Cinema... Snapshots

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20427, 18 February 1938, Page 4

Cinema ... Snapshots

Merle Oberon in “ Over The Moon ” Willi trie very much up-and-coming Iln Harrison as a partner. Merle oberon has been busy on ” Over the Moon." her current assignment for London Films This is |fi# picture in which Merle appears o* . dowdy little creature, living in i remote part of Yorkshire, who inherit* eighteen million pounds Mid become* a kind of female Mr Heeds—fair game for .1! sorts of swindler*, so ;»l climtiers ami fortunebtmliiis hi - nen. For fi o ♦ ,;j * .-m»* m this him Merle lias adopted .n amusingly eccentric style of make-up and costume. in order to oiake the most of • to* contrast between the rather • fey " young woman and the beautiful thing into which she develops when she gets possession of her money. A violent tartan dress, frizzy hair, very obvious hair-pins and the most, drastic use of rpstick and powder ar« the chief ingredients in the transformation of Merle. Rex Harrison is a nice country doctor who is friendly with Merle before her adventures begin and Is still faithful when they are all over. Louis Borell has quite a big part as the charming cad w hom the novelettlehly romantic Merle meets when she begins going round the night-clubs. Ursula Jeans and Zena Dare are two more people who feel that they are entitled to a share in Merle's fortune. * 4 Over the Moon " is a Tcchnicolour picture, the second in which Merle has appeared. It Is being directed by \Wllam K. Howard who, by this time, must be thlnkinc of taking out a transatlantic season ticket Miss Oberon has already appeared In her first colour picture, • The Divorce of Lady X,” but the film hasn’t yet been shown. Like that picture. Over the Moon,” is being supervised «• regards the colour treatment, by Natalie Kalmus. George Sanders in “Lancer Spy ” Drama In the case of George Sanders Hollywood found Its first Impression highly deceiving, for when it took a second look at the tall, handsome British actor, who scored such an outstanding success in a few villainous roles. It found him far too romantic looking to be a ** heavy ” all the time. Twentieth Century-Fox officials, who discovered this potential matinee idol right In their midst (he played the caddish husband of Madeleine Carrol in "Lloyds of London " , reckoned without Sanders’ objection when they broached the Idea of making a lomantic hero out of him in Darryl F. Zanuck’s production, a sensational World War espionage drama. *• I find it so pleasant to be unpleasant,’’ Sanders declared with a chuckle. ” 1 arn somewhat selfish in wanting to remain a villain. I think that such roles require greater ability, more finesse, and are truer to life in their characterisations than are the romantic hero parts that Hollywood hands out. But if I’m to be a romantic chap. I'm going to be a swashbuckling one with some virility and depth of emotion to my portrayals. I’ll not be Just another handsome face on the screen.” Zanuck knew of Sanders' idea when he called him in to give the title role of *' Lancer Spy.'’ in which he Is cofcatured with Dolores Del Rio and Peter Lorre. In fact, it wasn’t one role at all. but four different roles. Sanders starts the film as a British naval lieutenant, becomes an imperious German high army officer, then a Prussian general sixty years old. and finally a middle-aged Swiss railroad porter. The assignment was the most difficult that any producer has handed an aspiring actor In many months. Tom Wall's Latest ** Strange Boarders 19 Tom Walls with Renee Saint-Cyr is hard at work on the big G.B.D. Phillips Oppenheim story. *• >tran*ce Boarders.” which boasts one of the best casts yet seen In a British picture. The supporting players include Ronald Adam, John Turnbull, Irene Hand!, George Clvizon, Phil Bay, Bernard Morefleld, Douglas Stewart, Hay Plumb. Leon M. Lion. Martita Hunt. Marda Yeno, Albert Chevalier, Jnr., Tyrrel Davis and C. V. France. FLASHES. TNONALD DUCK has a new rival in the Disney Company of stars. His name Is Gus the Goose. rriyG HAAKON, of Norway, has m &,i& Sonja Henle a Knight of St, Olaf in recognition of her world fame on Ice anil on the screen, • • • • /GLADYS GEORGE gets the part ot V* 1 Madame Du Barry in Norma Shearer's “ Marie Antoinette."* Also In the cast will be Melvyn Douglas amj Maureen O'Sullivan. • • * • fI.U'LiE RAINS attains official starve Oorn for Warner* it “ While Banners by the author of “The Green Light." ' It goes into production as 60on as a leading lady has been found to pl»v the se. nsnt-gfrl. Both Helen Hayes and Helen Meckeu