THE PICTURE WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 80, 1 October 1931, Page 18

THE PICTURE WORLD

::.t.g:, v .4-iv».;:,,,::;:;, "Tim Devil to Pay." , Ronaldj Colman's.,latest ■ talking, picture iri;a:v,ein-new to-the.star, aad-.bearing th title ("The- Devil- to- Pay," was • screene iere privately.recently. It is an.origina > screen etory and' dialogue ,,hy, the -English , dramatist, Frederick- Lpnsdale , well known for his numerous'stage'sue cesses, "Aren't; We AH?"" "Spring Clean ..■ing," "The Last.,of. Mrs. Cheyney," ,an others.: Though- several of the Lonsdalt : : Pjces have,W.adapted^r the >cr The: Devil to 'Pay" w his first attemp at writing'directly' for screen production The picture, a sophisticated comedy drama in'the modern manner,.has to ,d°.with th life and loves of. Willie Leeland,. playe by.' Ronald Colman, Wayward son of wealthy and unsympathetic British peer. The dialogue is bright: and sparkling i the. Lonsdale. manner, and the part o Willie was specially written to fit Colman Loretta Young'is also in the film. ' ' W. rtn .eL. B htner,s Supported. " In "Gold Dust Gertie," the Warner . Sros.'' hilarious comedy, Winnie Light lier is supported by Dorothy Christy and Vivian: Oakland, two Hollywood beauties/w'ho1 look so much alike that they ate-cast as the- twin sisters, who marry and mar the lives of Olsen and Johnson, the comedians. Others in "Gold Dust Gertie", are Claude ■ Gillingwater, Arthur Hoyt, and Virginia Sale. "fiMrivv" ' • oocrocy. ...,..,.-. 4 "Secrecy" has been; decided upon as a final title for Paramount's.film diary of a feminine University student, "Confessions of.a Co-Edi" Phillips Holmes and Sylvia Sidney appear ia the leading roles> and Norman Fostei", Claudia Dell, Fldrence Britton, and Martha Sleeper head the,support. David Burton-and1 Dudley Murphy directed from the story by an anonymous writer. . , . "Captlvatioh." .; "' '■, : Betty Stockfieldis to play in "Captivation," from a story by Edgar Middleton. It? is interesting to _ noto that Conway "Tearle, famous for'his work in American films, pjays opposite-her. "Captivation" tells the story of the capture, by? a-mod-era gurl/ofi a young author, fleeing from the allurements of the opposite sex. Most of ? the action takes place on. a, palatial yacht -at:: sea, and exteriors .were takenat' Monte Carlo, Cannes, and Cap ,d'Antibies. The. supporting! cast includes Violet' Vanbrugh, Robert Farquharsbn,. Frederick Volpe,,: and A. Bromley Davenport. . .

',a-i!, ■,••■„■„■; ,;■;,,— ~-ih"The Blue Danube." , | ~ . Tlie casting, and other, details of c .Dominions "The Blue Danube," bo far .to.. d- hand, show Alfredo'Rode:and his Tzigane l, Ox-chestra to be featured, and Brigitte Helm, a fluent linguist,, and the star ;'bf; ~ several of Germany's most successful films, - engaged for the part of the "Countess,Ga- -' briella. J> In this production she will make-. d her debut in an English .talkie. Joseph ; i, Schildkraut and Chili Bouchier will re- ; ^'&otl Sf Salr^^^ t brouglrt over'from New York to make his , talkie debut, while M. Massine wilKpijo-' , duce,the dances on,modern and Hungarian .. c lines. The .scenario- has been written by d i Doris', Zinjceisen, and. represents an ena .tirely, new. departure in . scenario form... ' Miss Zinkeisen has also motivated the n, music throughout the .picture, and the f ,sipry, con tains practically, no \ dialogue. , .1 oh'-im.. ■ ' •' • BUSlnes*- ; • .'■;.- --■ s^^ A^?^ of modern business and love, and thou-: - .sands of girls will see their own lives re"fleeted in this fast-moving-story of life m the business? world. The supporting castincludes v Frank Albertson, Kicardo Cot- . ; tez,s.and Joan B!ondell.>\ - ; «„,.,.„ ■ ' '. «°roo«- • ■■ .•'.;,. • British International. Pictures announce the early production of a film which will, have for its subject that hero of English history, General Gordon of Khartoum. It " isnot intended that the picture should/be . merely a series of episodes, but aims.at presenting a dramatic as well as an authentic story, culminating in Gordon's tragic death at the;hands of the Mahdi's war- _ riors.! The direction 'of "Gordon of Khartoum" has been, assigned;to Anthony Asj quith,-who is now completing-"Carnival." The screen play will be written by Captain Reginald Berkeley, who already has to his credit'the -film stories of many-British. CII _ Co _ o , Fllm: Fare' ' Wider variety in- story material and .. stronger all-star:, casts than ever before • will-feature the Paramount 1931-32 films, it is revealed in ,word from the Hollywood studios'of production .plans iorl pictures : now-being filmed and in,preparation. Pic- , tures. will, be made from classics of stage and ifictionras.well as-current best-selling, ; novels andjroadway stage 'isuccesses. They will -be presented by, ParamounVs • group ° of sixteen' stars, forty-three featured- play- d era, tiiirty^.directprs, and; fifty staff writers, si

