WHO'S WHO IN "TOP OF THE TOWN."

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 136, 10 June 1937, Page 21

WHO'S WHO IN "TOP OF THE TOWN."

DORIS NOLAN,

Doris Nolan, another screen find by the New' Universal, portrays the millionaires^ who devises queer ideas for the Moonbeam Room', a night cliib halfway to the stars in Universal's "Top of the Town," which is to open throughout New Zealand shortly, made an outstanding hit when, she played. the lead in the Broadway stage play, "Night of January 16." '. She shares the romantic lead with George Murphy. / ELLA LOGAN. . ' Internationally; famous star-of radio . and of theatres ,and smart nightclubs of European-capitals', Ella .Logan was one of the. favourite entertainers of King -Edward VIII - when Prince of ■ Wales and also of George Vl.' She brings her talents as comedienne and singer to "Top of the Town." She is of Scottish descent and practically the only Scotswoman to star iri Hollywood. GERTRUDE NIESEN. Gertrude Niesen, exotic radio and Ziegfeld Follies star, sings four,song hits in her screen debut in Universal's "Top of the Town." Besides the* Ziegfeld shows/Miss-. Niesen..: has .played stage parts that: ranged ' from' light comedy to'dramatic musical-interpre-tations in such offerings as "Sonny" '.and "The Vagabond King." - • GREGORY RATOFF. As the dialect comedian' in "Top of the Town,"" Gregory Ra'tofl is in top form. He has also appeared in "Sing, Baby, Sing," "Road . to Old Glory," "Under Two Flags," and "Under Your Spell." Played in the Broadway stage version of "Blossom Time." HUGH HERBERT. Popular- comedian featured in "Top of the Town," Hugh Herbert has appeared in nearly a hundred screen offerings. Among them are "One Rainy Afternoon," "Midsummer Night's Dream," "Footlight Parade," "Convention City,", and "Let's Pretend." Hugh Herbert has-written a number of stage plays and screen scenarios. GEORGE MURPHY. ■ Murphy has. been a. dancing star of the stage in New-York, London, and' Paris. Stage appearances include "Roberta," "Of Thee I Sing," "Hold Everything,"1 and "Good News. On the screen he' was seen in "I'll Love .You Always" and "After the Dance. FRANK CAFRA^STAR MAKER. Frank Capra makes big names out of little ones. The noted director, who has delivered four unquestionable screen successes since 1933, namely "Mr Deeds Goes to Town' —one of the "Ten Best" of 1936—"1t Happened One Night." "Lady for a Day," and "Broadway Bill," makes: a specialty of creat-. ing famous screen p_ersonalities. He enjoys taking comparative unknowns and making them into the people you ask for autographs. One does not have to go far back to see what he has done for Jean Arthur, the girl who went to town with Gary Cooper. To be sure, Miss Arthur was well known before "Mr, Deeds," but it was that Capra film which won her the rating of a fully-fledged star. Everyone knows about the May Robson who came out of "Lady for a Day"; the Walter Connolly whom Capra gave to the screen; the Barbara' Stanwyck' he uncovered in "Ladies of Leisure," the Raymond Walburn he presented in "Broadway Bill." and the Pat O'Brien he pushed to the fore in "Gold Fever.". But in Capra's latest Columbia picture, his most important to date. "Lost Horizon." shortly to be released in New Zealand, the director has given highly, important roles to six players who are almost unknown". Hollywood; is wondering whether or not the entire halfdozen will be stars after "Lost Horizon" gets going.