ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1933, Page 18 (Supplement)

ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

COMING EVENTS. REGENT THEATRE. 4 To-night, Monday and Tuesday: “The Night Club Lady” (Adolphe Menjou, ' Mayo Methot, Skeets Gallagher and Albert Conti). March 15 to 17: “The Millionaire” (Mr. George Arliss); return screening. March 18 to 21: s‘My Pal the King” (Tom Mix and Tony). March 22 to 24: “70,000 Witnesses (Phillip Holmes, Dorothy Jordan, Farrell McDonald, and Charles Ruggles); and “The Vanishing Frontier” (John Mack Brown, Evalyn Knapp, Zasu Pitts and Raymond Hatton). EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. fTo-night, Monday and Tuesday: “Once in a Lifetime” (Jack Oakie, Sidney Fox, Zasu Pitts and Louise Fazenda). March 15 to 17: “No More 1 Orchids” (Carole Lombard and Walter Connolly). „ ,3 Marrh 18 to 21: “Movie Crazy” (Harold Lloyd). March 22 to 24: “His Wife’s Mother’ Gus McNaughton, Jerry Vemo, Jimmy “Goddert, Marion Dawson, Molly Lamont), British production. NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE. To-day, Monday, Tuesday, and, Wednesday: “Tess of..the Storm Country (Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell). Thursday and Friday, March 16 and 17: “Frail Women” (British production with Mary Newcomb, Owen Nares, and Edmund Gwenn). Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, March 18, 20 and 21: “Divorce in the Family” (Lewis Stone, Conrad Nagel, Lois Wilson and Jackie Cooper). Wertopsday, Thursday and Friday, March 22, 23 and 24: Stanley McKay’s Panto - mime Company. ; ' * \ *■ * STAR WIFE OF MILLIONAIRE. Mary Newcomb,/the dynamic star of “Frail Women,” which will be screened at the .Opera House next week, in private life is Mrs. Henry Higginson,. her husband being a Boston millionaire-sports-man, who. is master of the Cattistock Hounds. • Their large circle of friends in London society and their love for English country Ilfs have combined to induce them, to make their permanent home in England, Although so wealthy, Miss Newcomb finds screen acting a delightful, and at the same time. lucrative, hobby. She is a brilliant actress, having appeared in numerous successful stage plays on Broadway and her performance in “Frail Women” stamps her as a screen star of unlimited capabilities. '• ■ '■ • , * • * * : LIVES SAVED BY JANET GAYNOR. Janet Gaynor has never set up as a lifeguard, but she makes two rescues in “Tess of the Storm. Country,” the current Opera House screen attraction. Not only does she save Charles Farrell from drowning when he is caught beneath the net with which she and her father are fishing, but later she rescues his sister from an attempt at suicide, thereby bringing about some of the many complications in the plot. Besides the two stars the cast includes s Dudley -Digges, Claude. Gillingwater, June Clyde, Edward Pawley, Matty Kemp and George Meeker. ; ' • * • * . ■''' “DIVORCE IN THE FAMILY?’ A forthcoming Opera House attraction,“Divorce in the Family,” besides being a highly entertaining drama, is interpreted by an excellent cast of players. . The youtlrful actor, Jackie Cooper, is credited with the leading role, and provides , a happy mixture of laughs and pathos; His. father is played by Lewis Stone, his mother by Lois Wilson and his stepfather by Conrad Nagel. The picture was directed by Charles Reisner, who made Marie Dressier’s “Caught Short” and “Politics,” and he has infused a wealth of comedy into this drama of a boy is tom between his love for his father and duty to his step-father. • . « • • “THE NIGHT CLUB LADY” The cream of actors and actresses comprise the cast of “The Night Club Lady,” Columbia’s thrilling screen version of an Anthony Abbot murder mystery story, with Adolphe Menjou playing the role of Thatcher Colt, police commissioner of a great metropolitan city. The picture is showing at the Regent to-night and on Monday and Tuesday nights. .Mayo Methot plays the ■ feminine lead. Other important roles are taken by Skeets Gallagher, Gerald Fielding, Blanche Friderici, Greta Granstedt, Ruthehna Stevens, Niles Welch, Albert Conti, Nat Pendleton and others. “The Night Club Lady” was prepared for the screen by Robert Riskin from the extremely popular book by Anthony Abbot. It re-creates the utterly different type of detective, Thatcher Colt, who solves his crime riddles, not by third-degree strong-arm methods, but by being on the scene every minute and using “commonsense.” Irving Cummings, who directed Columbia’s stupendous success, “Attorney for the Defence,” directed “The Night Club Lady.” •’ .* ♦ " “ONCE IN A LIFETIME.” Universal's “Once in a Lifetime,” to commence a season to-day at Everybody’s at 2 and 8 p.m., is an hilarious burlesque on Hollywood, and tells of a super-foolish character—known in the States as a “sap”—who rises to movie prominence by sheer blundering incompetence. Abundance of rich comedy, scathing" satire and element of poignancy combine in investing this picture with perfect entertainment. Seldom, if ever -before, has Hollywood satisfied itself so thoroughly or with such hilarious results. The observant film devotee will have little trouble in recognising in several of the leading characters in the film, thinly veiled, but good-humoured burlesques of actual Hollywood personalities. The story concerns itself principally with a trio of small-time vaudeville actors who enter the motion picture .industry on the crest of the wave of confusion attending the advent of the talking picture, with the “dumb” member of the trio finally hailed as the genius of Hollywood. This foie is played by Jack Oakie, and other members of the cast of “Once in a Lifetime” are Sidney Fox, Aline MacMahoh, Jobypa Howland, Russell Hopton, Zasu Pitts, Louise. Fazenda, Onslow Stevens, and Gregory Ratoff. Every member of the cast is a star. It is said that Aline MacMahon almost “steals” the acting honours by her brilliant acting. Her devastating “wise cracks” and nonchalant manner are delightful. “THE MILLIONAIRE.” “The Millionaire,” hailed as one of the outstanding talking pictures of 1932, will play a return season at the Regent on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next. George Arliss, the screen’s finest actor, plays the title role, and he is supported by David Manners, Evalyn Knapp, James Cagney, Noah Beery and Ivan Simpson. “MY PAL THE KING.” Imagine Tom Mix as a rough and ready cowboy from Texas storming a politically