. . ■. .: Uraiser - JLoses ■•■ ■■, — ■■ —; ■». . Holding that the great majority of tin more! interested that justice prevail ovei wrong-doing- than.that the inevitability ol , the hero's .end clearly appear,". Supreme Court Justice (Graham Witschief denied the' author's application for. an Vinjunctior restraining the Paramount' Piiblix Com pany from', exhibiting the, film in New York, says the' "New York ' Times." ■ The .Court held in. effect< that Dreisei . viewed life as a fatalist as opposed to the view of. life .which "believes in the power of the individual-to overcome weakness of character, to rise above his. environment, to subdue his physical desires, and to be master of his body, rather than be mastered by it." ' "The plaintiff appears to view the book from the standpoint of the fatalist," Justice Witschief wrote in his decisidn. "The hero," he- says, "has the sympathy of the • reader because he came' to a .tragic end through ithe .vicissitudes of life; most of them wholly beyond his control and largely .because of' a psychology.: developed by ; his starved boyhood.' The,difficulty in .picturing sucht : a, view of the book is apparent." -The Court adds that the view depends' upon the frame of mind, -whether fatalistic like the plaintiff's or 'believing in $he .power :o£ humanity to master its weaknesses.' ''..'■'■' - .... Justice Witschief previewed the contracts between* Mr; Dreiser arid' the film company, shoeing that the author1 was paid 138;000 dollars-for-the screen rights. Mr. Dreiser's > objections to the screen version were based on His contention that the film, company, had refused to comply with a clause in.;.the' contract which per-mitted.-theiauthor.to make suggestions and criticise the scenario. '' ' ■ 'The' Court quoted i the contract; that the .company; was bound byithesle suggestions only "in so!far as it may, in the judgment of-the purchaser," be consistent -to- make the : suggested changes: The. Court held that Mr. Dreiser had failed to uphold this ■ agreement by running away from interviews with representatives of' the company, . and''because when he did finally submit .'his suggestions hv writing they were complied, with so far, as it was .possible in the | judgment, of the : producer. , ■Lead;; '■ > ■• ; •. ■ ■ '_■■'■■■' Jolini Darrow, Kadio Pictures' contract player, has been ' assigned the juvenile lead in • "Secret Service," the story chosen as the next starring. vehicle '■■ for Richard Dii..- i • ■ ■; • ■ •'■ ■■ ■'..,.

any Feet. .. '• ■ An -averager of inore.:tnan,2,ooo;ooo .feet ■itimber >is , used' by the .Paramount stiias ;in * Hollywood annually' in', the conructionv of motion picture sets. r.j...■;■■;...........■■■■■..»............55E5rri

"Murder." ~ .; Aririe (3rey has been signed for' Britis Dominions; forthcoming production, " Murder in Covent 'Garden/ which wil be directed by Leslie Hiscott. During' th past year, Miss Grey1 has'come, rapidly: t the foreTHer first important-part wa in Edgar Wallace's ■ talkie version of hi book, "The Squeaker." Dennis; Neilso Ten-y will play the leading male role and others include Henri de Vries, .Walte Fitzgerald, Binnie Barnes, and' Cochran's Young Ladies. ' : .

