STAGE AND SCREEN

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 15, 19 January 1933, Page 14

STAGE AND SCREEN

In Public. ' — Marie Dressier made one o£ her rare evening appearances recently. She was one of the audience at the opera of "Lucia," in which Lily Pons took the leading role. Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse, the irrepressible little rodent who amuses millions the 'world over, ia now accorded the recognition given to royalty, and other personages o£ •■ international renown. He has been given a permanent place in Madame Tussaud's Museum, London. "Kate-and the Devil." The Oxford University Opera Club has chosen an opera by Dvorak, a pupil of Smetana, whose opera, "The Bartered Bride," was!produced by the club three years ago for the first time in an English translation. Dvorak's operas are, not very well known in England—or anywhere for that matter—the reason seeming to be largely their difficulty of access owing to copyright complications. Now that "Kate and the Devil" ia to be produced, a better acquaintance will be available of at least one" work. Written in 1899, it ia deliberately national, as are all Dvorak's peasant-operas, and full of attractive folk music. It is very like "Weinberger's "Schwanda," and in the new one-act opera by Arthur Benjamin, "The Devil Take , Her" (played at the Old Vie, London, on 30th November last), is a similar and very witty treatment of the story in libretto form. Herr Hans Stronbach, from Germany, was to produce.. for the club, his third engagement, and as he is famed as being one of flhe cleverest men at producing a. spectacular opera at almost negligible cost, the occasion was expected 8' to bei'one. of extraordinary interest. It r was Herri Strohbach who, in his product tion of "Aida" at Cologne, invented the system of substituting "projections" for c all painted scenery and properties. For . hig Oxford production, he had devised a j scheme of. scenery drawn in black and . ;. white with charcoal, and dressing the —chorus in modern costumes. Monty Banks. After an absence from the screen for many, years in order to direct films, which have included the popular Leslie Fuller comedies, "Money for Nothing" and that ■ record-breaker "My Wife's Family," Monty Banks (has returned to the screen for one scene only. The director-comedian, , whose, desertion of acting has always been ,sf ii. matter of regret, consented to play a ■;i r ftny, part in the film he is now producing, *fbr;;B.;i.K,:"For the Love of Mike," in a 'hipment of emergency. . "Cavalcade." . Noel Coward has been asked to autograph hundreds of copies of the rilay "Cavalcade" for his admirers. The cast of the film of "Cavalcade" now working at the Fox studio, Hollywood, decided to ; "turn the. tables," and they are sending to- Mr. Coward as a souvenir, a copy of the play containing the signatures of all the members of the cast and the production staif. ' Winfield Sheehan, who is' personally supervising the production,- . heads the list of signer?, followed by Frank , Lloyd, the director, Diana Wynward, and : Clive JESrpok, : who play the leading roles. Zasu Pitts Busiest. With the completion of her role in Universal's "They Just Had to Get Married," Zasu. Pitts established what ia probably a screen record of 38 pictures in one year. Always one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood, the actress . crowned her long career last year with the phenomenal number of completed rolesj an average of more than three pictures a month! This year she intends to cut down on the number of pictures. as.., tlle, tremendous pace, if maintained, will make inroads on her health, physicians advise. "Popeye," taken from the comic strip character, will provide the busy Miss Pitts and Slim Summerville with their next co-starring screen play at Universal. j Impersonating Lloyd George. i A Welshman, Frederick Lloyd, has been selected after an exhausting process of I- elimination by Emil. Ludwig, theatrical producer, for the part of Lloyd George in the Ludwig London stage production, Versailles." This is due for presentaI tion shortly. Mr. Lloyd was cho^n because of his ability to make up a basic