid, a butler-chauffeur, and a gardener. “He needs, maybe, three cars—closed, open, and a runabout. For upkeep of house and living, without entertaining, he will spend around £SOOO. “Now we’ve all got relatives —children, mothers, ex-wives. And gosh, what a lot of aunts and uncles, cousins and whatnots, a star finds—or they find him. “ Now I’m telling you that such charily beginning at home will cost £•7000, and I’m being conservative. Then there are life insurance, property insurance, and such things, costing an average of £3OOO. “Benefit payments providing for unemployment insurance in the State cost £ISOO, and £2OO goes to what we call the community chest, which looks after studio chanties, “A film star is a public figure, fair game for all charity appeals. The man who can give away less than £3OO is lucky.

“There is a tax on real estate, on personal estate like jewellery, on your radio, on your cars, on your balance in the bank, on everything you buy Another £I2OO goes that way. “ The wardrobe of a star is worth about £3OOO, and you can’t replenish even necessities under, say, £4OO a year. “Then the things that make life pleasant in between work, maybe a vacation, golf club, country club, will take £6OO. “Entertaining, at the very least, costs £IOOO a year, and lots will spend more. That’s not whoopee, just friends in your own house. “Maybe you go horse-racing, or to some of the gambling clubs to have fun—it’s expected of you, and you never win. Allow a minimum of £ 1000 for losses and cadgers. “You’ve done nothing but live so far. Reckon that up, and you have £15,800 left. Out of that come personal expenses to your own taste, the upkeep of your property, and your savings “These figures are the absolute minimum. I guess most stars wish they could get off so lightly.

Search for “ Golden Boy ” Lead Columbia Pictures is inaugurating a world-wide search to discover a young male actor capable of playing the leading role in the picturisation of Clifford Odet’s play, “Golden Boy.” All interviews and screen tests will be devoted for the present to applicants in Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding territory. Later the quest will be extended to other cities where suitable arrangements will be made for interviews and screen tests of applicants from colleges, stock companies,. little theatres, and others who feel they have the necessary qualifications. Fame and fortune is thus offered to some unheralded and unknown young man. The role of “ Golden Boy ’’ combines the dual quality of an idealist, a musician, with the physical attributes of a prize-fighter. Applicants for interviews are requested to submit a description of themselves and biographical data to Columbia Studios, attention of Julius Evans. Mayfair Theatre Attractions

A novel plot forms the story of Criterion Films’ “Crime Over London,” which comes to the Mayfair Theatre to-day, and features Paul Cavanagh, Joseph Cawthorn, Basil Sydney, and Margot Grahame in the cast. The story concerns a powerful group of Chicago gangsters who found things a bit too hot on their native soil and migrated to London. All for knocking off a few jobs, the leader (Basil Sydney) has difficulty in keeping within bounds until the right moment for what he considers a worthwhile coup. An audacious plan presents itself when they learn that a former associate of theirs bears a striking resemblance to the owner of a large departmental store. Combining comedy with careful production and beautiful sets, Universal’s “Love in a Bungalow,” a gay story of the adventures of the hostess of a model home, opens to-day at the Mayfair Theatre. Nan Grey portrays the hostess and, opposite her, Kent Taylor enacts the role of an unemployed salesman who usurps the best bedroom of Nan’s model house. Other members of the picture’s cast include Richard Carle, Margaret McWade, Hobart Cavanaugh, Jack Smart, Miperva Urecal, and Louise Beavers. Nap and Kent write a radio contest letter telling why they are the most happily married couple in the world, despite the fact that they are not married at all. Hilarious complications set in when they win the contest and must produce a home and children which they described in the letter.

Irene Vanbrugh’s Jubilee "This has been a very wonderful day in my life. I have often heard of people being given the freedom of a city. This afternoon you have presented me with the freedom of my art.”

