NEWS FROM HOLLYWOOD.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 18986, 1 July 1933, Page 17 (Supplement)

NEWS FROM HOLLYWOOD.

(From a Correspondent.) Norman Foster and Claudette Colbert have been happily married for five years but never have lived together in the same house! Wallace Berry’s first picture under his new long-term contract will oe “ Viva Villa,” a story suggested by the career of the Jamous Mexican bandit.

Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy have been announced for the leading roles in the forthcoming production of “ The Prisoner of Zenda.”

Natacha Rambova—once the wife of lliu never-to-be-forgotten Valentino — is operating a tiny restaurant in the city of Palma de Mallorca, where she serves food and drinks in a little house totally surrounded by trees. • * * •

“ Thank God I don't look like a movie star I That saves me from having to act like one!” said Lee Tracy, who has become so popular lately. His salary is £6OO a week.

Anna May Wong, the Chinese actress. has left Hollywood for a five months’ holiday in England, Ireland and the Scottish lakes.

News or Marie Dressier is far more cheerful than it was a few weeks ago. After doing “Tugboat Annie" with Wallace Beery, it is planned lhat they shall star together in an adaptation of a Hungarian play called “ Ferikc as Guest."

Douglas Fairbanks has now, apparently, decided to make his pictures only in spots which are far away from Hollywood. The last one was in the South Seas. The next one will he in Hie Far East, somewhere in China.

Ronald Column, who recently declared for a two-year holiday from pictures, is somewhere in the East. The Metro people tried to get hold of him to play opposite Greta Garbo in “ Christina,” which started production recently.

Hollywood spent £30,000.000 on film-making last year, and the average cost of feature films dropped from £60,000 each to £40,000. The number of film theatres open fell from 20,000 to 12,480 at the beginning of Ibis year.

Tallulah Bankhead left Hollywood saying she was “through with movies.” Her New York stage play, “ Forsaking All Others,” has been a great success, and mobs follow the actress everywhere. Now comes an offer from Fox to take the leading role in “ The Worst Woman in Paris.”

Ann Harding. Alexander Kirkland, and Miss Harding’s secretary, Maria Lombard, narrowly escaped drowning when their sailboat capsized in the Gulf of Mexico. A members of the crew, Majia Alvarez, a Cuban sailor, was drowned. Miss Harding arranged to pay £5 monthly for ten years to Alvarez’s widow. * # • * Wheeler and Woolsey are off on a world tour that will take them to Hawaii, Japan, China, India and the principal cities of Europe on an extended flereoaai wjnearanflA lone.

WITH THE MOVIE STARS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.

HOLLYWOOD, May 30.

There are rumours that the War* ners will not renew George Arliss* contract. The reason given; Too hard to find voles to fit him.

Charlie Chaplin still wants lo be Napoleon. He plans lo start work soon on a picture based ou the little general’s life.

George Baft, only a year- in pictures, is drawing 11 1 e neat total of £4OO weekly for personal appearances when he can get time off at the studio.

Ricardo Cortez, who was in bed for weeks seriously ill from pneumonia, is recovering.

Frances Dee and Harry Bannister, Ann Harding's ex-husband, are giving the effect of being very much interested In each other.

Johnny Weissmuller, the swimming champion, may appear in “ Laughing Roy,” following " Tarzan's Mate.”

Stars arc hilling Hie trail for everywhere this summer. Marie Dressier, Marion Davies and Joan Crawford are planning trips to Europe, hut not together. John Barrymore intends to cool off in the Arctic circle. Wallace Beery is all set for a trans-Continental (light in his new airplane.

When thrown from a horse while Mining a scene in Sherwood Forest Marlene Dietrich was dashed head first against a tree. Doctors declare she would have suffered a fractured skull had she not been wearing the high felt hat demanded in the script.

The Leslie Howards have been married 17 years. It was a wartime romance which began In a provincial town in England where Leslie’s regiment was temporarily in barracks. During the 17 years of their marriage Mrs Howard has been, to quote her, “a combination wife, mother, manager —and protector."

After leaping from one picture to another for years, Jean Ilersholt is treating himself to a long vacation in his native Sweden. * «C * * Something has happened to Marlene Dietrich —•something that will win her a host of new admirers. Ia “The Song of Songs" Marlene’s sullen, inscrutable personality is lifted, revealing a thoroughly charming and unsophisticated girl. The picture is vivid and dramatic —easily the equal of any of Marlene’s previous efforts. Lionel At will comes through with ai brilliant performance, ably seconded by Brian Aherne (the English actor who was in Australia with the Bouclcaults) and Hardie Albright.

In “ The Masquerader” you will delight in the suave Ronald Colman In the dun! role of Bad Boy Sir John and Good Boy John Lo’der, toe moved toy the sentimental predicament of Elissa Landi as Eve. Stars love dual roles and Colman revels In this. The old. novel, once played on the stage and filmed silently by Guy Bates Post, has been written down to date and give«j a. la&taXuL charming usoduclioa.