THE PICTURE WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1932, Page 16

THE PICTURE WORLD

Joan Crawford. The romantic team of Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in a dramatic story of a factory girl who becomes the toast of Park avenue make Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "Possessed." The picture was adapted from the Edgar Sehvyn play, "The Mirage," and was directed by Clarence Brown, who last filmed Norma Shearer's "A Free Soul." "Feathered Serpent," Columbia Pictures will shortly put into production "Feathered Serpent," the first of the two Edgar Wallace productions to be offered by the company this season. R. William Neil, responsible for the direction of a number of Columbia productions, will direct. "Feathered Serpent" ia one of the English author's most popular novels. "Sob Sister." Linda Watkins and James Dunn, Hollywood's boy of the hour and hero of "Bad Girl," are nearing the close of production of their new picture, "Sob Sister," which Alfed Santell is directing. Unique. "I am the only member of our family ever to go on the stage and the first actress my mother ever knew," explains Miriam. Hopkins, Paramount player now in. "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

''Street Scene." "Street Scene," which is to be released in New Zealand at an early.date, is the story of conflict and emotions and fleeting joys and longer heartaches of human characters in an environment which is the same the world over. A remarkable panorama of any street iri any city. "With infinite pity," states the "New York Tribune," "with merciless truth it lays bare the joys and sorrows, the weakness of us all." It speaks the language of the heart. The Pulitzer Prize was bestowed upon its author for having written the best stage drama o£. the .year. It was an outstanding success' on the London and New York stage. . Pupil. Marlene; Dietrich, Paramount' star of Shanghai, Express/? was once a pupil of Max Keinhardt. ,' ' ' A 1 Rest '; - ; :<"-■■; _ Having been featured in four pictures m five months, Mac Clarke, Universal'a emotional-player, iis to have a brief vacation: before beginning her next film play. Following ■ the dramatic "Waterloo Bridge," which has won her praise from critics in America and Europe, Miss Clarke has been featured in "Reckless Living," "Frankenstein," and is now sharing honours with Jean Harlow in "Blonde Baby."

Melvyn Douglas. Melvyn Douglas, the stage star, has been signed by Charles R. Rogers, production head of RKO Pathe, to play the lead opposite Ann Harding in "Prestige." Douglas appeared in "To-night or Never" on the stage, and went to Hollywood to play the same role in the screen version, starring Gloria Swanson, for Samuel Goldwyn. His Own. Douglas Fairbanks, Jnr., who will next be seen in the First National and Vitaphone production "I Like Your Nerve," employs no double to do the hair-raising stunts wit hhis high-powered car in the whirlwind scenes of the picture, which portrays the adventures of a rich young American in Central America. Claude Allister and Loretta Young support Fairbanks in this picture. Rogers. * Will Rogers is still busy talking as "Ambassador Bill" at the Fox Studios in Hollywood, under the direction of Sam Taylor. Unlike other ambassadors, he does not write notes. Romantic. Eugene Pallette, Paramount's rotund comedian, pjayed romantic leads on the stage and in the early days of pictures.

"Stills." Twenty thousand still photographs of stars, sets, and scenes are made annually at Paramount's East Coast studio. These are as vitally important as the motion picture film itself, for without them successful merchandising of photoplays would be impossible. Pet. One of the most unique pets owned by any screen celebrity' has come into the possession of Pola Negri, as gift from the American Legion. The RKO Pathe star of "A Woman Commands," was recently presented with a baby alligator, which only measures about six inches in length.. The pet dwells in a small pool that has been dug by "the star in the yard of h.er beach, home.' ' ' . . ■ New. V Something new in post-Prohibition cocktail shakers is introduced' in the lavish, penthouse -> scenes in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "Sukan Lennox—Her Fall and Rise," in wnich Greta Garbo is starred. The new shakers having a two-gallon capacity resemble : an. over-sized clinical test tube, and are made upon the principle of the old-fashioned butter churn, a silver plunger fitting in to the crystal cylinder with a disc dasher at the bottom. The drink is mixed by churning the plunger, which also acts as a strainer.

