SECRET OF a “STAR”

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

SECRET OF a “STAR”

A WEDDING SURPRISE. NEW ZEALAND HUSBAND. London, December 15. Miss Marie Burke, the well-knoym and much-liked actress and- vocalist, provided an interesting surprise for her friends and for the public generally by announcing to her guests at a party in London this week that she had married Mr. Guy Nelson King. Mr. King is a New Zealander by birth —he belongs to Napier and Hastings—and is now a London business man. .His grand-parents were among the pioneers of the Dominion. He has not resided in the Dominion since 1919, but he lived for a . number of. years in Sydney. It was in Australia that he met. Miss Burke six years- ago. . After having travelled extensively in many parts of the world he settled down in London two years ago. Friends in New Zealand of both Mr. and Mrs. King will be much interested to receive the news—for the latter js well known here. She played Nina in “Wildflower” (her favourite part), and Katja in “Katja the Dancer”' in 1925-26. For nearly four years she was in Australia under engagement to . Messrs. Williamson and Tait for musical comedy, and on returning to London in 1928 she was immediately chosen for the Drury Lane production of “The Show Boat.” One of her latest London successes' was the Stoll production of “Waltzes from Vienna,” which deservedly enjoyed such a long run at the Alhambra. Her next appearance will be as principal boy in “Mother Goose” at Manchester.

At her party where the interesting announcement was made, Miss Burke introduced her husband to the guests as “My own principal boy.” “We were married a few weeks ago,” she stated, “'but only my mother and my daughter Itnew. If I had told anybody else 'it would have meant celebrations, ceremonies and distractions that I abhor. However, this being my first free week for many months, I, thought I would take the opportunity of giving a party and telling a few of my friends ail about it.” One of her reasons for saying nothing before was “to prove that a woman can keep a secret.” Originally intended for an operatic and concert career, Marie Rosa Holt . (her maiden name) was educated in Italy. Her first stage appearance in London in 1919, in “Afgan,” was an immediate success, and she has been a favourite ever since. NEWS OF THE SCREEN. . // In Metrq-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “SonDaughter,” Helen Hayes wears ’ a ceremonial hat imported from China and. made from hundreds of Chinese pheasant feathers.

More than 65,000 books will line the shelves of a complete library now being built at Paramount for “No Man of Her Own,” featuring Clark Gable and Carole Lombard..

A 1000-voice chorus/ a 150-piece orchestra, arjd. two score soloists were engaged by Paramount to interpret the lavish musical score to Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Sign of the Cross.”

Production has* started at■ the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios on “The Lady,” tfle Martin Brown play, which is being directed for. the screen by Charles Brabin. Irene Dimne and Phillips Holmes have the leading roles, and the supporting cast so far selected includes Lionel Atwill, Una Merkel and Eileen Percy. ;

It is understood that negotiations are in hand for'the handling of the whole of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film output for 1933 by Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller, says the Melbourne Age. It is likely that new theatres will be opened in several capital cities since the agreement will apply to the whole of Australia. Mr. A. Levy, representa.tive of British Dominion Films, said the announcement was a complete surprise tp him. He could not understand the projected change of policy, for British films in Australia handled by Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller had be'en financially successful. Sir Benjamin Fuller said his company intended to use only the best films, irrespective of national sentiment He indicated that the Mayfair Theatre would still be a house-for-British films, while the St. James would not be restricted in any way.

A charming English musical comedy artist Shirley Dale, has come to Australia from London to appear in the role of Resi in “Waltzes From Vienna,” which opened in Melbourne on Christmas Eve. The appearance of this artist in Australia and New Zealand will be given additional interest by the fact that she has already been seen and heard in the British “talkie” production of “The Beggar Student,” with Lance Fairfax, the New Zealander. Shirley Dale has had veried experience on the stage. She played Melisande in Debussy’s “Pelles and Melisande”; understudied and deputised for Dorothy Silk at the Court Theatre; played Jermy Diver in “The Beggar’s Opera” at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith; played in “La Vie Parisienne”; was the Singing Woman in “The Liar” at the Embassy Theatre; appeared as Imogen in “Tantivy Towers,” by A. P. Herbert, of “Punch,” at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith; Betty in “The Old Bachelor”; and made her film debut in “The Beggar Student;” One of her most recent stage successes was in the much-discussed “Helen,” in which George Robey appeared. Her roll was Minerva. *#* * « The silent film classic, “The Flag Lieutenant,” remade and modernised as a “talkie,” has now been completed at Elstree. “The Flag Lieutenant” was first produced as a play in 1908, when it ran for 400 performances and was honoured by a command performance. Shortly after the war it was made as a silent film. This was a phenomenal success in Australia and New Zealand, and owing to the way in which is was greeted throughout the world, this latest talkie edition appears to have readymade audiences who are but waiting for the film’s release. There has been a quality of entertainment in all the versions of “The Flag Lieutenant,” which places it as a classic of the English contemporary screen. Anna Neagle, the beautiful star who made her debut in the Jack Buchanan opus, “Good Night, Vienna,” occupies the feminine lead, while Peter Cawthorn, well-known out here, and Sybil Groves ocupy the main supporting roles. - * * * * Richard Bennett, head of an; illustrious family. of film and stage stars, and himself a veteran of the stage and screen for many years, plays the principal masculine role in the humaninterest cpmery-drama. “The Sporting Widow.” Bennett has a part of unusual sympathetic qualities and rare human feeling. He is co-featured with Alison Skipworth, who plays the title role. After many years on the stage, Richard Bennett turned to Hollywood, and during the last few years has appeared in many outstanding film productions. He will be remembered for his niore recent appearances in “Arrowsmith,” “Bought,” “No Greater Love” and “This Reckless Age.” Upon completion of the latter, he was awarded a long term contract of the stage, having appeared in mpre than 100 filags jn Jfew York,