likeness :mto a startling resemblance of j the Welsh statesman. ' Leading Role. Following the policy that the public < Wish ,to select their own favourites and have.never.failed to recognise real acting ability, Paramount brought Charles Laughton to Hollywood from London and introduced him.without fanfare in one of• the most coveted parts in the history of motion pictures. This policy is contrary to the usual procedure of either building a player by smaller roles or by heralding his arrival and ability. Although he had never worked before a camera, Laughton made his film debut in a virtual starring part equal to, if not surpassing in importance and opportunity, those carried by Tallulah Bankhead and Gary Cooper in "Devil and the Deep." Wide Range System. The greatest single advance in the perfection of sound in motion pictures, "Rain," starring Joan Crawford, the United Artists' drama, is the first picture ■ to be produced with the recently developed wide range recording apparatus, which insures a naturalness heretofore impossible of attainment. Theatres are now . being equipped with the component widerange reproduction machinery, so that the opening of "Rain" will be in the nature of the debut of the Western Eleetric's latest. New Home for Chamber Music. The 8.8.C. chamber concerts have begun in the Broadcasting House. Since the closing of the Aeolian Hall a new home for chamber music has been an obvious need in London, and the new 8.8.C. hall promises to give the right- atmosphere and setting. Mr. John Coates. and the Catterall Quartet performed-on the opening night, the programme including works by Haydn, Mozart, and Schubert, and Elizabethan and modern English songs. New Clara Bow. : : "Call Her Savage" will reveal: a new Clara-Bow. Not.the "It.Girl of the Screen" or "The Red Head," or even "The Living Symbol of the Jazz Age." Her new.film is "Call Her Savage," the Fox production of Tiffany N Thayer's novel of the Bame name. Well over a year has elapsed sines Clara Bow has been seen on the screen, a year of rest and study during which time the star stored up the needed energy she is said to release during the unfolding of this stirring romantic drama,

Ernst Lubitsch, director,of.Paramount's ■ ■Although, an- espert horseman, Fredric "Trbuljlein Paradise/'belieyes'films, offer March had* to learn bare-back riding for mdreiopportimity :to beginners- than does'scenes-in; Cecil B. De Mille's Paramount the;'stageybecause,of;the large, number of - spectacle,.: "The-Sign of the Gross." "typ'rV*™;:. . . ..•'.. ..'. ', Koscdei-Earns, in Paramount's "Under : Irving Pichel has been assigned a major , Cover! Ma n)" >hasnever earned a dime outT6le(,in;'Param_ount's "Madame Butterfly,"' side; the theatrical business. His first Tyith Sylvia Sidney and Cary Grant. > job was-as; an usher, which led to actin;;.

Carter the Great. Novel. ; Henry Garat. Tilly Losch Recovers. I Picturesqueness is a strong feature o£ Metro-Gdldwyn-Mayer has acquired mo- Henry Garat, young French stage and Tilly Losch, the Viennese stage star the illusions which Carter the Great and tion-picture rights- to "Mortmain," the screen idol, will make his debut as .an who has been playing in London in the i his company of illusionists will present in novei by Hugh Cecil Asterley,. which American screen star opposite Janet revival of "The Miracle," with Lady i New Zealand shortly. The master magician Sears Company, published last April. No Gaynov in "Princess At Your Order." Diana puff-Cooper, has been lying danger- , is now on the way across the Pacific with past or director, has .yet been announced Described as a romance with music, the ously ill in a nursing home in the city. ; a huge mass of baggage and scenery and for the ue'w property. ■ vehicle served as starring material in She had been operated pn successfully, a small menagerie.1 He will open his ,, Th n . .. ' German for Kathe yon Nagy and Willie but loss of blood necessitated blood transtour' at His Majesty's Theatre, Auek- ' ne; uueen was in me r"arlour. Fritsch, aud in French for Miss Lilian fusion, which was also successful, and the. , land, on 4th February. Wellington will Fredric March has been