"Strictly Dishonourable."

One of the most highly successful of plays in the United States, "Strictly Dishonourable," was chosen by Universal for filming because of qualities which are soon apparent in the picture. The play gave a new twist to the sophisticated comedy of to-day, the film has preserved it, and in its candid and clean-cut production is one of the delightful things of the year. In a manner rare in films it treats with human values, and leaves one feeling that the principals* are no actors, but living creations. The story of a young Southern girl (excellently played by Sidney Fox), who meets a great singer at a crisis in her life, and decides "to drift with the current and not struggle any more" demands sympathy and receives it. It is impossible to resist the demands made by the appealing personality of Sidney Fox, the suave charm of Paul Lukas, and the strong acting of Lewis Stone as a bibulous old Judge. The delicate and clever handling of the central scenes of the film are equal to the best things of production and the atmosphere created is one o£ rare elation and excitement. A great deal depends upon the charm of Sidney Fox, once she has captivated by her winning directness, and the desire to help her is not only in the minds of the actors but with the audience, everything is easy. The film is very shrewdly cast and Paul Lukas is the ideal type for the part of the singing count, big, bluff, and sympathetic, who is completely captivated by a beautiful young stranger. We have had many entertainments which show people's worst natures triumphing over their better instincts. Here is one in which the procedure is reversed and with splendid results. The result is worth seeing. "Surrender." Sprawled over one of the largest settings ever constructed in Hollywood, five hundred soldier-extras have started work on "Surrender," William K. Howard's newest production for Fox. The setting, .one of the minor features of which is a railroad, complete with track and trains is a rambling, muddy, and dismal war prison camp, consisting of row upon row of straggly barracks and a central /-ompound fenced with miles of barbed wire. Warner Baxter, Leila Hyams, C. Aubrey Smith, Alexander Kirkland, and Ealph Bellamy are featured in the cast. Oriental Star. Mme. Sojin, wife of K. Sojin, who in the days of silent pictures was one of Hollywood s best known pbrtrayers of Oriental roles, has been engaged by Paramount for a part in Marlene Dietrich a "Shanghai Express." Mme. Sojin was famed as a stage actress and singer m Japan before she and her husband went to Hollywood. Clive Brook, Anna May Wong, and Warner Oland are in the cast. Whale. James Whale, the British stage and screen director, who recently filmed "Waterloo Bridge" and "Frankenstein" tor Universal, is enjoying a brief vacation before taking up the direction of ' Impatient Maiden," being adapted from Donald Henderson Clarke's novel by Winifred Dunn and Richard Schayer.

Muni. Paul Muni, the Broadway stage star, will be seen in his first screen role in two years in Howard Hughes's "Scarface." Muni plays the title role in this picture. His characterisation of the ruthless gangleader, "Scarface," is considered one of the greatest performances of this decade. Muni has been a stage actor all his life. With the release of "Scarface," Muni is now sought by practically every producer in Hollywood to appear in future films. Muni was born in Vienna of a theatrical family who came to America when he was a youngster. He has trouped the country, in vaudeville and plays, and in recent years he has been starred in several outstanding Broadway productions. H? is prominently identified with theatre guilds in New York and Los Angeles. He is a master of make-up. Mixed. Sylvia Sidney gets her exotic personality from a Rumanian father and a Russian mother. "Bad Timber." Fred Kohler is playing the role of the heavy in "Bad Timber," Bill Boyd's next starring production for RKO Pathe. In "Bad Timber," most of which is being filmed at logging camps high in the Sierras or northern California, Kohler portrays an unscrupulous character who meets difficulty at the hands of the star in the climax of the story. Since his first success in motion pictures as Sergeant Stanton in "The Rough Riders," Kohler has been one of the familiar "menaces" of the screen.

"The Front Page."