polluted Balkan kingdom! Imagine him and his pals from the Wild West shoot” ing up the long-bearded bad men in time to save a 10-year-old king from death’ Imagine two-gunned Mix staging his famous Wild West circus in a moving picture! Well, that and more is what vou will see in Universal’s rip-roaring romance, “My Pal, the King,” screening at the Regent on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday next, with Mickey Rooney, James Kirkwood, Noel Francis, Stuart Holmes and Jim Thorpe also in the cast. The story concerns a Wild West show and its adventures while playing in the tiny kingdom of Alvonia. Mix and his entire posse of cowpunchers go through, their paces for the edification of a delighted child-regent while his cabinet members are planning to spirit him away and do away with the political obstacle that his tiny person constitutes. ' #*. * * “NO MORE ORCHIDS.”

In Columbia’s “No More Orchids,”’ to foe screened at Everybody’s on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next, Carole Lombard brings to the screen a sharply cat representative of the socially and luxuriously patterned debutante whose position of family wealth often makes life a bug-bear, and ostracises them from the pleasures their less wealthy sisters enjoy. She has the strength and energy to drive through the cloying surroundings of money and find the elements of life’that she wants. Miss Lombard has been given an excellent supporting cast for her brilliant role in “No More Orchids.” Walter Connolly and Louise .Closser Hale, two of the finest character players in the country, head the cast. Lyle Talbot, Jameson Thomas, Ruthelma Stevens, Allen Vincent, Edward J. Le Saint, and Arthur Houseman are others. « # * ' “MOVIE CRAZY.” Never has Harold Lloyd been surrounded with as capable a group of supporting players as appear in “Movie Crazy,” the comedy sensation of 1933, screening at Everybody’s on the 18th, 20th and 21st inst. Heading the cast, of this' Paramount release is Constance Cummings,'who is entrusted with the most difficult role'any leading lady has ever given in a Lloyd comedy. Miss Cummings proved her complete ability to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the part and gives an outstanding performance. Next in line for splendid portrayals are Kennth Thompson, Spencer Charters, Louise Closser Hale, Robert McWade, Harold Goodwin, Sydney Jarvis, Lucy Beamont, De Witt Jennings, Eddie Fetfrerstone, Mary Doran, Noah Young, Constantine Romanoff - and Arthur Houseman. Clyde Bruckman is credited with the direction, wTiife Vincent Lawrence, author of a number of stage plays and motion pictures. did the screen play and the dialogue; and incidentally, the dialogue isthe brightest Lloyd has had in his three talking pictures. OPERA HOUSE, HAWERA. March 16 and 17: “The Lost Coupon” (Leslie Fuller). March 18, 20, 21 and 22: “The Maid of the Mountains” (Frederick Lonsdale’s musical, 8.1. P.). GRAND THEATRE, HAWERA. March 18 and 20: “70,000 Witnesses” (John Mack Brown” and “The Vanishing Frontier” (John Made Brown). . . # ■ ♦ • ® ' * WALLACE LUPINO’S WHISKERS. If railway travellers between London and Hertfordshire recently saw an embarrassed gentleman endeavouring to conceal himself from a curious public gaze behind a voluminous newspaper, they should know that the unfortunate object of their attentions was not a fugitive from justice, but Wallace Lupino, Eistree’s most conscientious actor. The story of what he suffered in the cause of art during the production of “The Maid of the Mountains” is a sad and painful one—for the cause of all the trouble was a pair of comic side whiskers which he grew specially for the part of an officer which he plays in this 8.1. P. film, “The Maid of the Mountains,” directed by Lupino Lane, his brother. Following his usual rule of sacrificing his personal good looks, in order to achieve a realistic characterisation, he recently grew a set of whiskers which extended in a mid-European style from the base of the ears across his rubicund cheeks. They were, in fact, the real thing, but nevertheless comic in appearance. “The Maid of the Mountains” will play an extended seasori in Hawera shortly. NEW TYPE FOR LESLIE FULLER. “The Last Coupon,” that very human and. delightfully North Country comedy which had such a successful run at the. Garrick Theatre, London, has been brought to the screen and will be shown in Hawera next week.- The chief character—that of a coal-miner and football enthusiast —is played by Leslie Fuller and provides this inimitable comedian with an entirely different role in which an opportunity is provided for him to deviate from the paths of sheer “slapstick.” . Mary Jerrold, Molly Lamont, Jack liobbs, Harry Carr, Marion Dawson, Binnie Barnes, Gus McNaughton, Jimmy Godden and Hal Gordon, are also, included in a brilliant supporting cast. * * . * • UNUSUAL MYSTERY PLOT. In “70,000 Witnesses,” coming next week to Hawera, with Phillips Holmes, Dorothy Jordan, Charlie Ruggles and Johnny Mack Brown in featured roles, Paramount believes that it has the most unusual football picture ever filmed. A murder that no one can explain baffles medical authorities as well as police. It occurs on the football field! A star halfback; about to score a try, is mysteriously slain while 70,000 people in the stands look on. That is the plot basis—and the working out of the mystery’s solution, as well as the football sequences —makes for unusual film fare. * . « # « BUSINESS AND PLEASURE. Business and pleasure is combined for a group of about 200 Hollywood extras. They are the fellows who ride horses in mass formation in pictures such as “The Vanishing Frontier,” a story of the old west, which comes next week to Hawera. Their skill on horses/brings them returns in cash. But it also brings them returns in pleasure, for most of them would rather spend their time in the saddle than anywhere else. All are experts—and have to be. For they are called upon for extremely hazardous work. Johnny Mack Brown is starred, and Evelyn Knapp, Zasu Pitts, Raymond Hatton and J. Farrell MacDonald have featured roles. Philip Merivale. Philip Merivale, one of the most distinguished stage stars of the present day, has arrived in Hollywood to start his motion picture career under contract to Fox Film Corporation. Making his stage debut in London as a boy on the day Theodore Roosevelt was being -inaugurated for Iris second Presidential term, Merivale has starred in his, own productions throughout the world. It was while playing in Los Angeles in “Cynara” that he signed a Fox contract. Selection of his first film vehicle will be made soon.

