THE PICTURE WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 86, 8 October 1931, Page 18

THE PICTURE WORLD

"The Calendar." The British Dominions Films unit now forking on' Edgar Wallace's- story, • "The Calendar," recently had an all-night "sitting." The unit, comprising, in addition to the principals, some 300 extras, and an orchestra of 25, assembled at 9.30 on Sunday morning to shoot the important Ascot Ball sequence, and was not finally released until 3 o'clock on the following morning. The set, which represented the ballroom of one of the big mansions in the Ascot district, occupied the whole of the available floor space, and accommodation for the extras' had to be made; in-two-huge marquees outside the studio. Edna Best, Herbert Marshall, Gordon Barker, and Anne' Grey have the leading parts. Mickey Mouse. Walt Disney, who has just completed n new studio and office building on Hyperion avenue for the production of his Mickey Mouse Cartoon subjects has installed RCA Photophone sound reproducing equipment in the projection rooms that are used to review the daily "rushes and the completed' product. Great care is required in the production of cartoon sub: jects and the Walt Disney Mickey Mouse series is given meticulous attention. British. . Word from the Paramount studios at Elstree states that production has just started on Paramount's third British- picture, "A Child in Their Midst." It is from the novel by May Edginton, and will feature Jack Buchanan, Joan Barry, Ellaline Terriss, Lillian Braithwaite, and Nora Swinburne. '■■■ Louis Mercanton, who made. "These Charming People," is directing. Uttle People. The strangest as well as the smallest race of people in the world make^ their debut in talking pictures ,in 'Trader Horn," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's African picture. It was no easy feat to photograph these strange little people, for although they are friendly with white men, they are seldom seen. They hide in the deepest jungles, where they live by hunting. Other natives, such as the Matabeles or Zulus, call them "snakes," and fear them greatly because of the tiny poisonous arrows with which they repel foes. .Two More. Junior Durkih, the Huck Finn of <'Tom Sawyer" and, "Huckleberry Finn," has been signed to a contract by Paramount for two more pictures, one of which will be "Tom Sawyer, Detective." Before appearing in the third Mark Twain film, in which he will again be Huck, Durkin will have a featured part in anothe- production, not yet chosen. The sixteen-year-old actor made his film debut'little more than a year ago, carrying the juvenile interest with Mitzi Green iv "The Santa Fe Trail." His performance resulted in Paramount signing him for the two Mark Twain productions since, completed. ' "A Gentleman of Paris." Murder-was done at Shepherd's Bush Studios recently, when' Sybil Thorndike; as Madam Duval, slew at the second attempt her faithless husband, George Merritt. This, homicide, which occurs in British Dominion's "A Gentleman of Paris," was directed by Sinclair Hill. Mr. Hill is almost ready to' start on the big scene laid in the French Assize Courts, wherein, the sequel to]. Sybil; Thorndikeja crime is played out. ' Arthur Wontner is playing the title role in both the English and French versions, and the English cast also includes Phyllis Konstam, 'Vanda Greville, Hugh Williams, and Alfred Drayton. ; ■•"'■.'. Confusion. The presence of George Hill's. "Hell Divers" company at the North Island naval aviation field, San Diego, California, for a couple of weeks, caused considerable confusion among the commissioned officers at that port. Usually navy pictures are about commissioned officers, but. this tale of naval flyers deals with enlisted men, chief petty officers. Several captains and commanders about the San Diego field are still wondering why a dozen or more CP.O.'s didn't salute. 1$ It Fair? Is it fair for a woman to use the power bf her sex in business? This is one of the' problems in the First National and Vitaphone story of modern business and love, ''Big Business Girl," which will be shown here shortly, and which stars Loretta ]Young.

