STAGE AND SCREEN

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 90, 13 October 1932, Page 16

STAGE AND SCREEN

Music in Japan. "One of the greatest experiences I have Lad," says Josef Szigeti, the famous violinist, "was in Japan, 1931, during my first tour in the East. In Tokio'l gave six recitals on successive evenings to packed audiences. There is no other city in the world where-such a thing could happen, and the •appreciation I re-, ceived amazed me. Nevertheless it was a tremendous strain and made big demands on my repertoire. It-was ; really a history of violin music I gave, and .on looking back it seems to be one long concert lasting for six days, rather than six concerts. At my last evening there, a very severe earthquake occurred just after I had finished the Beethoven Con'certb. It shook the building alarmingly, and gave me the fright of my. life, but the audience behaved splendidly, the orchestra continued to play, and panic was avoided." f'Belle of New York" in Hamilton. The Hamilton Operatic Society's five nights' season of "The Belle of New York" commences on Monday next, with a splendid cast, including1 the following well-known names:—Wynn Harkness, as -Violet Gray, the Belle; Sophie Vivian, -Fifi; Myra Booth, Cora Angelique;-Delia Clapharu, Mamie Clancy; Mavis Zellman, Kissie Fitzgarter; Maud Blyth, Pansy; '-Robert. McNieol, Harry Bronson; Percy Evans, Ichabod Bronson; Edward Quill, ■Earl'yon Pumperniek; Harry Buchanan, Blinky/Bill; A. T. Atkins,-. Kenneth Mugg; Kenneth. Eade, Doc. Sniffkins; George Kingston, Count Patsi and Horace Ben-net;.-Count Ratsi, Rattatoo; Rhydderch Jones, Tricot; Prank Potter, Twiddles; and Clement Shakeshaft, the Rev.. Mr; Sheep. ' .., Veteran* . . Ivan Simpson, veteran British actor, and great friend of George Arliss, has been added to the cast supporting Ruth Chat■terton in her second Warner Bros First National picture, "Children of Pleasure." Also supporting . the star are..'George Brent, Paul Canvannagh, Lois Wilson, and-Arnold Korff. ■ " ' . . ', "Arrowsmith." '•'■•.- : - ■ ■ * When "Arrowsmitk" first appeared as a novel several years-ago, it raised,a storm . of protest from the niedical men all over the world. It describes the heroism of scientists who': fearlessly expose [themselves to the worst forms of death in the interests- of humanity, but it also bitterly attacks .the.pedantic men with all of Sinclair Lewis's ..well-known powers. And it is Arrewsm'ith's battle with his selfish and jealous-colleagues which is the. theme of the.picture, as well as the book. '.- Sinclair Lewis knew what lie was talking . ; about, since he derived all his background for "Arrowsmith" from. Dr. Paul de Kruif, author of "Microbe -Hunters" ,and:'' Hunger Fighters," and perhaps the best known general writer on niedical subjects in the United States. "Arrowsmith" is the first of Sinclair Lewis's novels to be screened. His eminence in - modern '! American letters was universally acknow- . ledged last year when he-was awarded the first Nobel Prize ever given to an American novelist. "Main Street," "Elmer Gantry," and '^Babbitt" are other books that brought him to fame. The ,cast- supporting Ronald Colman in - "Arrowsmith"-includes such names- as Helen Hayes, Richard Bennett, A. ~E... Anson, Beulah Bohdi, and Myrna Loy.f tharles Farrell. • ■ !> Charles-Farrell has been selected, by' -s?ox Films for the leading- role in "Salomy-" Jane,' which has.Joan Bennett in the title and Ralph Bellamy in a part equally prominent. Raoul. Walsh will direct this production from Paul. Armstrong's play. Most ofi the picture Avill be made .out ' of doors —in the -Sequoia National Park. Rachmaninoff. Honoured. . ,: There can be no" question of the title of M. .Rachmaninoff to his distinction, as pianist and composer, in being awarded the Gold- Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society, London—an honoured distinction in the"musical-world. The Duchess of "Atholl handed ".the coveted medal to the piairisty who was received with a storm of applause-at the Queen's Hall, London. He ■later played his .own Pianoforte Concerto —No.- 3 in D Minor—the orchestra accompanying- with ,perfect aplomb, to the. obvious delight o£ the composer. klt is apt to mention, with -reference.' to :th'e. Philharmonic Orchestra, that this veteran society (which was giving concerts in London-.■wlieri "Napoleon Bonaparte '.was alive) is y in a,bad way financially.

