TALKIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 253, 23 December 1940, Page 3

TALKIES

film producer sets ■ . „ PRECEDENT When Producer Jules Levey set the east for his first Mayfair Production, "The Boys From Syracuse' 1, he also set several casting precedents. Levey llrst signed Allan Jones for a dual role, comprising two of the singing-romantic leads. Then the producer contracted Jones' wife, Irene Hervey, \° essay her real life marital role on the screen for the' first time. New 'Comedy Combination. The producer teamed Martha Rave and Joe Penner as a new comedy, combination, marking the first freelance roles for the pair, formerly under contract to major studios. When Rosemary Lane signed with Levey it meant licr first l©anout assignment after two years with Warners, indicating that the latter studio believed the role an important one lor their contractee. To round out a cast that includes nine major film "names," Levey signed Charles Butterwortli, Alan Mowbray and Eric Blore,, a trio ot popular comics, and obtained the services of the venerable character actor, Samuel S. Hinds. 'a. Edward Sutherland, young-old veteran of 25 years' experience inthe motion picture industiy, was signed to direct. Surpasses Stage Version. With that lineup Levey felt that lie had talent enough to match of surpass the cast of the stage version, on which the film is based. George Abbott produced the footlight edition of "The Boys From Syracuse," with such stage names as Eddie Albert,, Jimmy Savo and Teddy Hart featured. Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart 1 wrote the music for both the play > and fllnr. A farce comedy Avith a colourful . background, ancient Greece, the vehicle is considered one of the most unusual and entertaining ever produced. FILM IS TRIUMPH FOR YOUNG STAR Joe Pasternak couldn't believe hi J ears. "It can't be," he said as lie heard the golden voice rippling from the phonograph. His caller insisted that, it was so. The thrilling voice coming from the instrument was that of an eleven-year-old' girl. "I'll bring her here and prove it," the caller offered.

Meets Director. The next "clay, shj r and more than a bit shaken at being in the presence of the discoverer of Deanna Durbin, eleven year old Gloria Jean Schoonover stood before Pasternak. At his request she sang". , Gloria , soon was signed to a contract with Universal studios. Her name was shorted to Gloria-Jean. After six months of intensive pr*: paration, she Avas introduced to the public as a star, in "The UnclerPup," Her reception was overwhelming. Now Gloria is appearing in her second picture, co-starring with Bing Crosby, in "If I Had Miv Way" Born in., Buffalo. Gloria was born in Buffalo, 5s r .\. r April 14, 1928, but when she was still a baby, the Schoonover family moved to Scranton, Fa. At the age of fifteen months, Gloria first ,showed her musical propensities'. She could hum "Little Annie Rooney"' at that age. When she was three and a half ye-rtrs old,, she sang with a radio-vaudeville act, and at; five she scored a lefinite sensation with her rendition of the difficult "Eili, Eili." Many stage radio and church appearances' were already to her credit. Paul Whiteman offered hev u contract while she was in her sixth year. In 1938, Gloria became the member of an opera company. But Mrs Schoonover believing the work too strenuous for a child would not allow Gloria to accompany the troupe on tour. Jn the fall of that yoar Gloria was brought to Joe Pasternak's attention.