The speaker was Miss Irene Vanbrugh (writes our London correspondent on June 22), who had been presented by Sir Seymour Hicks, on behalf of friends and admirers, with a golden casket containing a cheque. The occasion was a matinee at His Majesty’s Theatre, organised in aid of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital and the Theatrical Ladies’ Guild. The Queen was present, accompanied by the Duchess of Kent. Her Majesty wore a pale blue ensemble with a blue fox collar, and the Duchesse of Kent was in ivory crepe de chine patterned with black, and a white bandeau hat They were received by Sir Robert Kindersley, Mr Noel Coward, and Mr Kenneth Barnes, and by the Marchioness of Anglesey. Lady Violet Benson, Sophy Lady Hall, and Miss Violet Vanbrugh. David Dickson, son of Miss Prudence Vanbrugh, presented the Qifeen with a bouquet of white roses, lilies, and stephanotis on her arrival in the royal box. The Duchess of Kent received a bouquet of pink sweet peas. On this, the fiftieth anniversary of Miss Vanbrugh’s first stage appearance, she appeared in her old plays—as Sophie Fullgarney in the third act of “ The Gay Lord Quez," as Mr Milne’s Belinda, and as Barrie’s Rosalind. “The pieces were well chosen," says The Times. "Belinda, with Mr Godfrey Tearle and Miss Dorothy Hyson to support her, showed Miss Vanbrugh’s comedy in its most lighthearted mood. As Sophie Fullgarney, face to face with Mr George Curzon’s admirably smooth and firm Quex in the Duchess of Strood’s bedroom, she showed a strength and liveliness of serious attack that saved the scene from stiffness and preserved is vitality. As Barrie’s middle-aged actress deliberately and comfortably allowing her middle-aged

to spread, she kept a faultless balance between sentiment and mockery. “ Miss Vanbrugh is an actress supreme in her own kind. Her method Is altogether different from that of those actresses, as great but of another kind, who subdue an audience to a spell and work upon them in such a way that, when the curtain falls, they feel as if they were awaking from a dream. Her power is comparable to that of a hostess over her guests. She puts them at ease with themselves and with her. Her art is given to the communication of courtesy, grace, intelligence, humor —not to the fierce challenges of the school of Irving. Every, thing that she does stops short of extravagance. She wins her victories by persuasion, not by passionate assault. No audience can ever be uncomfortable in her presence or fail to be moved by the extraordinary graciousness of her wit. Each performance of hers has the effect of kindness and gentleness, of a certain gallantry and generosity of mind, that has made her one of the best-loved and most warmly admired of English actresses.” Her sister, Violet Vanbrugh, acted the scene in “ Henry VIII.” where Queen Katherine is confronted by the Cardinals, those two admirable musical clowns, the Chesterfields, contributed a comic interlude, and Edward Knoblock, with his unerring ability to provide a piece d’occasion, devised prologue and finale. Sir Seymour Hicks, by the way. has written his reminiscences entitled “ Night Lights.” The book, which is sure to be read from the first page to the last, is about two elderly London club men who meet and discuss love and ladies, chiefly of Edward Vll’s time. One of the stories told by “ Semorix ” relates how he interviewed Lord Kitchener to obtain permission for Ellaline Terriss’s concert party to go to the front in 1914. “ I was asked by Lord Kitchener' when we proposed to go. 4 On Christmas Eve, sir,’ I replied. 44 4 Oh, really,’ said the great soldier rather sarcastically. ‘Ace you under the impression that we are going to stop fighting on Christmas Day? 4 To which, being extremely hurt, I rather angrily replied, 4 1 haven’t the faintest idea, have you? ’ ” The sequel was that Ellaline Terriss did go to the Front. St. James Programme

There are few people who have not read, and indeed reread, Anthony Hope's grand romance “ The Prisoner of Zenda.” It is small wonder, therefore, that the talking film version has met such an enthusiastic reception, and that it has been listed for a return season to the St. James Theatre, commencin'g Friday next. It would almost seem that Anthony Hope anticipated the talking film when he wrote “The Prisoner of Zenda,” so perfectly does it combine the best ingredients of the screen romance. The scene of the story, placed as it is in one of, the European monarchies of pre-war days, seething with intrigue, gives a competent producer a wonderful chance, and in the production under notice no opportunity ’has been missed. Ronald Colman plays the title part, and had he never been heard of before, his name would have been established for all time by his work in this picture. Opposite him is the beautiful and gracious Madeleine Cprroll as Princess Flavia. The supporting cast has evenness and strength, including as it does such renowned players as Douglas Fairbanks, jun., C. Aubrey Smith, David Niven, Raymond Massey, and Mary Astor. "Hot Water,” the second feature, shows the Jones Family engaged in an election contest in an attempt to clean up the town of Maryville. The pangs of civic conscience have convinced Dad that the town needs a reform administration, and the family thinks he is the man for the job. . It is a notorious night club running under what seems to be official immunity that fires the anger of Dad Jones, especially when his young son Jack begins to frequent the place. The campaign that follows seems to be a landslide for the Jones ticket until the owners of “The Red Mill” perpetrate a “frame-up” on young Jack. When the election seems lost, Roger Jones, embryonic newspaperman, turns up with the evidence exposing the crooks and the opposition party. Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane, and Spring Byington are starred.

