BIG FILM DEALS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18594, 3 January 1935, Page 10

BIG FILM DEALS

MR. KERRIDGE’S ENTERPRISE

PICTURES POP GISBORNE

I 1 iliu contracts fur lliu 1935 season, representing well over 111,500,000, were donipicUid la.X}' week by Gisborne TJi eat res, Limiteil, their allies, anil associates. The prod nets of Met roll oldwvu-Mayer, Warner Bros.- - First National, ljnilc.l Artists—l'aramomil, British Empire Films, aiul. Brit Eh Dominion Films companies, !ia,vc been secured for screening at the Regent, Majestic anil Opera House. One ot tho most important lilui deals arranged in New Zealand was completed wilh Metro-Goldwyn-Mayci'. Mr. David Lake, general sales manager lor M.etro-Ooldwyn-Mayer, Limited, who came across from Sydney, signed on behalf of his (inn, while (Mr. R, J. Kerridge signed on behalf of Gisborne Theatres, Limited, and his other enterprises. It is stated that the agreement has been made on terms most satisfactory to all parties and has sustained, the amicable business partnership that has existed between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and New Zealand exhibitors concerned for many years. In addition to Mr. Kcrridgc’s enterprises, the whole of the Fullcixi lay ward circuit is involved, which means that the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer products _ will receive Dominion-wide representation. A major feature of -Metro productions has always been their “star power,” but never in* the past has this firm’s output been so bright with popular personalities. These include Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, Eobert Montgomery,. Jeanette MacDonald, Fredric March, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Charles Laughton, Maurice Chevalier, Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Laurel and Hardy, Helen Hayes, Elizabeth Allan, Lewis Stone, Madge Evans, Ann Harding, Billie Burke, William Powell, Myrna Loy, Herbert Marshall, Ramon Novarro, Evelyn Lave, Franehot Tune, Robert Young, Maureen O'Sullivan, Jean Harlow, Marion Davies, Charles BuUerworth, Jackie Cooper, Jean Parker, Gloria Swanson, Loretta Young, and many others. WIDE VARIETY

Wide variety will be a striking! feature of lorthcoming productions. For instance, drama alone comes under no less than seven headings—-romantic, marine, aviation, comedy-drama, outdoor, mys-tery-drama, and historical. It is interesting a.lso to note that at present there is a definite musical cycle in cinema productioifs, the public demand for Lmenil and gay operettas being well catered for in the 1955 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer releases. Melodrama always lias its many adherents, and file productions covered are sporting, musical, and modern typeThat the musical production is coming into its own once more is exemplified by the. inclusion among the, forthcoming productions of such uutsanding successes as Franz Lohor’s ‘ The Merry Widow, an Ernst Lubitseh production starring! Jean ette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier; and “Babes in Toyland, ’ a technicolor Laurel and Hardy'offering which brings to life all the, immortal figures of nursery rhymes. Stun Laurel plays Simple Simon and Olliver Hardy file Pieman. This production was made by I ietor Herbert, and another of bis operettas to be seen is ‘‘Naughty Marietta,” starring Jeanette MacDonald. One of Hie outstanding dramatic productions should he "The Barretts of Wimpole Street,” the cinema version of the great play, which was presented in New Zealand a little time ago with Margaret Eawlinson in the leading role, in the film Norma Shearer plays Elizabeth Barrett, and is supported hv'an outstanding cast, which includes Fredric March, Charles Laughton (who gives a superb performance as the father of Elizabeth), Maureen O’Sullivan and Ralph Forbes.