"Arabian Nights" Pantomine. •'.. : ■ An event-of interest to the Wellington public will -be the' advent of; a - spectacular pantomine "The Arabian' Nights," which" will be'staged'in the Grand Opera House on 19th, 21st,.and 22nd;November. Leading Wellington and Wanganui artists will take part including, members of the1 Wellington Operatic Society (Mr. W. A. Jameson, Secretary), and ballets' arranged by Mr. J. Knowsley. The producer is' Mr. H..J.. Melville of Sydney, and more recently^ of "Wanganui, the music director .Mr. Yin. B'roivn, and the" stage manager; Mr. H. Liardet: : Selected- groups from the ' pupils ,of the V.M.C.A. gymnasium will assist. -AH the artists are. giving their services , voluntarily, and the proceeds will be" handed to the V.M.C.A; for its work in this city. .-,.'. ' Tanned. •' "• ■ . ,- Only, three;of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer^s young feminine players have, followed last year's .sun tap craze.! Joan Crawford, Leila Hyams.and Joan Marsh are proudly displaying a.ygblden; brown skin. The others, Marion Davies, Norma Shearer, Jean Harlow, Dorothy Jordan, Maureen O'Sullivan, Anita Page, Ruth Selwyn.iVirginia Bruce,'Una Merkel, Myrna Loy,and Karen Morley are keeping their'own white skins. -.'..-. "To-night or Never." When the late David Belaseo saw young i Melyym Douglas playing in New York and engaged him a'year in advance as leading 'man-for; "To-night or Never," he unwittingly i started him on the road to fame in pictures.' For Melvyn' Douglas is' now appearing; in the same role in the picture version---of-; "T6 : night or Never,'.' which Samuel Goldwyn produced for United " Artists. "Thus at; onevbound he came■ into prominence 'as ' leading man" for Gloria Swanson,-the* star of "To-night or Never." After Miss Swanson and-Samuel'Goldwyn saw the play in New York there was never ' any : question -of getting anyone else"' for " Douglas's. role of the mysterious. "young hero who teaches the heroine what the passion of love can do. to her singing.:Ibsen for New Zealand. . '..'.',. Among .the plays to be. presented -in New Zealand by the Thorndike- Company by arrangement with Messrs: J.-C: Williamson,, is- Ibsen's "Ghosts."., This was put on in ' Sydney after "Macbeth'," -in which Lewis Casson, Dame Sybil's hus-band,'-played'the title role..- Shawfs',"play for Puritans"—"Captain Brassbound's Conversion"—rdeligßited ■ Anstoalian. theatregoers, who called it comedy-drama.- and thoroughly .enjoyed it. In this' play Shavian • cynicism never develops into,! sermonising. It was written thirty, years ago, but is not old fashioned. The plot .tells of a lady- traveller whose, genius ■ for .managing people overcomes' brigands, Moroccan chiefs, • naval officers; even her ovm brother-in-law, a judge, with sparkling results. Lewis Casson plays the saturnine Brassbound; Atholl Fleriiing Sir "Howard 'Hallam, and" Michael Martin—Harvey the missionary.' '" '~'..'