FROM STAGE AND STUDIO. FOLK DANCE FESTIVAL. A pleasant team of dancers from Norway took part in the New Year’s Eve party staged at the Albert Hall, London, by the English Folk Dance -and Song Society, at which more than 50 branches contributed items. The visiting team had a great reception, and their numbers included national dances going as far back as the Dark Ages. A dignified and picturesque torch dance was performed in a darkened hall, to the music of the traditional eight-stringed fiddle. A male dancer in the most ancient Norwegian dance, “Springar,” performed some graceful acrobatics, and the whole troupe achieved a notable success. The “coconut” Morris dance was presented by a group of ’Ethiopians from Bacup, in Rochdale, whose concertina was as popular as their dancing. The Abbots Bromley horn dance was interpreted by dancers dressed as deer; their horns are kept throughout the year in the local church. This is a pagan dance that has survived in England and has been kept alive by the Christian Church. A primitive whistle and drum, ushered in a most engaging Jack-in-the-Green. Dr. Vaughan Williams and Mr. Arnold Foster conducted. For Edna May Oliver. Edna May Oliver, who recently' completed a starring role for RKO Radio in “Penguin Pool Murder,” and in “The Conquerors,” has been assigned to a principal humorous character role in “The Great Jasper.” This is the next Dix starring vehicle. Miss Oliver will play Madame Talma, the seeress, ideally suited to her type of screen characterisation. J. Walter Ruben will direct A Fun Menu. London’s theatre fare for January' included an array of plays from which it would have been easy for the theatregoers to select their .evening’s entertainment The repertoire embraced ’ “For Services Rendered” (Queen's), “She Stoops to Conquer” (Old Vic), “TenMinute Alibi” (Embassy), “The Age of Youth,” “The Scoop,” and “Trust Berkley” (all at the “Q” Theatre), “Columbine in Cricklebqry” (Imperial Institute), “Fresh Fields” (Criterion), Joan and. Betty Rayner, the ■ New Zealand Troubadours (Grafton), “Dinner at Eight” (an American success by Edna Ferber and George Kaufman at the Palace), “Triple Bill”- (Arts), “Precious Safety” (Stage Guild), “Eager Heart” (Sadler’s Wells), “Things That Are Caesar’s” (Arts), “Double Harness” (Haymarket), “One of Us” (Repertory Players at the Gaiety), “Stage Golfing Dance” (Savoy), “Flies in the Sun” (Playhouse), and “The Winter’s Tale” (Old Vic). •' . J. C. Williamson Plans. Mr. Frederick Blackman, the wellknown J. C. Williamson,' Ltd., producer, whose most recent productions for the firm are ’‘Waltzes from Vienna” and “While Parents Sleep,” has left for . New York to witness several productions which are being acquired by J. C. Williamson, Ltd. He will also visit London for the same purpose. One of the latest productions secured by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., in New York is “Music in the Air,” which is the biggest success since “The Desert Song.” The music is by Jerome Kern, whp was responsible for “Sally” and many other successful musical plays. A significant fact is that Sigmund Romberg, composer of “The Desert Song,” recently announced that he intended to return to writing music for productions on the legitimate stage, after having devoted himself for some time exclusively to the talkies. New Director. Paul Martin, one of the greatest German directors, whose achievements include “The Congress Dances,” has been placed under contract by Fox Film Corporation. Gifted with the ability to hapdle massed action and intimate scenes with equal facility, Martin has forged to the front rank of European directors. It was “The Congress Dances” that brought Lilian Harvey to world-wide recognition and led to her signing a Fox starring contract Robey’s Grandmother. George Robey, thd famous London comedian, tells a story concerning himself that has caused much amusement among ( his friends. He had occasion to visit a police station in. Nice (where he was making a film), in order to obtain an identity card, essential to visitors to the Riviera who remain longer than two months. He was asked his father’s name, then his mother’s, and finally the maiden name of his grandmother. The insistent bureaucrat took Mr. Robey by surprise, so that he ejaculated “O, Lor’,” and promptly the famous comedian’s grandmother went down in the Nice police register as “Madame .O. Lor.” Mr. Robey had a grand welcome from Palladium audiences when he returned to take part in variety. He presented a sketch in which he was a grimly muscular bride—an item that reduced the audience to tears; then put on' his celebrated German musical professor act,- his guttural Teutonic accent and attack on the big bass drum being things of sheer joy. It is something to be a favourite for 40 years. »