Acting Tips from Veteran When Beatrice Joy Gilbert, daughter of John Gilbert, stepped into her first screen role, she also stepped under the tutelage of one of America’s foremost teachers of dramatic art. Charles Coburn, New York stage star for years, contemporary of Mantell t Drew, Mansfield. and such luminaries, was also playing his first picture role. After nearly a half-century on the stage, he was prevailed on to appear with Walter Huston in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Of Human Hearty.” For some years past he has been directing the Mohawk drama festivals at Union College, Schenectady, regarded as the foremost of professional training schools for aspiring actors in America Each screen, neophyte took a fancy to the other. The 13-year-old asked him to teach her. Following are the things the vete-

ran of years told the daughter of two famous screen stars: — “Acting is not so much the feeling of an emotion as making others feel it. To do this properly, the actor must have a warm heart and a cool head. He must control his emotions and always be their master. When a player loses himself in an emotion the audience thinks of him as an individual rather than a character, and he loses the audience. “Nothing is natural in acting, but the player must learn to make everything done to appear natural, and also to appear natural to the character being played. Speech, deportmnt, and such details must not be the player’s own. but that of the character he is assuming." ' Coburn says the dangerous period for young players is when they emerge from childhood. “They are natural as children.” he explains, “ then comes the period when self-consciousness arrives, and the player must learn to appear natural rather than to be natural.” “ You can start to learn this immediately from elders and experienced players around you,” he informed Leatrice. “As a matter of fact, technique in acting cannot be taught, but has to be learned by observation and experience. There is no such thing as a book or school which can teach anyone to act. “It is a mistake,” he added, ‘to try to step into a big part too soon. Early success is regrettable. It is often accidental. And, once successful the young player doesn’t want to go back. The player who starts at the bottom will never have to retrace his or her steps.” “It is important that young people

work hard for their cultural development, to be able, as time goes on, to play any character in any strata of society, and not be limited to type. You should learn to speak correctly, with no affectation or corruption. Then you can always learn dialects and accents, and idioms as required for any special role, and can play any character from grand lady to guttersnipe.

“Youngsters should leam to dance, to sing, and to fence. “The study of history Is most important. for it is the most valuable thing of all in the delineation of characters. Every actor should begin as earlv as possible to learn to play Shakespeare and the classics. It is the best possible schooling for diction, speech, and projection of the voice.” Study of costumes and periods, too. was urged by the veteran. “ One should know costumes and periods, how to put on the costumes and wear them naturally. This can only be done when one has become so accustomed to it that one is not conscious of its presence. As Adrian once remarked, the perfect costume is the one that, when the wearer puts it on, she’s not conscious of any costume at all.”

“ Realise above all things that the art is greater than the individual: don’t try to master it. but always let it be your master.” Coburn remarked. “ The true actor sacrifices everything just to act. He can never have any self-pity. No matter what happens to the individual, the show must go on. Audiences aren't interested in your troubles'.

“No matter how long or how high you go, never consider that you have acted a character perfectly, but always have the attitude that you can do better next time. 1

“In a scene, always listen to the actor. talking to you as though hearing his speech for the first time. Thus you preserve all the reactions to the

speech. Never feel that you know what he’s going to say, or you’ll have a mechanical performance. "Act with your whole being. Feet are as important as hands. Learn what to do with them, and still give the impression that you never even thought of it. "Never imitate. Make your characters composites of bits of different people you know or have seen. “And, remember, the principal thing is work.’” Deanna Durbin’s Next " Cinderella,” that lovely story which has enchanted children, and adults, too, for" ages, is to be given life on the screen by Universal,

And the role of “Cinderella” is to be played by her modern counter-part, Deanna Durbin, whose golden voice lifted her to wealth and fame. Announcement of the forthcoming production of the famous old fairy story as a picture, with Deanna Durbin in the title role, was made by Charles R. Rogers, Universal’s executive vicepresident in charge of production. The picture, Rogers said, would be made in technicolour, with all of the fantasy and beauty the story contains, including the fairy godmother, the pumpkin that turns into a coach, and the prince charming. Gary Cooper’s Accident

“ In my case getting into the movies was just an accident” (writes Gary Cooper). “A matter of landing a job —any job. I was a long way from home and broke, and the job I got was stunt-riding in a horse opera, because that seemed to be the only job open to me at the time. And the rest just happened. Before that I had wanted to be an artist. As a kid I used to draw pictures of Montana landscapes and of the horses and cattle on the ranch, and my hero was Charles Russell, the cowboy artist, whom my father knew well. “My parents had come to Montana In the early days and helped pioneer it. My father, Justice Charles Cooper, of the State Supreme Court, was born in England and came t this country as a boy. Our ranch was at Wolf Creek, about 30 miles out of Helena, and I spend as much time there as possible. My brother Arthur, several years older than I, taught me to ride and shoot, and, outside of Jim Galen, was my closest friend. Jim was my own age, the son of another Supreme Court member who lived on the ranch next to ours, and we used to ride herd

