ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1934, Page 20 (Supplement)

ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

AROUND THE THEATRES WHAT TO SEE AT NEW PLYMOUTH. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE FEATURES. "Red Wagon,’* Greta Nissen, Charles Bickford. "Footlight Parade,” James Cagney, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Joan Biondell. "Jack- Ahoy,” Jack Hulbert, Tamari Desni. THE REGENT. “The Lost Patrol,” Victor McLaglen, Boris Karloff, Reginald Denny. "No More Women,” Victor McLaglen, Edmund Lowe, Minna Gombell. "The Most Precious Thing in Life,” Richard Cromwell and “Under the Sea,” Fay Wray, Ralph Bellamy. THE OPERA HOUSE. "This Man is Mine,” Irene Dunne, Constance Cummings, Ralph Bellamy. Tuesday: “The Dubarry,” J. C. Williamson musical play. Wednesday: “Waltzes from Vienna,” J. C. Williamson musical play. "Sing and Like It,” Zasu Pitts, Ned Sparks, Edward Everett Horton (Thursday and Friday). "Little Man, What Now?” Margaret Sullavan, Douglas Montgomery. WORLD-FAMOUS NOVEL "LITTLE MAN, WHAT NOW?” FILM. Hans Fallada’s world-famous novel, "Little Man, What Now ?” has been filmed by Universal Pictures and is the attraction at the Opera House, New Plymouth, next Saturday. The many who have read the book will recognise the aptness of the characterisation in this moving story of the depression and of the love of a boy and a girl who face life in a world of chaos; those who have hot read the book will find in it entertainment, drama, and healthy sentiment.

The tale of little Pinneburg, the shop assistant, and of Lammchen is the story of countless thousands in the world today, but it is presented with such drama and with such wealth of incident and fine acting that it is made into a fine picture. The film gains further strength from the acting of Margaret Siillavan, the remarkable star of “Only Yesterday,” whose splendid performance is something to remember. Also in the cast are Douglas Montgomery in the role of Jtaneburg, Alan Hale, Alan Mowbray, |nd Mae Marsh.

McLAGLEN AND LOWE POPULAR PAIR AT REGENT. ■ \ Victor McLaglen and Edmund Lowe first won screen fame together in “The Cock-Eyed World,” and later performed excellent co-starring roles in “What Price Glory?” In “No More Women,” at The Regent on Wednesday, they are cast as two sea-divers, who fight for the same gold on the bottom of the ocean, and the same gold-diggers on land. Real enemies when their fight is private, they are pals to the death against outsiders in their pictures and in -“No More Women” there is an exciting climax when , forty fathoms underwater, an opposition tries to kill McLaglen and Lowe starts to the rescue.

LAVISH MUSICAL PLAYS THE NEW PLYMOUTH SEASON. “DUBARRY’S” SUPERB SETTING. Though differing in themes, the musical plays being presented on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Opera House, New Plymouth, by the Williamson company headed by Sylvia Welling are alike in that they are lavish productions. “The Dubarry” period calls for superb settings redolent of Paris of the 18th century, but “Waltzes from Vienna” has to tell ofJVienna of the forties and is spectacular to the last degree. The first-named moves in crescendo fashion from a modest hatshop setting to Palace Gardens at Versailles, where the Countess Dubarry outwits her political enemy, the Due de Choiseul, and justifies Louis’s faith in the sincerity of her affections. “Waltzes from Vienna tells of a quarrel between Strauss father and son, and of the son’s romance with Resi, the pastrycook’s daughter. Indifferent to hss son’s gifts hitherto, the elder man recognises in the young man’s “Blue Danube” waltz a work of genius. With the aid of a friendly countess the son outwits his father, and conducts a performance of his own waltz in his father’s stead at the great ball in. Doumayer’s Garden—a smashing climax to a feast of music and melody set in Vienna of the forties when the elder Strauss . made the Imperial Volksgarten the scene of so many triumphs, both as conductor and composer. The dances in the Strauss play are poems, one, a gauze-skirt ballet being an outstanding feature of a production that is studded with songs and dancing. The fireworks ballet in period costumes, and the, ballroom scene when the Blue Danube is the motif, provide unforgetable scenes. The company includes Miss Welling, John Dudley, the Australian tenor whose rise to operatic fame Was one of the notable lights of the Australian stage history this year; Cecil Kelleway, Leslie Holland, Lou Vemon (three old favourites of the firm), Richard Parry, Ivy Kirby (solo dancer whose art is reminiscent of Pavlova and Genee), Jean Gibson, Jean Duncan, Loma Forbes (another old favourite), Clifford Cowley, Cecil Pawley, Hilton Porter, Douglas Herald, and full grand opera chorus and orchestra. Mr. J. S. Rendall is manager of the company. Mr. Victor Tatnall is stage manager (last in New Zealand with “Whoopee” and “Student Prince” productions), Mr. Leo Packer is musical director, and there is a capable crowd of stage technicians who attend to the production back-stage. Film About Aborigines.