assigned the Harvey (now under contract to Fox actress was pronounced out of danger - be visited early in March. '. lead -opposite Claudette Colbert in Noel Films) and Henry Garat. after a touch-and-go bout, and is now de- , ,' c , v „ Coward's play, "The Queen was in the "Tarzan and His Mate." - finitely on. the mend. Miss Losch is-in "S.O.S. Iceberg." Parlour," which Paramount is to produce Jbhnnv Weismuller and Maureen O'Sul P^ate hfe Mrs. Edward James, her marWhen the steamship Borodino sailed Alison Skipworth has an important sup! , h n n h^.J andheroine of "Tarzan the "age having take^n place m New York last from Hamburg for Greenland., having been porting role,, and. Stuart Walker will &° Ma< will be e'am d together in IT^s^niZ^nLZ!^ chartered by Universal for six months■ m dil . ect . • .-.■■■ another thriller of the jungles. Work is an aCtreSS '-and alS° SIDgS We"order to film S.O.S. Iceberg, the food wj. .. nd Music now progressing at the Metro-Goldwyn- Comedies. supplies were of a variety and sufficiency worsnip.ana music. Mayer studios on preparations for "Tar- Following the production of a series of to last for an entire year However not -Over one thousand surphced choristers. Z J and H i 3 Mate," in which the jungle rea l° s tie screen dramas, Universal is only.the bare necessities of life were taken took part in the twelfth, annual festiva man and his bride will continue their going in for?considerable comedy during along, but .also a few luxuries which made of the Church Choirs' Association at adventures in the wilds. Edgar Rice Bur- ■ f{£ n| e it few Aonthl Carl Laemmle jun the rigorous life, in the Arctic region more Coventry Cathedral forty-two churches be- ollg]ls ' s stories-are'the basis of the new announces "They Just Had to Get £'' bearable. Forty iving tents, a kitchen mg represented Tho whole of the chancel pic B tureF in wWc]x an;ma i thrills and other -^ o™^tarriw? Zasu PHts and Slim tent,, and a big dining-room tent were also and central portion of the nave were oc- sensational revelations will embellish the Summer^lle na! fust bin Zrfrt? part of the equipment, as well as two eupied With choristers entering singing the romance of the jungles - ummf™, '-j,. r 3 ~ n. completed, double deck aeroplanes and the famous processional hymn. : Mr. . Harold -B. Os- Marion Gerine has been assiened the 'r ft Big Cage starring Clyde Motte aeroplane on which the celebrated mond, F.R.C.0., of Holy Trinity, Coven- ~£%£* o f Spjl-„„ " wh?chT P Sohul V^ y> W-?if v," greates,t wl? f ' an,l^l aviator Udte did most of his flying stunts, try, conducted the festival, which was v^ Ctl°? n °f D ™an Cp Up f ' n ' l^monnt wHh A™? 61 -iT? . have. c°medy relief. "Salt listened to .by a congregation that filled £ c G. Ploduc, e for Paramount with Au ." W ill bring back to the screen the Two Strings. • the Cathedral. The Bishop of Oxford in S >'lvla Sldney and Georee Ka£t teamed. comedy starring, team of Charles Murray James Gleason in Paramouut's "The liis sermon stressed the great value of Helen Hayes, smallest feminine star,-and ■ and George Sidney. This will go into proDevil is Driving" not only acts but has music' in divine service, and the import- Gary Cooper, tallest male star, are co- duction as soon as the comedians finish written such plays as "Is Zat So?" and ance of singing the words with understand- featured in Paramount's "A Farewell to their current engagement in the .Los An"Tho Fall Guy in S- ' Arms." ■ ' ■ - ■ geles revival of "Abie's Irish Rose."

Playfair. Cantor. :. [.-!■ If Gloria Swanson, had accomplished Eddie Cantor sings three humorous song* nothing else worth while during the making in his next picture, "The Kid front of "Perefct Understanding" in Europe, she Spain." Lyda Roberti shaves the comedy could easily rest upon her laurels for honours in the film with Cantor. She his having captured for films Sir Nigel Play- a comedy song of her own, as wellas'tKe fair, celebrated London actor-manager, several songs she does with Eddie. Young who found working with Miss Swanson Diane Sinclair also has an-important- part, such a lark that he now announces he As far as'*-cast; • elaborate . production, will henceforth divide his time between choruses, music, and dancing "are conthe stage and screen* .Efforts .had been cerned, critics .agree.that "The Xid■ from made for years to wean Sir Nigel to the Spain" surpasses both . "Whoopee" . arid screen, but little success had been achieved "Palmy Days." .'