ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1931, Page 10 (Supplement)

ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

COMING EVENTS.* OPERA HOUSE. {To-night only: “The Love Parade” (Maurice Chevalicr-Jcanett Mcx Donald), Paramount special production, and dance recital by the pupils of Mona Kirwin. JAugust 29: ‘‘Loose Ends” (Edna Beat), British production; and “Not so Quiet on the Western Front” (Leslie Fuller), British comedy special. August 31 to September 2: “Africa Speaks” (all star), Columbia attraction extraordinary. {September 5: ‘‘King of Jazz" (Paul Whiteman and band), Universal , super production. THE REGENT. jo-night, Monday and Tuesday: “The Boudoir Diplomat” (lan KeitliJcJanette LolT-Mary Duncan), Universal production. , (August 26 to 28; “Courage” (Belle Bennett—'Marion Nixon—Leon Janney), Warner Bros.' production; and “Sweethearts and Wives” (Billie Dove —Clive Brook); First National production. ’ JAugust 29 to September 1: “Lightning” (Will Rogers), Fox Movietone special production. ’ . {September 2 to 4: “Du Barry, Woman of Passion” (Norma Talmadge-Con-rad Nagel), United Artists special production. {September o to 8: “Under Suspicion” (J. Harold Murray-Lois Moran), (Fox Movietone production. EVERYBODY’S. jo-night, Monday and Tuesday: “A '' Tailor-Made Man” (William Haines), Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer production. JAugwst 26 to 28; “Sunny’’ (Marilyn Miller), First National special proi duction. JAugust 29 to September 1: “Compromising Daphne” (Jean Colin), British International production. September 2 to 4: “The Spoilers” (Gary Cooper), Paramount Rex Beach production. September 5 to 8: ‘‘Charlie Chan Carries On” (Warner Oland), Fox Movietone production. September 9 to 11: “Children of Chance” (Elissa Landi-John Stuart), British production, and “Old Soldiers Never Die” (Leslie Fuller), British International production, ••• • \ “AFRICA SPEAKS.” “Africa Speaks,” the picture that is thrilling the whole world, comes to the New Plymouth Opera House on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, August 31 to September 2. It brings the lives, the loves, the vengeance and the triumphs of - jthe people of the trackless Congo. Its .wonderful sights and sounds of adventure, thrills and romance will astound everyone with stark realism, for never {before has there, been such a picture. iJHatinees will be held daily at 2 p.m. * • • » “SUNNY.”' Marilyn Miller dances into Everybody’s Theatre on Wednesday next in “Sunny,” the Vitaphone adaptation of her famous stage success. This is Miss Miller’s second film. Her first, “Sally,” was one of the most popular pictures overproduced. Despite the fact that, the dialogue was in English, the picture ‘‘packed them in” in practically every foreign country. Miss Miller holds a unique place on the American stage. She is so outstanding as a dancer and as a light comedy opera star that she has no competitor. There is no other actress .with her combination of talents who can challenge her supremacy. “Sunny” is a different type of picture from “Sally,” but the same comedy prevails. Miss Miller introduced a number of novelties in dancing. There is no chorus in the picture. Lawrence Gray, Joe Donahue, Q. P. Heggie, Judith Vossclli and Barbara Bedford are among those in the supporting cast. William A. Seiter directed for First National. There will be matinees daily at 2 p.m. • • • • “A TAILOR MADE MAN.” Big business mixes with love; an adventurous youth mixes both and, like Don Quixote, battles windmills in a whirl of mirth in William Haines’ new comedy romance, “A Tailor Made Man.” Jthe new Mctro-Goldwn.-Mayer picture commences at Everybody’s to-day at 2 and 7.45 p.m. This has been called the ultra-modern in pictures. It includes a remedy for present business troubles in a tabloid lesson wedged into a collection of hilarious laughing situations. It depicts a delicate love story and a very dramatic adventure of a youth who applies the good old home grit to a bad situation. Information is that Haines abandons smart cracks to considerable extent to give ; >a very earnest and serious performance —though he manages to get in as many laughs as he usually does. Dorothy Jordan plays the heroine. Others appearing in the cast are Joseph Cawthorn, Marjorie Rambcau, William Austin, lan Keith, Hedda Hopper, Hale Hamilton, Henry Annetta, Walter Walker, Forrester Harvey, Joan Marsh ftnd Martha Sleeper, • • • • ’ “THE LOVE PARADE." “The Love Parade,” Paramount’s famous operetta, will play a special return season at the New Plymouth Opera House to-day at a matinee at 2 p.m. and to-niglit at 8 o’clock. Chevalier in this picture is a young attache at the Paris embassy of the mythical kingdom ot Sylvania. His philandcrings with women call forth censure and he is sent back to his country to report to his queen. Eventually he becomes Prince Consort, only to find that he has no power, even over the servants. How he turns the tables is full of laughs and ‘ intriguing situations. Jeanette MacDonald, a beauty from the stage, plays the role of the Queen, while the comedy relief is provided by Lupino Lane ami Lillian Roth. A special added attraction ■ nt the evening session will be a repeat performance of the dance recital by pupils of Mona Kirwin. • ' 1 o• • • ■ “TH'E BOUDOIR DIPLOMAT.” The screen’s finest production in the realm of sophisticated comedy!, This fittingly describes “The Boudoir Diplomat,” which commences at the Regent to day at 2 and 7.45 p.m. This brilliant talking picture qualifies as the very ultimate in daring and smartness, and J . presents r.n all-star cast in a story