Robert Flaherty is reported to be leaving England for Australia to xhake a film about the aborigines.

BEST IN ACID TEST BOX-OFFICE CHAMPIONS OF 1933. The Motion-Picture Herald, the official organ of the film trade,” has just made its annual announcement of the films for 1933 that brought in the most money at the box office. They are as follow: “Gold-Diggers of 1933,” “Cavalcade,” “Rasputin and the Empress,” “Strange Interlude,” “Be Mine To-night,” “Tiger Shark,” “70,000 Witnesses,” “42nd Street,” “State Fair,” “Tugboat Annie,” “Smilin’ Through,” “Bird of Paradise,” “Grand Hotel,” “Horse Feathers” and “Love Me To-night.” It is interesting to note that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios lead with five winning entries.

“SING AND LIKE IT’’ ZASU PITTS ASPIRES TO OPERA. To act or not to act? That’s the question over which countless hearts have been broken and homes have been wrecked. It also has its lighter side, as is demonstrated in the RKO-Radio comedy, “Sing and Like It, ’ which comes to the Opera House on Thursday. Zasu Pitts and Pert Kelton are co-fea-tured. As Annie Snodgrass, Zasu is quite sure that the world would never be quite the same without the ennobling influence of her singing voice; and as Ruby, a gangster’s sweetheart, Pert Kelton is sure it wouldn’t be right to keep such shapely legs’ as hers away from the glare of the footlights and the gaze of an admiring public. The principal male roles are played by Edward Everett Horton and Nat Pendleton, and the cast includes Ned Sparks and Roy D'Arcy.

