GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20541, 16 February 1935, Page 24 (Supplement)

GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

COSTUME FILMS POPULAR. The holiday attractions in the London cinemas showed very definitely the triumph of the costume picture (writes Joan Littlefield from London). Among the most popular films in the West End were “ The Iron Duke.” George Arliss’s Wellington picture; “ Lorna Doone,” an adaptation of the famous Devonshire romance of R. D. Blackmore; Victor Hugo’s * Les Miserables,” and Dumas’s "The Count of Monte Cristo”; “The Dictator,” a film about eighteenth century Denmark; “The Scarlet Pimpernel ”; and Dickens’s “ Great Expectations ” and “ The Old Curiosity Shop.” This excess of historic romance —the pictures mentioned are mostly romantic—can partly be explained by the fact that school holidays last all through January ; but there is more in it than that, and the fashion which “ Henry VIII.” began over a year ago still shows no signs of waning. The 1935 schedules of most of the important British companies show that costume pictures are still trumps. Apparently we are to have two films about Queen Elizabeth; a picture about Mary Read, an eighteenth century pirate; another on Abdul Hamid, a former Turkish Sultan who was eventually deposed; still another with Cromwell as its hero; and a version of Dickens’s “ A Christmas Carol.” Even as modern a comedienne as Cicely Courtneidge must revert to the past, and she is now starring in “Me and Marlborough,” a comedy of the times ol Queen Anne. — N.A.N.A. Copyright. Unusual Jobs. Paramount have a “ cloud scout.” His sole job is to fly around the country in an aeroplane looking for unusual cloud formations for outdoor scenes. When one is found a wireless message is flashed to the studio and photographers are rushed to the scene. Warner Brothers Have a freak specialist who does nothing but carve initials on trees when such things are needed. Another genius makes icicles out of wax and cellophane. Z&ne Grey Story. Headed by Richard Dix, with Martha Sleeper in support, a dozen or more players noted for their dramatic interpretation of the early West are in the cast of RKO-Radio’s “ West of the Pecos,” by Zane Grey. Zane Grey's books have sold over 15,000.000 copies, giving him the largest audience of any Author in the world. “ Strange Wives.” The trials and tribulations of Russian aristrocrats who become refugees in America are featured in the plot of “ Strange Wives,” Universal’s absorbing comedy-drama starring Roger Pryor and June Clayworth. New Novel Bought. Edward Small, production head of Reliance Pictures, has announced the purchase of the film rights to a new novel. “ The Melody Lingers On,” by Lowell Brentano. Another story on the Reliance schedule is “ Beau BrummelL”

Played in Opera. Doris Kenyon, widow of Milton Sills, mother of handsome young Kenyon Sills, and already renowned as a stage and screen actress, poet and concert singer, has entered another corridor of the Hall of Fame. She w T as chosen by the Los Angeles Opera Company to sing the title role in the opera, “ The Secret of Suzanne.” Too Late! Grace Moore tells the latest “ Hollywood producer ” story. While “ One Night of Love ” was being prepared, the producers suggested sending to Europe for Verdi to come and alter j parts of “La Traviata.” They were apparently unaware that the composer had been dead for forty years! “Love While You May.” “ Love While You May ” is announced as a second Ramon NovarroEvelyn Laye production to follow “The Night is Young,” at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. “ Sequoia.” “Sequoia,” a nature picture starring Jean f Parker, which has been in production for over a year, has received such good notices from the American critics that even more time will now be spent in adding star-names to strengthen its box-office appeal. It is thought that, with the addition of Robert Montgomery or Lewis Stone to the cast, the film will be a “ knockout.” Rejected by Producers. Describing it as a “ little bit of twaddle from the pen of Noel Coward,” Hollywood producers have rejected “ Conversation Piece.” However, they have purchased “ Point Valaine ” from Coward as a new picture for Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontaine, the famous stars of “The Guardsman.” Cartoons for a Queen. The request by the Queen of Italy for permission to buy three Walt Disney Silly Symphonies in technicolour has been answered by the presentation t° her of “ The Pied Piper,” “ Lullaby Land,’.’ and “ Funny Little Bunnies,” for screening in the private theatre of the Royal household. Will Not Talk. Charlie Chaplin is more determined than ever not to talk in his latest picture, production of which has been postponed for some months. Explaining his reason, the famous comedian said that in it his characterisation of a tramp can only be played effectively without speech, and that he would no more talk than would a statue in a church or a public park open its lips and speak. The Chaplin studio has no equipment for talking pictures. It has just become known in Hollywood that Mrs Patrick Campbell is to appear in the new Chaplin film. Will Stick to Films. Fred Astaire, RKO-Radio star, has announced that he will stick to his film work for a year and then enjoy a wellearned holiday abroad. After his present production, “ Roberta,” in which he is co-starred with Irene Dunne and Ginger Rogers, Astaire will appear in Top Hat,” for which Irving Berlin is writing the score.

