TALKIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 54, 11 June 1948, Page 3

TALKIES

OSCAR NATZKE SOON TO APPEAR IN NEW TECHNXCOLOXJR FILM

Oscar Natzke shortly to be seen and heard in the British National Technicolour film “Meet the Navy” worked hard when he was young, in a blacksmith’s shop at Freeman’s Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. Then he got his big chance and went to Trinity College, London. He was the first singer to go direct from a college of music to a leading part at Covent Garden and was the youngest bass to ever sing in that great Opera House. His father was a Russian who took up farming in New Zealand and his mother was born in Christchurch of English stock-—but when he was

only a lad of 15 his father died and the young Natzke became a breadwinner, being apprenticed to ; a blacksmith for 10/- a week. When Natzke was about 18 his voice broke and he began to develop a bass-profundo of great power, which Galli Curci described as a Russian counterbass, a type for which Russia is noted. After studying under Albert Garcia, the grandson of the great Manuel Garcia (who taught Jenny Lind) Natzke went direct from the studio to play a leading role in the grand opera at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where he was hailed by leading critics as one of the most important vocal discoveries for many years.

“Nigfyt Boat To Dublin” Star To Play Male Lead In “Temptation Harbour”

Robert Newton, who played the leading role in the Associated British thriller “Night Boat to Dublin” now stars with Simone Simon in the Associated British picture “Temptation Harbour,” based on the novel “Newhaven Dieppe,” by world-fam-ous French writer, George’s Simenon. In “Temptation Harbour,” Newton has the part of a signalman, who, casually looking out of his signal box one day, finds himself in-

volved in a murder, and later an affaire with Simone Simon, playing the part of the French girl, “Camelia,” a fairground artiste. Newton started his stage career at the age of 14. He was in repertory for a long time, including a season with Sir Barrie Jackson at Birmingham. He toured South Africa with “Bulldog Drummond” and other playp, then came back to England again and appeared in “The Perfect Fit.” He was at Drury Lane with Henry Ainley in “London Life,” and toured in “White Cargo,” and later appeared at Nancy Price’s People’s National Theatre. After much more experience on the London stage, playing a variety of parts, he suddenly felt the call

Mews, Views send Forthcoming Events

of the open spaces (probably it was his Cornish forbears influencing him), and went off to a cattle ranch in Canada. He stayed in British Columbia for over a year, and then suddenly decided to come back and put on grease-paint once more. Among his successes about this time was his appearance with Gladys Cooper in “The Letter” and with Tallulah Bankhead in “Cardboard Lover.” He went to America with “Private Lives” and on his' return from Hollywood appeared with Ivor Novello in “I Lived With You.” After this time he was connected with the Shilling Theatre at Fulham, where he did a play a week. Laurence Olivier gave him his first job in “Fire Over England” and then Newton did “Farewell Again” and “Dark Journey.” He appeared 'with Charles Laughton in “Vessel of Wrath” and also “Jamaica Inn” and he was in “Hamlet” at the old Vic with Laurence Olivier. He then went into “Yellow Sands,” “Dead Men Are Dangerous” and “Major Barbara.” When the war came Newton joined the Navy, and after two and a half years’ service was invalided out. His next great success was “Hatter’s Castle” which firmly established him ( as a distinguished film actor.

Then came “This Happy Breed,” after which Newton went almost immediately into “Henry V,” in which he played the role of “Pistol.” Newton says he owes much of his success to the good offices of Laurence Olivier and Dame Laura Knight. Both these good friends of his have helped to mould his stage career.