SCREEN AND STAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23882, 9 August 1939, Page 13

SCREEN AND STAGE

FROM GREEN ROOM AND STUDIO

1Y HARLEQUIN

Robeson's Return When Paul Robeson finished his last film, over two years ago. he made an announcement to the prews that he would retire from the commercial screen unless he could be tempted back to it by a subject so worth while that he could not disregard it. Apparently such a subject has been found, for it is now announced that Michael Balcon will produce " David Goliath," starring Paul Robeson and directed, by 26-year-old Pen Tennyson, who made his directorial debut vvith another Ealing Studios film—" There Ain't No Justice." " David Goliath " is an original story by Herbert Marshall, but it is not the Herbert Marshall whom you have seen in so many Hollywood films. This Herbert Marshall is a cheery., gmgerheaded giant of an Englishman (he is nearly as tall as the star for whom he has written the film) who studied film-making in Russia under the great Eiseristein. ' While in Russia he married a very charming Polish actress, who is also a sculptress, and who collaborated with her husband on the story of "David Goliath," This film will have Wales as , its background, and young Tennyson wants to exhibit Robeson's wonderful personality in a new way, " I do not wish to stress to the audience," he says, "the fact that Robeson is a negro or a famous singer His role is that of a stoker who lands in Wales, finds himself penniless, becomes in turn a tramp and then a miner, and befriends a poor Welsh family whose life he shares. It is a real life story showing Robeson as a simple, likeable human beinß, who has to take the rough with the smooth the same as all of us. Mr Robeson's own inherent dignity will do the rest, and the songs sprinc quite naturally out of the Welsh background." • '■ ,- M To get authentic atmosphere for his background. Pen Tennyson leaves this week for Wales, where he.will spend some time among the miners. He knows his background pretty well al-

readv. as lie was assistant director on "The Citadel." and for that film spent a considerable time in Wales. " David Goliath" will go into production in July.

Strand Theatre Timeliness has been the watchword of the Warner Studio ever since it first set a new fashion in screen entertainment with. " Public Enemy ". and "Little Cffisar," and the Warner Bros.Cosmopolitan production entitled '• Rackejt. Busters.". which openg next Friday at the Strand Theatre, carries on that tradition of live pictures about live topics. Since one great essential of this type of picture is that it seems a veritable factual document. "Racket Busters" was cast with an eye mainly to.the convincingness of its characters, and the studio executives are sure they did a fine job when they put Humphrey Bogart, George Brent, Gloria Dickson, Allen Jenkins arid'Walter.Abel in the leading roles. While the city in which the plot of." Racket Busters" unfolds is obviously New York, the film treats of a condition which is common to virtually every large American city And it is not so much the story of what any one man' has done or can do to eradi cate the manifold evils of racketeering as it is the story of what sm aroused citizenry can do to put an end to this civic cancer. It depicts the ruthless methods employed by a sinister racketeer, played by Bogart, to exact tribute from the trucking business of a great city.. It tells of the efforts of a special prosecutor, played by Abel, to end the racket. , But mainly it tells of the heroic fight against the mobsters put up by a small number of truckmen and how eventually this fight is successful when Brent, first a leader in the fight and then forced by domestic troubles to make peace with the racketeers, takes#up the battle again when the racketeers endeavour to cut off the whole city's food supplies. Hailed as one of the most charming and romantic pictures of the year Columbia's "Girls' School" with an allstar cast supported by a bevy of talented young girls of high school age will open on Friday at the Strand Theatre. Anne Shirley. Ralph Bellamy. Nan Grey. Doris Kenyon Gloria Holden, Margaret Tallichet and Heather Thatcher are among the principals. " Girls' School" tells what transpires at an exclusive finishing school on the day and night of the annua] senior prom.

