“SLAVE SHIP”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 250, 21 October 1937, Page 3

“SLAVE SHIP”

HONEYMOON AT SEA. A honeymoon couple sailing the closely-patrolled seas of the North Atlantic in the last of the slavers, the crew in revolt, the master of the ship lighting sigle-handed to rescue himself and his young wife from the hands of his one-time partners; this is the theme of “Slave Ship,” which with Warner Baxter, Wallace Beery; Elizabeth Allan, and Mickey Rooney at the head of the cast, is to be seen on Friday of next week at the Plaza Theatre. Romance, brutality, the failshapes of white-canvassed vessels on the blue sea bearing a freight of human misery and death, form the background of the picture. And against this background there is a iarger struggle, the fight of one man with his environment, his determination to mould his own destiny, and the remarkable adventure which finally opens to him the way of life of which he has dreamed. The captain has always been a slaver, from boyhood days when he embarked on this rareer he has known nothing else W al| a c e Beery, Warner Baxter, and Elizabeth Allen are the stars. Plans for Miss Cornell.

Sir Benjamin Fuller has invited Katharine Cornell to inaugurate the new theatre he plans to build in Sydney, Australia, if she makes her world tour. At present Sydney has only one theatre devoted to legitimate attractions. This is controlled by the rival theatrical syndicate, J. c. Williamson, Llci., which also is considering erectmg a new playhouse in Sydney and lias expressed the wish that if this playhouse is built Miss Cornell will consent to open it next year. If Charles Waldron accompanies Katharine Cornell on her proposed tour to play the roles he acted in her repertory in America, he will find himself well-remembered in Australia and New Zealand, though it is a number of years since he last appeared here. Before he could secure an engagement in New York City, Waldron toured the Antipodies in "The Virginian” and “The Squaw Man.” After his New York success he again played there in “Daddy Long Legs.”

were made, the double appearing with her back to the camera. In no place is her face seen. Other details, such as entering doors or running across a lawn to “tie in” with scenes already made by Miss Harlow, were used. “Saratoga,” a race-track story from the pen of Anita Loos and Robert Hopkins, deals with the romance between the daughter of a wealthy horse owner and a bookmaker. Much of the action is laid at the Saratoga race track. The final two reels dealing with intrigue over a horse race and a bet were re-written so that most of the action was in the exterior reproduction of the racetrack where “long shots” with the double could be most easily made. Decision to release the picture was made following floods of pre-view cards urging this release and polls conducted by newspapers showing a practically unanimous desire on the part of Miss Harlow’s fans for the picture.

Phil Smith, the well-known com* odian, is in the musical comedy “Over She Goes,” in Sydney. Success of Tibbett. News has been received by J. and N. Tait of the great demonstration that was accorded Lawrence Tibbett, the world-famous baritone, in Stockholm recently. The star of opera, screen, and concert created a veritable furore, the applause lasting for 10 minutes. Tibbett gave a special concert by Royal command, before King Gustav V and members of the Royal family, after which he received a decoration from His Majesty. Tibbett will come to Australia in the early part of next year for a concert tour under the management of J. and N. Tait. Musicals Prominent. “Hollywood has gone music and laughs mad.” Seng writers, singers, and comedians are at a premium; night clubs and vaudeville houses are being combed for new comedians; dance bands arc being raided for singers. Established stars are breaking into crooning; and the studio Tin Pan Alleys have blossomed into new life. The sudden revival of the musicals dates from “The Big Broadcast of 1937, ’ which turned into a goldmine for Paramount. Bing Crosby has alJ’ e ady completed the highly successful “Waikiki Wedding,” and is busy with Martha R&ye. Mary Carlisle. Andy [Devine, and William Frawley in “Double or Nothing.” Irene Dunne . and Randolph Scott have just made “High, Wide and Handsome.” Mary i Livingstone is making her screen debut in “This Way, Please,” and her I husband, Jack Benny, has just com- | pleted “Artists and Models.” George Burns and Gracie Allen will soon start “College Swing”; Lynne Overmal?’ Johnn y Downs and Eleanor Whitney have .started “Good-night Ladies” and another one, which is already under way, is “The Big Broad- ’ cast of 1933.” Operatic sequences i with Kirsten Flagsted have just been "shot” in New York, but the full cast lof the picture has not yet been an[nounced.

i Merle Oberon and Sigrid Gurie - will be cast in starring roles in ’ The i Girl on the Broadwalk.” A National Play. i The correct national atmosphere. L with music, dancing, and general .[decor, wore features of the Queen’s H Theatre production of a play transi Mated from the Finnish, which Londoni i ers liked. Adapted from “The Women of Nyskavuori,” it was presented hj ■ Anmer Hall. The play had been pert formed in its native land during th< - ‘ last two years, but never before ir. ;! England. Mary Morris, American act- ? I rcss who made such a success of her 11 role in the powerful drama “Suspect” - ‘at the St. Martin’s was starred in the - Finnish play, with Nancy Hornsby and 11 Dorics Fordrcd as the other women z |angling for the love of the one man 31 in the piece, played by Griflith Jones, (Henry Cass produced at the Queen’s.