DIRECTOR SURRENDERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 178, 30 July 1932, Page 18 (Supplement)

DIRECTOR SURRENDERS

PARAMOUNT STUDIOS' DISPUTE

One of the Hollywood “rebels” has surrendered. Josef von Sternberg, the director who made Marlene Dietrich famous, has now announced that he is ready to direct the famous German star in “The Blonde Venus." It was von Sternberg’» dislike of the scenario for this film that caused him to stamp out of the Paramount studios and take train for New York. H>s contract, it was then announced, aad keen cancelled by Paramount, and the hrm was said to bo threatening legal proceedings against him. Ma-.iene Dietrich was ordered to appear on the set for “The Blonde Venus," with Richard Wallace directing, but she, too, rebelled and did not put in an appearance. Von Sternberg’s complaint was artistic. Miss Dietrich’s objections were partly artistic and partly devotion to the man who had discovered her and made her a star with one picture, “The Blue Angel.”

Ramon Novarro is getting down to earth, so to speak, training for his role in “Huddle” for M-G-M. Ramon reports every morning at the Olympic Stadium for a workout under direction of a football coach.

Lionel Barrymore recently took a leaf from Rembrandt’s book, when he made a portrait of himself, using a mirror to accomplish the feat.

Barbara Stanwyck and Sauerkraut — seems an incongruous combination somehow, doesn’t it 1 But the star of “So Big,” a Warner Bros. First National picture, declares that Sauerkraut is her favourite food, and she makes no apologies for it. Also, Edna Ferber, who wrote “So Big,” is her favourite author.

Ab a result of her performances in the feminine lead of Columbia’s “Hollywood Speaks.” the colourful romance of a Hollywood columnist and a struggling extra girl, Genevieve Tobin has been placed under a longterm contract by the company. Eddie Buzzell is directing the production.

Recent cables announce the completion of the St. John Ervine literary success, “The First Mrs. Frazer.” The completed production is predicted to be an even greater success than the book which even to-day still ranks as one of the world’s best sellers. The cast includes Harold Huth and Joan Barry (both of “The Outsider” fame) and Richard Cooper. The production which was personally supervised throughout by the great author is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious productions to emerge from the “home” studios. There are numerous elaborate sets that entailed the spending of record amounts of meney.