Death of Owen Moore Mary Pickford's first husband, Owen Moore, the Irish film star, was found dead in his home in Beverly Hills, the heights above Hollywood, recently. Police believe he had been dead for three days. A doctor reported that he died of a haemorrhage. Owen Moore was 51. He was born in County Meath. Eire, and was the brother of two other film celebrities Matt and Tom Moore. After making his name on the stage he went into films in the silent days and became a star. His best remembered picture is " The Road to Mandalay." His first talkie was "Three Brothers." ~ , r L Two years ago Moore's wife. Kathryn Perry, alleged that he tried to slash her with a butcher's knife. She took legal action to have him declared mentally unbalanced, but the suit was dismissed bv the Los Angeles courts.

"Imitation to Happiness" Drama that is thrilling and close to the heart, told in a story that is notable for its human appeal, will unfold on the screen of the Regent Theatre next Friday, when Paramount's "Invitation to Happiness " will have its New Zealand premiere. The fine touch of Wesley Ruggles's production and direction is clearly evident in this pciture. With him was associated Claude Binyon, who wrote the screen play, and who worked with Ruggles on previous successes. Irene Dunne and Fred MacMurray are co-starred, with Irene cast as a society girl and Fred as a prizefighter. Charlie Ruggles plays a straight, dramatic role as Fred's manager, while William Collier, sen., is cast in the role of Irene's father. Billy Cook has the part of the 10-year-old son of Irene and Fred, arid Marion Martin rounds out the featured cast in the role of a night club entertainer. Fred Mac Murray is an ambitious prizefighter who works for, dreams about, and hopes to become champion. His consuming ambition to win the world's heavy-weight championship provides

the foundation of the theme. .Then one day his comfortable routine is upset. He meets charming, aristocratic Irene Dunne. Fred and Irene are as utterly different as two people can be. Fred never got beyond grade school, his parents were poor, his outlook on life naive and self-centred. Irene, on the other hand, has been sent to the best and most expensive schools in the world, her folks are wealthy, and her attitude is anything but naive. Though they know how foolhardy they are, Fred and Irene get married. For a while they are as happy as the story book prince and princess. But stern reality shatters their blissful state. The only business Fred knows is prize-fighting, and to pursue it he has to go on the road for long periods at a time. A son is born to the couple while he is away, and although Irene s heart is broken at his absence, she forgives him. A decade later the boy has grown up to hate his father. He hates him. because he knows his mother is lonely without him. Just as they would with any other people in real life, matters reach a climax, and the couple are divorced. From that point the story concerns the efforts of Fred to win his son over, and of Irene to help Fred find.himself, for she is still very much in love with him. Women should like the Dunne—MacMurray film for the sympathetic handlingof a family problem. Men should like the picture, too, for it will give children a deeper understanding of their fathers. , •• .

How Dances Begin To-morrow's dance craze may have its inspiration in a group of women battling at a bargain counter, a baseball player pulling up at third base, or a policeman directing traffic, according to Matty King, ( well-known Hollvwood dance director. King created the '" Baltimore Bubble." which is the new dance introduced by the fast-steppjng Johnny Downs and Kathryn Kane in Universale youthful musical comedy. "Swing. Sister. Swing." Ken Murray. Eddie Quillan, Ernest Truex. Edna Sedgwick and Ted Weems and his orchestra are also in the cast.

Explaining how the dance creator works out his ideas. Mr King states: "A majority of these ideas have their origin in some simple human movement that has a smooth rhythmic flow. Thus the ' Black Bottom' was inspired by the sight of the coloured folk work-

