Latest Doings From Studios

Chronicle (Levin), 20 April 1946, Page 7

Latest Doings From Studios

Les. M,

« . Murphy)

(Special — From

WELLINGTON This Day. Barbara Stanwyck wiii be sole star of "The Other Love," to be made by David Loew from a story by Erich Remarque — and Barbara will be coproducer of the film as well. Cnaracter actor John Miljan, whom you have not seen for years because he has been entertaining the troops overseas, comes back to films with a top role in R.K.O.'s "Binbad." Film wives who are making careers for themselves are blonde Patricia Kr.ight, wife of Cornel Wilde, who has been signed by Fox for the lead in a comedy mystery film, and Joanne Haymes, wife of singing Dick Haymes, who also has won a contract with the same company. Carman Miranda, who has just singned a liew contract with Universal, says that she will go to Brazil to marry her doctor fiance. "Tlien I shall work four months of each year in Hollywood," she said, "asd I will spend the rest of the year in Rio." Once or twice, Carmen has been on the verge of marrying an American, but did not because she thought it would be resented by the male natives of her own country. Production of "Smithy" Playing small parts in Columbia's Australian production "Smithy" are several American and Canadian executives now residing in Australia. Sent out by the firms tney represent, these men willingly donned greasepaint to bring a touch of realism to Smithy's American jaunts. Most of them suffered acute nostalgia, as they wandered through the typically Yankee sets depicting a Pullman train, San Francisco night club, and an American snack bar. Joan Crawford has deflnitely begun divorce proceedings against husband Phillip Terry, charging him with "niental cruelty." Efforts had been made for reconciliation, but they failed when Terry walked out of their Beverley Hills home over two months ago. They were married in July, 1942, Terry being Joan's third husband, the others being Douglas Fairbanks Jun. and Franchot Tone. Starts Production Shortly "Qlaudia and David" sequel to "Claudia," goes. into production 1 shortly with Dorothy McGuire and Robert Young again impersonat- : ing the young couple.

Louis D. Lighton will produce the comedy, "Home Sweet Homicide," a story by Craig Rice about the hectic family life of a mystery-yarn writer. Peggy' Ann Garner ana Barbara Whiting — the "Fuffy" of "Junior Miss" — will play prominent roles. "My Darling Clementine" will be John Ford's first directorial job since Ipis return from the armed services'. The story has an outdoor setting and takes place in the colourful days of the old West. Henry Fonda, also recently discharged from the Army, will have the male lead, with Jeanne Crain and Linda Darnell both set for feminine starring roles': , William Eythe ' will play the villainous store detective in "Methinks the Lady," the film transcript of the novel by Guy Endore. Carmen Miranda will appear with Vivian Blaine, Perry Como and Harry James and his band in "That's for Me," a musical comedy, now before the 20th Century-Fox cameras. "The Old Army Game," based 011 the original story by Richard Macauley, is another film being produced by the,same studio. The leading roles are being handled by Lloyd Nolan and Faye Marlowe. e "Smithy" Completed "Smithy" has reached the finishing line, and has already broken records and established precedents, and a tentative release date has been fixed. First theatre in Australia to have the privilege of showing "Smithy" will be Sydney's State — one of the largest in the British Empire. It is noted for its well chosen programmes and the management is confident that "Smithy" will live up to this high reputation. One of the most unusual features of "Smithy's" appearance will be the almost simultaneous release of the film in America, England and Australia, planned by prbducer N. P. Pery. . Raymond Massey, Canadian born actor who is now an American citizen, took a vacation from Hollywood in order to play a leading part in the new Powell-Pressburger filmi "A Matter of Life and Death." Mr. Powell says that this picture is the ; most ambitious he and his partnerj have attempted — more ambitious than "Colonel Blimp." The film "I Know Whe're I'm . Gomg" heralds a newcomer to the : . screen in the person of lovely young ' 1 Margot Fitzsimmons, the younger i sister of the now f amous Hollywood ' star,- Maureen O'Hara. She por- i trayS the part of a Highland lassie,! devoid of painted glamour, but ; manages to be beautiful even in her !