that will keep everyone chuckling and squirming with pleasure. It deals with a number of persons in the European diplomatic service, and follows the involved love affairs of a philandering bachelor and two flirtatious married ladies —not to mention the unsuspecting hus'bands. Betty Compson, lan Lawrence Grant, Lionel Belmore and Keith, Mary Duncan, Jeanette Loff, Andre Beranger are among the players appearing in “The Boudoir Diplomat.” which was directed by Malcolm St. Clair. ♦ • • • “COURAGE.” Mother love, tenderest yet most powerful o'f human emotions, motivates the action of “Courage,” the Warner: Brothers and Vitaphone production, which loonies, to the Regent Theatre on Wednesday next. “Courage,” adapted for the talking screen from the successful Tom Barry stage play, depicts a mother’s brave fight to keep her seven children, despite the outside influences of a material world —which include a spiteful rich aunt, creditors, furniture movers and what not. Belle Bennett portrays the gay and lovable spendthrift mother, while Marion Nixon is featured in the role of eldest daughter. Rex Bell, Richard Tucker, Blanche Frederick Leon Janney, Carter de Haven, Jr., Charlotte Henry, Byron Sage, Dorothy Ward and Don Marion complete the cast. Archie Mayo directed. • • • • “SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES.” Murder is committed in “Sweethearts and Wives,” but it is one of the minor incidents in thia First National and Vitaphone' production •coming to the Regent on Wednesday next in conjunction with “Courage.” The big incident of tire story is the maid’s attempt to recover a stolen diamond necklace. Billie Dove, First National star, plays the part of a French maid de chambre .in a little forsaken inn in the South of France, where the story is laid. Of course, the gendarmes are trying to find the murderer, but the story deals more with the troubles of the characters who are trying to find the diamond necklace and the mysterious way in which it appears and disappears. Sidney Blackmcr has the supporting role opposite Miss Dove. He enacts the part of an English motorist lost and out of gas in the South of France. Leila' Hyams as his married woman companion finds herself in a peculiar position. She is especially worried for fear her husband will learn of this escapade. Clive. Brook, that polished Englishman, is a divorce detective. He is seeking the diamond necklace to secretly return it to the husband of the lady who lost it. But the return of the necklace ’to him means a divorce scandal for the lady. . The players are all pitted against each other, either intentionally or by, force o'f circumstances. The solution is interesting and startlingly novel. Of course, the beautiful woman, Billie Dove, wins out in theend, but just' how is for everyone to find out. « * # « “LOOSE ENDS” & “NOT SO QUIET.”

