SHAKESPEARE PLAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 69, 23 March 1935, Page 14

SHAKESPEARE PLAY

MADE INTO A TALKIE. "MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM." Though he doubts whether America will take kindly to it, Ralph H. Clark, managing director in Australia of Warner Bros. First National Pictures, who arrived in Sydney recently by the Kamo Maru from America and the East, says “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be a great success in British countries. “It is the bigest thing that has ever been attempted,” said Mr. dark. “Every star we have will be in it. We did not have to ask them—they all wanted to be there.” To convey an idea of the magnitude

of th e undertaking, Mr. Clark said that six sounds studios, each of which would occupy fully half a city block, were to be used. One set occupied one full studio and was carried across the street into another. It was a woodland scene, replete with rivers and falls. Shakespearean students will have no occasion to unite and declare war on Hollywood, for there is to be no attempt to “modernise” the play. It will be given as rich a Shakespearean flavour as possible. Sylvia Sidney will have Herbert Marshall as her leading man in “Morning, Noon and Night.” Marshall, who is in great demand in Hollywood at present, has just signed a four-picture contract with Paramount, under which this will be his first. Maurice Chevalier’s new starring picture will be “The Cardboard Lover,” according to an announcement from the studios. This is the comedy for Jacques Deval, in which Jeanne Eagels and Leslie Howard appeared on Broadway several seasons ago. Neither cast nor director have been announced as yet. Chevalier’s last film was ‘‘The Merry Widow,” with Jeanette MacDonald. Hollywood has again achieved the unusual. Now it is the dedication of an entire full-length feature film to none other than that peer among racehorses, the New Zealand-bred Phar Lap. The picture, entitled “Strictly Confidential,” is based on a story revolving round an intelligent and faithful horse which, subjected to trials and tribulations which would have broken the spirit of a less noble animal, figjits a serious illness to participate in a most thrilling race. A new starring combination of two highly popular players is brought out in “Strictly Confidential” in the persons of Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy. Location Experiences. One of the highlights of the shooting on the forthcoming British and Dominions comedy ‘‘Brewster’s Millions” was the yacht location off Southampton, where a week’s filming took place at sea . . . This was a distinct novelty to most of the cast, but I not to Lili Damita, the glamorous Continental star who is playing opposite Jack Buchanan in this production. Lili’s first big film in Hollywood—- “ The Rescue”— from Conrad’s story, was filmed on and around Catalina Island, and as the production dragged on for months she had plenty of time to get used to ship-board life. . . However, it was certainly a novelty to perform a dance sequence on board, and this was what Lili had to do while cruising round the Isle of Wight in weather whi®h was occasionally so boisterous that foot-hold was difficult.