Fashion Model. . '~.■'•. .-.,'.', , Dorothy ;Mackaill plays ,the; fashion model in. "The-Keckleps 'Hour," the Firs Nafaonal and .VitapWne, drama,of modern shortlyl.. The'! play is an adaßUtion of the;suc"cessfurstage play, "AmbusKy'' and

Conrad Nagel and Walter Byrori have im: portant-partsm this story of'modern Me. The cast of' "The Reckless Hour"' indudes • many soreen 'favourites./ '■■ '. " __ h ■-. ■' ■ .'■'-. .' rrencn^ ,■,,. , , , . Henri Bernstein,, the- French; playWright, has: been; placed-under : contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayeiv M:: Bernstein is in New York, and-is = working ,on an original story for-the. screen. He is. the author. of'Melo," in which' Basil Rath- • bbrie and Edna Best appeared on Broadr way this season, and 'haß also, written "The Thief," "Judith," 'The1 Hall1 of Mirrors," "Venom;" 'and' "The Day." His latest play, "Jupiter," is-to-be'pre-sented in- Paris ;in ■■November. ; ~_•., i.. :«,.;„•• ■■■ .■ ii'> • Out,Of the Blue. ~ !In addition to Gene-Gerrard,! who-will star in "Out-of the Blue,".on which immediate jproduction is to commence for British International Pictures at Elstree Studios, the cast includes "Jessie" Matthews, the revue star "who 'will appear as/ the ' heroine/ Kay -Hammond, and Kenneth Kove, the comedy pair in ''Fascinationl," > Birinie Barnes, Fred' Groves, Gordon Begg, Averil Haley, Hal Gordon, ;and .H.: Saxon-Snell. ■.:-,-., No Lady. ■ ; ; "No Lady," " Lupiho Lane's" neW British pictute.sbon to -be 'released 'by British' Dominions Films,'was made almost^entirely at <Blackpo-ol^an(l'thou S ands..of .Ihblidaydentally, these crowd; scenes were the cause of a-lot of trouble, to Lupino, Lane, who directed the picture. He maiiaged.to evolve a plan,, whereby, a. "dummy camera, and camera-men would take up "Reno." .••■': i. , Iv addition .to Lillyan Tashman. Peggy Sr&'^-^Bsi^.l completed divorce: film, "The Road to Lincoln Irymg JPichel, .Kent Taylor,, and Gayne Wlnteman. , "The Cheat." ■ < ■-~, ,■. -„.,,, , .„ r ,' 'j • { J,Mu^ h Jankhead .will .be atarwdv in The Cheat" as her next; picture^ to: follow "My Sin,". Paramount executives, announce. Irving Pichel, of 'aurderi.by the CJock," and "An American Tragedy," will play the principal .male. role. In the forthcoming version of the story,'the character played by Pichel. will be occidental!rather than oriental, as m the original production, Burlesque. ,1 ; Chester' Conklin, the comedian who made; the walrus moustache famous, Frank M'Hugh, .Glenn ■ Tryon, Eddie -Nugent, Bryant Washburn, Jimmy Finlaysoh, Hank Mann,, and three score other, rioted actors, are among the latest additions to the cast of the Hollywood Masquers new two-reel; comedy "The Great Junction Hotel." The picture, a -burlesque ,on -the modern mystery' drama, is. in' production ; at the RKO-Pathe. studios with Edward'i Everett Horton ' arid' Patsy Ruth Miller playing the leading, roles, .cr

All. Nations. •- • h .Warner; Oland- _ has; practisedl screen A villainy in practically every nationality l> but. hisi own. .Olaud was born in Sweden c and j in his many years of .film acting he o ~can't recall playing ,a Swedish t role.. Oddly s enough, he seldom chai'actenses citizens s of his adopted ' land, America. In "The n Big Gamble," REO-Pathe's '■ current pic-: , 'ture. starring -Bill' Bbyd,; he gives one of r his comparatively portrayals of . an .'American; • Oriental -roles have beenT his pet specialty.; ,•.v , . -

