EDDIE DOWLING IN “THE RAINBOW MAN”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 291, 7 December 1929, Page 19 (Supplement)

EDDIE DOWLING IN “THE RAINBOW MAN”

The principal Regent Theatre attraction on Wednesday will be the all talking and singing film, “The Bainbow Man.” Eddie Dowling plays the principal role, with Marion Nixon opposite him. It is a human interest story, in which tears arc freely mingled with success. Little Pal (Jrankie Darro) is adopted by the Rainbow Man after the lad’s father has been killed in a vaudeville accident. Marion Nixon is the daughter ot an hotelkeeper in a small town, and while Dowling’s troupe is playing there they meet and fall in love with each other. After a scene between the Rainbow Alan,’ his employer, and the girl s father, the first-named is eompelled to leave the company and seek his fortune elsewhere. The"adventures of the man and boy form a plot of outstanding merit_ The picture goes on through sunshine and tears until the lovers are finally united in a touching scene.

Mr Leo Carrillo, the famous Californian star, who will make his first appearance in New Zealand at the Grand Opera House. Wellington, on Boxing night in the successful J. C. Williamson comedy **Lombardi Ltd.” is one of the most popular artists in the 1 nited States. He has scored many artistic successes, but in “Lombardi Ltd.’’ (which was specially written for him by Frederick and Fanny Hatton) he eclipsed all his previous efforts. He has played the role for some years in the United States, and has engagements many years ahead. His characterisation of Tito Lombardi is described as “marvellously animated and wonderfully versatile ” Carrillo is all alertness and activity, superabundant

in energy, volatile in temperament, outstanding in a striking character study in which he completely dominates the production. He is said to be the mercurial Italian to the very life, prattling unceasingly in broken English. laughing gaily in his sunnv moods

flashing quick anger in his few moments of resentment, sounding a note of pathos at times, and displaying dramatic ability of an unusually high standard. It is one of the most notable character studies of the stage to day. Reginald Berkeley has gone to the French for “Aliss Adventure,’’ hilatcst play, and if first-night shouts of laughter aid screams of delight mean anything, he ha ? found a success (says a London critic). “Miss Adventure” is about a young man who has tons of money, and a mistaken idea that he is a crack racing motorist. He gets mixed up. with som e princely Russian refugees, including an attractive young woman who dresses up as a young man to get a job in which no one will make love to her. She becomes his chauffeur. The young woman in trousers (Act I.) and ’breeches (Act. IT.) is Renee Kelly. She gives the best performance I have ever seen from her. She makes a splendid “boy,” and her lightness of touch and her sense of fun carry her and the play safely- through scenes which were surely not so innocuous in the original as thev are at the Winter Garden. Miss Kellv was in New Zealand with “Pollv with a Past” and “The Last of Mrs Chevney. ”

Salaries of actors, especially those employed in musical pieces, have gone to astounding figures (says an Ameritan paper). The Astaires, for instance, Adele and Fred, dancers, have been engaged at 7000 dollars per week. W. C. Fields gets 6000 dollars to clown in “Vanities.” Marilyn Miller is another of the 6000 dollar babies. Jack Donahue gets 55 r 'O dollars for dancing

in “Carry On.” and Lilv Damita, the lady of the plot, gets 3000 dollars per week for doing this, with 30.000 dollars pnt in “scrow to secure her salary f«sr ?•»« weeks, and 25.000 dollars paid to £ company to loan her for that periu.i.

Twenty-three new Paramount talking pictures are in the making. At the Hollywood studios, six of the new productions are being edited and cut. In the group are Richard Dix’s “The Love Doctor,” Clara Bow’s third talkie, “The Saturday Night Kid,”

“The Kibitzer,” with Harry Green, Nancy Carroll’s “Sweetie,” “The Virginian.’’ Paramount’s first outdoor talkie, and “Fast Company,” with Evelyn Brent. In the process of filming are Edith Wharton’s “The Children.” Gary Cooper’s “Medals,’’ “Behind the Make-up.” with William Powell, George Bancroft’s “The Mighty,’’ the all-colour romance “The Vagabond King,” “Pointed Heels,” “Here Comes the Band Wagon.” ami “The Lost God,” starring Richard Arlen. “Dancing Eyes,” starring

Nancy Carroll, “A Lady in Love,” a new vehicle for Evelyn Brent, a new talkie for Moran and Alack, the Two Black Crows and a new Clara Bow picture are in preparation. At the Long Island studios, “The Return of Sherlock Holmes,” “Glorifying the American Girl,” and' ‘‘The Lady JJes” have been completed. Tiffany-Stahl film producers are at work on “Journey’s End.”