-,'. __ " ' ; until Gloria Swanson arrived from Ame- ' .; rica. It was the star's ambition, to cast Fredric March. •-■■ ■ ; ■.... every character in her picture in native Fredric March, who .' received \ th'a surroundings—that is, an Englishman must Academy of Motion .Picture Arts-and play an English character, an American Sciences • award for the best performance girl must be cast as such, and so on. And of 1932, has been signed to a new contract with this argument she won Sir''Nigel by Paramount. It was the dual ■ characPlayfair to the role of a crotchety; old- terisation of "Dr. Jekyll and-Mr.'Hyde** English nobleman. ... that won March national acclaim, aid; ha <sii- Uonr,, onj it,- n D ™™, i. will return to Hollywood, within a: short S'r Henry-and. the "Proms," taW to start work m-Paramount^'"The ±he end of the London "prom." season Lives of a Bengal Lancer." : ■''■■ was marked by scenes of extraordinary en- ■ " .';■•;■: thusiasm. Every item was applauded to "Whistling in the Dark." : ' : ' ■ :\ the echo, and the soloists, Miss Helmrich Ernest Truex will re-enact: his-"'original and Messrs.. Clifford■ Curzon and Noble, -stage'role in Metrc-Gbldwyn-Mayer's film, came m for their share of.the applause, version of "Whistling in the Dark." Enthusiasts had stood, or sat on camp Maureen O'Sullivan will have the femininestools all day prior to the evening per- lead, and others so far selected for the cast formance, and hundreds were turned away, are Johnny Hines-and Edward Arnold. When members of the orchestra appear- Elliott Nugent will direct the new picture, ed, popular players like Mr. Charles Wood- which will go into production soon. - '^ house and Mr. Aubrey Brain were given '"■■••- :■---' receptions that world-renowned artists Englishman in Holland. "T ■"•■ i '•'■ might have envied. Tremendous cheering An English singer,'Mr. Hugh Campoen, followed the entrance of Sir Henry Wood, has been delighting audiences-in Holland! and the conductor, who usually never He-sang* at Amsterdam and The Ha<Hie acknowledges applause until he has mount- rece-tly, and let his audiences hear folk ed the conductor's desk deviated from his. o£ man lands, not-only Bungwih ' custom to bow acknowledgements before' simplicity, but with'a rare- feeling alike ience joining in the rhythm with stamp- 6^ admitted ing of feet, faster and: faster, and also had something new. to . singing lustily in the "Rule . Britannia" ?" er f h,f n ,he Bans hlf «>ngs,.and hailed ■section.-It was a memorable and • fittin" hlmJ lw Pleasure,-and. made, known they ■ finish to a, successful, season. . would bke a return-visit.;/, .*■■;: Randolph Scott. .' •• . Sidney Fox.;. •;-.;; Randolph Scott, brawny young Georgian T TS- ldneyvFo«^ wlu>' acnieved success ;ia, 'signed by Paramount a year ago, has been ,V?iyeFJais „,?¥, m '' '* Lifetime,"T aid ?iven a new contract. Scott has" just Airaid to Talk, arrived m New York made ..three pictures in rapid succession, a«er.severalmonths of picture-making in "Heritage of the Desert," "Wild Horse * l urop ] e-, Wh.lle; in France. Miss vFox Mesa/ and "Hot Saturday.''. His nest ?]*?<*?■■ th£ feminine lead' opposite, Chalfavvili be "Eleven, Lives,"-in. which he will pm -m .toe-noted opera singer's screen, be featured with Frances Dee, Roscoe vfrS"°- D t? < Cer™ntes classic "Don Qu:kKarns, Richard Bennett,' Adrienne Ames, ote- Later, she went^b rEngland- arid and Gordon Westcott appeared with Emil Jannings \ in,** --. ■■ ■•■ screen- play entitled. "Koi • Pausole." The "Dangerously Yours." -"*-.-..'-• ■ Pet^i c screen actress expects to remain "-.. Frank Tuttle is directing the Fox pro- ™ *»ew York for several and'maj;'-: duction, "Dangerously Yjours,"; which.was do a Play before returning>'Hollywood, adapted for the' screen from the story Brent and Maritza ■■*■■'- ■■•-■■"■■ .ri'^ '.. by Eric Noel ;The.complete cast, headed George Brent, Sari-Maritza, and-Irvlni by Warner Baxter, Miriam Jordan, and pichel arc trw ipa^iw £z£ ■ St-X■"?