A Cricket Burlesque. A comic bushranging scene is included in the latest Ben Travers farce “A Bit of a Test,” written round a Test match in Brisbane. Mary Brough and Ralph Lynn are prominent, and in the bushranging scene provide plenty of merriment. Mr. Travers got his' ideas for “A Bit of a Test” during a particularly cautious partnership of English batsmen which resulted in more yawns than runs. He facetiously remarked to a Daily Mail representative that he wrote plays to get the money to follow the Maiylebone team around the world, and that authorship was a tiresome interruption of the serious occupation of sitting contentedly in pavilions. The play, featuring a monocled Ralph Lynn, opens with an Australian Test match, followed by a kidnapping episode in a bush shack. - Inspires Players.

The most alluring colour combinations conceived by Paris and Fifth Avenue fashion experts : are used in designing the costumes worn by motion picture actresses during the filming of pictures—this in, spite of the fact that under the camera’s eye all colours are reduced to variations of black and white. But there is a reason for it, and a good one, according to Josef von Sternberg, who directed Marlene Dietrich’s production, “Blonde Venus.” Players do not work in costume(s of simple black and white, because the monotony of the combination would kill every spark of creative effort.

“Hallelujah, I’m a Tramp.” Al Jolson’s first United Artists picture, “Hallelujah, I’m a Tramp,” presents the inimitable comedian in the role of a happy-go-lucky vagabond of the city streets. This picture will mark the return to the screen of Harry Langdon, and two other famous comedians, Chester Conklin and Vince Barnett, will be included in the cast. Madge Evans has the feminine lead. Jolson, whose stage contracts have kept him from the screen for more than a year, will sing at least five songs in his new film, the works of the famous Broadway composer, Irving Caesar. “Hallelujah, I’m a Tramp,” is an original by Ben Hecht, and the adaptation is by Charles Lederer,

NOTES FROM THE STAGE

In the course of a broadcast talk from his dressing-room at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne, Mr. Nicholas Hannen, the famous English star, who, with Miss Athene Seyler and then- complete London company, have commenced their Australian tour with “The Breadwinner,” stressed the importance of applause to the stage artist. “No one realises what it means to the people on the stage to receive adequate recognition of their efforts,” he said. “It is the salt of life to them, and on it depends the reaction that enables the artists to give their best. Withhold applause, and you lower the standard of the performance because you lower the morale of the artists.” This year there will be an interesting list' of concert attractions to be present-ed-by J. and N. Tait. The first of these will be the 19 years old genius of the piano, Philip Hargraves, who has caused a sensation in Adelaide, where he lives. After three .concerts in Melbourne, he will visit Sydney and the other capital cities, and, probably New Zealand. Peter Dawson, the famous Australian bass-baritone, will give 60 concerts in Australia and New Zealand. He will open in Perth. Dame Clara Butt will arrive later in the year. Next year, Jehudi. Menuhin, the world-famous boy violinist, will come to Australia under the J. and N. Tait management. This will be one of the greatest musical attractions ever presented in Australia. John Brownlee.