THE HAWERA THEATRES PROGRAMMES FOR THE WEEK. THE OPERA HOUSE. To-day and Monday: “Romantic New ' Zealand.” Tuesday and Wednesday: “Soldiers of the King” (Cicely Courtneidge). Thursday and Friday: “Red Waggon” (Charles Bickford). THE GRAND THEATRE. To-day and Monday: “The Love Captive” (Gloria Stuart) and “The Black Cat” (Karloff-Bela Lugosi). Tuesday and Wednesday: “Bolero” (George Raft). Thursday and Friday: “Strike It Rich” (George Gee). ENGLISH COMEDIENNE CICELY COURTNEIDGE AGAIN. “Soldiers of the King,” which commences at the Opera House, Hawera, next Tuesday is the first picture in which Cicely Courtneidge has appeared without Jack Hulbert (her husband), but to make the family laurels even, she was given two roles —those of herself and her own mother! Jack, of course, simply had to be in it somewhere, and to prove his grand versatility he adapted the story for the screen, collaborated on the dialogue, and then acted as dialogue director during the actual production ! The supporting' cast comprises many famous English vaudevillians who perform their regular “acts” and Edward Everett Horton. CIIRCUS CLASSIC FILMED LADY SMITH’S “RED WAGGON.” At last Lady Eleanor Smith’s classic story of the sawdust ring and the trials and tribulations of a circus company, “Red Waggon,” has been filmed. The picture, which will be shown at the Opera House, Hawera, on Thursday and Friday next, follows the story closely in an intimate study of the circus and its performers. It was made by 8.1. P. at a cost of £BO,OOO, and the spectacular scale of the production makes it one of the most noteworthy turned out from British studios. Charles Bickford, Greta Nissen, Racquel Torres, Frank Pettingell and Amy Veness have the leading roles. STORY OF FAMOUS DANCER “BOLERO” AT THE GRAND. I “Bolero,” the Paramount picture coming on Tuesday to the Grand Theatre with George Raft in the starring role, and featuring Carole Lombard and Sally Rand, the Fan Dancer, depicts the private and public life of a great dancer. “Bolero” presents George Raft in a role that fits him perfectly, that of a romantic and adventurous fellow who climbs to success on a ladder of women’s hearts. The thrilling and entertaining climactic dance numbers are woven around the internationally famous musical composition, “Bolero.” Another interesting feature is the first screen presentation of the sensational fan ' dance created by Sally Rand. GEORGE GEE’S SECOND SHOW A SECOND NAPOLEON. Filmgoers have been eagerly awaiting the successor to George Gee’s first picture “Cleaning Up,” "Which is “Strike It Rich,” and will be screened at the Grand Theatre on Thursday. The story deals with the adventures and misadventures of a down-trodden clerk who suffers from an inferiority complex, until he visits a phrenologist, who, after reading his bumps, tells him that he is a second Napoleon. Gina Malo plays opposite Gee. Others in the cast are Davy Burnaby and Betty Astell. Rapid Popularity. Although she has only been in Hollywood for a little more than six months and has appeared in but a single picture, “Only Yesterday,” Margaret Sullavan has had more written about her and is receiving more mail than any other person in the film centre. That includes stars, directors, executives or anyone else connected with pictures. Fan-mail is the surest indication of popularity.

HULBERT AS JACK TAR LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE. “Jack Ahoy” starring Jack Hulbert opens with a scene of the Battle of Trafalgar, showing Jack in the role of Admiral Ponsonby, standing on the poop of his ship, amid flying cannon balls and broken spar and rigging, whilst powder monkeys, officers and men, man the guns. From old-time warfare to modern day, with Jack in charge of a submarine which he hasn’t the faintest conception of controlling, attempting to escape from pirates in Eastern waters, having on board his commander and the girl with whom Jack is in love. The antics of this submarine have to be seen to be believed. Jack Hulbert is said to be brilliant in his characterisation of the A. 8., whether singing, dancing, foiling the pirates, or making love to the Admiral’s daughter.

TWO YEARS IN ONE PART BRAVED “DUBARRY” HOODOO. , Miss Sylvia Welling, the charming young English actress who will make her appearance here with J. C. Williamson’s company in “The Dubarry” and “Waltzes from Vienna” is a native' of London. After ground work with her parents in amateur operatic companies her ambition to appear in musical comedy was satisfied, her first role being “Huguette” in “The Vagabond King.” For two years she played the part of “Margot” in “The Desert Song,” and in answer to the query as to whether one becomes “stale” in so long ‘a run, Miss Welling answered emphatically in the negative, adding, “While I am playing a part my whole heart, soul and life are in it.”

A chance of real importance in London came in “The Dubarry”. at His Majesty’s Theatre, Haymarket, in which

she succeeded Army Ahlers, the young German prima donna, who died, under tragic circumstances. Miss Welling received much publicity as the English girl who was gallantly carrying on with great success in a part that it had hitherto been thought only an international star could undertake. It was at the last matinee, in the final week of the run, that Mr. Nevin Tait and Mr. Frederick Blackman (producer of “The Dubarry” for J. C. Williamson Ltd.), attended the performance, and, after seeing Miss Welling in the part engaged her for the present tour.

' If Adolphe Menjou was a woman he says he would refrain from artificially queer-cut hair; heavy eye-shading; lip rouge that suggests an unpleasant accident; gaudy jewellery and ungainly earrings; formidably feline, highly-coloured finger-nails; pants, slacks and masculine, tailored clothing; coloured toe-nails and sandals for street wear.