Desert Sands. .; ~ ■..-.,' C ;I7 W. ;■ Kraemer, the .director, of t; '.'M'Glukky—the -Sea> Rover," has left for o Afrjca'with His company, to film- the imajor. o. ' part of; this British International'picture pi ''in the desert. The staff includes E. Don- o£ ' ;

aldson, assistant director, Claude Friesie- '.-,■ M-,"«~,™«i »,vWf tooTininiana- : ®leen% ■ ~, eighty tedium ; Dems Hoey, Betty Amann,. Harold Huth, and Abraham' Sofaer, who will- play leadl.ing parts'in the picture.: Four cameras which have been; specially fitted, with dust , and sand-proof .Governor "blimps", are in--eluded, .in, the equipment, which also em,brapes; tropical, kit for members of the , company, "props" and provisions to mifice. a three weeks' sojourn in the far desert, , . ,',...'. .■ i 1 '.'««.'_„ Tamer"' Man >.amer- '■ - '■■.■■.:. "The Man Tamer" will'be the final title for ■' Marlene;■ Dietrich's -next Paramount; picture,' previously '.announced as ' "Lady of the Lions." It is.from.an.originalistory ; with', a. European theatrical .background.. Josef vpn, Sternberg, who-has-'handled the star's.two pre« vious films, wjlLshprtly^tart camera work on -"The.-Man,Tamer." ;. jjtie channes. :=. • ... . t .*..'' ; . ' ' "Smart Woman" has be'en • selected' as the final "title •" for 7 "Nancy's Private Affair," according to .the latest announcemerits from Radio' Pictures'. Studio. This 'vehicle starring • Mary Astor was recently completed,,with(Kobert, Ames playing the male lead and Edwai;d Everett Hortoh, ' J°h m .Halliday,: and, Noel, Francis in f sup--PP/^g, roles The latest .Wheeler ; and ■ ..Wopkey,. vehicle, -previpus^.pubiciseji, ?^\ nS^S^' ' , . ' Air* Pictures.l ■'. '■ •pa ul ' H utßt,-;wl 1 0-pla'ys-one-o£.itne: cnief c h aracte r roles in "Kick In," Clara Bow's p ar , mr ., lr) j. .j rr , ms ,f,r, mVt.i-p in- mo J was. also a<prominent. motion; picture di- ' £?£jlf£ U? ^i:^^J*rft'^ ? Romberj.- ■■ .•. , , . Zealand , short i y> - com p O sed the now: fam-. ous'operetta, "Viennese Nights," "The Student Prince, 5' "Blossom: Time," arid many,.other:musical plays. "Children of Drea ' mß ,., begins and ends. in the apple orc hards of California, and ( featured in thisVmusical.romance'are Margaret Schil- ]' iilg Palll Gregory, Marion Byron, and m any others. ' ! ■■-■■■■ '• .■ ; ; Camera Invention. ; .■• ■; , The "Iron Seal," a'self-powered support' its wen tors believe, will replace the old-fashioned stationary tripod,'is ttie lat, est ; equipment; to ,be jtjeveloped at. i-.arampunt is J\ew Xork studio, ty. &c .making.of talking motion pictures. Tfle device,- which- was first used during tll(J nhmng of, Charles .Kuggles's. starring cdraedy,'" The' Girl Habit," 'assured complelo and'automatic'mobility in both vertjcal .and.-'-'Horizontal camera movement. 'PQwefed "by .a ' specially sound-proofed elcctric;m6tor,'.th'e "Iron- Seal" will travel n'any'■ direction >and simultaneously permits the camera which it bears-tobe railed lowered' while in motion. - : ,