"The Outsider." The film version-of Dorothy Brandon's well-known play, "The Outsider/1" to shortly to be released in New Zealand by British Dominions Films. Theatregoers will remember the play, which toped New Zealand several years ago, with Maurice Moscovitch., Harold Huth plays the role of Anton Ragatzy and Joan Barry is the beautiful Lalage Sturdee. Norman M'Kinnel, Frank Lawton, Mary Clare, and. Fewtass Llewellyn are also in the cast. ] "The Speckled Band." ; It was necessary that those!playing in British Dominions "The Speckled Band" should not be afraid of a snake, and Jack Raymond,the.director.having.decided that Angela Baddeley was the perfect ''Helen Stonor," asked- her, "Are you fond of snakes?" She considered the problem for a moment, and then replied, hesitantly, "Fairly fond!" Raymond could not help smiling at the qualification, for ss.a matter of fact,, she was frightened almost out of her life when the snake was .introduced. The Cuban snake used was an ugly brute, Which looked quite capable of doing horrifying things. i ■ At Work. Gary Cooper and Claudette Colbert nave commenced work: on their first co-atarnng picture for Paramount, "Sal of Singapore., It is an adaptation of the! novel; "The Sentimentalists," by the Australian - author, Dale Collins, and is being directed by Edward Sloman. Supporting cast selections.have not been made known to date. "Huck Finn." 1 -. Norman Taurog, Paramount^ of juvenile films, has just completed camera work on "Huckleberry Finn,'.' -m which Jackie Coogan, Junior Durkm, Mitzi Greenland Jackie Searl play the leads. Taurog, who first won acclaim-tor his direction of "Skippy," will shortly start preparations on the sequel to that nim, ■to be titled "Sooky." ■■...-- - "Four Winds.1! . "Foot Winds," written for the screen by Norman Lee, will go into production under his direction. A strong cast has been chosen for this production, and includes Moira Lynd, Jack Morrison, Lewis Dayton, Cecil Ramage, Hal Gordon, and Molly Lamont. 'Tour Winds" will be- produced at Welwyn Studios of British International Pictures. ' ' ■ vi. ,'■* ' . •'..-.. ■■ •■■ ■- _.: • Owing to the ■ indisposition, of Henry Kendall, production activities are in abeyj ance on British Internatonal Pictures "Rich and Strange." A sudden attack of 1 blood:poisoning necessitated JvendaU«_«"mediate removal to a, nursing home, where he is at present recuperating. As soon as he is declared fit, Alfred Hitchcock will commence the final'sequences for this picture. 4 ' .! Lawrence Tlhbett. ■".....'. : With Lupe Velez.as his heroine, and:W. S. Van Dyke, director of "Trader Horn/. as his director, Lawrence. Tibbett ihag started to make a new, Metro-boldwyn-Mayer picture. The new production, "The Cuban,, will present Tibbett in a sensationally different setting. Heplaya.a marine- on duty in- Cuba, and. figures -in an exotic romance in the tropics. Haunting Cuban music, the strains of native instruments, the exotic Rumba dance, and other "lpcal colour" from Havana will be used. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. imported the Palau Brothers' :Rumba- Band from the Sao Souci Night Club in Havana for background ' music. Miss Velez, a« a fiery Cuban i charmer, will dance the Rumba to strains from the Havana band, ; , "The Reckless1 Hour." :'• - | Dorothy Mackaill will be seen, in- ;her next picture, "The Reckless Hour," as a beautiful fashion model whose lifeis con*- : plicated by discordant loves. "The Reckless *H6ur," First National and vitaphone's romance of modern life, gives Miss Mackaill what '-is" said to be one of'the bdst roles yet played by the English, -actress. ......' ....'■ "Their Second. ■ "Viennese Nights," Warner Bros.-First National's picturisation of the original screen story by Oscar Hammerstein and Sigmund Romberg,. is-enjoying.success at the Prince Edward Theatre, Sydney, where: it has now entered its-fifth month of exhibition. The remarkable reception augurs well for the second.musical operetta written by the team, "Children of Dreams/ a story of the fruit-pickers as they wander from place to place.'

Roßald Colman' I—♦-, -.-, Lovers of talking pictures are Wont to make special note of each, Ronald Colman picture. He has the happy faculty of presenting with every new release a personality they love. His latest vehicle, "The Devil to Pay," a comedy drama by Frederick Lonsdale, comes to the Regent Theatre this week. A list of the temperamental geniuses of the cinema whose plaint is that they never get a good story, could never include the name of Ronald Colman; and if ever he did find himself cast in an unworthy screen play, there is little doubt that he would make his own role in it an example of what an actor could make ofjpbor material. ■Happily, since his first American screen appearance in "The White Sißter," on through a long list of romantic- plays with Vilina Banky, starting with "The Dark Angel," to his "Beau Geste," "The Rescue," and "Bulldog Drummond," down to his more recent "Raffles," and the current cpmedy-drama, his stories have been good. 1 -Ronald Colman's ability, giving him mastery of his every role, has enabled him to succeed in every story. ■•;--' In "The Devil;to Pay," he is fortunate in all particulars. A Samuel Goldwyn production, set in Colman's 'ondon atmosphere, supported by a good cast of players, together with a. screen story and witty dialogue by/a famous playwright who is a personal, friend of the star as. well, all these factors combine in making Eonaid. Colman's latest picture equal with his best. As a happy-go-lucky,1 scapegrace prodigal'son, .the talking screen's "best loved lover" proves his mastery ' of sophisticated modern comedy drama.

