COMEDY HARMONISTS

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20388, 31 December 1937, Page 13 (Supplement)

COMEDY HARMONISTS

SCENES OF GREAT ENTHUSIASM TO RETURN IN 1939. Seldom has such enthusiasm marked the reception of performers, individually or m companies, in Wellington as that displayed at the Anal entertainment of the Comedy Harmonists (says a Wellington paper).

Just before the entertainment concluded Professor Shelley, Director of the National Broadcasting Service, stepepd on to the platform, and as he did so paper streamers were flung by the audience on to the platform, entangling the singers, and the scene was like the departure of an ocesn

Professor Shelley referred to the high artistic attainments of the Harmonists, and he described them as

“the greatest masters of the microphone we have yet had in this coun-

He announced with the manifest approval of the audience that a contract had been signed by the National Broadcasting Service and the Comedy Harmonists for a return season in 1939.

Cheers were given for the departing artists at the close of the concert.

ELISABETH BERGNER

TO APPEAR AS “ST. JOAN” FILM VERSION OF SHAW PLAY Elisabeth Bergner is planning a great surprise. Though her latest picture, “Dreaming Lips,” was released only recently, it is many months since she set foot inside a film studio. Through these months she has been quietly plotting a scheme with hus-band-director Paul Czinner and George Bernard Shaw; the scheme is for Bergner to play the title role in a film version of Shaw’s “Saint Joan.” Shaw is, and always has been, willing for his plays to be transferred to the screen. But he objects to having them Addled about. Shaw Will Not Sell Outright For that reason, he will not sell his plays outright to film companies. He insists on reserving the right to approve the finished scenario. For that reason, too, the negotiations have taken a long time. Finally, however, Bergner and Czinner evolved a scenario with which Shaw was completely satisfied. So Bergner gets the role which has been openly coveted by Garbo, Colbert, Hepburn and a lot more of the screen’s most famous stars. The picture will go into production very shortly.

The film will be of the utmost importance to Bergner. After the uncertain reception of “Dreaming Lips” and “As You Like It,” she urgently needs an outstanding picture to put her back on the pinnacle which she made her own in “Escape Me Never.” A Queer Choice The choice of Saint Joan as a comeback seems a little queer, says a London writer. One could hardly think of two actresses less alike than Bergner and Sybil Thorndike, who created the part on the London stage. But Bergner has played the role hundreds of times in Germany—and she presumably knows best what suits her. Laurel and Hardy Teamed Again Laurel and Hardy, alter splitting for ever asl April, have signed a new teaming contract with Hal Roach. Hardy will first support Bing Crosby in “The Badge of Policeman O’Roon.” Shirley Temple as Rebecca After a search for Randolph Scotl to support Shirley Temple in “Rebecca or Simnybrook Farm.” production has started. (J I tiers in the cast are .lark Haley, Bill Robinson. Helen Westley, Gloria Stuart and Phyllis Brooks.