Edward Everett Horton runs riot in "The Front Page," the Howard Hughes latest picture. Horton plays the role of the nervous antiseptic reporter of a highbrow paper, who has the biggest story in town in his desk, but misses it because he thinks more of throat-sprays and nostrums than he does of pure news. Seldom has Horton had a better role. He is abetted by Adolphe Menjou, -as the suave, ruthless managing director, Pat O'Brien, a newcomer to the screen from the stage, Mary Brian, Frank McHugh, and Slim Summerville. Lewis Milestone, director of "All Quiet on the Western .Front," handled the megaphone. The original play is by Ben Hecht and Charles Mac Arthur, and was adapted for the screen by Bartlett Cormack. Three Ace Fliers. " Announcement has been made of the signing of three famous film stunt-men to augment the roster of ace fliers in Radio Pictures' "The Lost Squadron," the current Richard Dix vehicle. They are Art T3obel, Frank Clarke, and Leo Nomis. With the addition of these fliers there is a belief that "The Lost Squadron" will display spectacular flying. • Comedy. In "Flying High," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's adaptation of the George White musical comedy success, Bert Lahr, America's most imitated comedian and star of the original Broadway hit, heads the cast of the talkie version, which also features Charlotte Greenwood, last seen with Eddie Cantor in "Palmy Days."

"Delicious." Janet Gayuor and Charles Farrell have started work in their new Fox Film production, Delicious," a pretentious musical romance of the new screen season. The musical score is by George Gershwin, the man who composed ".Rhapsody in Blue" and An American in Paris." The lyrics are by Ira Gershwin and the production will be o£ the same cinematic magnitude as 'Sunny Side Up," which has the same stars and director, David Butler. Under present plans the picture will have four Gershwin songs and an impressive symphonic number, the theme of which was inspired by the ideals represented by the btatue of Liberty. Others in the cast are El Brendel, Virginia Cherrill, Olive lell, and Alfred Cordova, a yountr Englishspeaking actor just arrived in Hollywood ;rom Rio de Janeiro, who has one of the most important roles in the picture. "The Millionaire." George Afliss,'famous for his portrayal of Disraeli, will be seen shortly in, another Warner Bros, and Vitaphone production entitled "The Millionaire," and in this picture Mr. Arliss appears in hia tirst_modern role; As a self-made millionaire who is forced to take a rest-cure he presents a new Arliss, playing a lovable character with humour and gaiety. Florence Arliss, David Manners, and Evelyn Knapp have important roles in The Millionaire." "The Men in Her Life.? 1 "The Men in Her Life," adapted from Warner Fabian's best-seller, has been selected as Columbia's latest release. The story, built around the life of a woman of many affairs, was directed by William Beaudine. Charles Bickford and Lois Moran head the cast, which includes Barbara Weeks, Adrienne D'Ambricourt, Luis Alberti, Donald Dilloway, and Victor Varconi. "The Men in Her Life" tells the story of a girl's struggle to adapt herself to the new moral code, and is played against a kaleidoscopic background of high society, night clubs, and cocktail parties. Among the highlights are the first appearance of Lois Moran in a sophisticated role. Gangster. Machine-guns, sawn-off shot guns, revolvers, silencers, and bombs are arriving at Elstree Studios in preparation for a gangster film, "The Milky Way," which Lupino Lane will direct for 8.1.P. Lane is at present working on the story, and has so immersed himself in "gangster" atmosphere that he has been prowling round the studio with an ominous gleam in his eye, while members of the company steer clear lest they should be "taken for a ride." Tim McCoy. The Tim McCoy productions shortly to be seen in this country are produced by J. P. McGowan, who made successes a few years ago with the "Railroad" Serials featuring his wife Helen Holmes. J. P. McGowan's middle name should have been "pep." He is rather closely allied to New Zealand inasmuch that his brother is the New Zealand manager for Greater Australasian Films, who release the McCoy pictures in this country.

