THE THEATRE WEEK

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1935, Page 20 (Supplement)

THE THEATRE WEEK

UNKNOWN BEAUTY IN LEAD. Instead of relying entirely on the stage, as they have done in the past, British film producers are now trying the experiment of training comparatively unknown beauties for stellar film roles. So far the experiment has proved a great success. A year or so ago, Joanna Boniface Winnifrith, blonde and pretty, the daughter of the rector of an old-world English village in the heart of Kent, was unknown to fame. But she had film aspirations and went to London, where she started as a humble extra. To-day she is a movie star. She has phanged her name to Anna Lee. Filmgoers will soon be seeing her as Jack Hulbert’s leading lady in the Gainsborough film “The Camels Are Coming” which is to be shown at the New Plymouth Opera House on Saturday.

SIX CATCHY SONG HITS. With a story specially written by J. B. Priestley, famed as the author of “The Good Companions,” and punctuated with six catchy and comical song hits, sung as only “Our Grade” could sing them, ’’Sing As We Go.” which centres around the famous English pleasure resort, Blackpool, is acclaimed as the popular Lancashire comedienne’s greatest screen success to date. The film,, which will begin at Everybody’s. Theatre, New Plymouth, on Saturday shows Gracie Fields as a human spider, vanishing lady, fortune teller, ice-cream vendor, and whatnot.

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TOOKL POWELL IN MUSICAL FILM. There is an interesting and satisfying story which allows the introduction of tuneful music and much good acting in the splendid musical film “Twenty Million Sweethearts,” which commences a three day season at the Plaza Theatre, Stratford, on Tuesday. The picture is full of popular songs,- including “The Man on the Flying Trapeze,” “How Am I Doin’” and “I’ll String Along With You.” The story tells of a radio agent who is sent to search for new talent. He discovers a young singer whose struggle for success forms the basis of a highlyentertaining film. The cast is composed of prominent American radio performers and screen players. The leading role is taken by the popular young artist Dick Powell, who gives an excellent performance. ROLE AFTER HER OWN HEART. “We Live Again,” coming to the Regent on Saturday has nothing in common with the “Nana” that introduced Arma Sten to the world of American film; last year, as Zola’s heroine in the story' of gas-lit Paris in 1870, the blonde young actress from Soviet Russia had to play a part with which she had no native or temperamental sympathy. On the other hand, Miss Sten’s new picture draws on everything that she loves ,as a matter of temperament. “We Live Again” shows an actress doing well the thing she loves best. It is a provocative plcturisation of Tolstoy’s prophetic novel, “Resurrection,” and is produced by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by Rouben MamouUan as a brilliant addition to his chain of distinguished films. MULTI-STAR ENTERTAINMENT. Mickey Mouse, the cartoon, actually acting with human actors; a great orchestra suspended in. mid-air; huge glass sets in which beautiful girls dance in cellophane garb; a lion stampeding a great'Hollywood party—these are a few of the sights, thrills and laughs in “Hollywood Party,”. Metro-Gold wynMayer’s much heralded multi-star entertainment which comes to the Kings Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday. The new picture presents a distinctive new form of entertainment. Basically it is a straight drama, love, romance and all. But injected into it,’ as a logical detail' of the drama itself, are screaming comedy interludes, brilliant . musical spectacles, and other swift-moving incidentals that keep the picture' at top speed continually. TOUGH ON A GUY. Robert Montgomery thinks he ought to receive a bonus for the bruises he suffered during filming of scenes in “Forsaking All Others,” which opens today at the Hawera Opera House with Joan Crawford, Clark Gable and Montgomery heading the cast. In one sequence he was in an aut'inobile wreck; in another he was drenched to the skin in a rain storm; and in a third scene, said to be one of the funniest in the picture, he is banged over the head, falls sww an obstacle on the floor, has his Inger cut and is scratched by a cat.