Famous Resort. One of California's most famous?hotels, located in Pasadena, was used as a location in making the First National and Vitaphone picture, "Broad Minded." The combined wealth of the millionaires vacationing there during the production of the picture totalled more than a billion dollars. Joe E. Brown, the comedian of "Sit Tight" and "Hold Everything," is starred in this picture, while the supporting cast includes Ona Munson and Marjorie White. Bess Meredyth. Before leaving for Europe to join her husband, Michael Curtiz, Bess Meredyth, one of the foremost women scenarists in motion pictures, signed a new long-term contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Miss Meredyth, whose association with motion pictures dates back to 1913, when she was an ingenue with the old Biograph Company, has been with the M.G.M. organisation since her initial efforts on the "Ben Hur" script. Since that time her writing has_ been employed on many productions, including "West of Broadway," John Gilbert's new picture, in which she collaborated with Ralph Graves. "Klkl> Mary Pickfbrd's, work . for a week consisted of having fits. Or, rather, one fit broken up by periods of .rest between camera shots. Kiki," her new United Artists picture, calls for a cataleptic fit during the climax of the story. Catalepsy is denned as a sudden suspension of consciousness, with muscular rigidity. ■ The screen doctor in the case, when Mary was forced to'simulate suspended animation, was Edwin Maxwell. . Reginald Denny, leading man, was the cause :of the catalepsy.^ In the cast of "Kiki" are Margaret Livingston, Joseph Cawthorn, Fred Warren, Fred Walton, and Phil Tead.

Romance —: —.■' ♦ '' ** Miss Madeleine Carroll,. one of Great Britain's most popular cinema starß, has been married in Italy.to Captain Philip Astley, formerly of the Life Guards, saya the "Daily Mail" film writer. Miss. Carroll- has a lucky number. It is 26. She graduated at Birmingham University on the 26th-day of the month. She got her first film part on the 26th. She was born on the 26th, and she is now in her 28th year. So she decided to be married on 26th July. The formalities necessary to being! married abroad were not, however, completed until a few days after 26th July; she decided: that she must wait until 26th August. . . I am able to state definitely' that Miss Carroll will continue to appear in both plays and pictures after. her marriage. Within a month—perhaps on a 26th day of the month—she may be seen again on the London:stage. It is dlso possible that she will go" to New. York to play in "After All," in whi6h she recently appeared in London.- ■ ■ ■ '■ . Miss-Carroll's career has been.a romance. Only four years ago she came to London hoping for a' part in films. She had-had some little experience on the stage, and a brief; career as a school teacher at Hove. ■ At that time I was associated with Mr. Sinclair Hill in the production of "Guns of Loos." He had seen or tested every ■ available actress, but he could find no one able to reproduce the heroine of the story. When it looked as if he must take a second, test, Miss Carroll called at the Cricklewood;, Studios. It was as if our heroine had come to life. I think we were all startled; almost afraid we should wake up and.find we had been dreaming.

Belasco. ■.-■■'..■ -k ■•■ "To-night or Never," David Belasco a Continental comedy success that stars Helen Gahagan at the Belasco Theatre, has been, acquired by Samuel Goldwyn as a future'screen vehicle for Gloria Swanson. It is the work of. Mi Hatvany, adapted by Fredric and Fanny Hatton. Adela Rogers St. John has arrived in New York to attend performances of the play and to confer with Miss Swanson^and with Miss Laura Hope Crews, of the Goldwyn production staff. Miss St. John will do the,screen treatment of "To-night or Never." The play is in its seventh month on Broadway. Miss Swanson may make another film before she undertakes the Belasco comedy as an early Goldwyn picture for United Artists. "Tho Front Page." * Howard Hughes, producer of "The Front Page," is the most modest man in Hollywood. Hughes, who has received publicity'" than any other motion picture executive, dodges interviews, and has had his picture taken twice in four years. He is 26 years old, six feet two inches tall, and said to be worth £10,000,000. It wag Hughes who produced "Heil's Angels." "Oauohter of Joy." > With' the announcement by William le Baron that Herbert Brenon's next directorial assignment for Eadio would-be "Daughter of Joy," by John Howard Lawson, Mary Astor was simultaneously awarded a full-starring role in this , picture. Her latest success, "AVhite Shoul-' rlers,"'has now arrived in Australia; This was preceded in recent months by "The Royal Bed" and "Behind Office Doors." She is now working in "Nancy's Private Affair," "Daughter of Joy" is a, dramatic romance, in which love leaps over social barriers.'