Summerville. Slim Summerville and Zasu Pitts, the sad-faced comedienne, are being co-featur-ed in "Pudge," a feature length Universal comedy-drama directed by'Thornton V. Freeland. Cora Sue Collins, four-year-old Clarksburg, West Virginia child, brought to Hollywood recently in hopes of crashing the gates" of movieland, was chosen from more than 100 screen children to play the role of Pudge. Dorothy Christy, Claude Allister, and Tom O'Brien are also prominent in this mirth-play. Added. Carmel Myers has been added to the cast of "Nice Women," which features Sidney Fox, Frances Dee, Alan Mowbray, Lucille Gleason, and Russell Gleasbn. Edwin H. Knopf, who adapted the stage play to the screen, is directing its -picturisation. Miss Myers is the one "bad woman" in "Nice Women." "Pearl Diver." Universal is to film "Pearl Diver," a popular novel by Victor Berge and Henry Wyshan Lanier, in the South Seas next spring, according to announcement by Carl Laemmle; junr. Translated into four languages and in its second American edition, "Pearl Diver" reveals the thrills of seeking pearls on the ocean's floor.

"Reckless Age." Frances Starr, for years one of the most famous stage actresses in America, is to have the mother role in "This Reckless Age." Miss Starr replaces Marjorie Gateson, who is to play instead a principal part with Carole Lombard in "No One Man." In addition to ■ Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Peggy Shannon, and Charlie Ruggles, Frances Dee, Allen Vincent, and Mary Carlisle are in "Reckless Age." "The Unholy Garden." An unshaven and dishevelled Ronald Colman, without.his striped trousers, his Oxonian speech, or his Chesterfieldian manners, is in "The Unholy Garden," the new Samuel Goldwyn picture. In this adventure melodrama, by. Ben Hecht and Charles" MaeAxthur,' Colman is Been as Barry Hunt, a gentleman adventurer, a rogue, who has seen better days and more honest ways. With a motley crew of murderers, thieves, and other outcasts, he is hiding from .the police in a Sahara outpost camp. One1 of the number, a wizened old Frenchman, is believed to have "hidden his plunder somewhere upon-the premises, and to worm this information from him is the individual and collective effort of the group. Spying and intrigue and flying desert rides and murders are essential ingredients of the yarn.

Garbo. Greta Garbo has eighteen- changes of costume for her role in "Susan Lennox, Her Fall and Rise,"-in wh,ieh she is starred by Mefcro-GoHwyn-liayer. Miss Garbo's wardrqbe includes a carnival dancer's spangles, iultra-modern evening gowns, pyjamas, ensembles, sport suits, farm girl's clothes, Follies tights, hiking outfit, gingham frocks, lounging robes, oil-skins and boots, and boating costumes. Chevalier's Next. Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, composers of a number of outstanding song hits, have been signed by Paramount to do the tunes for Maurice Chevalier* second 1932 production, "Love Me Tonight." The French star has just completed work on "One Hour With You, 1' in which he is supported by Jeannetta Mac Donald and Genevieve Tobin. Hiss Mac Donald will also appear in the next production. "Squadron." Hugh Herbert has been assigned to 4 featured role in "The Lost Squadron," replacing Paul Hurst. Herbert joins a cast composed of Richard Dix, Joel McCrea* Eric Linden, Dick Grace, Erich yon Stroheim, Dorothy Jordan, and other prominent players. He will supply, the coinedj} relief in this air-stunting story.

His Speed. , After amazing his instructor of Wester* Union, and the studio, by 'learning" Morse telegraphy within a record time of two nights, Richard Dix disclosed the real source of his original knowledge of wireless. "As a mater of fact, I didn't learn it in two nights," Dix explained. "You see my dad was a telegraph operator, and taught my mother. AVhen I.was a youngster, they used to tap out messages' they didn't want me to hear, just as other people spell to fool their children. I finally guessed what was happening, learned the code, and began to pick up their messages before they, were aware of it." Dix operates the telegraphic instruments in his next picture, "Secret Service." > . Barthelmess. - Richard Barthelmess, who won acclaim in "The Dawn Patrol," will nest be geea in the First National and Vitaphone production, "The Last Plight," which provides Barthelmess with a dramatic role—• that of a reckless aviator who tries to find excitement to take the place of his war days. Helen Chandler plays the role of Nikki, "the girl who walks faster in red shoes," who is also in search of excitement. "The Last Flight" is adapted from the best-selling novel by John Monk Saunders, entitled "Single Lady."