The Moving Row of Magic Shadow Shapes

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18382, 28 September 1929, Page 12

The Moving Row of Magic Shadow Shapes

“The Trespasser” is Miss Gloria Swanson’s first talking picture. The supporting cast includes Ribert Ames, Henry B. Walthall, William Holden, Purnell Uratt and Miss Marcella Corday. Warner Baxter and Miss Mary Duncan are to appear in a talkie “Such Men Are Dangerous.” The story is woven around the tragedy of the Belgian millionaire, Lowenstein, who mysteriously disappeared from a LondonParis aeroplane several months ago. David Percy and Miss Lois Moran will play the leading roles in a forthcoming production, “Words and Music.” This all-talking and singing Fox Movietone production is based on a story by Jack Edwards, with songs and lyrics by Dave Stamper and William Kernell.

Miss Lola Lane and Paul Page, who scored strongly on their talking picture debut in “Speakeasy,” are to be reunited in a Fox Movietone production. They will play the 1, ding roles in “The Girl from Havana,” by Edwin Burke and John Stone, which Is to be directed by Benjamin Stoloff, the Continental director. “Pleasure Crazed,” which is the screen title of the Monckton Hoffe stage play, “Scent of Sweet Almonds,” has been completed by Fox Movietone. This is an all-talking picture and is the first work directed by Donald Gallagher. “Pleasure Crazed” will also serve for the debut of a new star in Kenneth Mac Kenna. “Behind that Curtain,” a romantic mystery of love and intrigue set in England, India and San Francisco, taken from the story by Earl Derr Bigger of the same title, has been transferred to the screen as an all-talking special by Fox Movietone directed by Irvine Cummings, with Warner Baxter and Miss Lois Moran in the leading roles. Other prominent players are Gilbert Emery, Phillip Strange and Claude King. Georges Carpentier and Jack Dempsey are possibilities for the cast of Warner Brothers’ new production, “Show of Shows.” The Frenchman, who was a huge success in Paris in a song and dance act, showed promise in his screen tests. Just what the former boxers will do in this picture is not properly known at the present time Warners are concentrating upon first negotiating a price and then obtaining signatures.

Ronald Coleman will follow “Bulldog Drummond,” his first all-talking picture, with “Condemned,” a "talkie” version of Blair Nile’s book, “Condemned to Devil’s Island.” Sidney Howard, whose play, “They Knew What They Wanted,” was produced here a few years ago by Moscovitch, is the author of the screen play. Mr Howard also wrote the dialogue for “Bulldog Drummond.” Coleman appears in “Condemned” as Michel Aubain, a French convict on Devil’s Island. No one else has been cast in the picture as yet.

Miss Janet Gaynor.and Charles Farrell, who achieved fame on the silent screen in “Seventh Heaven” and “Street Angle,” are shortly to be introduced in an entirely new way as featured players in talking, singing and dancing Fox Movietone productions. Tests have demonstrated their ability to adapt themselves to the new requirements of the talking screen and they have been cast for featured roles in the Movietone musical comedy “Sunnyside Up.” Their second picture, in which there will be music and singing will be titled “Playmates.” Miss Gaynor and Mr Farrell have already completed their first dialogue picture, “Lucky Star.”

Miss Joan Bennett, the young stage and screen actress, whose climb to fame in talking pictures has been one of the most meteoric in Hollywood’s history, has won the chief feminine role in the first talking and singing United Artists’ production, “Song of Broadway.” Miss Bennett’s first appearance in talking pictures was as leading lady in Ronald Colman’s “Bulldog Drummond.” Her work in this production won her the romantic lead in the new United Artists’ dialogue feature, “Three Live Ghosts.” Ronald Colman’s next talking picture for United Aritists will be “Condemned.” Miss Ann Harding, a young stage player is to have the leading feminine role.

The addition of Karl Dane, Miss Edythe Chapman and J. C. Nugent to the cast of “Navy Blues” has been announced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This production stars William Haines, with Miss Anita Page in the leading feminine role. Clarence Brown is directing. Clifford Grey who wrote the lyrics for “Kit the Deck,” “Sally,” and a number of famous Zeigfeld successes, was engaged to write the lyrics for the first original screen opperetta, “The Love Parade,” which is being produced by Paramount with Maurice Chevalier in the starring role. Miss Joannette MacDonald, a famous musical comedy star from Ercadway, has the leading feminine role. The first Chinese woman to brave the conve.itiu-.s of her ancestors and appear oeioxe the camera piays with Lon Chaney in ais ns., Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer picture, "Where East is East.” She is Mrs Wong Wing, who hist appearea i*. the cud days and started other Chinese actresses in the new art. Mrs Wing has played with Chaney in several pictures, including “Mr Wu,” “The Road to Mandalay” and others.

In “The Duke Steps Out,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s graphic romance oi college and the prize ring, which will be released shortly, William Haines proves not only a clever actor, but also a \ery clever boxer. In the big fight scenes, he is pitted against Jac*. Roper, famous heavyweight championsnip contender, and stages a fight that is a classic in ring battles. Between all this his whimsical humour dots the structure with laughter. Joan Crawford, who scored a sensational success in Dancing Daughters,” is the heroine of this production, and Karl Dane, as the giant trainer brings in a ton weight of laughs. Lily Damita, who plays one of the principal roles in M.G.M’s. “The Bridge of San Luis Rey,” was quite at home in her role of Camile, the dancer. Miss Damita states that if a star knows the different dances of the nations, she can play their nationalities on the screen and stage fully. This fiery little dancer carefully studied the old Peruvian dances which she w*as to portray in the picture, and you will shortly be able to see how splendid she did them. One of the most sensational gem robberies ever attempted is used as the basis of the theme for “Desert Nights,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s starring feature for John Gilbert, which will be released soon. It is a most interesting and gripping tale, for some of the most dramatic work of Gilbert’s colourful career is to be seen in th*> later sequences in which he and his doubtful companion are lost in the heart of an African desert. Mary Nolan makes a charming leading lady, while Ernest Torrence, in the role, of the suave and exceedingly clever crook, is excellentShowing how the tables can be turned in an instance in “Why Leave Home,” in which Sue Carol is playing the featured role and Nick Stuart a subordinate part. When Fox made the initial version of this story two years ago the studio used the original title “Cradle Snatchers,” and Nicx Stuart was the featured player. He pleaded that Miss Carol be given a break and she was allotted a small part. Tne couple are to wed this year

Russell J. Bid well, director, and Alan Birmingham, actor are doing a dual role sequence wherein Birmingham fights, talks and ties himself up with a rope. This is the first dual dialogue role played in the talkies and as usual Fox Movietone are the first people to do i£. Birmingham is playing the hero and heavy in “Masquerade” for Fox Movietone. John McCormack, now at More Abbey in Ireland, has cabled his approval of the selection of Frank Borzage as stage director for the Fox Movietone feature which will introduce to Motion picture theatres the singing and talking personality of the internationally known tenor. According to announcement from Winfield Sheehan, vice president in charge of production of Fox pictures. Mr Borzage left Hollywood eariy in August to begin production in Ireland at location already selected by Mr McCormack.