David' Mariners. David' Manners, whose most recent appearance' for R.KiO. was opposite Constance ; Bennett in "Lady With a Past," has been assigned-to an important part in"Bill of' Divorcement," R.KIO. Radio's screen" version of Clemence Dane's fam-' ous play,-which ran. for more than a year both .in^New York.and London. Other important-feature parts played by David Manners include those in "The Millionaire,'' "Journey's End," "He Knew AVomen/':"Dracula," "The Last Flight," and "The-Greeks Had-a-Word for.Them." La Scala Plans. . The accounts.of La Scala Xheatre, Milan .were showing a big deficit at the close of the season there. The shortage was due to the '■ production' of -a large number of operas, at.great expense, many of them being withdrawn after' only a- few ■ nights The citizens of Milan particularly objected to the introduction' of " "jazz" and saxophone into opera,. .necessitating the issue .of new regulations by the- council pf the theatre,. regulations which it is Hoped will'result in a competition for the production. of, works for nest season Everybody ..who: wishes to see his opera produced must send in the whole "book" -by a certain date. If a special committee approves, the composer:is to be given an audition, and has to. play on the piano the portions. selected' by the examiners The composer-.of the-most suitable would have to play the whole opera, .and even then. acceptance was not assured. The council^ reserved the right' to return rejected _ .'books,"; words, music, without explanation, and : aspirants would have no claim to-compensation or other benefits, buch ..regulations were a victory for the citizerisi.of Milan, who-have ;not spared their criticism of ■ the season there this year. --• ■■ ..... .... Claire Dodd. The; most "unusual film role of the year was assigned to Claii-e Dodd when'she was added to..the:cast of■ Paramount's seriocomedy murder tangle, "Guilty as Hell." Miss Dodd will -'play a corpse, one of the roles in support of Edmund Lowe,. Victor McLaglen. Richard Arlcn, and- Adricnne Ames..' , Miss Dodd's part is that of a woman whose voice. is' heard during the 'first few scenes, and who first appears on the.screen: after the crime has been committed. Historical Plays. in London. .-- 4 ,P lay dealing with Richard Wagner, called;"The",Beggar?sßow," i s to'bestaged in London, with.music from.the' master's r works incidental to the action: of the . drama....John Drinkwater is to produce his own.play,."Mary Stuart,".which has not yet - had .a. London hearing, though • written, some years. ago. .Contract. ( • - - "'~~ Sidney Franklin has been signed to a newUpngf term-contract-as-a director for Metro : Goldwyn-Mayer. Franklin: is now directing' Norma Shearer's new starring film,"Srriilin? Through." He ' directed . "Private Lives," "The Guardsman," and Devil May Care."