Germany's Wants ■ ■ ■~.■:■ '■■ "■ ■■+ ■' ;- -' ■ ■ •In spiie of'the ''general. bad: times,;Gi many-• still-wants ■',good' ;films, -and it film industry, :tnei'e.continued its big pus Theatres^'have. done ; extremely/ good bu . ness,. top,. With foreign .films, notably. wi Chai'lie. Chaplin's "City Xights" and ;t two French' films :of "Rene 'Clair, "So les'Toits'dS iParis",>Wnii' "Ec Million;"! : Even in the tiniest towns,;a sound fil has io be really gooid; ■■'■An -operetta,. f example;; which- .is; not ■ first class, is i once rjejected. ,Of the home products, it' highest "box 'office' receipts"'are obtain' from military' pictures. , Themes de'alij •with the life; of Frederick' the- Great ai the humorous' barrack-room 'treatment '■ the Wilhelmine.jregime ,are; always wi ners.' ' . ........ ..' . ... ;;■'■. ■~ . • , English, a.ctors. and actresses have be"( engaged to appear in'-'their new films. A outstanding one is to l;be" "The Yienne Congress/ asgreat'historical >panorama Europe 'in the;days .following the Batt of Waterloo.; ,A ; com ing -Emil Janninj productlpn, to .be "niade wholly in colou will be based on carnival festivities, on tl Eiviera.' ItVis-"called -"Monte^ Carlo Ma ness,f= and i has' eix-hundred' supers in tl casino rscenes.. ; \ ' : < ;•.■•■•• .. ■■ : , :■ . It is .intended, to., make English ye sions^ .with English.casts, of.every big fil: in 'the future!.' One studio ,'is 'in a poa tion' to'turn'out'-a. minimum: of r sixty fei ture films per annum. For the thrilh ; type of , talkie; penetrating, psychologic! studies .ratherj. than, the "penny-dreadful sort'of story, are';'gaining'iground. . : .-' "Trader Horn." . '■■'/ '. . Love" in 'the cradle- of savagery; romanc amid the perils' of; primeval; jungles, spi tacle,;thrills; iWild animals in their prim tive state, a girl as-savage as tlje beasit themselves, lured' to civilisation throug love of a man'from' the outer worldthese : are some :of the,: outstanding ■. el< ments. unfolded- in -Met'rcK-Goldwyn-Mayer' picture "Trader Horn.". . : "Girl Crazy.", ' . ~-..:, Satisfied -from1 a 'survey- made by filr salesmen .that musical, productions are de sired by-: theY public, Radio : Pictures studio, has, speeded, plans 'to -produce tb picturisa.tidn df George Gershwin's musica comedy smafeh; "GUrl' Crazy;" '' which re cently scored.' so; tremendously, on- Broad way in New York. ~The first,definite stej in this matter was taken by William L< Baron-with the-announcement that Eitt; Kelly had ; been assigned to the picture which is to co-star Bert Wheeler . a'n< Robert' \Vbblsey, '"with 'Dorothy' Lee 'ti completei the: •triangle- of i laugh-p-rovokers

ompliment.' ■[■ ' Dorothy Jordan/rfecently'was/paid"onef the! nicesjb;'compliments',-of: the..". year/ ', O. M^tyre,, the-NpWiYork icolumnist, eked her out, as,^., "most .personable". n.ew.; *PT,ef:n: Vla??r. ?"■ ■'■ :