ing in the Mississippi mud. and the 'Limpy Dimp' was born in the mind of a dance director when he saw a football player limping off the field The 'Bubble' had its inspiration in Baltimore, where I saw a group of youthful dancers improvising their own steps at a swing session, and I wondered whether it would be possible to capture all the spontaneous and typical swing movements in the new and different routine." And so we have the "Baltimore Bubble." Forty of Hollywood's outstanding young" dancers perform the "Baltimore Bubble." which is the theme dance of this new film. Youth, indeed is the feature of the whole film. Johnny Downs, who has the leading role is only 23 years of age. yet is described as one of Hollywood's most versatile and best-known players. In this mm he is seen as the small town creator of a national dance .sensation, whose success goes from his flying feet to hi? swelled head. ■ ■ Eddie Quillan. who has played many parts, literally, during his eight years in Hollywood, and proved that he had dramatic as well as comedv talents by his'work in "Mutinv of the Bounty, is cast in this new film as a trombonist whose music is an important feature of the success of the Baltimore Bubble." ... Sharing the starring honours with Downs and Quillan is Kathryn Kane These three aopear as a small town trio whose dreams of attaining dancing fame come true until their bubble bursts and thev fall victim to the steelhard traditions of the show business. Hilarious situations occur through the plot of this "jitterbug" film which may or mav not be responsible for introducing a new dance sensation to our ballrooms.

Hollywood's Gambling Dens Californian laws are strict when it comes to gambling, and when ever gambling devices are seen in pictures, watchers are on hand to see that play is purely make-believe.,' Everyone admits there is more than a small element of gambling in the production of motion Dictures. That is all bv the way of being one of the hazards of big industry, and is perfectly legitimate. But when it comes to actual gambling, with cards, roulette wheels, dice or other devices for wooing the fickle goddess of fortune, the law opposes it, and when such devices are called for in a motion picture script there is a strict look-out kept to see that the law is not violated. A breathless gambling sequence was filmed recently for a Columbia production. Twenty men and women stood tensely about a table as the little ball rolled slowly and fatefully in the roulette wheel. Close by, a rabid dice player was coaxing the dice to be kind, and produce a "natural," while several hundred dollars depended on the roll. At an adjacent table, blackjack dealers, wearing green visors and

enigmatic expressions, flipped the cards while small fortunes depended upon each turn of their educated wrirts. Feminine chance-takers flirted with the gods in chuch-a-luck, that fascinating game of over-sized dice in a revolving bird-cage, and tossed good money after bad. or so it seemed.

The human hunger for thrills was being magnificently satisfied. But if the director had allowed one of the players actually to gamble so much as one nickel, a prominent Hollywood property rental organisation would have been put out of business. There were official watchers there to see that the gambling was purely play-acting. The mere possession of gambling paraphernalia is a penal offence in California. The law recognises, however, the occasional need for such devices in the making of pictures, and allows property rental companies to supply roulette wheels and other accoutrements of chance to the producing companies. Every company using the device, is. however, placed under bond, and on every set where gambling scenes are being made, watchers arc placed to see that actors and extras do not weaken and invest a few beans in some real play with the tempting equipuent at hand. Mayor Mischa

On the heels of his political triumph and to spread the gospel of goodwill Mischa (Man of the Hour) Auer embarked on a swing around America. Elected mayor of historic Universal City, after a sizzling campaign in which he was opposed by Frank Jenks and Joy Hodges, Mr Auer will make personal appearances in New York, Chicago and other important cities, before settling down to his official duties. On

his return, in 30 days, Mayor Auer promises speedy action on the many reforms he promised during the campaign. The Russian statesman was swept into office by acclamation following an abrupt disqualification of Jenks, and the eleventh-hour withdrawal of the feminine candidate. Jenks forfeited his candidacy when it was disclosed he was already honarary firechief of Manhattan Beach, his legal residence. Miss Hodges merely withdrew and subsequently accepted appointment by Mayor Auer as honorary chief of police. Both she and the mayor denied there was any connection between Miss Hodge's withdrawal and her appointment. ~ , His Honor, who is also widely known as a movie actor, ris Universal City's first mayor since 1925, when Herbert Rawlinson held the post. Miss Hodge's is the city's first honorary chief of police. However, for more than 20 years Universal City has had its own U.S. Post Office, and its own police and fire departments. Both the new mayor and the honorary chief of police, at their inaugural ceremonies, declared there would be no shakeups in the police, fire or post office departments.