rough wool jumper, tweed skirt and rubber knee length boots, In "Carnival," Two Cities have a colourful and famous story from the pen of Compton Mackenzie — a "period piece" set in Edwardian England, with the always fascinating background of the theatre and ballet. The glitter and glamo.ur of Edwardian life has been perfectly reproduced, as have the superbly feminine fashions of that ultrafeminine period. Feathers and frills, swooping skirts and up-swept coiffures, tiny waists and incredibly ornate hats help to create an atmosphere of romance. One of the most poigant scenes in the "Smithy" film is a little vignette where a small boy pauses briefly in the limelight. He is redheaded, eager and vital. Aviation is his special dream, and worship flows out to his hero — Kingsford Smith. Smithy good-humoredly takes the boy for a flip in the Southern Cross. During the flight, Smithy asks: "What's your name, Bluey?" "Truscott, sir. Bluey Truscott." Famed since as one of Australia's ace airmen and great heroes of the war, his life followed the same pattern as that of Smithy — flying, fame and death for both. Rising Jamaiean Dancer Signed up to appear in the technicolour production of "Men of Two Worlds," Bertie Pasuka, a Jamaiean dancer, who is rapidly making a name for himself in London both in ballet and native dancing, created a lot of interest at the home of some English friends whose little daughter had never seen anyone with a bronze skin. Convinced that the guest's colouring was due to lack of soap and water, the little girl was not satisfied until. the amused Bertie had washed- his face and proved that he was not dirty. World famous psychiatrist Dr. Larson's statement that "The human mind is rather like Salome at the beginning of her dance — concealed from the outside world by veil after veil of reserve," one. of which, "the ultimate protection against the nakedness of its innermost thoughts, only a psychiatrist can tear down," led Sydney Box to i write an original story of a girl pianist who recounts the happenings in her life from the age of 14 to 28. James Mason plays the male ' lead in the role of a villain who has |a change of heart when he realises ; that he is losing the thing he loves most — his young ward, played by Ann Todd. Final facts and figures on the production of "Smithy" are interesting and staggering: The total cost of the film is over £75,000. It was two years in preparation, ana 132 days of actual shooting — one day's work represents about % of- a minute on the screen. About 150,000 feet of negative was shot for about 10,000 feet which will be seen on the screen. Musical score is

composed specially by Henry Krips, and will be recorded by a 45 -piece string orchestra. The Southern Cross — Smithy's original plane — is playing her own part in the film; History-book people appear in the picture, recreating their real-life roles. These include the Rt. Hon. W. M. Hughes, Captain P. G. Tay■lor and John Stannage. The famous Peter Moremblum California Junior Symphony Orchestra has been signed by Warner Bros. to do a tworeel short subject under supervision of Gordon Hollingshead. It will be' the third made by this talented group for Warners, the other two being "California Junior Symphony" and "Childhood Days." They recently completed a speciality sequence for "Humoresque," starring Joan Crawford and. John Garfield. "Saratoga Trunk," the much discussed Gary . Cooper— Ingrid Bergma'n film of Edna Ferber's story is putting up sensational performances in its current overseas release. As one critic puts it "It's a romantic tale of high adventure and always a rollicking good story." Tne slightly sardonic Cooper and .the very feminine Bergman take up the film in their expert hands and in return give breathless portrayals in one of the most enj-oyable and engrossing pictures of recent years. It is definitely 'entertainment that Warner Bros. have placed in an impressive top bracket, and is due for early release in .New Zealand. Location Work Is Fun, Location work is fun, although it is much more trying for cast and crew than ordinary studio shots. Dependent on the weather, tempers are inclined to fray quickly. But amusing incidents always abound," and some are quite louching in their .oyalty to long-deal people and avents. On a recent trip to a small co\yn in the dairying bejt near Sydney, one of the "bit" players turned out to be none other than the lady Mayoress. Charming, affable, and ihoroughiy interested in the technical side of production, she remembered Smithy's eventful arrivals oack in Australia after each fecordbreaking feat. Still a fan, after all these years, she determined to try and play a small role in the film, as her special tribute. And so sne got her wish.

The girl with the striking personality who was so successful in the two G. B. Shaw plays which were filmed — "Pygmalion" and "Major Barbara," Wendy Hiller "has earned maximum fame witfi minimum appearances — one play and two films have made her world famous. Miss Hiller is married to Walter Gow, dramatic author, ana has two children. -Being highiy domesticated and passionat'ely fond of gardening, she finds that her ' home and children keep her fully occupied, leaving little time for the pursuit of her career. ' However," vYendy Hiller is now making another screen .appearance, this time in an unusual film set in the Scottish Islands, "I Know Where I'm Going," in which she is cast as a girl who, through,. the forces oi circumstances and ,, environment, oelieves that money^is the ya'rdstick by which her future happihess . can be measured. Playing opposi'te1' her is Roger Livesey, of "Colonel Blimp" fame. Muriel Steinbeck, rapidly be.com-' ing known as "Lady Sfiiithy" for her portrayal in the Columbia film, is quite a success. Achieving fame in the th-ree mediums of entertainment — radio, stage and screen — she is rapidly adding more laurels with her performance in "Smithy." But she's not a career girl. Quite the contrary. Muriel finds her best relaxation is pottering' about the house, cooking, or weeding the garden. Far from being a tefnperamental star, she can even make her own clothes, although time rarely permits. Close friends are occar sionally treated to a dinner fit for connoisseurs, and the finish of her work in "Smithy" makes these occasions more. frequent. Muriel took a keen interest in her wardrobe for the film, which was specially designed for the picture. Ifc is an exciting colleetion of costumes and ranges from sports wear to expensive and exclusive furs. With sixteen changes of clothing, ' the fittings were many and tedioiis. Each gannent had to be .fitted half a dozen times, because of the camera's tendency to pick up and distort odd shadows and folds. Although patient and good humored, Muriel thinks that the life of «a pin cushion leaves much to be desired. It may be that Muriel was impressed with the styles but she bought several articles from her screen wardrobe, and is now drifting about the house looking more like . "Lady Smithy" than never.