Although John Brownlee’s brilliant reputation in the great opera-centres of the world is known to all New Zealand enthusiasts who keep in touch with musical matters abroad, the name and fame of this singer are not as wellknown to “the man in the street.” It is safe to predict, however, that long before the Dominion tour of this eminent British Baritone is brought to a conclusion, John Brownlee will have repeated in this country the triumphs he has achieved in other parts of the world. According the critics elsewhere John Brownlee possesses every gift which combines to make a great Kinger —a magnificent voice, a magnetic stage personality which wins his audiences instantly sound musical intelligence, strengthener by natural artistry, fine physique, and, in addition the charm of youth. His career to date reads almost like a romance, for he was a clerk in a wholesale house until the day that Dame Nellie Melba heard him sing. The diva, in her imperious and big-natured way, was instrumental in creating a wave of, enthusiasm and interest in the twenty-: one-year-old baritone, with the result I that, before many months had passed the clerkship had been relinquished. and| John Brownlee found himself in London: as a pupil of the great singing-teacher Dinh Gilly. Four years later Mr. 1 Brownlee was singing the role of Mar-, cello in “La Boheme” to the Mimi of; Melba herself at the diva’s farewell performance at Covent Garden. The following year the young baritone had the distinction of being the first British artist invited to sing leading roles at the Paris Opera House. Success has followed success and, now at the age of 32, John Brownlee is recognised as one of the great baritones of the world. At the conclusion of his Auckland season, John Brownlee and his two supporting artists (Miss Rita Miller, soprano, and Mr. Raymond Lambert, pianist) will give a concert in New Plymouth on Tuesday, March 14.

Changing of the Guard. That ever-absorbing feature of London life, the changing of the Guard at St. James Palace, has a notable place in “The Wedding Rehearsal,” the London film production directed by Alexander Korda, which will shortly be released by United Artists. The changing of the Guard is not put into the film simply because of its value as a spectacle; it happens to be an integral part: of the fascinating' plot of the picture. Real shots of the brilliant ceremony have been skilfully mixed with those taken in the studio, and those who see the film will be unable to detect where the real ceremony gives place to the. studio insertions. For the studio work, a detachment of real ex-Guardsmen were used under the direction of a military expert. Roland Young (who came from America specially to play a leading part in the picture) will be seen in the colourful uniform of a Guards Officer. “Wedding Rehearsal” is also notable for many striking studio sets, and some lovely beauty spots in the country. Some of these scenes were taken in North Mymms Park, one of the most beautiful estates in England. This fine mansion and grounds date back to Queen Elizabeth, and they were kindly placed at the disposal of London Film Productions through the courtesy and generosity of Mrs. Walter Bums, the present owner. ,z

ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST.

Viola Dana, Marjorie White and Robert Agnew, former “silent” . favourites, have returned to Hollywood with come back” ideas.

Personalities in such direct contrast as Loretta Young and Winnie Lightner become perfect foils for each other'when teamed as they are in “Play Girl,” the Warner Bros, and Vitaphone production now at the Liberty Theatre. Both are clerks in a vast department store. They are room-mates as well.- Winnie is rowdyish but compassionate and Loretta is determined to make her way to fame and fortune on her own initiative, without marriage and motherhood. The story is built about what happens after the right Prince Charming comes along to change Loretta’s point of view—and start her adventurous course toward all that life, can hold for a woman.. Norman Foster plays the lover and genial Guy Kibee is cast as Winnie’s ardent wooer. The wardrobe department at the Met-ro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios occupies three buildings, including separate sections for character, period and military uniform costumes, with an aggregate total of more than 50,000 garments.

