THE SCREEN : ITS PLAYS AND ITS STARS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20104, 10 May 1935, Page 16

THE SCREEN : ITS PLAYS AND ITS STARS

“The Crusades” It is only a coincidence, but the hero in Cecil B. De Mille’s new Paramount picture, “The Crusades,” Richard the Lion-Heart, is somewhat similar to the hero in “Cleopatra,” Marc Antony. Both are giants and mighty wrestlers. „ Marc Antony was the largest man in the Roman Legions, and Richard topped the English Crusaders by more than a head. Though De Mille had met several giants who were not particularly bright, he is becoming convinced that there is some relation between tall stature and military genius. The Roman could out-wrestle anybody in his army. So could Richard, whose temper was less under control. Once, when slightly annoyed, he picked up his rival, Duke Leopold of Austria, and threw him over the heads of the mob. Unlike the late-renowned “Man Mountain.” the Duke did not drop at once, but stayed in the air longer, to crash senseless down a hill and was all but dead for a week. Henry Wilcoxon, who played Marc Antony, is cast for the part of the doughty Richard. As for the Duke—the role will be played by someone who can take punishment!

Quaint Setting: Josef von Sternberg is taking care that “The Devil is a Woman,” Marlene Dietrich’s next Paramount drama, will have much of the true salt of comedy. One of its gay episodes is set in a Cadiz dance hall, which is a most original background. All that most folk know of Cadiz is that Columbus set sail from there, but this sun-lit Spanish port is one of the merriest of Spanish towns, famed for its cabarets. They all have stages and good music, and it was in this sphere that Raquel Meller gained her renown, for though the patrons drink a good deal and are fairly noisy, they are keenly appreciative of art. The act is a thumb-nail operetta, with Miss Dietrich as a hoyden diva. There are the comedy figures of a baker, a vegetable merchant and a peasant, backed by a chorus of operatic maidens. All are jammed into a miniature stage, decorated with fish nets, dried pelicans, shells and marine souvenirs.

Miss Dietrich sings like a lark. The high-priced customers, hanging perilously from their box, clap their hands at her ears. A fifteen-piece orchestra plays for all it is worth. All is merry, and clients and performers being jammed together like sardines in a tin, the scene is a marvel of compactness.

“Village Tale” Kay Johnson has been signed by RKO Radio to play the feminine lead opposite Randolph Scott in “Village Tale,” screen version of Phil Strong’s best-selling novel. “Village Tale” will go into production soon under the direction of John Cromwell. In addition to Miss Johnson and Scott, the cast contains, Dorothy Bnrgess, Guinn Williams, Donald Meek, Robert Barrat, Janet Beecher, Andy Clyde, Edward Ellis and Ray Mayer. “Village Tale” is Strong’s third novel success. Its predecessors were “State Fair” and "Stranger’s Return.” Tribute to Mae West An indication of Mae West’s importance in the fashion world was seen recently when Victor Stiebel, famous London designer, declared that a personal interview with Miss West on the set of Paramount’s “How Am I Doing?” was well worth the trip across the ocean even at his busiest season. “Everything Miss West wears or sponsors is immediately seized upon by the smartest women in Europe,” said Stiebel. And he frankly stated that having met his style-re volutioniser should and would increase his standing in the designing world.

“Star of Midnight” William Powell’s new picture, “Star of Midnight,” with Ginger Rogers as the leading woman, has gone into production at the RKO Radio studio in Hollywood under the direction of Stephen Roberts. Based on a popular story by Arthur Somers Roclie, master of mystery stories, “Star of Midnight” gives the popular Powell one of the finest roles he has had in years. Other able and popular troupers in the cast are Leslie Fenton, Ralph Morgan and Russell Hopton.

Herbert Marshall Herbert Marshall had no idea of becoming an actor. He was born in London, May 23, and became articled to a firm of chartered accountants. His first stage appearance was in the role of the servant in “The Adventure of Lady Ursula” and later he toured with Cyril Maude in “Grump” in America and Canada. He served in the Army throughout the war. On the cessation of hostilities he joined a stock com-