American Actress in Sydney Charlotte Greenwood, who has been described as " the first lady of comedy in the United States," is now appearing in Sydney this week en route to Brisbane, and will return later to open in "Leaning on Letty." Charlotte Greenwood has had as great a success in England as in her native America. Si- years ago she first went to London. She went for a short season, "to see if they would like me." So much did they like her that she remained for two years at the famous Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She was the first comedienne, and the first American, to have been starred at Drury Lane for 200 /ears. And 6he occupied the same dressing room which had been used by her predecessor in comedy 200 years before. Miss Greenwood says that she loved to bask in the traditions which 200 years of fact and fable had woven around Nell Gwynn, " Sweet Nell 0 f Old Drurv." While playing in "Wild Violets' at Drury Lane, Miss Greenwood had a rare honour when one night her audience included King George V and Queen Mary, the King and Queen of Sweden, the Kins and Queen of Denmark, and the then King of Iraq, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent. The play, " Leaning on Letty," which Miss Greenwood has brought to Australia, was written fc her by William Daniel Steele and Norma Mitchell, in collaboration. Steele is considered America's leading short story writer. Miss Mitchell is best remembered for "Cradle Snatchers."

Miss Greenwood's company includes Romaine Callender, who played the doctor in the original " Grand Hotel"; Isabelle Withers, who created the role of Sadie Thompson in "Rain"; Russell Fillmore, producer and leading man; Wendy Atkins and Charles Martin, with a strong cast of supporting Australian players. The " Dead fcnd " Kids

Mothers can relax vigilance "ver their sons' manners; they need fear no more nightmare visions of their boys as big-time crooks -'says writer in an English paper). Leo Gorcey Bobby Jordan, Huntz Hall, young Billy Halop, and all won't be there much longer to set an example of youthful vice that has been keeping America's "parents' organisations" up for all-night sittings. After one more picture, "Angela Wash Their Faces," the joint film career of the " Dead End Kids " comes to a dead end.

Their contract will not be extended. So passes another of Hollywood's freak wonders, stunts in which money, time, brains, and human beings are spent to exploit a passing novelty From their first film, " Grime School," i formula-story was evolved for them, and it stuck to them, with even fewer variation' than usuai

Separately the boys might have been useful film actors Instead their producers preferred quic returns. They built up the boys as tough guys, even proudly publicising their tiffs with directors.

Now after one final appearance tour to cash in on their finished fame, they will disband.

French Actor for Hollywood M. Sacha Guitry, the French playwright and actor, whose most recent triumph was the performance staged before the King and Queen on the occasion of President Lebrun's recent State visit to London, is to go to Hollywood to make a film.

He announced this recently to members of the American Club of Paris at Its weekly luncheon. "A stereotyped question asked me by people I meet," he said, " is whether I think that the kinema is killing the legitimate stage. That is all nonsense The films can never replace the stage.

"Theatrical art is rooted in direct personal contact between playwright, actors, and public. There is either applause or hisses, and all parties concerned know immediately just where they stand. "In the past I have said bitter things about the films, but we have made friends now that I am going to Hollywood."