"Shottlwoi." ■', The British .Dominion Films, picture which went into production under the title of "The Blue Danube/ featuring Alfredo Bode and his Royal Tzigane-Bind. Brigitte Helm, Joseph Schildkraut, Bouchier, and-Desmond Jeans, will be released under-the -title-of "Shuttlecoq." Yet, another name has been added to the cast, Mdlle. Nikitina, the famous Russian dancer, whose dancing was a feature of Cochran's Revue of 1931, has been engaged to dance with, M. Massing, and <it will be; the first occasion on which either have appeared in a film. "Shuttlecoq" is a •story of Vienna, written on new lines, containing practically , no' dialogue, and being set in Budapest, the Danube, and Hungary. Record.. ' '•','■ -\ .-' ;.-, .-■" '< •■ Clark Gable' and Wallace Beery now hold records for having .travelled faster than any other actors in the world. For "Hell Divers," the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture,' they: recently, made 'flights iin the "diving" bombers, of the navy., This, type, introduced less than three years ago, ■starts: a dive from 10,000 feet, releasing their bombs vertically at .500 feet. . They reach, a top speed ; of 330 miles per'hour, and travel almost two miles downwards in less than-30 seconds. ~ ' : Hostelry.', . ,' ;, ':/" '?'*■:/.: >".. '.-■,■"■ Thomas Bentley arid British International Pictures' "Hobson's Choice" company are now to be located in: the "Moon-' raker's Arms." . This popular hostelry is a reproduction of a well-known tavern ,in Salford. .Here the leading character, played.by Jimmy Harcoiirt, has tlie doubtful pleasure of: imbibing' .for film purposes^ for two coi»secutive days. NHncy Carroll. , 7 ■■ Having completed her latest- New YorkBtudios production for Paramount, "Personal Maid," , Nancy. Carroll has been transferred, to Hollywood, where she will carry on film work. Her first Hollywood assignment is the, film version of "Mary Makes "a Call," in which she will ;be reunited with : Charles (Buddy) Rogers. Stuart Walker will direct. . Youthful. • Few actresses :in their early : 'teens have appeared on the stage-in company with (or have understudied)'such distinguish- - ed artists as has Joan Maude, Vho is now playing in "Hobson's. Choice,'' which is being directed ..by, Thomas Bentley for British International' Pictures. . Miss Maude left school at the'age of 13 to' go into the chorus of "Cairo" at His ; Majesty's Theatre. She afterwards understudied Edna Best and; Gladys.Cooper in "Peter Pan," and, «t the age of 14 played in "The Way <jf an, Eagle," with Godfrey Tearle, Following a run in the "Insect Play" with Nigel Playfair, she took the leading role in "Old English" at the Haymarket Theatre,- and at the age of 17 appeared opposite Tom Nesbit in "Nivanov," a Russian play.; She later appeared as Magdalene in ."Jew 'Suss," in "General Crack," arid the lead in - "The Duke of: Killiecrankie." "City of Son*" V ;■■ ; ■ v.';.;.':'."' - '... "The City of Sonir,";which British Dominion Films .will shortly. be releasing in ' New Zealand, has. a .wealth of natural setting, through which the \ story' moves. Naples, the Isle, of Capri, arid the ruins of Pompeii lend, their, splendours ,to tenrich the story. Jan Kiepura;the young and handsome' leading tenor at La Scala, sings several songs. .He is' acclaimed 'as the "golden voiced Caruso of to-day/ , Betty Stockfield, a young Australian, plays a lead, while Hugh Wakefield has a comedy role. At the State Theatre, in Sydney, in one week 65,000 persons saw the picture-r-an average of over 10,800 people per day, smashing all records for attendance at that theatre. , : Prince's View. . ".- The Prince of Wales has seen the Bobby Jones "How 1 Play Golf" series, by Warner Bros.-First National. - and- has expressed himself as "tremendously entertained and impressed." The Prince had been invited to the trade showing of the genes in London, which was quite an event in English cinema circles. Previous engagementsoil a State nature'preventing the Prince from attending, he requested to be given a private screening. This was done. Ihe Prince, who not; only knows the famous golfer, but has played; with him, expressed himself, as being delighted with the films. He was enthusiastic in,his, praise or Bobby Jones's fine work. s.

