Screen and Stage

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26659, 3 January 1948, Page 2

Screen and Stage

By JAXON &&&&&&

Although 1947 has been almost a record year for “ flesh-and-blood ” entertainment, both on the stage and on the concert platform, the indications are that the period of plenty is over. With several companies and performers, money was actually lost on the tours. This may not be a true reflection of the potential demand for “ live ” entertainment as there were several instances of five or six attractions offering locally within a matter of weeks, which would undoubtedly enforce a degree of selectivity from the financial viewpoint if not for the reason of a surfeit of good things. There are world-wide indications at present of a slump in the entertainment business. As far as New Zealand is concerned this may, in part, be regarded as seasonal, but it does not inspire confidence among entrepreneurs, In addition, the cost of staging shows, travelling fees, wages, and the difficulty of obtaining accommodation are all factors which have to be considered by the producers. The payments which are being demanded by performers are, like all wages to-day, extremely high, while the fees for imported “ stars ” are fantastic. A peformer with the drawing power of George Formby, for instance, will want in the vicinity of £IOOO per week, which leaves very little, even with full houses, to cover the host of other costs. If imported companies do become rarities it will at least give a decided fillip to repertory and operatic groups throughout the country.

Warners will feature a new series of shorts this coming year, called “ Sport News Reviews ” that will contain the highlights of sport events during the last 50 years.

Arthur Shields, Barry Fitzgerald’s brother and a former Abbey Theatre player, is among the cast of Paramount’s ”My Own True Love ” The film stars Phyllis Calvert and Mervyn Douglas.

Most of the American films being shown in Russia are being cut along the lines the Russians want them to be and they are never shown unless a Russian film is shown after the American film.

Radios in hair driers are the newest gadgets for women. They are being featured in a new beauty salon in Beverly Hills. Hollywood.

Olivia de Havilland’s psychiatrist in Twentieth Century-Fox's " The Snake Pit,” Leo Genn. was enacting a scene in which he used a flock of polysyllabic medical terms. When the actor finished the take without a single error, the director, Anatole Litvak, said: “I never thought you’d make it the first time, Leo. If you can memorise those lines, you’ll never have any difficulty!” Genn replied: "After my first professional acting job I don't think anything will ever be difficult to memorise!" The former British barrister revealed his first stage role was as Brian Aherne's Turkish servant in a play called “A Marriage Has Been Disarranged,” in London. “ I had to memorise the Turkish National Anthem, via the phonetic spelling route, and sing it during each performance. I can still remember it.”

After he was knighted everybody in Denham Studios wondered whether they were supposed to address Sir Laurence Olivier by his title, but Larry soon sensed the tension and settled the matter. ”My title is for social purposes only,” lie said. ” We carry on here as before."

Columbia’s continually harassed comedian, Edward Everett Horton, will be seen shortly with Rita Hayworth in the technicolor musical, " Down to Earth.”

Why ■is it that almost every touring show tags itself “ Direct from London ” or “ The sensational New York hit,” when, in fact, Brisbane’s Cremorne is about as far away as any of them have ever been from the South Australian circuit? It would seem unlikely that any patron should be naive enough to believe such extravagant claims, but producers apparently • believe that an obviously bogus claim to some exclusive overseas cachet ensures success.

A recent call-sheet for “ The Big Sombrero,” in cinecolor, starring Gene Autry, calls for 30 saddlehorses, 15 head of cattle, one gig and a mare, and six mink coats. Times have apparently changed out West.

William Demarest, whose extracurricular activities in the past have included patent medicine making and silver fox farming, is now planning to manufacture “ Surprise," a new toy for youngsters which will make their ears light up in the dark. It is a wire-and-flashlight contraption which, when fitted to the back of the head, makes a person s ears glow brightly.

An indoor airport large enough to allow airplanes to taxi on its runway was constructed on two Paramount stages for ” Blaze of Noon,” story of early commercial airmail.

A recent magazine poll shows women are most interested in movies and least interested in sports, of all magazine subjects.

The story of Esmond Knight is one of a fight against adversity. This fine English actor,.who plays the role of Bernardo in Laurence Olivier’s film presentation of Shakespeare’s “ Hamlet,” wJs Rinded during the war when a 15-inch shell from the Bismark hit H.M.S. Prince of Wales. Knight recovered consciousness in an Icelandic hospital, only to find that he was blind. Now he can see sufficiently well to live a normal life, including visits to the cinema and theatre, as well as enjoyment of active country life. » * *

Mike Mazurki, the former wrestler, who stages a spectacular fight with Burt Lancaster in Hal Wallis’s “ I Walk Alone,” once wrestled a bear in an . exhibition match during his mat career. » * *

Although it is unusual for a star to play a commentator's role, the narrator in Paramount’s all-star “ Variety Girl" is so important that Barbara Stanwyck was signed for the part.

Exactly 10 years ago Paramount put (> work in ’’The Big Broadcast of 1J39, an ex-vaudeville player named Since then he has worked continuously under the Paramount banner and has been starred in 25 pictures, including the current film ” The Paleface, which co stars Jane Russell. He came up the hart way, starting with a dancing act on Cleveland show with Fatty Arbuckle; on through black-face, scenery-packing, quartet singing and virtually every known phase of vaudeville. He finally came t the top and then graduated into New York stage successes, including K°oerta,” ” Ziegfield Follies.” and ' Red, Hot and Blue.” It was after the latter show that he was signed by Paramount.

Motion picture fame awaits two unsuspecting horses, provided they can be found. The horses are wanted for M-G-M’s forthcoming production of ’ The Three Musketeers.” The only catch is they must be skinny and they must be yellow, and they must be of the swayback type. The horses are to be ridden by actors portraying D'Artagan and ms lackey, Planchet. Since the film is to be in technicolor and animals are supposed to be of ancient vintage, they must appear yellow on the screen.

Rita Hayworth has shared equal honours with Franklin D. Roosevelt, being die only two personalities to star on Life’s cover four times.

Mickey Rooney, who for years received less than £2OO sterling a week while he starred in the Andy Hardy series and made millions for M-G-M, is now getting more than £IOOO a week.