" King of Chinatown " What happens when an internal war among gang* leaders involves the leading citizens of an entire community is shown in Paramount's new crime thriller, "King of Chinatown," opening next Friday at the Empire Theatre, struggling for the lordship over a bigtime racket, Akim Tamlroff, Anthony Quinn, and J. Carroll Naish find out that gangland had best keep its own secrets, when Anna May Wong, a hardheaded woman surgeon and daughter of Chinatown's most important personage, decided to engage in a little racket busting of her own. Bad man roles are getting to be a habit with hand some Anthony Quinn, who has been in nearly a dozen of them during the past year. Born in Mexico the son of a princess of the ancient Aztec line, Quinn was brought to Los Angeles at an early age, when the famed bandit Villa made things too hot for his father. Others on the right side of the law. along with Miss Wong, are Philip Ann, the young Chinese actor who remained in America to attend the University of California when his family returned to their native Shanghai, and Svdney Toler. who now rates as Hollywood's leading Occidental player of Oriental roles, having recently been chosen to supplant the late Warner Oland as " Charlie Chan:' The cast of " King of Chinatown " also includes Roscoe Karns. who has appeared in more than 100 films, and pretty Berradene Hayes, who made her stage debut at the age of nine, plaving the'child in "Ten Nights in a Bar Room" without her parents' knowledge, much to their disgust when they found out. Miss Hayes was educated at Washington University and has been in Hollywood for the past five years, making a rapid climb to stardom.

Grand Theatre The Colorado Hillbillies, currently featured in Monogram's "Land of Fighting Men," now at the Grand Theatre, were personally chosen for a spot in this picture by its star .Jack Randall. Randall was having dinner at the exclusive Trocadero Cafe in Hollywood the night the 'Billies stopped the show. Incidentally, they are the first Hillbilly band ever to appear at the swanky night spot. The Colorado Hillbillies are one of the finest musical aggregations to set foot in Hollywood. There are about 40 members in this band, and they travel from town to town in their own trucks and trailers, carrying a chef, cooking equipment and all the comforts of home. "Land of Fighting Men" is the thrilling story of racketeers of the

west, and of the self-appointed vigilantes who destroyed their grip on the wide open spaces. Besides the star. Jack Randall, the cast includes Louise Stanley, Wheeler Oakman, Herman Brix and John Merton. The plight of the girl in love with a married man who cares more for money than romance, provides the basis of "Beauty for the Asking, second feature at the' Grand Theatre, in which Lucille Ball, Patric Knowles Donald Woods and Frieda Inescort play the featured roles. The story deals with the romance of a beauty parloui operator and a handsome salesman. Engaged to be married, the couple is suddenly separated when the salesman is swept off his feet by a'wealthy socialite and marries her. Although she still loves him, the disillusioned girl tries to forget by entering the business world, but they are thrown together when the' young man is made her partner in a business venture. Bored with his wife, he tries to rekindle his former sweetheart's love, and she is torn between duty and affection. Great Fianist 111

Ignace Paderewski, the greatest pianist of his time, had to be helped ashore from the Normandie at Le Havre on June 5. He was returning to Europe with the knowledge that he may never play again following his collapse from heart disease in the United States.

As his frail figure moved a few inches at a time down the gangway there came an echo of the tumultuous applause which has greeted him in every great conce/t hall in the world. The crowd tsanding near, deeply moved, began to cheer. Passengers, seamen, police, and Customs officials all joined in. The great pianist and patriot tried "to speak, but no words came. He thanked the crowds with those amazing eyes of his which for a few seconds lit up with all their old fire. Then he struggled on again. He was dressed entirely in black, with a small black felt hat, which contrasted with the extreme pallor of his face. One felt he wanted to adjust his hat all the time, but that he was so weak that he could not move his long, thin hands from his side. "I am gomt to travel on to my country house in Switzerland," he said. "There, between my books and my piano, I shall find a little peace."

Mayfair Theatre "Sky Giant" and "The Mysterious Mr Moto " are the feature pictures to be screened at the Mayfair Theatre to-night. Murder and thrills are a component part of each of the two films. The main feature, "The Mysterious Mr Moto," has these elements in sufficient quantity to please the most exacting lover of this type of screen fare. "Sky Giant" is an old story with a novel twist and plenty of excitement. The Japanese sleuth, Mr Moto, was just making his first bow to the public to challenge the little Oriental screen detective number one with the Chinese Charlie Chan when fate removed the familiar figure of Warner Oland from the films. It would have been interesting to see how the rivalry which must have ensued would have developed In "The Mysterious Mr Moto," the latest of the series, he makes what is probably his best thriller to date. Peter Lorre is once again Mr Moto, and is ably supported by Henry Wilcoxon and the Australian actress Mary Maguire-