Something special in the way of allIBjitish all-talking photoplays will be presented, at the Opera House to-day week, when the two super productions, “Loose Ends” and “Not So Quiet on the Western Front,’’ will be screened.. This excellent all-British double etar programme is claimed, to be the best and ■ biggest ever shown in the Dominion. “Loose Ends” is a thrilling and daring society drama of the London of today. Edna Best, who is acclaimed by London critics England’s greatest actress of the talking screen, heads the cast. “Not So Quiet on the Western Front,” starring one of London’s favourite comedians, Leslie Fuller/ is a humorous burlesque of war-time, full of dancing, singing and comedians. It is said to be the greatest English comedy of its kind yet screened. This special week of all-British pictures should prove very popular with picturegoers, who will have the opportunity of seeing two of the most successful of the British film specials screened on the same programme. ' t « * » » . “COMPROMISING DAPHNE.” “Compromising’ Daphne,” a British production which reaches the same high entertainment standards as “Plunder” and “The Middle Watch,” will be presented at Everybody’s shortly. “Compromising Daphne” has all the ingredients of gay, vivacious and amusing farce. One young man, two girls, two fathers and twins. This has an excellent all-British cast, including Charles Hickmdn, Jean Colin, Phyllis Konstain, C. M. Hallard, Leo. Sheffield, Margot Grahame and Viola Compton. The dialogue for this riot of fun was written by Valentine, and the picture was. directed by Thomas Bentley, who has made the most of a daring story, spicy situations and piquant inuendos- that incite continuous laughter.

CRIME DRAMA SATIRISED. A NEW LONDON PLAY. “The Crime at Blossoms,” Mordaunt Shairp’fl latest effort, produced in. London recently, is not a “crime play.” The author, states an English critic, i<s not at all concerned to pander, to that section of the public whose obscene sentimentality leads them to delight in murder and it<3 trappings, nor is it his purpose to .provide material for amateur detectives. On the contrary, Mr. Shairpo game is to satirise the people to whom any notorious crime is a form of public entertainment. A young couple have let their cottage, and while they are away - a murder is committed in it. When they return the husband is in debt, and the wife, finding that the house has gained considerable notoriety through the crime, organises it a<s a “show place,” and charget? tourists for admission. This part of the play says the author, is founded on actual fact. He attacks the tourists brilliantly. He shows in his collective portrait ot them —playing their concertinas, sitting in the “death chair,” cutting their init.iils on the walk —to what depths a semieducated democracy, without taste or discipline, can descend. He shows, too, how easily they can be duped .by an evil, unscrupulous woman, who develops her “entertainment” with all the skill of a mountebank. The husband (played by Colin Clive) is a pleasant, easy-going central character, and the play has a sentimental and rather unsuitably happy ending. 1 ■ ' -

