The Talking Screen

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 301, 19 December 1931, Page 24 (Supplement)

The Talking Screen

\ The Christchurch “Star” is New Zealand’s Official Film Newspaper

GENERAL FILM GOSSIP. BRITISH MASTERPIECE. Beautiful Naples forms the hackground of “City of Song.” the British talkie masterpiece, which will be shown at the Theatre Royal on Christmas night. The film has all the essentials of fine entertainment, combining romance, beautiful natural settings, and delightful music. Jan Kiepura, the celebrated Venetian tenor, is heard in many fine song numbers. Born in Poland, Kiepura studied for law, but finally chose a musical career. After singing in opera at Warsaw, Vienna and on a concert tour throughout Europe he became leading ten °r 111 1930 at the Scala Opera House, Milan. Betty Stockfield, one of the leading British actresses, appears with Kiepura in “ City of Song.” “ Night Nurse.” “Night Nurse,” which commenced a five days' run at the Regent Theatre to-day, presents Barbara Stanwyck m

the leading role. This talented actress was first a chorus girl and then a cabaret dancer before a clever impersonation in one show ■won for her a place in the famous Ziegfeld Follies. In her climb up the ladder of fame she became a Broadway stage star, and on going to Hollywood she

immediately joined the ranks of the stars. “ Ladies of Leisure,” “ Illicit ” and “ Locked Door” are some of the films in which she has starred. In private life her name is Mrs Frank Fay. Idol of the Screen. Maurice Chevalier, the popular French actor, who appears in “ The Smiling Lieutenant,” which opens a season at the Plaza on Boxing Day, has had a meteoric rise to fame. At the end of the Great War he returned to Paris from a German prison camp suffering from a wound in the chest. Doctors said that he would never be able to sing again. He did not lose hope, however, and before long his charm, sense of humour and acting ability made him the idol of France. Successful tours of England and South America were followed by his introduction to motion pictures. “ Innocents of Paris ” was an instantaneous hit and “ The Love Parade,” “ Paramount on Parade” and “The Big Pond” followed in quick order. Australian Comedian. Leon Errol, star in “ Finn and Hattie,” one of the two features now showing at the Theatre Royal, is an Australian by birth. He went to America ns a youth and embarked on a stage career, eventually becoming one of the best-known comedians in New \ ork Zasu Pitts, who plays opposite Errol, first became known on the screen in slapstick comedy, but lately has played emotional roles. The pair provide comedy de luxe in “ Finn and Hattie.” In the other attraction, “Virtuous Sin,” Walter Huston plays the lead. Born in Toronto, Canada, Huston trained to be an electrical engineer, but he abandoned this and made a stage debut in 1901. After lean times he rose to be a Broadway star. Popular Team. Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell are together again in “ Merely Mary Ann,” which will be the main feature on the new programme to be presented at the Regent Theatre on Christmas night. When Charles Farrell began his movie career eight years ago he was just one of a vast army of “ extras ” at Hollywood. He remained in this position for over a year, and then in 1925 achieved his first leading part in “ Wings of Youth.” Farrell then became associated with Janet Gaynor in “Seventh Heaven,” “ Sunnyside Up,” “ High Society Blue ” and “ The Man Who Came Back,” and to-day they are one of the most popular teams in pictures. Juvenile Favourites. Favourite juvenile actors of the screen will be seen in Paramount’s picturisation of Mark Twain’s story, “ Huckleberry Finn,” which opens at the Civic Theatre on Christmas Eve. Jackie Coogan, who plays the role of Tom Sawyer, is sixteen years of age. Both his parents were on the stage at one time. Jackie’s screen career attracted the interest of Charlie Chaplin, who gave the boy the title role in “ The Kid.” Success in this picture marked the opening of a brilliant career. Two