THE CLASSICAL ANGLE The classical angle has been well covered by Metro-Guldwyn-Maycr. Foremost in this section is “David Copperfield.” Before work was commenced on this the producers sent a number of experts to England to film authentic locales for this immortal Dickon’s story. Thousands of tests were made of characters, architectural details copied, and intensive research carried out for 'months. Mr. Hugh Walpole, the English author and president of the British Dickens Fellowship, was engaged to adapt the story to the screen, incidentally, Mr. Walpole plays a small role in the film — his first attempt at cinema work. There is an all-British cast of 68 characters, which includes no less than 25 principals. The part of David Coppcrfield as a hoy is played by young Freddie Burtholmew, 'an amazing child, while Flank Lawton portrays the grown-up Copperfield. Elizabeth Allan, Herbert Muiidin, Lionel Barrymore, W. C. Fields, Edna May Ollivcr, Boland Young, Lewis Stone, Elsa- Lancaster (the wife ol Charles Laughton), Madge Evans, Maureen O’Sullivan, and Basil Bathhone are just a few of the players. Another in this class is “Vanessa,” ail historical romance from Hugh Walpole’s novel, which covers 50 years of English history. The stars arc Helen Hayes, Robert Montgomery, and Otto Kruger. A magnificent feature will he “Mario Antoinette,” based on Stefan Zweigs’s autobiographical novel. Norma Shearer takes the title role, with Charles Laughton as Louis NVI, and Herbert Marshall as the Queen’s lover. GRETA GARBO AND OTHER POPULAR, STARS Greta Garbo will he seen in selected productions, including W. Somerset Maugham’s play of ludo-China, “The Painted Veil,” in which the supporting players are Herbert Marshall and George Brent. That popular pair, Joan Crawford and Clark Gable, arc in several features, including “Chained” and “Forsaking all Others,” the former being in the “Letty Lyuton” and Possessed” class. Miss Crawford also will he seen with William Powell in “Reckless,” a musical comedy. There is an ample supply of musical comedy embracing sueli attractions as "The Night is Young,” with Robert Montgomery and Evelyn Layc, “Dove While You May,” with tiie same pair, and “A Lady Conies to Town,” with Clark Gable and Jeanette MacDonald. The thousands of people who last year enjoyed such bright-, carefree entertainment as "The Thin Man” and "The Mystery of Mr. X’ will he pleased to know that a number of other productions in similar vein arc to he presented. Those include “Evelyn Prentice,” starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, who also appear in the mystery-drama “The Casino Murder Case,’’ while Powell is the star in “Murder in a Chinese Theatre.” There is a wealth of comedy attractions such as “The Biography of a Bachelor,” with Ann Harding and Robert Montgomery, “Town Talk,” with Clark Gable and Constance Bennett, “Spoiled. ' with Jean Harlow, “Piccadilly J'in,” with Robert Montgomery at his easiest an'i best in this P. G. WodchaUn'- farce, and “Public Enemy No. 2,” with that inimitable comedian Charles Butterworth.

UNUSUAL DItAMAS An important production will be “Mutiny on the Bounty,” starring Wallace, Beery, Clark liable and Robert Montgomery, while other unusual dramas include ‘‘West i'oint of the Air” (Wallace Beery, Franehot Tone, and Robert Voting), '"Wicked Woman,” presenting, the Continental actress Mardy Christians, with Charles Bickford and dijan Parker, “The Vampire of Prague,” a .supernatural story with Lionel Barrymore, “Indo-China,” a drama of the tropics with Joan Crawford, and “Salute! There Goes Romance,” a remarkable drama also with Joan Crawford. There is to he a sequel to the popular “Tarzan and His Mate,” with Johnnie Weismuller and Maureen O’Sullivan appearing in the third of this Edgar Rice Burroughs series. Especially novel will be “Typce,” a nature drama introducing the Eskimo lad who played in “Mala the Magnificent.”- “A Life of' Johan Strauss,” specially written by Rupert Hughes, a foremost American novelist, is included, as is also “The Band Plays,” an unusual sporting melodrama. Never before has Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer given such attention to ieaturettes as it has in the 1935 product. These will include Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chase, Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly, and “Our Gang” comedies, some delightful musical reviews in technicolor, several musical cartoons in color, a series of Pete Smith -Oddities, and Goofy Movies, and Metrotone News Gazettes. An innovation will be a.series of Fitzpatrick Travelogues in technicolor. WARNER. BROS. AND FIRST NATIONAL

Probably the biggest attraction to ho produced in 1935 by Warner Bros, will be “The Gold Diggers of 1935,” in which 100 white pianos with beautiful girls will bo seen and heard playing in one set. This film, it is considered, will ho one of the best musicals ever produced. Another production worthy of special mention is “Anthony Adverse,” from the novel written by Hervev Allen. The sales of this book in America alone have already exceeded 1,500,000, while in Australia and New Zealand if- is a best seller. „No expense is being spared in the production of the picture, and although it is only now in course of production, if is anticipated at the studio that the film will lake over two hours to screen, and will provide a whole cvcningl’s entertainment of the highest calibre. The cast will he announced later and the corporation promise patrons a surprise. That well-known team, Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, are, to be featured in some delightful musicals, amongst- which will he “Dames” and “Flirtation Walk,” and Rudy Vallee and Ann Dvorak will be seen in a spectacular musical comedy entitled “Sweet Music.”

Dramatic pictures are also to he produced, including “The British Agent,” starring Leslie Howard and Kay Francis; Edgar Wallace’s “Return of the Terror,” featuring Mary Astor, John Halliday, Lyle Talbot, and Frank McHugh; “Madame Du Barry,” with Dolores del Rio anil Reginald Owen in the lead ; “Here Conics the Navy.” .starring James Canary. Pat O'Brien and Ghv'ia, Stuart; “The. Cii;c«s Clown,” Joe E. Brown s best comedy to date, and other pictures with a higii entertainment value, which must prove popular with audiences. In addition, Mr. Kerridge has secured excellent musical fcalurettes. Almost as much money is spent oil these “shorts, comparatively, as on the big productions mentioned above. Patrons who in the past few months have seen such technicolor feature “shorts” as “Not Tonight Josephine,” “Tee for Two.” and “Hey ! Hey ! Westerner” will know what to expect in the future.