Mr C. B. Cochran, the enterprising London theatrical producer, who is now completing a talking film that will be called 11 Cochran’s Talking Revue,” regards the success of ‘'talkies” as a “blessing in disguise” for the theatre. “If you mechanise a form of entertainment,’’ he says “you inevitably make more popular the original form of expression. The ‘talkies’ will ensure that only good theatrical shows succeed A third-rate play or revue will have no chance against a first-rate ‘talkie.’ That the twin arts of screen and stage should walk hand in hand witjiout quarrelling has been obvious from the earliest days of the cinema. No single form of art could, or should be allowed to monopolise entertainment. Art that stands still is dying art. Inasmuch as the ‘talkies’ are an offshoot of the silent film and the theatre, they arc a tribute to the vitality of their parents.”

Fritzi Massary is the greatest favourite of the musical comedy stage in Germany, and she has held that position for so many years that an article about her is included in the new edition of Meyer’s Encyclopaedia. In that article a question which is constantly discussed in Berlin drawing-rooms is answered. The age of the great actress is given as 55 She does not look a year more than 30.

The captain of an Orient iii r was present at a performance of “Brewster s Alillions” at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, and after the ship scene and the realistic storm, called around to see Leon Gordon in his dres-sing-room and congratulated him. “It was the most amazing bit of realism I have ever seen on the stage,” he said, “ami was wonderfully well done. Atoreover, every detail of the ship was correct. “This,” he added, 44 is very unusual, for most of the ships I have seen represented on the stage have been incorrect in various details of the uniforms, and sailing matters have been wrong. As I watched this scene in ‘Brewster’s Alillions’ I felt that I was on deck, and I wanted to cheer when the signal lamps were hauled to the masthead.’*

People who enjoyed the prehistoric monsters of “The Lost World” will have a new treat in store, for Harry Hoyt, who directed that story, is making “Creation,” a million-dollar spec-tacle-sound picture for Tiffany Stahl (says an American paper). The story is built about the adventures of a crew on a submarine sucked down by a subterranean river and cast up in prehistoric caves teeming with animal and vegetable life of the reptilian era. The sound effects suggest interesting possibilities. Research discloses that the diplodocus, with a fourteen-ton displacement, had a high falsetto voice and other effeminate traits. All the low down on Adam’s door-yard pets will be given in full if the demon research men can be believed, and already blue prints for the huge creatures, some of which arc sixty feet high and 150 feet long, arc prepared. A Los Angeles message says: — Blanche Sweet, film star, obtained a divorce from Marshall Neilan, noted director, on the grounds of cruelty. The actress testified she had been unhappy since she married Neilan, on June 8, 1922. She left him on January 15 last. A property settlement was made out of Court,

The curtain is lifted on a back-stage life in three-a-day vaudeville in ‘Alelody Lane,’’ a heart-touching picture starring Eddie Leonard, an American minstrel man, with ’.Josephine Dunn. Leonard and Miss Dunn comprise a song and dance team and their concern over the future of their little daughter from the pivot around which the story revolves. “Alclocly Lane” is a Universal all-dialogue and sound picture. The double problem of attracting guests to a hotel, and then getting rid 'of them when they don’t want to leave confronts Glenn Tryon in “Barnaul was right,” is packed with laughs I from start to finish. It has an excel- ' tionally strong cast, with Merna Kennedy appearing as co-star with Tryon, • and is based on the successful Broadway farce of the same name.

A London cable states that steps towards the establishment of a national theatre in London were taken on Afoutlay at a conference at which Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson, the well known actor, presided. The scheme, will be placed before the Prime Minds-, ter, Air Ramsay AlacDonald, who has promised to consider the possibility of finding a site. The promoters have already in hand the sum of £90,000, which has been voluntarily subscribed.

On the eve of leaving Wellington for Sydney Nicola, the magician, expressed regret that he had to leave New Zealand so soon after a tour of little more than two months, and regretted that, owing to his previous arrangements, it was impossible to play any return dates, as requested by so many theatre patrons. “Of course, I will fye back again some day,” added the wizard. “Perhaps not for a long time,, but when I do come back I will bring with me many new tricks and illusions which I anticipate perfecting during my tour in India.” Hugo Kreislcr, brother of the celebrated violinist, Fritz Kreisler, died recently in Vienna, aged forty-six. Hisi fame as a violinist was somewhat eclipsed by that of his brother. 1