“The Human Side” She knew that he was in love with his former wife. She knew that he lied when he told her he loved her. She didn’t believe him when he said she was the world's worst actress. And all because he was the most irresponsible and charming man she had ever known. He had the human side. “The Human Side” is the greatest combination of love, comedy and complications that has reached the screen in months. Look at the people who love and laugh and who get into trouble: Adolphe Menjou in the fastest, funniest and most human role of his career; Doris Kenyon in the loveliest and most lovable part she has played; Betty Lawford, the “other woman” who could wreck any man’s life; Charlotte Henry, famed “Alice in Wonderland,” in a role that makes you want to sweep this adorable child into your arms; Reginald Owen and Joseph Cawthorn, two of the most delightful comedians on the screen; Dick Winslow as the boy who would reform his father; George Ernest and tiny Dickie Moore in the outstanding roles of their careers. It is a dramatically riotous story about a man whom all women loved and who insisted in being in love with his former wife in spite of what the others did for him—and to him. And all through it the dapper and debonair Menjou laughs and loves. See his mad family and his mad girl friend and all their equally mad friends in Universal’s “The Human Side” at the Regent Theatre starting Wednesday next. • • • * “Clive of India” As a likely successor to the high estate achieved last year by “The House of Rothschild" is 20th Century’s “Clive of India” starring Ronald Colman, the first million-dollar production ever produced by this new group of film makers. The plot of this exciting story, though true, is stranger than fiction. Robert Clive started as an obscure clerk for the British East India Company. Without military training, he became the greatest of all British military conquerors, yet never had an official rank in the British army. And after being made Lord Clive, he was brought to trial in the House of Commons and disgraced on a false charge of corruption; broken by the very nation he had made great! There are more than seventy speaking parts in the picture, with Loretta Young as Lady Clive playing the most important role of her career. The other famous players in the cast, several of whom were taken from England to America for the picture, include Colin Clive, who is a direct descendant of Robert Clive, Francis Lister, C. Aubrey Smith and. Montague Love. The scenario was written by W. P. Lipscombe and R. J. Minney, the British authors of the original play, which is now in its second successful year on the London stage. “Clive of India” is a tremendous historic spectacle, yet the love story of Clive and the girl who loved him to the end is the most thrilling part of the picture. “Clive of India” will be released by United Artists.

John Beal and Gloria Stuart John Beal and Gloria Stuart, two of filmland’s most popular players, are going to sing for the first time in their picture careers in “Laddie” RKO Radio’s screen version of Gene Stratton Porter’s best-selling novel. Beal and Miss Stuart have adorned many a dramatic picture in Hollywood, but never before have they warbled for the microphone. John scored his greatest success to date as the solemn Gavin Dishart in “The Little Minister,” while Gloria has been pictorially beautiful in many a screen hit. Now that Beal is down for one ballad, and the blonde Miss Stuart two, in “Laddie,” it develops that both are expert vocalists. The songs, of course, are merely incidental to the romantic drama of “Laddie”, but both its charming featured players welcome the chance to show their admirers that they can pipe a tune when necessary.

pany and played in many productions. From then on he appeared in both America and England, adding to his reputation all the while, and sparing some time to appear in silent pictures. But it was the advent of talking pictures which opened up a new field for his talent. He appeared in one of the earliest sound pictures, “The Letter,” with Jeanne Eagles and set the foundation on his screen career. Herbert Marshall is married to Edna Best, who gave up a screen contract last year in order to be with her husband in New York. Both were appearing in “There’s Always Juliet” on Broadway when Von Sternbery, director of “Blonde Venus,” witnessed Marshall’s performance. Negotiations were immediately begun to bring him to Hollywood, where he played opposite Marlene Dietrich in “Blonde Venus.” His latest picture is “The Outcast Lady,” in which he shares honours with Constance Bennett.

INTERESTING TOPICS ON FILM ARTISTS AND CINEMA ATTRACTIONS

‘Sanders of the River” Muir Mathieson, Musical Director of Ljondon Films and Michael Spolianski, he well-known composer, are responiible for the music of “Sanders of the liver,” and have been engaged for the )ast four months on one of the most nteresting problems of their careers. When Mr Zoltan Korda returned vith his unit from Central Africa, he jrought with him the only recorded >riginal sound tracks of tribal dances md songs, which with the greatest dificulty he was able to collect on his ;xpedition. These valuable sound racks constituted some thousands of

feet of film. Muir Mathieson then ran his sound track through, and was immensely struck with its remarkable harmonic and melodious qualities. Unfortunately, the peculiar primitive string and pipe instruments abounded in quarter tones which could not be reproduced with any known modern instrument, and in order that Paul Robeson and Nina Mae McKinney might sing to these melodies it was essential for them to be re-recorded.

After many experiments, Mr Spolianski was able to write new arrangements based on the original melodies so that a modem choir and orchestra were able to accompany Paul Robeson and Nina Mae McKinney in their songs. In order to capture the spirit of these songs Muir Mathieson conducted what must have been the most peculiar orchestra ever assembled in England. For instance, the orchestra contained ten string basses, tympani and native drums and a mixed chorus.

When these songs are heard, the audience will also hear the original African native chorus blending with the modern arrangement. The native words have been cleverly blended into the English lyrics by Mr Arthur Wimperis, and every effort has been made by the musical department of London Films to make these musical sequences some of the most amazing ever heard. “Sanders of the River,” directed by Zoltan Korda, and starring Paul Robeson, Leslie Banks and Nina Mae McKinney will be released through United Artists.

