LONDON AND NEW YORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 144, 19 June 1936, Page 10

LONDON AND NEW YORK

THE THEATRE ‘■COMEBACK” A recent trip to Europe decided “Terry” Dufly, the well-known Arncri can producer, to expand his theatrical ; operations, which for the last year have been confined tc El Capitan in Holly wood, with un occasional road company, Mich as those in “Anything Goes” and “Petrified FGTest.” I “Everywhere 1 saw unmistakable signs of increased theatrical activity.” he said. “In London there were 48 plays open. In New York there were 1 ' 14 hits, and by hits I don’t mean plays I | doing eight or nine thousand dollars a ween, but plays doing sixteen and | eighteen thousand. There haven’t j been that many smash hits any season I lin the last ten years. What 1 saw in I London and New York convinced me I that this is the time for the theatre I to make good its comeback.” ie Janet Gaynor. J' Reputed tu- be one of the highest ,salaried artistes on the screen, Janet Gaynor is now with MGM, and her first picture is “Small Town Girl” in which she is listed have youthful Robert Taylor as her lover. • • • • c, A Milne Satire. s. | As a satire on peace conferences, g, A. A. Alilne’s “To Have the Honour” »t 1 has some delicious moments; but beis cause of a surfeit of small talk and d- some drab characterisation there are 1- dreary ones. A bc.-gus “prince” dea- scends on an English village, and some t, humorous situations develop from the n, hmirt-flutterings of the community’s hi most eligible (and ineligible) young rt women—especially as the impostor's wife, also under an alias, arrives too.

Irving Thalberg has decided that the Marx Brothers shall make two picture* this year. They have hitherto made only one annually. Paramount are planning to remake “Beau GesteD in colour. Gary Coopat will have the title role and Henry Hathaway will direct. Anna Sten is to play the titled role in “The Witch.” The picture, based on a story of 14th.-century Italy, will go into production in July. ♦ • » • Vincent Youman’s “Great Day.” a stage musical romance, has been chosen by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as the next film for Jeanette AlacDonald and Nelson Eddy, The studio is also negotiating with Paramount for the rights of Victor Herbert’s operettas for the sam r pair.