OPERA HOUSE, HAWERA. August 25, 26, 27 and 28: Competitions. August 29 and 31 f “East Lynne” (Anne ' Harding). GRAND THEATRE, HAWERA. August 25 and 26; “Scandal Sheet” (George Bancroft). August 27 and 28: “No Limit” (Clara Bow). August 29: “Fast and Loose” (diaries Starrett). •## « * STARTING A FILM CAREER. ‘‘Full up to-day. Can’t use you,” was the greeting Charles Starrett, young Dartmouth football hero, got when he applied at the Paramount New .York studio, several years ago, asking for “extra” work in Richard Dix’s “The Quarterback.” But Starrett hung around the studio, found out the easting director’s name and his history, and .breezed up to the busy official. Clapping him on the back, Starrett inquired after his wife agd family, suggested he be given a part, “just for the fun of the thing.” “Sure, come along,” said the director, wracking his brain to determine just who this personable, dark-eyed youngster might be. And Charles Starrett started the motion picture career which has Bl’ought him to leading* male role in Paramount’s “Fast and Loose,” which opens in Hawcra next week. •;• • • AMERICAN NEWSPAPER'S. Aspects of American journalism form the basis of ‘‘Scandal Sheet.” The newspaper, from which the picture gets its name,, is of the type that has the creed, “If it’s news we’ll print it.” Clive Brook, George Bancroft and Kay Francis head the cast. This picture will be shown in Hawera shortly. • » • • SEARCH FGR BABY BOY. “Wanted —a fair-haired, blue-eyed ■baby boy about two years of age!” Thus read an advertisement which was inserted by Director Frank Lloyd in the classified sections of all Los An- , geles newspapers as a climax to his search for a child to play the part of Little William in “East Lynne,” starring Ann Harding with Clive Brook and Conrad Nagel featured. The results were astounding. More than 1116 parents with blond-haired children appeared the following day at the studios. Previously the casting department had spent more than six weeks testing child candidates registered at the Central Casting Agency and independent agencies without success. Of the new group about 800 children were eliminated at once and the others were given careful screen tests, wipi 17 surviving. These youngsters were brought before Miss Harding, who found the task of selecting the successful applicant almost impossible. Finally, along came Ronald Cosbey. Immediately an affection developed between the two and this child who had never .been either on stage or screen was ultimately selected. “East Lynne” comes to Hawera next week. “TELL ENGLAND." A STRONG APPEAL. The fact that the Anzacs played such an important part in the Gallipoli campaign gives the film, “Tell England,” a very strong appeal for New Zealapders. The story is based on Ernest Raymond’s famous novel of the same name, and, though the plot has not been faithfully followed, it can be .justly claimed that the atmosphere of the book has teen' caught. It tells the story of two young men —Rupert Ray and Edgar Doe—who join up straight from school. Their life before the war is briefly dealt with, and then the audience follows their experiences until the heroic death of Doe and the evacuation of the peninsula. The producers had the co-operation of both the British Army and the Navy in the' building up of important scenes. The description of the landing of the Anzacs is remarkably vivid, and there is no scene more striking than that which shows the men pouring from the transport River Clyde. Later one joins in the exultation that the soldiers must have felt when Clara,”, a gun which for months took heavy toll of British life, was finally destroyed through the heroism of Doe. “Tell England, ye who pass this monument; we died for ter, and here we rest content.”

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN.

STRENGTH OF MELBOURNE CAST.

Mies Evelyn Gardiner, a prominent member of the London Gilbert and Sullivan Company, arrived 4 in Melbourne recently to take the place of Miss Dorothy Gill, who has been recalled to England after a brief appearance with the Gilbert and Sullivan company now tour 7 ing Australia. Miss Gardiner, though for more than three and a-half years a member of the D’Oyly Carte company, has had varied theatrical experience in comedy, drama, comic opera, and in-the films. She has taken parts originally played by Irene Lohr. She appeared in English films with Matheson Lang, and has been associated in London productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operas with several of the principals who arc now with the company in Melbourne. Mi/ss Gardiner said that in Great Britain the popularity of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas showed no signa of waning. “The standard of performance,” she declared, “is becoming higher, and the popularity of the operas is greater. The reason is not far to seek. Gilbert and Sullivan operas have become an institution in Britain.”

OSCAR ASCHE AS CRITIC.

EVERYTHING GOING WRONG

“The British bulldog, relegated to the fihow bench, would have a. heart attack if confronted by a cow,” writer Oscar Asche, theatrical entrepreneur, in the London Star, criticising England’s “tim-

id sportsmen.” He sayn that games are becoming emasculated, l.ike Governments. Soccer is more popular than the manlier Rugger. Pugilists are abandoning glorious careers to turn beauty culturitsts. Wrestling is obsolete. Even greyhounds have been replaced by whippet races. Batting has degenerated into fiddling defence, instead of courageous attack. The half-volley is treated with mouselike fear. Driving is almost a lost art. When Talbot drove a ball into the second gallery at Lord’s young spectators suffered "heart attacks, but the old members retired into the pavilion to drink to the memories of Jessop, Ford arid Lyoha. ' ' ■