A New Star Marina Schubert, Paramount featured player, is well on the way to becoming the second generation of her family to achieve fame.

She is the daughter of Madame Nina Koshetz, former star of the Russian Imperial Grand Opera and vocal teacher of national repute. Marina has taken singing and dramatic lessons from her mother ever since childhood with the intention of embarking upon an acting career that was fulfilled when the Paramount studio signed her. Her first role in Paramount’s “All the King’s Horses,” co-starring Carl Brisson and Mary Ellis, was pronounced to be so successful that she was immediately cast in the leading role in “Car 99.”

“Kid Millions” An old-fashioned minstrel show done in a new-fashioned way will have Eddie Cantor as a black-face end man in “Kid Millions” his fifth annual screen musical comedy for Samuel Goldwyn. The number will be centred around a revival of Irving Berlin’s great song “Mandy” which Eddie Cantor introduced in the Ziegfeld “Follies” of 1919 with Marilyn Miller. The minstrel show and its interpolation of “Mandy” will be a part of a ship’s concert, participated in by the conspirators on their way to Egypt to claim a buried treasure. Eddie has the help of Ann Sothern, Ethel Merman and George Murphy in the song. The ensembles are staged by Seymour Felix and the story is directed by Roy Del Ruth for release through United Artists.

A Beauty Secret Do you have those days when you are tired of everything about yourself? If so, then you’ll probably welcome Sylvia Sidney’s recipe for curing this uncomfortable sensation. After all, it is difficult to keep up the pace of to-day if one pays attention to each and every cosmetic, coiffure and fashion fad. Sylvia’s method is far easier and trying.

Sylvia, whose latest picture is Paramount’s “Behold My Wife,” claims that the most recent attack of “I’m tired of myself” succumed readily to a cleansweep beauty ritual. This is what she means. Begin all over again with

your hair your face and your hands. Remove all make-up, banish every trace of wave and pour the red nail polish you’ve been using down the sink. Get a brush and give your hair a vigorous brushing. Part it in the centre and comb it back severely over your ears. If you’ve been going in for curls, waves and fluffy effects, this will immediately stimulate you and it may prove so becoming that you’ll want to adopt it for a while. Treat your make-up in the same way. If you’ve been using a light powder, try a darker one of a different shade entirely. If yours has been dark, try going in for pallor. If you have been using a little rouge, try going without it. The same rule applies to your lipstick. Change it completely and try one you have never before used. Reshape your eyebrows by plucking them into a new type of arch and maybe cheating in a little line with an eyebrow pencil. Put your mascara away and use none at all for a while, or try one of the new deep blue shades on the upper lashes only. You’ll feel and look like a new woman and if its as successful as this same process proved to be for Sylvia, you’ll thank your favourite star for a timely beauty tip!

New Role for Sylvia Sidney Sylvia Sidney, who has essayed almost every possible type of film role in her career, appears in one she has never before attempted in her new starring Paramount film, “Behold My Wife,” coming to-day week to the Majestic Theatre. In this picture Miss Sidney appears as a full-blooded beautiful Indian girl. Miss Sidney is first seen in the native New 'Mexico background of the Apache Indians, of which tribe she is a member. Here she meets Gene Raymond, pampered son of wealthy parents who fled from New York when his family halted his marriage to a girl he loved. Raymond, who is wounded in a fight with an Indian, is nursed back to health by Miss Sidney. Realising that she is in love with him, Raymond asks her to marry him and accompany him back to New York. He hopes, in this fashion to humiliate his family. His plans miscarry, however, when his family takes the Indian girl to her heart. In his disappointment, he betrays his real purpose to her and forces her to run away with another man who has fallen in love with her, Monroe Owsley. Raymond repents and follows the girl, knowing now that he really loves her. But in the intervening time, Owsley has been killed and Miss Sidney is being held for the murder.

“Folies Bergere” Merle Oberon, England’s loveliest screen star who first gained notice in “The Private Life of Henry VIII.” makes her long-awaited Hollywood debut in “Folies Bergere” which offers Chevalier his first dual role. Chevalier is seen both as his straw-hatted, singing self, as the star of the Folies Bergere and also as an amorous French baron whom he impersonates in his act and in life as well. United Artists will release “Folies Bergere.”