Much of the action of the film "Sky Giant" is laid in the setting of an up-to-date aviation school, and it deals with the life and loves of modern airmen in.the course of their daily routine. Richard Dix has the leading role, with Chester Morris and Joan Fontaine also in the featured cast. St. James Theatre The ambitions, struggles, disappointments and joys of a group of young people who form a caste by themselves, whose thoughts and behaviour differ widely from other strata in the social structure, are revealed in "Dramatic School," which comes to the St. James Theatre on Friday. The new picture brings to the screen two brilliant acting portraya.ls, one offered by Luise Rainei as the poor who works in a factory at night in order to earn her tuition, and the other by Paulette G"ddard, as a. fashionable student of the school. " Dramatic School "is the story of Louise Mauban, a drama pupil who lives in a world of dreams. She even creates an imaginary lover whose existence her classmates doubt. They plan to expose her, to place her face to face with the handsome . young Marquis whom she boasts as her lover. But the Marquis falls in love with her. Then

calamity falls upon Louise. She is threatened with expulsion from school and the Marquis abandons her. Faced with defeat on all sides, Louise awakens to find herself nominated by her class to play the leading role in the year's most important play. Others in a finely balanced cast include Alan Marshal. Lana Turner, Genevieve Tobin, Anthony Allan, Henry Stephenson and Gale Sondergard. " While Parents Sleep" will be the second feature at the St. James Theatre on Friday. Certainly the mood of this picture is not all English. A new actress, Jean Gillie, suits the film per-

fectly. The story is a gentle satire on the lighter side of the " class distinction " question. The home of an upper middle-class English family is the scene of the action. Two sons of the family are very different types. One is a conscientious soldier, who never gets drunk; and the other is a sailor who always gets drunk and is in every way a merry fellow. These two, with their different tastes, start the trouble for their family. The soldier takes home a noted society woman, and the sailor a shop girl. Excellent support is given by Jean Gillie by a strong cast, which includes Mackenzie Ward, Athol Stewart, Ellis Jeffries, and David Burnaby. British Film Ballot The results of their recent British film ballot have come to hand in a late issue of the Film Weekly .and are as follows: — The best British film released during 1938 was "Pygmalion." The best performance by an actor in a British film was that of Ralph Richardson in " South Riding." The best performance by an actress in a British film was that of Wendy Hiller in " Pygmalion." These are the selections of readers in the eleventh annual British film ballot. Complete details of tne 10 best in each class are given, below. The 10 best films, according to the ballot, were:— 1, "Pygmalion"; 2, "Sixty Glorious Years": 3. "South Riding": 4. "The Lady Vanishes": 5. "A Yank at Oxford"; 6. "The Drum": 7. "Bank Holiday"; 8. "Housemaster": 9, "The Edge of the World ": 10. " This Man Is News."

The best performances by men were: 1. Ralph Richardson in " South Riding"; 2. "Leslie Howard in "Pygmalion "; 3. Will Fyffe in " Owd Bob ": 4. Otto Kruger in " Housemaster": 5. Anton Walbrook in "Sixty Glorious Years": 6. Barry K. Barnes in "This Man Is News": 7. Robert Taylor in "A

Yank at Oxford ";; 8. Charles Lauffhton in "Vessel of Wrath": 9. Emlyn Williams in "Dead Men Tell No Tales":; 10. Laurence Olivier in " The Divorce of Lady X." Those by women players were:—l. Wendv Hiller in " Pygirialion": 2. Anna Neagle in " Sixty Glorious Years": 3. Margaret Lockwood ..in " Bank Holiday"; 4, Edna Best in -South Riding": 5. Nova Pilbeam in "Young and Innocent": 6. Elsa Lancaster in " Vessel of Wrath ": 7. Valerie Hobson in " This Man Is News": 8 Diana Churchill in "Huosemsater": 9 Vivien Leigh in "A Yank at Oxford": 10. Dame May Whitty in "The Lady Vanishes."