SPICE OF THE PROGRAMME CURRENT SUPPORTING FEATURES. Everybody's Theatre: To-day, Monday and Tuesday: Paramount British News, “’Neath Italian Skies” (scenic), Pathe Pictorial Varieties, “Puss in Boots” (Powers’ Coloured Cartoon). Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: Australian Cinesound News, “Movie Memories” (old-time novelty), Sigmund Spaeth (musical). The Regent: To-day, Monday and Tuesday Gazette, “Madiera” ‘'travel), “Cubby’s Stratosphere Flight” (cartoon), Pathe News and “Derby Decade” (comedy). Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: British Sound News, Paramount Pictorial Varieties, “Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing” (screen song) and “Broadway Knights” (orchestral). The Opera House: To-day and Monday:

Pathe News, “Strictly Fresh Yeggs” (comedy) and Audio Review. Thursday and Friday: Pathe News, ; “Love and Hisses” (comedy) and “The Immigrant” (re-issue in sound of the famous Charlie Chaplin comedy). INGLEWOOD TALKIES To-day: Pat Hanna In “Waltzing Matilda.” ‘ Wednesday: “The Girl from Maxims,” Leslie Henson; an all-British comedy of the gay ’nineties. September 14 and 15: George Arliss in “The Working Man”; George Arliss at his best. September 19: Max Baer v. Primo Carnera Fight; four reels of exciting fighting between the world’s champion heavyweights. Supported by “Pleasure Cruise”; good comedy drama.

ANOTHER VOTING CONTEST GRETA GARBO MOST DISLIKED. A voting contest conducted by a film magazine along new lines resulted as follows: Favourite Joan Crawford Most Disliked ... Greta Garbo Most Beautiful . Norma Shearer Least Beautiful Katharine Hepburn Best Actress Helen Hayes Most Sex Appeal Jean Harlow Best Groomed Kay Francis Least Sex Appeal Zasu Pitts Most Charming Norma Shearer As a friend Joan Crawford £4OOO for Screen Rights. M-G-M has paid nearly £4OOO for the screen rights of “Sixteen,” the play now running at the Criterion Theatre, London.