together and go on long hunting trip* into the hills. . “ When I was six, Arthur and I were sent to school in England. We stayed about two years, and after our return I went back to school in Helena. Im afraid I was a pretty poor scholar, I used my books less for studying than for pads on which to draw pictures during class. After my first year m high school. I transferred to a school in Boseman, and there I think I was a better student. The teachers I had somehow gave me more of an interest in studying and I managed to graduate fairly high. Then I went on to Grmnell College, lowa, majoring in art. “After college I went back to Montana and got a job driving a bus in Yellowstone National Park. Then I launched myself on what I believed was to be my career. I went to work as cartoonist on a Helena newspaper. It wasn’t that I considered newspaper drawing a career, but it was a start. Later I hoped to do magazine illustrating, and finally oil painting. “I’ve said that my getting into the movies was purely an accident, but the contributing causes were Jim Galen, hard times and a girl. I met her at Grimmell College and the big romance of my campus days began. After I rereturned to Helena and went to work in the art department of the newspaper we talked of engagement. But we didn’t have any money. We decided to wait a while until I became better established.

“ I was to strike out alone, get settled and then send for her and we’d be married. So I packed my clothes and drawing material and went. But getting settled wasn’t so easy as it had sounded. I made the rounds of all the newspapers daily—in vain. I had about ten cents in my pocket when someone suggested I try for a job as a ‘ movie ’ extra.

“I took a hitch in my courage and went out to Fox: And the first person I saw when entering the casting office

was Jim Galen! I hadn’t seen Jim for He had won himself quite a reputation as a bronc rider and, like most other crack rodeo men, wound up in pictures. He was in charge of hiring the stunt riders for. a Boer war picture, and I got the job. “ They dressed me up like a Boer cavalry officer, and I had to come riding down a hill full speed in a cavalry charge. It was the most painful day’s work I ever did, but it established me as a picture extra. I worked in several other pictures—mostly westerns —while still waiting for my break on a paper. And then I got a letter from the girl I had left behind me, telling me that she had run off with a drug clerk from lowa and had been married! If that had happened a few months before I would have thought my heart broken, but as it was I felt that that was probably the way it should have been. “I worked as'an extra for about a year. One day I was given the lead in a two-reeler —for no reason that I could discover, except that I could ride ,a horse: and after that I got the part of Abe Lee in “The Winning of Barbara Worth.” Paramount liked me in that, and after the picture had been released I was summoned to the studio. Before I left I had put my name on a contract. The next day I was rushed by plane to San Antonio, Texas, where the aviation picture “ Wings ’’ was in production, and stepped into the part of the cadet.

"A good deal has happened to me since then. The most important thing, of course, was my marriage to Sandra Shaw. I’ve been to Africa on a big game hunting expedition; I’ve bought a ranch and sold it, and I’ve been in more pictures than I’d ever seen before coming to Hollywood. The ones I liked best were "Farewell to Arms,” “ Mr Deeds Goes to Town,” “ The Lives of a Bengal Lancer," “ The Plainsman,” “ Souls at Sea,” and now “ Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife,” with Claudette Colbert. “At first I didn’t like either Hollywood or the picture business. It takes a little time before you get to see the difference between the mythical-Holly-wood that the public knows and Hollywood as it really is. All the same, some day. when I’m ready to get out of pictures, I’m going to leave Hollywood, get another ranch somewhere near Helena, and stay there.” Gable and Mae West It seems impossible to avoid the topic of new star teams. The latest to be announced is the partnership of Mae West and Clark Gable, who are proposed for the leading roles in " New Orleans,” an original story by the man who wrote “ San Francisco.” These two champions of the tough-and-ready school should make a peis feet screen match. The story, however, demands renunciation in the last reel. Mae West, as a torch-singing New Orleans belle, sacrifices love and leave# the hero to the youthful ingenue. Mae West’s popularity has been declining rapidly. One group of American exhibitors even went so far as to announce that her name was “poison at the box office.” The fact that in. the past she has always insisted on writing, casting and to some extent producing her own films may have something to do with it. M.-G.-M. have wisely inserted a clause in her contract which confines her activities to acting alone. Columbia Seeks New Harlow Upon acquiring the film rights to “ Blondie,” famous newspaper strip, the Columbia Studios have inaugurated a nation-wide quest for a new Jean Harlow to portray the leading role. . Planning an early production on an Impressive scale, the studio is seeking a vibrant blonde beauty who is the very epitome of her type, and who at the same time best personifies the popular character made famous in hundreds of newspapers.