years ago the young star toured America and Europe in vaudeville. Also appearing with Jackie Coogan in “ Huckleberry Finn ” are Mitzi Green, Junior Durkin and Jackie Searl. Vivacious Actress. Sally O’Neil, the vivacious Irish actress who has the leading role in “ The Brat,” now showing at the Crystal Palace Theatre, is the daughter of a New Jersey Supreme Court judge. She is 22 years of age, five feet two in height, and has the true Irish colouring of black hair and sparkling blue eyes. After completing her education she went to Hollywood and in recent years has appeared in a number of pictures. In “The Brat” she was given a role which gave her full sway for her native wit and audacity and so good was her acting that Fox Films placed her on a long-term contract. In this picture she is supported by a cast including Allan Dinehart, William Collier Jnr, Frank Albertson and Farrell Macdonald. Popular Picture. The debonair Ronald Colman appears at his best in “ The Devil to Pay,” which is being shown at the Plaza Theatre for a third week. A good story, witty dialogue and superb acting on the part of the whole cast combine to make the film an outstanding success. Roald Colman is supported by such talented players as Loretta Young, David Torrance, Paul Cavanagh and Myrna Loy. The story was specially written for the screen by Frederick Lonsdale, the English author of those delightful comedies, “On Approval,” “ The Last of Mrs Cheyney ” and “ Spring Cleaning.” Beautiful Production. “Viennese Nights,” which opens a return season at Everybody’s Theatre on Monday, presents the charm and gaiety of the old capital in story and song with stirring vitality. Alexander Gray, who portrays a leading part, won a voice contest sponsored by music teachers in Los Angeles. He was then given stage engagements and finally entered the movies in “ Sally,” opposite Marilyn Miller. Gray graduated as an engineer, but his college glee club experience changed the whole plan of his life. The music in “ Viennese Nights ” is glorious and colour photography adds to the beauty of the production.

An English Actress. Dorothy Mackaill, star in “ Their Mad Moment,” now showing at the Liberty Theatre, ran away from her home in Hull, England, to go on the stage. She was a musical comedy dancer at the age of fourteen and later went to New York, where she became a Ziegfeld Follies girl. It was during one of the performances that Edwin Carew, the director, saw her and she was given a start in motion pictures. Some of her most successful productions include “ His Captive Woman,” “ Bright Lights ” and “ The Office Wife.” Warner Baxter plays opposite Dorothy Mackaill in “ Their Mad Moment.” A second feature on the new programme is “ Fair Warning,” starring George O’Brien.

Film Imports Decline. Imports of film into Great Britain for the first,nine months of 1931 decreased 13,733,590 feet in comparison with the first nine months of 1930. The total this year, according to figures made public by the Board of Trade, London, reached 54,221,486, which compares with 67.955,076 last year. Loretta Young. Loretta Young came to Hollywood with her parents at the age of four and, through the influence of her uncle, who was an assistant director, she and her sisters were given work as children in “ crowd ” scenes. After leaving school she took up a screen career seriously.

Zane Grey Romance. George O’Brien, who plays the part of Lassiter in “ Riders of the Purple Sage,” which comes to the Majestic on Monday, intended to become a doctor, but when the Great War broke out he joined the American Navy. As a i ”or he gained prom-

inence by winning the light heavyweight boxing championship o f the Pacific fleet. He began a movie career as an assistant cameraman and worked his way up to leads in western pictures. This virile actor is perfectly cast in Zane Grey’s well known romance. Other leading parts

are taken by Marguerite Churchill and Noah Beery. Stars Together. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer officials have hit on the plan of doubling and trebling the strength of their pictures by putting two, three or even four stars in one story. The studio has already put Greta Garbo and Clarke Gable together in “ Susan Lennox.” Next there will be a combination of Norma Shearer and Robert Montgomery. Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper are to share starring honours in another story, and the Garbo, Ramon Novarro and Lewis Stone are slated for a picture. The greatest combination, however, will bring Greta Garbo, Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford and Clark Gable together in a picturisation of Vicki Baum’s “ Grand Hotel. 1 ’ A War Duel. During the production of “ Surrender,” at the Fox studios, Alexander Kahle, a still cameraman, recognised Vladimir Retiskoff among a group of extras. They last met in a vicious bayonet duel 17 years ago, when Kahle was a sergeant in the German army and Retiskoff a private in the Russian forces.