Constance Bennett will appear in the Radio version of W. Somerset Maugham’s well-known satirical comedy, “Our Betters.”

Colleen Moore and Jackie Cooper will ppppar together in “Lost,” an original story for the screen by Lenore Coffee, according to an announcement bv Me-tro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This will be Miss Moore’s first assignment under her recently signed M.G.M. contract John Brownlee in Taranaki.

Writing to the Melbourne Argus in 1926, after John Brownlee’s debut at the Paris Opera House, the late Dame Nellie Melba expressed herself thus: “John Brownlee is a great, great artist” Dame Nellie backed up her opinion of the youthful baritone in thoroughly practical fashion, for she chose him to sing with her in “La Boheme” at her farewell to Covent Garden when he was only 24 years old, and she also gave, him a wonderful chance to “break into” the concert world of Great Britain by engaging him as soloist for her farewell concert tour of England and Scotland. Mr. Brownlee makes no secret of the fact that Melba’s influence was of very definite assistance to him at the outset of his career, and he loses no opportunity of. expressing his appreciation, of her friendly and helpful interest in his work. Mr. Brownlee is now making his first tour of New Zealand. He has had a great reception in Auckland, and he will give concerts in New Plymouth and Hawera next Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

FLASHES FROM THE FOOTLIGHTS.

Charlie Ruggles, the bermoustached comedian, who is next featured in “The Night of June 13,” was born in Los Angeles, and is the son of a wholesale druggist, who intended him to become a physician. Ruggles, however, followed his own inclinations and went on the stage, securing his first experience in stock in San Francisco. He played old man roles for eight year- before finally being cast as a juvenile. Ruggles ultimately appeared on the Broadway stage, and later went to Hollywood, where he made outstanding appearances in a number of pictures, including “Charley’s Aunt,” “The Girl Habit,” and, more recently, “70,000 Witnesses,” “This is the Night,” “One Hour With You,” “Love Me To-night” and “The Night of June 13.”

’ The London-born film director, A. Edward Sutherland, has just married for the fourth time. This time his bride is Miss Audrey Henderson. Although she lives in Hollywood, she is not a film actress. Mr. Sutherland’s previous wives were all film stars, in the following order: Marjorie Daw, Louise Brooks and Ethel Kenyon. “Eddie” Sutherland, although still a young-man, is one of-Hol-lywood’s most successful directors. Born in London, he was educated in. Paris and America. He attended 16 schools before he got his first job on the stage at Lynn, Massachusetts. In 1914 he first appeared as a film actor, later becoming a Keystone comedian and then a juvenile lead. The war interrupted his career, and he returned to join Chaplin’s directional staff. His first picture was “Cornin’ Through.” He directed “The. Dance of Life,” “Close Harmony,” “Pointed Heels,” and “Burning Up.” 'Previously he had directed several of the Wallace. BeeryRaymond Hatton comedies, “Behind the Front,” “We’re'- in the Navy Now” and “Fireman, Save My Child.” ; .. . Vera Engels, daughter of the former captain of the famous German cruiser, “Emden,” is on her way to Hollywood to take up a year’s contract with Radio. Duncan ■ Renaldo, of “Trader Hom” fame, is thieatened with deportation from the U.S.A. for making a false declaration that he is an American citizen. His nationality has brought him into conflict with , the passport officials on numerous occasions. He has been-• described at different times as a Roumanian and a Spaniard, but now claims to have been born in New Jersey, U.S.A.

Myrna Loy, one of the most popular and expert “menaces” on the screen, plays a part far removed from her usual Oriental charmers in “Topaze,” now in production at RKO Radio, but she is still on the vampage. She has the role of an, unscrupulous- woman who influences the timid schoolmaster (John Barrymore) on to greater and more ill-got-ten riches.