"Biography?' Stage Plays. . • . The American stage this' season has gone in for "biography" plays ranging from Shakespeare to ■ Mrs. Aimee . McPherson • Hutton. EvenD. H. Lawrence,;the dirk .genius who died last. year,, isthe centre' of a play. This outbreak of personalities is unusual on the American stage; perhaps the success-of Maxwell Anderson's "Elizabeth the Queen", and ;Rud6lf Besier's "Barretts-of-Wimpole Street" in. the States started' the' cycle.- At any rate, American critics .that perhaps ■ Susan Glaspell's "Alison's. House," based ou. the memory, of Emily Dickinson, .the ■ American poet, and -which won tlie Pulitzer. Prize for its year, may have helped.. Men. and women long dead are being dramatised: in stage presentations, the list going back' as far as Lucrece, that model of- Roman virtue celebrated •by Shakespeare in one of his poems. "The Rape of Lucrece" (Andre Obey) is'to be staged by Katherine Cornell. The D. H. Lawrence play is! "Something to Live For" (George O'Neill); William-Shakespeare and his friends of .the Elizabethan era-will >be personages in "This Side Idolatry";.and "The Passionate Pilgrim" will deal, with the youthful days of the Swan of Avon. Others to be presented include "Gruach" (Macbeth, and Gruach); "Dear Jane" (Jane Austen); "Sister. Aimee" (based on Mrs. Mavity's biographical essay and featuring Texas: Guinan ■as the Aimee .of later years)'; "Crusading Carrie" (Carrie Nation, another evangelist); "Casanova" (great lover of the Renaissance); "Beau-Brummer" (Georgian exquisite); and "Cyrano de Bergerac" (poet and duellist). "My Pal the King." . Few people know that Tom Mix is an accomplished' silversmith, and : that- he spends a great share of his "betweenscenes" time ■ fashioning beautiful. vases ..in the .precious metal.. The famous "TH" monogram that appears on. all of-his cars, saddles, blankets,. and. show wagons, 'is Mix's own design and'make, and is;much in evidence' in. the cowboy's new Universal production,' "My' Pal the' King." "My 'Pal the King" isa story of the friendship of the headliner of. a Wild West circus,, for the ten years old; king of a diminutive empire, and: has beautiful =Noel Francis; in the-leading feminine role.. ' Michael and^Mary.' America has begun to recognise the-ex-istence and df-awing'. importance of the' British film industry. For some time past, reports • have been. .arriving of the success.various.big British attractions have met with, and hot on the trail :of this news comes the cable that "Michael and Mary," the Gainsborough production, ' starring Edna Best and Herbert Marshall, enjoyed a record-breaking run in the United' States, and has been booked by 2000 theatres in Canada and: the ■ United . States. - Youthful Conductor. .' A brilliant young conductor and composer, Dimitri Mitropqulos, director of the Symphony Orchestra at Athens, descended on London this year, and. was associated with the Liverpool Philharmonic Society at a splendid concert. Mitropoulos's pupilage under Busoni was known to music lovers in England, and also that he had been ;associated with the Berlin Philharmonic, which recently produced his Concerto Grosso, the .composer himself conducting. The. debut of the youthful conductor 'was a triumph, and to judge, from his work with the Liverpool Society Mitr opoulos' was so- impressive ■aa to' make it-certain that he will, be a-star of the first \magnitudei before long. Slight 4 and wiry, he is highly emotional when in touch with music,, and exalted in. communicating it ■ to. others... The orchestra played Dukas's Symphony in C (played for the first time after years of neglect); this is . a ■work about thirty-sis .years old, buoyant and and. quite different from Dukas's.better-known "Apprenti Sorrier." From New Zealand. H. Clonstan, a New Zealander, who is walking round the-world,:has stepped into the film business. ' Having traversed New Zealand, Australia,. Canada,- Alaska, and the best part of-the United States,' he is now "doing" the British Isles before trekking^ through the ■ Continent and the Orient. It.was while visiting the Cathedral at St. Albans that he learned of the proximity : of' Elstree and decided that a world!tour was incomplete without a visit. Accordingly he arrived af B.LP.'s studio and_ was taken -for a-tour round the sets.. So interested was he that Norman.Lee enrolled him as a German soldier for a scene in "Josser Joins the Army," and the film recruit had an\opportunity. of chatting to Ernie Lotinga about New Zealand, where the comedian'has-played' on many occasions. Music Drama. A new. society. has been -formed at Bournemouth, England, • for the express purpose of producing music dramas of a religious character.* The opening production is to be Mendelssohn's "Elijah," newly'dramatised; which iß'to be'presented in December. Her Pool. Bettee Davis, Warner Bros.' First National star, took Charles Farrell's house- in North-Hollywood just because it had a fine big swimming pool. When she moved in the "unusual" California rain moved along, and a real spring set in. But Miss Davis has not been in the pool yet. She has been confined to the house with a- cold, smd'tae.ppol-ig-still.Haitins, "

Grand Opera Notes. , In connection,, with 'the forthcoming sea- ■ son 'an. .Wellington of .grand opera, by the-Williamsop-;lmperial' Grand Opera■-. Com--pany, it.is interesting to record'that-there-ate several' Australians in the j company. They iricltide Misses-Molly.de>Gunst (who' made a success .in .Australia- in "Aida"),' Violet- Rogers,-. Evelyn ..Hall, Joan Hamm v Bi ' ' ranees ;Maroney, C. Genomi, Thelma , Fpott, f Carmencita Mascagni, Jeanette-Robriey, and ' Gladys 'Carlysle, with Nita-; Carr as solo dancer. The male . voices, include Messrs.. Charles Nicis,-Roy Glasheen, 'Ernest 'Gibb, ;Michael- Brien, Gordon Ramsay, and'Rowell Bryden. The maestro for the season is Emilio Rossi, .- from La Scala, Milan, who has as assistants' Wando Aldroyandi and Joseph Post. Mr. Frank Rigo is .stage director, and Miss Jennie Brennan has arranged .the ballets. The. opening-in Auckland was an "occasion memorable intheannals of stage 'successes m the northern city,- and'the'success-has been repeated every'nightl since. After Aucklands and: Hamilton, Wanganui,'. 25th, Palmerston North"26th, and Hastings-27th o and-28th;;will be-visited- before the opening; in:WelUngton:on the.29tlb the-season -' here.-finishing, on 17th Noyember. ■ ■