Players Cannot Be Publicised Owing to the unusual theme of "The Four Just Men," which centres around the present international situation, the names of the players portraying the ■title roles cannot be publicised. This notice appears, in place of the usual " Cast of Characters" title in all copies of the film, in all.advertisements, and on all pictorial posters, etc.. pertaining to "The Four Just Men. The decision to withhold the players names must be unique in the motion picture industry, where' publicity is

considered to be, almost as .important as the life blood of a star. But this unusual picture, for obvious reasons, demands unusual methods. Its powerful theme, as timely as the moment, concerns the. current crisis in world affairs, and although, naturally, the screen story does not disclose countries or personalities, it does reveal the dangers that ever threaten to sever the chain of Empire should a Suez blockade cut off the eastern dominions from the Mother Land. The film also reveals Britain's-un-ceasing vigilance to,. counter any dastardly attempt to undermine the peace of the world. Again, it reveals the ever-preparedness of every true Britisher to fight, not necessarily with war weapons of death and destruction, but to preserve that" common bond of fellowship that is the inherited birthright of every son and daughter of the Empire, and which at times such as these, when our national safety is threatened; rises uppermost in our breast.

Dog Becomes a Star Viscounty the "almost human dog", famous in the 8.8. C. children's hour and in other radio features,,bas become a film, actor in Alexander Korda s technicolour picture "The Thief of Bagdad," starring Conrad Veidt, Sabu, June Duprez, John Justin and. Hex Ingram. And as a result a new • password is being used by door boys and those visiting the set at Denham. It results from a serious "talking; to ciVen by hishiaster to Viscount.:, For Viscount' plays the 'part of Sabu, the thief, when he is turned into a dog by the magician. To show that he is the thief and hot a dog he barks when anyone mentions him.. But Viscount' could not get into the habit of barking every, time =ah actor said "little thief'■"..in:casual conversation during .the film. So while .the cast and the whole floor staff. looked on his master gave Viscount a lecture in the middle of ;the set.. v. .: " Now listen to me," he said. "All these people have come,here to work, and time and money are being wasted because you don't dark at the right place. .Now bark when- anyone -savs>. r Little thief.' Have you-got that?"

Viscount barked, but the seriousness of the "talking to" set' the watchers laughing, and the door boys spontaneously invented the password '" little thief," to which visitors are .expected to reply with "woof-woof "or "bowwow " before being admitted.

Viscount has to be the constant compaion of Ahmad, the blind beggar who was once a prince, placed by 21 -yearold John Justin, latest KOrda discovery. In the picture. After each strenuous shot, in which he protects Ahmad bv attacking unwelcome visitors, Viscount can be seen playing with a ball with the aggressors. Tootsie the Penquin

Walt Disney's "Donald's Penquin" marks the stellar debut of a newcomer to the ranks of the Disney characters. Tootsie the Penquin previously had appeared in only a "bit" part in a picture with Donald Duck and Goofy, but he showed such promise that it was decided to give him more prominent parts. Quaint, nonchalant, utterly indifferent, he is a perfect foil for the frantic, frenzied Donald Duck. He waddles serenely through his scenes a La Charlie Chaplin, oblivious to Donald's rantings. His frock-coat white vest attire gives him an amusing dignified mien contradicted by his innocent wide eyes. Behind his naivete lies a very clever fellow. He not only gets what he wants but he makes Donald like it .

Two million dollars is a lot of money to spend on a picture—but Darry Zanuck knows that, when this sum goes into a Shirley Temple opusMaeterlinck's "Blue Bird "—his dollars come back with interest. The picture will be in technicolour.. which is good news after seeing how pretty Shirley looked in the technicolour "Little Princess."