FROM FILM TO SCREEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 77, 1 April 1938, Page 6

FROM FILM TO SCREEN

HOLLYWOOD TO WANGANUI LOCAL MAN’S IMPRESSIONS It is not given to many New Zealanders to see, in a Hollywood studio, the filming of a motion picture which is to be screened in his home town shortly after his return to the Dominion. But such was the experience of Mr. D. Snelling, who is back in Wanganui after a sojourn of some six months in California, the greater part of that period being spent in and around the film studios of Hollywood. The picture in question was “Lancer Spy,” scenes in which were being filmed at the Fox-20th. Century studios, Beverley Hills, when Mr. Snelling was in Los Angeles. The Wanganui man was introduced to the star of the film, Mr. George Sanders, by a publicity agent of the motion picture firm, and after the introduction he was invited to witness the filming of a re-take of a railway scene for the picture. This occupied two days, and some idea ol the work entailed in getting everything to work smoothly may be gathered from the fact that the scene takes approximately ten minutes in the screening. The attention to detail and the necessity for accuracy were I features which impressed Mr. Snelling I “One marked characteristic of Mr. I George Sanders is an air of arrogance,’’ remarked Mr. Snelling. “Tne i part he plays in the picture is one in • which arrogance is an asset, but even jin ordinary life this trait, though not |so pronounced, is still strongly evi- ' dent.”

It was in “Lloyds of London” that Mr. Sanders, a virile English actor, gave a glimpse of his genius. In "Lancer Spy” he has the fullest scope, and, on this performance alone he must be ranked among the greatest dramatic actors of the present day. He has three characters to portray, and each is in itself a masterpiece. The swift transitions from gravity to gaiety are made with smoothness b> Sanders, who has not only the ability but lhe stature and voice to play, io the greatest satisfaction, the difliculi part of an English officer posing as a German. The scene, early in the picture, in which he breaks down under the stress of a test of his thoroughness to carry through his imposture, I reaches dramatic heights, which he ’ touches in later episodes. “Lancer Spy" is to be screened at I the Plaza Theatre in Wanganui, and an invitation has been extended by the I management to Mr. Snelling to renew i acquaintance with the English actor loi th 5 shadow screen.