The Talking Screen

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20589, 13 April 1935, Page 26 (Supplement)

The Talking Screen

GENERAL FILM GOSSIP. STILL ON TOP. Hollywood is still on top in the making of motion pictures (writes Mollie Merrick from Hollywood). There’s really no doubt • about that; in fact, it is not making too radical a statement to say that the majority of foreign films that have caught on in a big way with the American public have had a large percentage of American technicians working on them. We have become used to a certain type of photography that set a high standard for the rest of. the world, and we have originated the “ close-up ” to accent our important screen crises and make the audience a part of the story. Our make-up artists are world famous, and we have certainly made a modern world “ Hollywood-conscious ” so far as clothes are concerned. When it comes to our stage shows, however, it is a different story. Our western companies have fallen far short of the eastern casts, and we are used to the idea of dashing to New York every winter to “ see some shows.”—N.A.NA Copyright. Praise for Hepburn. Philip Moeller, of the New York Theatre Guild, who is now directing films for RKO in Hollywood, tells an interesting story about Katharine Hepburn (writes Mollie Merrick from Hollywood). Six years ago a freckledfaced. red-haired young woman with a glowing personality, called at his office in New York seeking a job. Moeller was unable to do anything for her at the time, but he never forgot her. Now he is directing Katharine Hepburn in ‘‘Break of Heart” (which will undoubtedly reach the screen with a more attractive title), and is happy to remember that he recognised the spark of acting genius that this young actress can turn on if she wishes. In fact, Moeller admits that not since he directed Alla Nazimova has he been so inspired as he is in his work with Katharine Hepburn.—N.A.N-A. Copyright. Hardwick* on Hollywood. “ A curious. thing about Hollywood,” said Sir Cedric Hardwicke when he returned to London from America, “is that there seems to be no intellectual adolescents. Either people are adults intellectually or they are children. One finds no middle-class in matters of thought. The adults? Well, really they are the most unexpected people sometimes. You go to a dinner party and find influential people talking high art all the time. You never find them mentioning it in the studio. As to the intellectual children—well, perhaps I'd better not; but it is disconcerting, when von have been trying to carry on an intelligent conversation, to find that they have not any idea what you are talking about. Yet Hollywood has many of the best artistic brains in the world. It is surprising that you find so few signs of their being exercised on the screen.” Sir Cedric has other film contracts, but later he wants to get bade to the stage.

Veidt’s New Contract. London Film Productions, Ltd., have signed a long-term contract with Conrad Veidt, one of the most important Gaumont-British stars, who made “Jew Suss ” with that company. When his contract with Gaumont-British finishes he will go over to London Films. In his first film he will take the part of Liszt, the composer. London Film Productions, Ltd., was formed by Alexander Corda, who produced “ The Private Life of Henry VIII.” “ I will make two films during the year that my contract lasts with London Films,” said Veidt. “ Alexander Korda, who will be my producer, has been my friend for many years in Berlin and in Holly-wood. He is full of ideas, and so am I. He understands me and knows what parts I want to play. For instance, I do not always want to do historical pictures.” Marlene’s Next. Marlene Dietrich’s first picture away from her director, Josef von Sternberg, will be “Josephine, Wife of Napoleon.” Ernest Lubitsch has made this choice and will direct the exotic star. Meanwhile Harry Cohn announces that he, too, will produce a story of Josephine. Shirley Temple Honoured. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences granted Shirley Temple, the six-year-old Fox star, a special award at its annual dinner in Los Angeles. Irvin S. Cobb, the internationally famous humourist, made the presentation address on behalf of the Academy. The award was bestowed upon Shirley Temple for bringing more happiness to millions of children and millions of grown-ups than any other child of her years in the history of the world. New Dance Number. It is stated that the latest popular song is “ The Valparaiso.” This is a brand new number specially composed by Mabel Wayne, the famous American writer, for British International Pictures’ musical comedy, “ Dance Band,” which is Charles “ Buddy ” Rogers's first English film. Mabel Wayne wrote “ Little Man, You’ve Had a Busy Day,” “In a Little Spanish Town,” “ Ramona,” “It Happened in Monterey,” and dozens of other popular successes. Jekyll and Hyde.

There is at least one Jekyll and Hyde in every good actor. Even though he may never play that famous double role in the Stevenson story itself, there comes a time when he must act the part of a man who is half fiend and half honest citizen, like the unfortunate Jekyll. Claude Rains has such a role in “ The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” The character which Rains plays, the diabolical John Jasper, is a choirmaster, not only respected but revered in his town. In his hidden life he is an opium addict, following his desire for the drug into the lowest dregs of the London slums. From these excesses he comes back to the cathedral to sing hymns in the choir. Thei supporting cast of “ The Mystery of Edwin Drood ” includes Douglass Montgomery, Heather Angel, Francis L. Sullivan and Valerie Hobson.