* ■ Herbert Mundin, will-include Florence Liner"^Wrh B P S > T^ .''^S7 .. «&*!•*£!?*; w—■ ms&M^mm "Rasputin" '•' i' • - Ruth C!hatterton.m 'fThe-Crashi" now:i« "Rasputin, and the ' Empress" has been ''%*3u*ft n 7? *?-«*%& *?* ■? selected by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,as the &^^ J r^t^2^.l fE^W--£st.st. final title for its production, starring John, °all Marshall. Pichel.wqa Ethel, and Lionel Barrymore, . formerly S^lß6,^, the attorneym*-;"An^JAmericaa known as "Rasputin."- This picture, which -».Faßeay. r■ ■ ■■.•-.,- -~: .■ • is now near deals with the ''"'-'''■''• *"'■•' * ■*--

completion, cast includes Ralph Morgan, in tile role is the glamorous Viennese actress, Tala Birrell's first starring picture, and in it "Nagana" is an unusual story with' a • fell wears;'some of the most remarkable- . and beautiful costumes ever seen on the lets, and anklets worn by the .wives .of. . ■ South-eastern Africa.. Tala Birxell is.sup- : , who appeared, with, such .success .in .TXni-. versal's "Old Dark House." Hall, recently. Debussy's "Rondes. de '. . Printemps" was the.only modern composition on the programme,-that '.embraced'the Handel Suite. arranged by 'Sir Thomas from "The Origin of Design"; Mozart's Concerto in C Minor, in which Miss Hess never attempted to outshine or outplay -the orchestra, but filled in her part with ■■ • ■ admirable judgment; ..the'. overture- to ':' Cherubini's "Les Abencerages" and Haydn's E Flat Symphony No. 99. At the close of the performance Sir Thomas and the orchestra received an ovation such as has rarely been heard at a London concert. ' \ Leading Ladies. Tivo leading ladies who never once see each other through the dramatic story of "Cynara," is Ronald. Colman's lot in the picturisation of the. international stage in: success of the same name. The graceful .• Kay Francis is the first. Her role i: • that of Clemency, devotedwife to >he ~.. brilliant youne barrister who is nlaved •, -bv Colman As the khon rirl Dorir whn ' -his undoinoT there is Phvlli, Srv , ly i daughter of the London theatre. She spent a five-year novitiate . m musical comedy stock m Australia, coming to bamue Goldwyn's future-star-hunting ey through a California musical production She geta her first opportunity-for fil ■•' fame in "Cynara." . , • ' ' Changes. Three of Hollywood's most popular lead ing women exchanged roles recently-as th result of a shift in -Paramount'produc tion schedules. Carole Lombard will hav . the role in "No Man of Her Own," origi nally planned for Miriam Hopkins, whil Constance Cummings has been awarde the featured role in "The' Billion Dolla Scandal" which had been scheduled fo Miss Lombard. Miss Hopkins was release■ from the cast of "No Man of Her Own" sb that she might begin preparations fo an important part in "The Song of Songs,' which Paramount is adapting from Her < :' man Sudermann's famous novel. indu ouuuiuauu. Louise Dresser. - ■ California, foltovins a brief illness Th.. actress has one of prominent role in the: Fox film with Janet Gaynor Wd ' Rogers, Lew Ayres, Sally Eilers, Victo. Jory, and Frank Craven. ~T ko i-oHwH me uaay. ,-,.-•■ Production has _ started at the Metro_ Goldwyn-Mayer studios on "The. Lady, the Martin Brown play which is bein directed for the screen by- Charles Bra bin. Irene Dunne and Phillips Holme have the leading roles, and the support __ ing cast so far selected includes Lione Atwill,, Una Merkel and Eileen Percy ■ Brabin recently completed directing 'Th Mask of Fu Manchu. ;. . : Betty Compson. .! ' ' After a two years'' absence from Uni: versal City, where many of her ear he trmmphs were filmed, Betty Compson ha returned to that lot to enact the leadin role in T)estination Unknown In^ad dition to Miss Compson, the "Destinatio : U^°Tnr p3ii 1S i, f% and Ralph Bellamy, who both scored su . T* n,,^ '• Umv,ersal,sst°ry..o t^ie httle-known air pilots who fly th Government mails. A life-like replica a. ship has been constructed .on a soun stage at Universal City, and'aboard th . ' gigantic set is . being photographed eve scene of the sea^drama,;.with, the vess "represented as a derelict adrift'in t Pacific Ocean,