STRATFORD PROGRAMMES THE PLAZA THEATRE. To-day and Monday: “Tell Me Tonight,” Jan Kiepura, Sonnie Hale, Magda Schneider. Tuesday and Wednesday: “Romantic New Zealand” (N.Z. Government Tourist and Publicity attraction). Thursday and Friday: “Tarzan and His Mate,” Maureen O’Sullivan, Neil Hamilton, Johnny Weismuller. THE KING’S THEATRE. To-day and Monday: “By Candlelight” Elissa Landi, Paul Lukas. WELL WORTH SEEING “ROMANTIC NEW ZEALAND.” Comparatively few can afford the time and leisure necessary to see one-half of the extraordinary range of life and colour that this country has to offer, and it will therefore come as a delightful surprise to picture-lovers to be able to view by medium of the silver screen a selection of subjects and incidents of unusual interest which have made this Dominion famous overseas. The purely scenic charm of the country carries a magic appeal in itself, but when there is merged with this its early romance and history, and its present life and progress, there is a tense interest. The film “Romantic New Zealand,” to be shown at the Plaza Theatre, Stratford, on Tuesday and Wednesday, has a dramatic opening depicting the early Polynesian voyagers obtaining their first sight of “The Long White Cloud” stretching along the dim ocean horizon. This is followed by the coming of Captain Cook’s Endeavour. Then in rapid sequence the full pageant of the Dominion’s life and history is brought to life. Pioneering, whaling, gold-seeking, the romance of rail and road building and a thousand and one picturesque items appear in the full beauty of colour, sound and bright descriptive talk. The colour photography of the picture js described as being of exceptional artistic merit. AMBITIOUS PRODUCTION “TARZAN AND HIS MATE.” An ambitious attempt to bring an adventure story to the screen is the film “Tarzan and His Mate,” featuring Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan, which commences at the Plaza Theatre on Thursday. Beasts that are shown in action include a herd of more than 20 elephants, more than 50 lions, a mankilling rhinoceros, chimpanzees, monkeys, wunderbeeste, gazelles, hippopotami, boa-constrictors and hundreds of other specimens of rare jungle life. Two of the biggest climaxes of the picture show a herd of maddened elephants charging a safari of natives and white men and later an attack of dozens of lions upon a camp. Of special interest in the picture are scenes taken under water by a special process. OFF WITH THE OLD FRANTIC SEARCH FOR TALENT. Hollywood producers are making an almost frantic search for new talent. In one week, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer revealed a laboratory theatre plan for unknown players and writers; Fox announced that the options on the first 35 youngsters on its junior lists had been extended; Universal sent its casting director on a national quest among the smaller stock companies; Columbia received a large importation from the stage; Monogram, an independent company, started a nation-wide snapshot contest; and Mascot, another independent company, signed up all of the 13 current Wampas Baby Stars for a single picture. The M.-G.-M. laboratory idea involves forty young players, who will appear in plays to be attended by all the executives on the lot, who will then become familiar with the individual work. , The Fox and Paramount plans are of a similar nature. Universal is attempting to strengthen its position by finding outstanding new talent, and believes that the stock companies offer the most logical field in which to seek. Columbia’s shipment of new talent was the result of a two months’ study of Broadway by its casting director. ON TOP ONCE MORE PAUL WHITEMAN FIGHTS BACK. When Universal’s “King of Jazz” (featuring Paul Whiteman) was launched a few years ago, it registered an artistic success; but unfortunately proved to be a box-office “flop.” At that time, Whiteman was at the peak of his fame, and commanded prodigious sums for both himself and his musicians. During the “King of Jazz” period, he was receiving about £lOOO a week, personally; while the band—aggregating about thirty odd men—were being paid £1863 weekly! With the failure of his film, Whiteman’s fame and fortune diminished rapidly, and it was not long before a good proportion of his star musicians had left him for more lucrative positions. Faced with adverse conditions, financial obligations, and derogatory, criticism, he was forced to reduce the personnel of his band to about 18 members.

Then followed a period during which he disappeared from tMe recording field altogether, and public interest was only revived spasmodically when he appeared in occasional concerts featuring the works of modernistic composers. Nevertheless, he • seems to have been quietly building his band up to its old standard of brilliancy and, within the last year or so, has become very popular in New York.

Latest reports seem to indicate that the halcyon days of big money have returned for Whiteman and his men. At the present time he is finishing a successful season at the Hotel Biltmore, New York, and is considering an offer to go across the Atlantic to London’s Dorchester Hotel. Although he has not named a fee for himself, he is insisting on £l5OO a week, for his band of 35. MODEST BING CROSBY TWO REPORTS HE CARRIES. Bing Crosby carries two newspaperclippings with him. One is a review of “College Humor,” Crosby’s first big picture, which does not mention his name. The other, a review of a picture made by a rival singer, says: “He has a fine voice, but cannot act as well as Bing Crosby, who can’t act at all.” It cannot be denied that Crosby is extremely modest.

ARTISTIC PRODUCER LOSS TO BRITISH STAGE. With the death of Sir Nigel Playfair, 8.A., the London stage loses an outstanding figure. Sir Nigel was a sound actor, but he was much more than thatf as in the last 20 years he demonstrated his ability as a producer-manager to teach the public what it wanted. Sir Nigel was the son of Mr. William Playfair, a London physician, and' cousin of Arthur Playfair, an actor. He was educated at Winchester, Harrow and Oxford. Although he qualified as a barrister, the stage always attracted him since the 0.U.D.5., “Old Stagers” and “Windsor Stroller” days.'