Landscape Artist. Sir Guy Standing, who will be seen in “ Lives of a Bengal Lancer,” is known abroad as one of England’s foremost landscape artists. ** Christmas Carol.” Twickenham Studios advise that Julius Hagen intends making a talking picture version of “ A Christmas Carol,” with the well-known actor Seymour Hicks in the leading role. The film will be based on the play “Scrooge,” which Hicks first presented at the Vaudeville Theatre on October 3, 1901, and has since played more than 2000 times. . Questioned recently as to how he came to present a play which had become famous and beloved throughout the British Empire, Hicks explained that early in 1901 he had to have an operation. To keep himself from thinking of this he read “ A Christmas Carol,” and vowed that, if he recovered, he would produce a play of that immortal work. It is anticipated that Ellaline Terriss will play the important part of Mrs Fezziwig. “ Shooting ” Scenes in Secret. The ballet scenes in “ Escape Me Never!” the Elisabeth Bergner film now being made by British and Dominions at Elstree, were filmed at Drury Lane Theatre, which was requisitioned by the motion picture company for two days before the pantomime season began there (writes Joan Littlefield from London). The ballet music was specially written by the young English composer, William Walton, and was performed by the Old Vic.-Sadlers Wells corps de ballet, under the direction -of Frederick Ashton. The hushhush tactics over the making of this production have been maintained to the last, and no one has been allowed on the set during “ shooting .” Elisabeth Bergner is to appear in the play, from which the film was taken, in New York early this year.—N A.N.A. Copyright. Mrs Bing Crosby. Dixie Lee, in private life the wife of Bing Crosby and the mother of his three small sons, has resumed her screen career after three years’ retirement. She plays the leading role with Joe Morrison, another singer, in “ Win or Lose,” the Paramount film featuring George Burns and Gracie Allen.

Studio Plans For 1935. This year London Films will make a picture based on the life of the famous “ Lawrence of Arabia,” with Leslie Flo ward in the title role (writes Joan Littlefield from London). It is possible that this production will be made in colour. In 1935 this company will also make a film version of “ Mary Read,” the play about an eighteenth century woman pirate, now running at his Majesty’s Theatre. Flora Robson and Robert Donat will probably repeat their stage parts on the screen, and Flora Robson is also to star in a picture about Queen Elizabeth during the year. Other films on London Films’ 1935 schedule include “ Sir Tristram Goes West,” directed by Rene Clair, with Charles Laughton in a leading part; a production based on the life of the great dancer Nijinsky, in which it is probable that Charles Laughton will play the part of Diaghileff; a picture based on A. E. W. Mason’s well known novel, “The Broken Road,” a great part of which will be “ shot” in India; a film of the play by Elspeth Thane, “ Young Mr Disraeli,” now running in London; and a picture in which ]ohn Barrymore will star. London Films, of course, are also doing the Wells film of the future, “Whither Mankind?” preparations for which have been going on for the last six months.—N A.N.A Copyright. Big British Films. George Arliss will start his second picture for Gaumont-British in the spring. This is to be an original story by J. B. Priestley, while the star’s third G.-B. film may be “ Pepys ” or an alternative subject. Other productions to come from this studio are “ Redemption,” an adaptation of Tolstoi’s novel, “ The Living Corpse,” which will reunite Madeline Carroll and Conrad Veidt; “The Passing of the Third Floor Back,” another Jack Hulbert picture provisionally titled “Youth at the Flelm ”; “The Tunnel” (Conrad Veidt) ; and a Jessie Matthews production, “ Barcarolle,” in which a famous Continental operatic star will probably appear. “ Down on the Farm.” Gwenda Burt, John Stuart Dick, Sydney Lock and Daphne Murdoch are the principal players in New Zealand Feature Production’s recenth' completed comedy, “ Down on the Farm.”