r<-irr>-cr-K' wutapf yin i« -tii GEORG:B..J^I^^' ho, '-'ZLjZ < appear with J. C. Williamson's Frank . Neil Bevue Company, opening.;at'theGrand Opera House, at the .^end of next /week.V -'■:'- --". i , '■'~T ^ '. „ ■"'. '■ - ~ . 'W.Y. American" reports .regardinij Ronald Colman s latest picture:.■*•» is.au immediately winnmg and fascinating, play; —for Ronald Colman to star "in;- and 'i6r many future audiences throughout'i'l-the world to love, honour, and'patronise. iTha. authors have had a genuine'respect >fpr educated ears and eager eyes,' they; haye written with grace and shrewdness--iij. short-it is a most enjoyable,; play. "Cynara". is the English stage, success played 1 London for nearly two- whola years by Gladys 'Cooper and: Charlep' s'Hawtrey. .. ■~ - James Qleason.- .. . v- /-.* '/. ,'• x-i.j-James Gleason is the first player'to-b4 cast for MeU'o-Goldwyn^Mayer's.p.icturii* S^ef S^'- " e h T Big House," and,"Hell Divers," will dk-ect the new picture, the script of which, is beillg prep aied by Bella and Samuel gnewack, authors of the play. m -; ■ "The Invisible Man.'^ .... ..-.■-■ "The Invisible Man,"-the.fantastic novel by.H.G. Wells, has-been acquired by Uni- - versal to form the basis ;,o£. an uncanny, e script which John L. Balderston, the play- - wright, is rapidly completing for Kar» e loft's debut as a full-fledged star. Kar- - loff is akeady hard at work.with the Unie versal make-up staff attempting to .perfect d with the materials of their art an effect r never before approached. "It is; an effect r of opaqueness, bordering- onr 'transparency, d which will characterise .the character- in , the weird drama a* -he'; approachesvtlie r invisibility stage of.the p1ay.'..;..; - " o hllhprt . in niffiriiltißS ; - Sh",er*? , °'! ™ „ V- u- i. The Shubert Theatre Corporation, which went into an crmty receivership,-may ba forced to borrow more ithan- one./hundred e Fe s delal c^-t by Lee Shubert and tha a icviug Trust Company, receivers. Receipts l had fort y P thousand doUara short r of fte receiverE estimate for :a: penod through September,, and as•-soon-,as.con-elusions could be come to, .they intended ■ to apply to the Court for further instruc- - tions Already nine out of iourteen leased theatres in New York, have been, disbong tinued, and all but "two out of twelve out- - O f. town theatres, resulting in. a saving,of s neari n i ne hundred thousand dollars a - Mr Charles Evans Hughes, junr., l j s investigating the affairs of-the Shubert . Corporation, having been appointed spece ial aster to look into complaints:o£>aa independent bondholders-committee;. Laughton. - : - Char i es Laughton returns.to Universal r city shortly, where :he made his" Ameris can film debut in "The^OldDark: House,"g to p]ay the ma]e lead «j]j e Kiss: Before -. th Mi „ Eichard gchayer's ; Ecr"een n adaptati(m ' o£ a Viennese stage: play. James' Whal e. "I» directed '"The Old e- Dark HoUB ». ' yim direct .,, No ; enpporting f cast has been selected, bti.l'Laemmle, jun., e ig negotiati with Tallulali Bank Head of f ne lead.. ", -I d is Karon Moriey. ■' ' ry Karen Moriey, who-recently completed el parts in "The' Mask ofiFtfMafidiu. -anVI he "Flesh," Has been given-a,newilong-terill contract with MetroifGbldwyniMayer..

favour. : •' . '.-.■• The final game in tho B grade of the handicap singles between the Rev. Mr. Tye and Miss J. Beal started with an exchange of long shots. In and out play followed until each, had run two hoops. From this point Miss Beal's accurate hitting in and running hoops dominated the play. Her only advanced one clip"'-"to No. 4 hoop, while Miss Beal completed tho circuit with both balls, taking her bisque to peg out. •/■ Tho score resulted 26-4 in Miss Beal's favour. The match between Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. Simpson in the ladies' championship was very keenly contested. Both players gave excellent exhibitions of long shooting. The score ended 26-25 in Mrs. Henderson's favbuY. In her match with Mr. Boss in tho handicap singles Mrs. Palmer; made no mistakes and played very Bteadily. Mr. Eoss failed to get in his long shots.