Cinema... Snapshots

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

Cinema ... Snapshots

“ Stage Door ” Katharin « Hepburn and Ginger Rogers (From Film Weekly.) Stage life from the inside, as revealed in the lives of a group of girls in a theatrical boarding-house. The story is a brilliant pattern of humour, sophistication, aspirations, tragedy and realism. The acting is impeccable; and the film as a whole finely balanced, acidly humorous and intensely human. A picture not to be missed. There are all sorts of ways of looking at this film; and all of them give a first-class view. You can see it as a vehicle for a brilliant performance by Ginger Rogers; as a powerful come-back for Hepburn; as a directorial triumph for Gregory La Cava; as an almost perfect version of a fine stage play; as a grand display of character acting by minor players. But it looks best simply as a finely balanced piece of work in which splendid acting, clever writing, humour and emotional power all con- | tribute to a general excellence. It deals illuminatingly with life in a theatrical boarding house and the hopes, fears, failures and successes of a group of widely varied girls, old hands and new’-comers to the theatre. It concentrates particularly on two of them, Ginger Rogers, a dancer, typically honest, cheerful and wisecracking; and Katharine Hepburn, a rich girl with a determination to succeed in the theatre by her own efforts. There is also another girl, a brilliant young actress whose tragedy clouds the lives of the others, yet brings with It new friendship, understanding and affection. This is an allround view of theatre life as it is lived by the rank and file. It shows the noisy, good - nat u r e d boarding - house life, with the pinching and scraping, the eternal meals of mutton stew, and the generous sentiment beneath the veneer of wise-cracking toughness. It misses nothing, and deals with very little that is irrelevant. To anyone who knows the theatre, it is simply a slice of life, brought to the screen with that deceptive ease that is the result of artistic brilliance. Ginger Rogers gives the performance of her life; a sustained portrayal of an honest, vital, sometimes ratheq I silly girl that doesn't contain a single f alse move; and is highlighted bv a magnificent drunk scene. Hepburn returns in one splendid stride to the spacious expressiveness of her “ Morning Glory ” portrayal. Andrea Leeds, as the tragic girl of the group, makes a small part hauntinglv memorable; and Adolphe Menjou plays a shallow, hard character with easy brilliance. And the rest are so near to perfection in their cleverlyassorted roles that it is profitless to go on quoting. To this outstanding acting add splendid direction, and some of the best dialogue you can ever hope to hear; and you have a film that you will remember gratefully for a long time. Harold Lloyd Starts New Picture “ Professor Beware” After more than a year and a half of preparation, Harold Lloyd has stepped before cameras for the filming of the first scene in his next Paramount starring picture, “ Professor Beware.” In the first scenes of this picture, Lloyd will play opposite Phyllis Welch, who is making her film debut in this comedy. Miss Welch, twenty-two-year-old New York stage actress, recently was seen on Broadway in the Theatre Guild's production of “ High Tor.” The story of ” Professor Beware,’* an original by Francis and Marlen Cockrell, involves a professor of archaeology who gets into trouble in the opening scene of the film and does not get out until the fade-out. The picture is being directed by Elliott Nugent, author of many stage successes, whose most recent directorial work was with Francis Lederer and Madeleine Carroll in " it’s All Hollywood Stars — ‘ Who's Who” —Olivia De Havilland Olivia de Havilland is her real name and she was horn in Tokio, Japan, of English descent, on July l, 1916. Came with her parents to America at the age of three. At school she played hockey, debated, won public speaking cup. edited the School Year Book, and played in school theatricals. As a swimmer and fancy diver she knows her splashes. A talent scout <of Professor Max Reinhardt saw her playing the part of Puck in a school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream." Result was a film test at the Warner Bros, studio to play Jlermia in Reinhardt's spectacular film production of the Shakespearian fantasy. Next she was signed to a long contract. She is five fret four inches in height, weighs 107 pounds, lias reddish brown hair and brown eyes. Among the well known films tli.it Olivia lias appeared in are " Captain Blood,” " Anthony Adverse," The Charge of Hie Light Brigade,” and ' Call It a Day. • Her next two big productions for Warner Bros, are " M s Lo\e I'm After." with Leslie Howard and Bette Davis, and “The Great Garrick," in which the is starred with Brian Aherne.