Midnight Matinee. There will be a midnight matinee at the Theatre Royal on New Year’s Eve, commencing at 11.30, when “ Palmy

Days,” featuring Eddie Cantor, the inimitable comedian, will be presented. In this picture Cantor is seen as the unwilling assistant of a gang of fake spiritualists, and he is said to be even funnier than in “ Whoopee.” He is aided and abetted by Charlotte Greenwood and Barbara Weeks. Gold-

wyn’s latest discovery makes her screen debut at the head of a battalion of Hollywood’s most beautiful girls. Song hits and dances are cleverly woven into the story.

FILM STARS’ FORTUNES. Two Multi-millionaires Live Frugally. Will Rogers and Charlie Chaplin, multi-millionaires, live frugally, and are not lavish entertainers. Norma Shearer and Irving Thalberg own £BOO,OOO between them, and would have more were it not for the amounts set aside for “ keeping up appearances.” Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford have £2.000,000 between them. Harold Lloyd owns £1,400,000. Greta Garbo is worth £200,000, but most of it is invested. She lives cheaply and frugally. Mary Pickford is careful of her forshe invested £84,000. William Powell is worth about £40,000; Ronald Colman about £50,000; Evelyn Brent £40,000. Joan Crawford and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., earn £BOO a week between them. Their joint fortune is £60,000. Marion Davies, said to be worth more than £1,000,000, manages all her own investments and contributes to many worthy charities, generally anonymously. Marie Dressier gave so prodigally to charity that the studio officials became alarmed and a trust fund was created for her. Marie was nearly broke two vears ago, but is now worth over £40,000. INCOME TAX ARREARS. Marion Davies Makes Huge Payment. Marion Davies, the film star, has returned to America from Europe, confessing the payment of £165,000 in income tax arrears. The amount covers a period of years. The Treasury had been seeking to recover £200,000, but compromised on the lesser sum when Miss Davies indicated that she preferred the case should not go before the Board of Tax Appeals. This would have meant the publication of the star’s income. “ It is all a mix-up,” said Miss Davies, in explaining the huge payment. “ I was living in Los Angeles and had various properties in New York. I thought my business agent had paid on that property, but was surprised to find that he had not done so. I went at once to Washington, and the matter was settled.” Miss Davies , who is thirty-three, began her career as a musical comedy chorus girl at £2 a week, and is now said to earn £200,000 a year. WILL RUN JAZZ BAND. Charles “ Buddy ” Rogers has decided to form his own band, having rejected the long-standing offer by Fred Waring that Rogers take over Waring’s Pennsylvanians if he would pay salaries and expenses. Rogers will bring together his band on January 1. His contract with Paramount expired on December 1, but he will stay with the company until completion of “ The Jazz King,” in which lie is starring.

CLARA BOW MARRIED. Weds Rex Bell, Western Actor. (Special to the “ Star.”) LOS ANGELES, December 4. Clara Bow, the film actress, and Rex Bell, a screen artist who portrays cowboy roles, have been married. Clara Bow, who was born in New York in 1906, entered the movies by winning a beauty contest while still at school. She made her debut in 1926 and soon rose to be one of the most popular actresses on the screen. She won great fame because Elinor Glyn declared her to be the personification of “It.”

Early this year Clara Bow’s engagement to Harry Richman was announced, but it was broken off and shortly after she suffered a nervous breakdown and was admitted to a sanatorium. On the advice of Rex Bell she went with a nurse to his ranch in the Nevada Desert, 400 miles from Hollywood, to recuperate. He advised her to “ cut adrift from cavaire and late nights and try stewed rabbit and dawn risings on his ranch.”