■ban Sorel, the young French girl, bom in Egypt, whom Samuel Goldwyn is coaching for a screen career, will make her debut in the Eddie Cantor picture, “The Kid From Spain,” in a role specially written for her. Lyda Roberti and Diane Sinclair will also be seen, with Cantor.

According to cable reports from Berlin, three Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer pictures, “Grand Hotel,” “Susan Lenox’’ and “The Champ” were among the 10 pictures se-. lected as a result of the newspaper poll conducted by Der Deutsche, to determine the 10 best pictures of 1932. The other seven choices included two German productions, two French, one United Artiste’ production, one Paramount production and a Harold Lloyd production, distributed by Paramount.

Difficulty in finding an actor for the mystical character of Stranger in “The Passing of the Third Floor Back, has held back the proposed Fox version of

Jerome K. Jerome’s famous modem morality play for several months. It has now been decided to give the part (which was created on the stage by Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson), to Philip Merivale, a well-known New York actor; who has not yet appeared on the screen. , Sir Guy Standing will play the part originally allotted to Clive Brook in Paramount’s “Lives of a Bengal Lancer.” He was created a Knight Commander of the British Empire in 1918, in connection with his services as a member of the British War Mission to the U.S.A.

A complete emergency hospital is maintained at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios in case of accident to workers. But so perfect is the safety system in the shops and on the stages that there has not been a serious mishap in years.

Eileen Percy, former “silent” star, ajid once Douglas Fairbanks’ leading woman, is returning to’ the screen with Irene Dunne, in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “The Secret of Madame Blanche,” originally known as “The Lady/’ For the past two years she has been a journalist. “Green- Mansions,” one of the bestknown works of the late W. H. Hudson, the famous nature writer, has. been purchased for the screen by Radio.

FILMS ABOUT BEER.

STUDIOS PREPARE TO CELEBRATE. With the end of Prohibition said to be in sight, Hollywood producers are already planning to celebrate the return of beer to the screen. A semi-political drama based on the collapse of the drink boycott, and entitled “Legal Racket,” is in production. Another Bacchic story, with the expressive title of /‘Beer,” will be started shortly by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, with Jean Hersholt in a leading part Even the humorous W. C. Fields is/ joining the movement in his next Mack Sennett comedy, which will be called, ironically, “The Fatal Glass of Beer.” The Brownlee Concerts.

It is generally regarded as a women's privilege to change her mind on most matters, but surely something approaching a record in this connection has been achieved by Miss Rita Miller, a young lyric soprano from overseas, who is appearing throughout; New Zealand as one of the supporting artiste with the worldfamed baritone, John Brownlee. Miss Miller, who has sung the chief soprano roles at several European opera houses, including the Toulon Municipal and the Nouveau Theatre in Paris, came out to Australia last year as supporting artist to John Brownlee-for his Commonwealth tour. He contract expired recently, and, as there were engagements for her in Europe, Miss Miller' duly booked her passage and was to .have, sailed from Australia by the Otranto this week. Her association with the John Brownlee concert party has been so happy, however, that a fortnight ago she suddenly decided that she would much prefer to continue as supporting artist to Mr. Brownlee. As Mr. Brownlee himself was eager for New Zealand audiences to hear some of the duets which'have been out-standing-features of the Australian coilcerts, he willingly gave Miss Miller a new contract for the Dominion tour. So now there will be jv/o supporting artiste (Miss Miller and Mr. Raymond Lambert) at all the Brownlee concerts. New Plymouth will be visited next Tuesday, when a concei't will be given at the Empire Theatre. '

“Cynara.” “Cynara” is tffe first Ronald Colman picture in which he has not driven a car in years. The sci-een transcription of the stage hit has frequent change of scene, but it fails to maintain the automobile

tradition that. Colman started in: his first talkie, “Bulldog' Drummond,” arid con- .■?. tinued through “Unholy Garden,”' and •“Arrowsmith.” “Cynara” will be a United Artists release.'. " •>.