FILM TOPICS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18580, 14 December 1934, Page 11

FILM TOPICS

|!\ Michael Arlen’s “The Green Hal,” now in production, Herbert Marsha 11, who was recently seen in “Riptide,” is to have Constance Bennett as his leading lady.

MAE West lms decided to give pp her New York home in favor of permanent residence in California. Her two years on the West Coast, during the term of her picture contract, have given her a taste for unlimited sunshine, and she and her father, Dr. 11. West, are looking for a much in San Fernando Valley.

J-JERR Max Reinhardt has signed a long-term contract to make films. Herr Reinhardt, who is now iri California, will devote himself to the production of classics for the screen, and as at present arranged, these will consist, for the most part of Shakespeare’s plays. ft is announced that work on “A Midsummer Night's Dream,” with Mendelssohn’s music, will begin shortly.

QORDON Marker and Ralph Lynn are to bo, “teamed” for the first time in “Dirty Work,” under the direction of Tom Walls, Lynn appears as a floor-walker in a jewellery establishment; Ilarker, going from the ridiculous to the sublime—as commissionaire in the same establishment. Gordon James and Robertson Hare are in the cast, and a noted Hollywood star is being sectfred for the feminine lead.

DEGGGTE MaoNamara, an Australian, and one of the most famous riders in six-day bicycle racing records, is one of the professional racers added to the cast of Joe E. Brown’s “SixDay Bike Rider,” which is now in production at Los Angeles. Two of the other noted bicycle racers in the picture arc Lou Rush and Dave Landry, both of whom suffered injuries in a recent “jam” staged for “Six-Day Bike Rider.”

JT was Ronald Column who first set Loretta Young’s feet upon the starry way, when she played opposite him in “Devil to Day,” and now they are together again in “Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back,” in which Loretta appears as leading lady. Ronald Column considers the role of Bulldog Diummond among his best characterisations. It was his first talking part, anil a great success, which b more than can be said of the first tt",i ! ins of many silent stars in the

j ON DON drama eriii'cs are compii ’imiiiing Noma Shearer, the Mon re." i screen star, on her English die

W on it became known that a United states motion picture company was filming “The Barretts of Wimpole Street,” some “fans” wrote to Lon* lon newspapers suggesting that: the wing's English probably would lie •tangled by the actress chosen to play ill-- difficult role of Elizabeth Bar-

Then the picture was released in Lmi ton, with tin' Canadian actress lortiuying Miss Barrett. The critic 'or the Daily Mail suggested in his •olumrv that Miss Shearer’s accent hould be studied by some of the [frilis'h stars.

Miss Shearer spent several months in not only polishing up her English accent, but. in acquiring a Victorian manner of speaking.

jyjISS Lilian Harvey, the British-born I film actress, recently underwent an operation for uppendicitis in Hollywood. I** * *

JN the film version of ,). M. Barrie’s story, “The Little Minister,” Katharine Hepburn is to have the role of Bobbie, while John Beal, a young Broadway star, is to play the title role.

P'RED Astaire has just signed an exclusive three-picture contract. This deal not only ends speculation as to Astaire’s return to the stage, but Mi finitely sets him as a fixed star of films on the basis of merit, as proven in his first film, “Flying Down To Rio,” and even more decisively in his second, “The Gay Divorcee.” recently finished. '

QR.VCIE Fields’ new film, “Sing • As We fid,” is a great boost for Blackpool. The story is written by J. B. Driest ley and directed by Basil Dean. Grade is said to be the highestsalaried British film star working in London, receiving about £30,000 for 'her last film. Her pictures justify this, for they make money. In the North of England she makes a greater appeal to the film public than almost any other actress—English or American. At present her humor and originality are the chief draw in a twicenightly variety bill at the Palladium.

QEORGE Arliss is not a film firstnighter, and has resolutely turned down all invitations to appear on such occasions in America. Only once has he appeared, and that was in London for “The Green Goddess.” To the tumultuous joy of the crowds, who had waited hours in the Strand, he attended the premiere (complete with monocle) of “Evensong,” a British production, with Evelyn Lave as Irela. Beverly Nieholls’ novel, mi which the film is based, deals with the decline and not the rise of a great singer. Mr Victor Seville in the film has given as both, and we have Irela’s triumphant appearances in the capitals of Europe. Conchita Supervia, the Spanish primadorina, is seen for the first time in talking pictures, singing superbly, as Irela’s rival. Her presence. with that, of Conrad Veidt, Madeleine Carroll, Leslie Howard, and Merle Oberon, added to the thrill.