Amateur Jottings; • • ■ '■•■'■ Mr. GastonlMervale,'who succeeded Mr. Kenneth Bramp.ton .as .producer for the Auckland'Little!'Theatre:-Society, has resigned his /"position:' be -recently produced four.plays for the;newly-formed.Auckland Catholic Repertory Society. -. , . .-".'.". Mr.: Harison Cook,' of Wellington, who was. producer .for. the .Hawera Amateur Operatic Society's- season of '"Gipsy Love," received a tobacco pouch from'the'chorus at the close.of the performance on-the last night. . The . season was' one of • the most . successful and, best managed in the "history of the society. .' ■ ' ' . Marilyn McGiJl, of. Wanganui,- whose "Moonflower"'was such'a-success recently, has written a three-act ■■ farce, -: "Under Where,"- which: is to-be ■ • presented- at Wanganui on vlßth'October. ■" " - _ The Timaru" Orchestral,- Society '.has-, decided to form.a.junior orchestra,"aseparate performing unit.'from'which the ranks of the: senior:orchestra;may. be .strengthened. The Christchurch; Musical Society; is--to perform "Tannhauser" on 20th'October. The' Good Companions Society of Mas.terton staged the one-act'play "Op-o-Me-Thunib": last week, and' .the" .W:E.A., "Nerves,'.' by: Ann.-Stevenson. . ■ ■, ■ ■ • The Auckland Amateur-Operatic Society has postponed, till-early.' next:-.year ,it's ,pro- . duction of:. "Les: Cloches ide'Cofneyille." "Back. Street.". 'r.-.'.:-. •'■,,.'■ '.' As" a ; -drama,ofihuman hearts, Uniyer•,sal's.':"Back Street," vwill-take, high; place. Starring-Irene-Dunne .and'John'JßoJes,' this ... production ,is .an , adaptation' 'of " Fannie 'Hurstfs-'widely-r.ead •novel of the-same name, and the film-version'does-justice "to ' the original tnoyel of .the ;n;oted; "authoress. ■Irene. .Duhne- :is.-,deh"ghtful : _. as the .young girl who.findSitr]ie-.lc(^fr. wljen she l^ast'es- . Peqted it; wliile John Boles "estabjislies in "Back Street,"*hTs'reputation:as -an- actor of- unusual*depth rif-fe'eling.',-' JuneVClyde, ■' William- BakewelV iArletta-Duncan, -and Doris .'Lloyd, .and' others, are 'in "Back Street.".^:: ; ■'-...;._• ■; -^ "•-. ;■■■'■'■■ Two .Actresses.'. * . . '" ; Two. actressesl.from, the New ; \York stage, Boots Mallbry-and Nell O'Vay, have been signed by> Fox Films/" , George' White's Scandals, was-the. shoyjy ,which, .affovded Miss-Mallory her-New-York debute After a season with.White, she-joined Ziegfeld's Follies as a special showgirl. Miss O'Day began: her -stage : career: by -dancing : at Gr'aumah's'Egyptian'Theatre in''L6s-An-geles. . .-._.'. . :"■ Anti-We,ather. , . .

• Dorothy, Jordan, MetrchGbldwyn-Mayer featured' player,' wears a ■ lonnging;pyjama beach' suit of '.red: checked^ gingham; made full trousered,-, with/aibib top. - It ties-at the.',waistline,.-and "with,'tfiis.-' she.wears a. quaiht\ sunbonnet •to 'insure -her protection- against; the sun' and wind. ■..

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