Brilliant Night Club. Using only heavy copper plate and immense quantities of glass in its construction, technicians recently completed the largest and most elaborate night club set in studio history. The set, built for scenes in Paramount’s “ Paris in Spring,” featuring Mary Ellis and Tullio Carminati, is 200 ft by 100 ft, with etched plate glass for walls, with copper strips, furnishings and a bar of this metal. In the night club sequence two songs are sung by Mary Ellis, who was a prominent musical comedy and operatic singer in Europe before her arrival in Hollywood. New Mystery Story. William Powell’s new picture for R.K.0., “ Star of Midnight,” is based on a popular story by Arthur Somers Roche. Phil Stong Novel. Kay Johnson has been engaged by RKO-Radio to play the feminine lead opposite Randolph Scott in “Village Tale,” the screen version of Phil Stong’s best-selling novel. In addition to Kay Johnson and Randolph Scott, the cast includes Dorothy Burgess, Guinn Williams, Donald Meek, Robert Barrat, Janet Beecher, Andy Clyde, EdEllis and Ray Mayer. “ Village Tale * is Stong’s third novel success. Its predecessors were “ State Fair ” and “ Stranger's Return.” Staying in London. It looks as though Fay Wray and her writer-husband, John Monk Saunders, will be spending some time in London. Fay has announced that she intends to do two pictures for British Gaumont returning to Hollywood, and John is under a writing contract to the same company. Search for Kings. The foreign colonies of nine different European nationalities are being combed by Cecil B. de Mille for one actor from each to portray the 12th century kings of their respective nations in his first Paramount spectacle, ** v 1 ® Crusades.” Having cast the British actor, Henry Wilcoxon. as King Richard the Lion Heart. De MilJe wants to achieve further realism by having Hugo of Burgundy, William of Sicily and other old-time kings portraj'ed by the correct racial types.

“ The Mighty Bamum.” “ The Mighty Barnum ” is said to offer Wallace Beery a characterisation 1 unique in the annals of screen entertainment, for Barnum was ruthless, generous, pious to the point of fanaticism, crude and slow-witted, tender and shrewd—all at the same time. He was a mass of provocative contradictions; in other words, he was an actor’s paradise. Barnum was the first showman to appreciate the full value of advertising, whether favourable or unfavourable. As long as his name was mentioned, and with it whatever attraction he was exploiting at the moment, he was satisfied. So well did he establish himself as a uniqrie personality that audiences often came to his American Museum to catch a glimpse of its founder rather than the freaks he exhibited. Barnum liked to tell the story of a small boy -who asked his father excitedly, “ Say, Pa, which cage is Barnum in?” Another revealing anecdote deals with a farmer and his wife who sat behind Barnum at the circus. When an equestrian circled the ring standing on his head, the farmer jumped to his feet and shouted. “ I’ll bet five dollars that’s Barnum. There ain’t another man in America who can do that!” f Not Returning Yet. That Diana Wynyard will not return to Hollywood until next spring at the earliest is indicated by reports recently received of the triumphal opening of her new play in London, “ Sweet Aloes.” Metro-Goldwvn-Maver have three vehicles awaiting Diana Wynyard’s return. Reviewing “ Sweet Aloes.” the London “Times” critic says; “But what the play stands by is Diana Wynyard’s own performance. There is nothing that she tells which is not instantly believed. There is a genuineness in this acting that gives truth to all it touches.”

COWARD’S NEW ROLE. Noted Author to Produce Filins. Noel Coward, who is making his talking film debut in the leading role of “ Miracle in 49th Street,” proposes to write for and produce pictures. The brilliant English author wants to put his play, “ Point Valaine,” on the screen in England. He is upset over the way New York criticised this play, and his friends think that he may devote his full time to films. “ Point Valaine,” with Noel Coward and his friends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in the cast, attracted large audiences in the opening weeks on Broadway, but subsequently the box office returns were very discouraging. Coward insists that “ Point Valaine ” is a good play. Critics say that if he turned it into a picture he would have difficulty in getting it past the censors. The author intends to consider the whole problem after a trip to China.' This will be undertaken immediately after the completion of his work in "Miracle in 49th Street,” which Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur are producing at Astoria. The author is enjoying his experiences before the camera, and has taken a fancy to studio routine. He admits that he is a novice, and is eager to be taught by those who know. Noel Coward entered into a partnership deal with the film firm. He took a one-third instead of the high salary which was at first proposed. The author decided that it would be fairer to his associates to take a chance. He pointed out that he might not be a success as a screen actor, and in that case he would not like to burden them with all the expense. Seventeen years ago D. W. Griffith gave Noel Coward a small part in a war propaganda picture. The film was abandoned soon after it was put into production. That was the only experience Noel Coward had as a film actor until he took the leading role in “ Miracle in 49th Street.”

SEARCHING ENGLAND.

Goldwyn Wants Another Ronald Colman. Samuel Goldwyn, American producer, and maker of glamorous film stars, has gone to London in search of another Ronald Colman and another Vilma Banky. Goldwyn is to make another version of the famous silent film, “ The Dark Angel,” in which Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky, the Hungarian beauty, were the stars. Goldwyn wants two stars of their calibre. “ The Dark Angel,” originally made in 1926, is the love story of a blinded soldier, and depends for its success on an authentic British atmosphere. Will Goldwyn succeed in bringing fame to the two hidden stars of his choice? Will he be able to find them? Murray Silverstone. the managing director of United Artists, the American production company of which Goldwyn is a member, said: “If Goldwyn .succeeds in his quest history may repeat itself, and two stars whom he selects have a chance of becoming as famous as their originals, Vilma Banky and Ronald Colman. While Cam Goldwyn is in London he will survey the film situation there and discover what British film “fans” think of Eddie Cantor’s latest picture, “ Kid Millions.” He is reported to have offered £20.000 for an idea suitable for Cantor’s next production. “ Alice Adams.” When she finishes “ Break of Heart ” with Francis Lederer, Katharine Hepburn will go into the role of the heroine ii 3 Booth Tarkington’s “ Alice Adams.”