Three Award Winners Together

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 85, 4 January 1935, Page 5

Three Award Winners Together

Jn Norma Shearer’s new picture, “The Barretts of Wimpole Street,” theatregoers will have the pleasure of seeing three winners of the annual Motion Picture Academy Award appear together. They are Miss Shearer, who stars as Elizabeth in the famous tale of poetic love; Fredric March, who plays opposite as the ardent Robert Browning, and Charles Laughton, most recent winner of the award, who shines . as the diabolical father. The perform- ’ ance of each is so finished, so smooth and rich, that comparison is impossible. Never was there a more tender Elizabeth, a more poetic Browning, or a more demoniac elder Barrett than these three present. Miss Shearer, as the star, naturally carries the brunt of the film —and carries it with all the grace and charm and polish that made “Riptide” and “Smilin’ Through” the successes they were. As the invalided Elizabeth, she brings a poignant wistfulness to her characterisation that reaches deep down into the hearts of the auditor. Besides such titans of the dramatic arts, there is also a long string of excellent supporting players, ■■ each adding his able touch to the glittering whole. They are: Maureeii O’Sullivan, who plays spirited Henrietta ; Ralph Forbes as Captain Cook: Una O’Connor as the obsequious Wilson; Katharine Alexander portraying the reverent Arabel; Marion Clayton, as Bella, the flirt; Leo Carroll and Ferdinand Munier as Drs. Ford-Water-low and Clayton, and lan Wolfe in th© 1 part he created on the stage—Bevan, the elegant English gentleman. “The Gay Divorcee” “'J'HE GAY DIVORCEE,” RKORadio’s current musical comedy hit is declared to be the first “true musical comedy” ever presented .on the screen. Studio officials, it is said, exhausted every possibility to capture accurately the giddy, headlong speed of the plot, which, as a stage play starring Fred Astaire, i played 23S performances in New York and six months in/the Palace Theatre, London. , Astaire and Ginger Rogers are starred, with such famous screen players as Alice Brady and Edward Everett Horton featured. Hit numbers of the original play have been retained, including the celebrated “Night and Day” number, to the music of which Astaire does his famous “Dance of Moods.” There is also Astaire’s sensational wild dance of joy and abandonment, wherein, having at last won the lady of his dreams, he celebrates by leading her in a daring waltz over tables, chairs, davenports, and what-nots. The play itself is one of Broadway’s historic incidents. Written by Dwight Taylor, lyries and music by Cole Porter, the opus was first classed as a dud. Several times it was owned by rather desperate producers - caught with a play and none to produce. When they found something they thought was better, they passed the play along at a bargain rate. Eventually it made fortunes for everyone coneeted with it. Plays in Sydney “■VIKTORIA AND HER HUSSAR,” ’ was staged in Sydney last week by tlie J. C. Williamson Company recently in New Zealand in “The Dubarry.” Of Hungarian origin, the play features Sylvia Welling in the title role. The story of “Viktoria and Her Hussar” is an unusual one, with the action changing rapidly from place to place, opening In Siberia, then whisking to Japan, across to Petrograd, and winding up in a Hungarian vineyard. Comedy is the keynote, and gay and charming songs are liberally sprinkled throughout. Mr. Jack Mayer plays the male lead opposite Sylvia Welling. Before leaving London Mr. Mayer appeared in several musical successes, playing opposite leading American screen stars in three of them. Mr. Mayer has acted in several films, the last one being “Behold We Love,” with Margaret Graham, Alan Kitson, an Australian, who has spent several years in England, returned with Mr. Mayer. Mr. Kitson was at one time with the Humphrey Bishop Com■pany in New Zealand. “Babes in Toyland” r pWO new names have been added to the list of players who will appear in support of Laurel and Hardy in Hal Roach's screen version of Victor Herbert’s immortal operetta, “Babes in Toyland,” which is scheduled for early production. They are Charlotte Henry, petite blonde baby star, who has been assigned the role of “80-Peep,” and Henry Kleinbach, who for the past year has been creating a sensation in the part of “Squire Gribbs” in the Californian stage production of the "Drunkard.” He will essay the character. '‘Barnsby” in the picturisation of tne operetta which Ray McCarey will direct Others assigned important roles in this feature special are Felix Knight, dramatic tenor, and Virginia Karns.soprano.

W. C. Fields will replace Charlo, Laughton in the role of “Micawber” In Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “David Cop per field.”