" Her Next. j» Joan Crawford will be starred in the c bcieen adaptation of, Edgar Sehvyn's l' "Mirage," according'to announcement by J Metro Goldwyn-Mayer. Miss Crawford s P S^'nlt c Aye," is now in final stages o£ pioducy tiou on the coast. Lenore Coffee now .' piepaung the -photoplay script of „ "Mirage." 0 '• Helped. T , . Sef-sue Sajakawa made a star'of Rudolph Valentino, he > revealed * recently while awaiting his cameia. call to do a scene for Paramount^ "Daughtei of the Dragon." Jesse L. Lasky bought ' The Sheik" for Ses&ue, but lie lelt the cdm-' •pany to be an independent producei. Val entino got the part. "Once a Lady." <ir\ t i)» i i i .n .. Once a Lady'has been decided upon as the title of Euth Chattertons next Pdiamount dramatic film This 'pictuie »an adaptation by ZoeAkins of the play "The Second Idfe." and will' be dnectod by Gnthrw M'Clmtic 'Once'a Lady" pre,iotiajy announced as "Notpuety," is scheduled for producbon soon. "Twenty-foilr Hours." Camera uork has just been finished, on 'Tw.nty.four Hours," an adaptation by Paramount of Louis Bromfield's novel of New York's aristocracy' Chve Biook heads an all star cast m this picture, including Kay Francis, Mniam Hopkins, Rogis too- i mey, and George Barbier. Marion Goring, who recently directed Gary Co'opei in "I Take This Woman," .handled, the- Cfive Brook film J P Pola Negrl. n A lifelong lovp for the ocean was re- ? sponsible for, Pola Neon's selection of a residence upon her recent return to ? Amenca. The RKOPathe btai has taken H a modest house right on the- watei's edge n at Santa Monica "The water is soothing " to my nerves," she explain . "It is rest a less like I am. We speak the. same lan- " guage. We seem to understand each S other. I am-happy since lam living heie. b Besides, the ocean is really the only place a where I ever achieve complete peace and c relaxation." y Zasu, C Zasu Pitts has been given. <an important pait in "The Guardsman," the first Altred h Lunt-Lvnn Fontanne spreen'vehicle, while w Jean Hersholt, Victor Potel, Robeit fi Young, and John T. Murray Inve been M added to the cast of "Lullaby," the pic- m tuie in which Helen Hayes will make her va debut on the scieen. ' is

Ann Hardinfl. Indications are that RKQjPathe plan* to make Ann Hardmg's ~ forthcpminf stellai. vehicle, "Alias Mrs. Halifax.™ Lesl.e Howerd plays opposite Mjbs Hard. "*' **«* ™*»* °* '^und^ bllb ano-ther important masculine cfcarao. terisation. Alison Skipworth and Louis* Clossei Hale are-the latest.to be assigned to chaiacter roles, augmenting a.rorter of «™« which already includes O. P. Heggje, Dons Lloyd, Joan 'Carr, Euth Weston, Joyce Coad, Douglas Scott, and Tempo Pigott. Howard's | ntl , r . n< , a Mowara s Insurance. Stereotyped ideas change .in thes* sv lftll-inoving times. The entry of talk* ing pictures into the field ofl modern em teitamment calls for a new method of m« sunng highly-salaried film stars agamsfc any unfoieseen accidents that rnirfit mai« the smooth running o! aXS crhedulp r VPr v mnmont L,» A «i £o a mo/uctZ rLI mL i .VL^?l^dS£dltt?fih£S Dominions Films production 'of "Mly o£ Bloomsbuiy," has the reputation rf fcep. Ing to schedule, but Bntwh DomTnio^ Flhn , I]a , e msmed g}dney » plajmg the lole of 'Mr. Btillbottle" m tlle, 'V kno,wn, comedy, not only on genf, 1 \l nf; 'but Principally for "loss of %0IC<" Ille Plemluin 1& a heavy ; one. "Tabu"' Heroine. 4 j,,n a a i i n ~?,,, " I"fled£^ d scieen, star-.without ever lavn °ss een l_h. e i nte»°r of a motion pic & le s^ jdl ° lb^ the Position in which hoioine of "Tabu" the late F. W. im nans picture soon to be released by) aramount, found heiself when she jour* ejed to JS'ew York to become a feature t £tl*ct,;° n m the new Ziegfdd Follies, J-at" 1 \ as filmed almost entirely in th« P en on the little island where Reri lived. ence it was practically as if she had e\er heaid of a motion picture when sh« "'ted the Paramount Xew York studios n°- £ot «er hr^t view ot a film plant, Tabu," an idyllic romance of a South, ea paiadise, contains some of the most eautiful photography ever obtained fop motnn picture. The cast is almost ntnely made up of Society Island native ouths and girls. hevalinr. Viki Baurn, author of ."Grand Hbtel^ ac joined Paiamounl's" staff of, film riters at the Hollywood studios. Hteg ist as'ignment is an original story tor aurice Chevalier, which the star will ake upon his return from an annual cation to his native Fiance. Miss Bauaj tlip author of nine successful novels.