He made his first professional appearance at the Garrick Theatre, London, as Mr. Melrose in “A Pair of Knickerbock-

ers,” and from that went on to play in many plays in many theatres. He was in “Madame Sherry” in 1903, was Dr Caius. in “The Merry Wives” that year, and toured with Sir Frank Benson in 1904. Subsequently Sir Nigel toured with Laurence Irving, and in 1907 was in Shaw’s comedy, “You Never Can Tell” at the Haymarket. He appeared in “Amatol” under Granville Barker, and in Shaw’s “Fanny’s First Play” at the Palace in 1911. He was Cayley Drummel’ in a revival of “The Second Mrs. Tanqueray” in 1913, and next year figured in the cast of Shaw’s “The Doctor’s Dilemma.”

During the war period Sir Nigel was associated ■ with “The Recruiting Sergeant,” “The Day Before the Day,” “The Critic,” and “Wurzel Flummery.” “Abraham Lincoln” (Drinkwater) was one of the first plays he produced, after taking over the management of the Hammersmith Lyric in 1919. This was the initiation of a series of remarkable successes, “John Ferguson” and “As You Like It” in 1920; “The Beggar’s Opera” (of which 1463 performances were given),

“The Merry Wives,” “The Way of the World,” “The Duenna,” “The Rivals,” “And That’s the Truth,” “The Beaux Stratagem,” “When Crummies Play,” “She Stoops to Conquer” (in which Marie Ney figured so attractively), “La Vie Parisienne,” “R.U.R.” and “Shockheaded Peter.”

Sir Nigel was part author, with Paul Reubens, of many children’s plays; was a frequdnt contributor to magazines, and published “The Story of the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.” His favourite part was Ralph in “The Knight of the Burning Peslte.” A few months ago it was announced that Sir Nigel Playfair was coming out this year under engagement to J. C. Williamson, Ltd., to produce a number of new comedies in Australia and New Zealand. Actors to Produce. W. C. Fields, Bing Crosby, Gene Fowler, Jim Tully and Mack Sennett propose banding together to form their own production company.

DR. MERTON HODGE’S PLAY UNBROKEN RUN OF MONTHS. “The Wind and the Rain,” that ■ delightful comedy of medical student life; continues to go on and on at St. Martin’s Theatre, and it gives the author, Dr. Merton Hodge (Wellington) great pleasure to find people enjoying it so greatly. Some people go over and over again: everybody speaks well of it, writes our London correspondent on July 6. New Zealand friends of the playwright, as well as all theatregoers, will be interested to hear that Messrs. J. C. Williamson have definitely bought this play for production in Australia and New Zealand. It is understood that they want largely to cast it in Sydney, as the expense of taking out an English company in these days is a very serious tax on

the firm. Dr. Hodge hopes to spare ■ the time to go out and see that when“ The Wind and the Rain” reaches New Zealand it will be as near a replica of the St Martin’s production as it is possible to obtain. At present it plays to ftfil houses in London. It has been running without a break since last September, and reached its 300th performance some weeks ago. “Grief Goes Over,” ! Dr. Hodge’s other play, is to be produced in October, directed by Miss Auriol Lee,, and under the management of Messrs. Howard and Wyndham. It will be after the appearance of this that the ■■ author hopes to have a trip out to New Zealand. It is not desired that “Grief Goes Over” shall be put on while the popular and entertaining comedy still fills St. Mju*. tin’s. .... .■ >•'.

Mae West’s Latest. A feature of Mae West’s new Paramount picture, “Belle of the Nineties," is the singing of negro: spirituals by * chorus of 75 led by Mae herself and accompanied by D,uke Ellington and his coloured band. '

GRETA GARBO SLIPPiNG COMPETITION OF NEW STARS. 1 All through Europe Greta Garbo continues to outdraw by several hundred per cent, any other star of whatever nationality, but in the 5 opinion of the box-office officials of Hollywood,. Garbo is slipping very dangerously,. partly because of an unfortunate comeback, and partly because of all the other alluring faces which have appeared on the screen recently. Cutting Her Teeth. Zita Percel, Hungarian.. actress, has been given a film contract on condition that she has one-tenth of an inch filed off her front teeth!