Trade Schools. The trade school idea has reached motion picture studios. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, inaugurating' the idea, has founded schools for advanced learning in carpenter and electrical departments. Other, group* of learning, for which university professors are to be obtained as instructors, will follow, governed by representatives of tha new employees'. "Congress.", Louis B. Mayer, chief executive of the studio, has given the employees' organisation a complete free hand in working-outithe school : idea. ' ■ ' , .' : ','■•. /■■'; rl '■ Realised. , : ; v. Dreams- of millions.of girl* in workaday life to mingle.. with motion picture celebrities on the sets at a huge studio unexpectedly came true for r docen .of tliem when Paramount introduced * new' note in realism and drafted atmospheric players from a Los Angeles factory. Jogef yon Sternbcrg, directijjg an "American Tragedy," adapted from Theodore Dreiser's novel, is a stickler ior : authenticity of detail, so when certain: sequences of ..the story called for scenes in a factory? he requested his technical staff ,to provide real machinery!and rpeople, who knew how to operate it. It:is ,in this'factory sequence that the romance starts between ' Sjlvi Sidney and-Phillips Holmes whfch ends so draniatically. OtherßMn ;the cast are Frances Dee, Irving Pichel, Charles Middleton, and Emniett Corrigan., ■ "Dr. Jekyll." Production has started in Hollywood o« Paramount's talking: version' of ::"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," in which' FjJedric March is playing the dual;' title role:;.v Miriam Hopkins is Appearing opposite, the star in the feminine lead, and Reuben, Mamulian is directing. A 'suppbrting' cait. of pro« , minent contract" artists;1 wUI-'b^Msemblwl ' as-filming progresses;'":1;; \. ■', .' ; Westerns.' ;r ■ ,- ; With star, vehicle, and director chosen* RKO-Pathe is ready to launch production on the first of the six .Western picture! for the, 1931-32 programme. Tom Keene, a young cowboy-actor who-has had experience on both the western' ranges kod the New York stage, will < star in th% films. "Sundown Trail" is the vehicle which will' introduce him;to the screen a« an outdoor'hero. It is'an original story by Robert F/ Hill, who will also direct. Fred. Allen will. produce the Western* under the supervision -of -Charles JR. Rogers, vice-president in charge of production. .-•".: ' .'., . .' '",' ■'.',...' ,■' "Tilly of Bloomsbury.'? • \ ■' '. ■> ■ Phyllis Konstam, who plays >the tit!* role- in British ■ Dominions! forthcoming comedy, "Tilly of Blooinsbury," was subjected to a trying ordeal .during the making of the film. Jack v ßaymond, the director, was. shooting a sequence which required "Tilly" to make an;entrance from the rain into a .warm and easy, drawing room. The actress-was !sjibjected to a complete "shower bath," and then »h« made her way "into the drawing room, discarded 'her outdoor clothes, • and dr«nk a cup of teai Eleven times she had to leave the set,- made almost tropical by the :blazine studio lanipX don.,her wet clothes, pass through the "rain" into the drawing room, and drink a cup of tea. .. Old Clothes. : Two of the costumes that started him,o« the road to ■, fame are.' bein^ copied ■ for John Gilbert's wardrobe .in "West of Broadway," in which he is stirred by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. • Qne is « cowboy outfit he wore in the William S. .Hart ' Westerns, as an extra.. The. other is ,hi« "Big Parade" uniform. { ■ "Girls About Town." : George Cukor, recently.'transferred t» Hollywood, has been assigned to direct Paramount's "Girls About Town,'' featuring Kay Francis, Lilyan Tashman, and Eugene Pallette. It.is a story, otjiodern young woman with' a charm.that'has international f able. ." ■..''.'. "'yV'V ■ ■:" ~ Romance. '".;•'.'.'. ;; Otto Harbach, who wrote'the story to* "Men of the Sky," the First.National myr tery romance of war-time spies,, has wri* ten the books £<5r over eighty theatrical successes. His; collaborator' in "Men o« the Sky" is Jerome Kern, well-known;con* poser for the. stage. "Men of the Sky* is a dramatic and melodious romance of the Secret Service, and features Irene Delroy and Jack Whiting as illrftted lover* who.willingly lay^ aside their claim on ctcA other for the higher claim of patriotism.