“Our Daily Bread” King Vidor, in his production “Our Daily Bread” carries on where “The Crowd” left off. He takes the boy and girl in the midst of adversity, two human beings made helpless by circumstances. but still fighting, and gives them their chance at life and happiness and self-respect. Vidor’s idea in this picture is the “back to the soil” movement and Nature is his real hero. The boy and girl, city-bred, go to a farm. They find that there are others in the same boat as they, willing to work to eat, and so they start a co-operative movement to make the farm give them all life. Into this community come musicians, barbers, plumbers, tailors, carpenters, old vaudeville artists, every type that the city can no longer care for, and by exchange of services for what they need, they re-build their lives and build a future. There is thrilling joy in the first green sprouts of the planted com fields. There is horror and despair when drought threatens to destroy that corn. There is excitement and triumph in the building of a ditch that brings water to the parched land. Karen Morley and Tom Keene are the boy and girl. Keene is perfectly cast. It is Miss Morley’s return to the screen and it is a triumph for her in every way. John Qualen, as Chris, the man who lost his farm, is superb. But it is to King Vidor that full gratitude for this picture must really go. He has; made a stirring picture of “Our Daily Bread” shortly to be released by United Artists.

“Royal Cavalcade” In attempting within the period scheduled to make a picture that faithfully reflected the spirit of the nation during the twenty-five years of His Majesty’s reign, the 8.1. P. studios knew they were taking on a Herculean task, but that they have been successful in their endeavours is proved by the reports of those who have already seen the film. According to report it is a perfect blending of' emotional thrills, comedy and those human touches that stamp the masterpiece. The conception is epic, the cameos gems and the casting and acting superlative. Throughout, there are intimate touches that are so pleasantly sentimental that the whole nation will revel in them. The production, we are informed, is better entertainment than “Cavalcade” and will undoubtedly bring prestige and profit to all connected with it. Nothing can possibly prevent “Royal Cavalcade” from filling every picture house that shows it. We predict this film will be the sensation of the year. “Royal Cavalcade” will be shown in Timaru within a fortnight. “The Wedding Night” The love story of a famous New York author, played by Gary Cooper, and a New England farm girl, played by Anna Sten, is told in “The Wedding Night” the Samuel Goldwyn production shortly to be released by United Artists. Also featured are Ralph Bellamy, Helen Vinson and Siegfried Rumann. King Vidor is directing the picture. Cooper, as the author, suddenly realises that high living and luxury have ruined his literary ability, and goes to his country home in Connecticut. There he finds fresh inspiration in the strange habits and customs of his foreign-born neighbours and he decides to write a book about them, with his farm girl neighbour as the heroine. The author and the girl realise they love each other, but her father ,in keeping with tradition, has commanded that she marry a man of his choice, although she does not love him. Edwin Knopf was the author of the original story of “The Wedding Night.”

Mickey Mouse The versatility of Mickey Mouse is seemingly inexhaustible. Already a leading star of the screen, an idol of children’s clubs, and world influence for good will among humankind, he

A Rollicking Comedy A distinctive and well balanced cast was selected by Warner Bros, for the leading roles in the rollicking comedy, “Friends of Mr Sweeney,” which comes to the Theatre Royal on Saturday. Charlie Ruggles, the inimitable comedian and the screen counterpart of the ‘Timid Soul,” who in this instance turns into a raging lion, has the leading role. Ruggles will be remembered especially for his characterisations in “Alice in Wonderland,” “Gentlemen of the Press,” “Mama Loves Papa” and “Love Me To-night.” The leading feminine part is handled by Ann Dvorak who recently appeared in “Side Streets,” “Heat Lighting,” “Mas-

recently became a star of the air waves. Sponsored and accompanied by his creator, Walt Disney, Mickey was heard over a nation-wide United States radio broadcast which emanated from Hollywood and which pleased more than 10,000,000 listeners for more than an hour. The programme included excerpts from Mickey’s new pictures, music, intimate conversations with Walt, and sundry didoes and capers of Mickey’s companions in cartoon-land, including Minnie, Pluto. Claribelle cow, Donald Duck and many others. Not long afterwards another group of Disney characters took vocalised form upon the radio waves of London when a group of singers, actors and musicians began a series of broadcasts of Disney’s famous Silly Symphonies. Proof of the popularity of this radio feature is shown by the thousands of letters of commendation received from enthusiastic radio fans.

sacre” and “College Coach.” Eugene Pallette, the famous Sergeant Heath of the S. S. Van Dine detective novels, the most recent of which to be made into a picture being “The Kennel Murder Case,” has an important role as a breezy westerner and pal of Charlie Ruggles.

“The Lives of a Bengal Lancer” Mr John E. Kennebeck. Paramount's Managing Director, recently received a message from his company’s London Office to the effect that their Majesties, the King and Queen, witnessed a specially arranged screening of “The Lives of a Bengal Lancer,” Paramount’s Road Show' Production of British courage. The picture was screened at Compton Place, the residence of the Duke of Devonshire. The royal couple were delighted with the picture and paid a special tribute to the production staff.