STAGE AND SCREEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 84, 6 October 1938, Page 21

STAGE AND SCREEN

■ % "FRONT PAGE DRAMA. Motion1 picture studios, ever on the alert for -timely subjects as a basis for screen plays, sometimes find that their films* ate?, linked with current ' events after production has started. Three, current newspaper stories recently added a .timely note to Univer sal's current Crime Club production, "The Last Express:" v First, a crash • scene showed - one of the actors, Edward Raquello,# killed by a bomb- attached to the. brake of his automobile. Later newspapers reach the street headlining his death. Los Angeles papers were carried by' the newsboys- in the sequence, and the headlines disclosed details of an actual bombing of a car and its driver in that city. • Next, Kent Taylor and Don Brodie, as detectives, find a clue in a 1914 newspaper that gives World War details. Another, current Los Angeles news-; paper. was-used in the scene, and the deadlines read: "Fear of War Renewed as European Nations Mobilise." Other scenes' in"' the picture show Taylor, Brodie,. and others on the tracks of a New York subway, where Taylor is nearly killed' by a train. Actual headlines of the day disclosed the details;; of a recent ■■ subway disaster in the Eastern city.-. ... -

JIIOM MEXICO. The mainspring of Tito Guizar's rise t^fame, was the song "Alia En El Ritrictio Grande," The handsome young $§tor from Mexico, who will appear itt Paramount's "Tropic Holiday," in .he shares honours with Bob Bjirns, Martha Raye, Dorothy Lamour, aijd:;Ray"Milland, is one of Hollywood's &bst-likely candidates for stardom, his own story, he doesn't kp'ow ov^iiere he would be were it not fi§ir that*fsong of his native land. 3sioUgh bom in Mexico, Guazar is of French and Italian descent. He started on the road to success when Padre arid ;Madre Guizar sent him to Italy when he was'sixteen to; study singing. With'ambitions for grand opera he toped in ,Milan for two years, at the end of which he discovered that radio Kid-' developed into a more important field than the operatic stage. He went to- New York filled with> an ambition ta: sing on the air and was successful to;'securing an audition. As a result, he?.- joined the , Columbia Broadcasting Company, and for seven years appeared on its programmes, always introduced as."Tito.Guizar and His Guitar."

PROTECTS PIG IN FILM. To forestall any possible complaints, RKO-Radio paid a representative of the' Humane Society to be on hand during the filming of scenes for "I'm •From the City," in which Joe Penner wins a> horse race while holding a squirming pig under his arm. Fearing that the pig's squeals might be interpreted as evidence of inhumane .treatment by kindhearted fans, the studio took no chances, and handled the animal according to the society's representative's instructions. • f MR. DEEDS ONCE MORE. (The latest ''mail from Columbia Studios brings important information concerning new season's programmes. Following the completion of "You Can't Take It With You," the next Frank Capra picture, will be "Mr. Deeds Goes to Washington." The story ig based on. an original, "The Man From Wyoming," by Lew Foster. Columbia is attempting to get Gary Cooper, creator of the original Mr. Deeds, for the picture. He -is permitted to do several outside pictures under his Samuel. Goldwyn contract. The studio's intention also is to have Jean Arthur as the feminine,lead. x

i BALLET PERSONALITY. Antal Dorati is the principal condjuqtor for the Co vent Garden Russian Ballet, which arrived in Melbourne on September 26, He is one of Europe's best-known conductors and spends, three months every year conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra. ■ Although he is a comparatively young man, 32 years of age, he has conducted practically in every important opera house in the world. He H&s" been with the Ballet Company since 1933, speaks five languages, and understands two more. Mr. Dorati is enthusiastic about the new ballets to b. c performed, ■ particularly "Cendrillbn," or "Cinderella," to give it its English title. Another of the modern ballets is Debussy's "Protee," which is the ultimate in modernity. "Union Pacific" is. another new ballet which be expects will prove a great success in Australia because of its background of heroic pioneering. It is founded on the construction of the great Americ?an railroads. It is likely that a few Australian dancers will be asked to join the company if they show sufficient proiiiise.

WANTED TO BE A WRITER. A year or so ago a series of articles, ! written by Antoinette Lees, appeared n a Los Angeles publication. They lealt with Mexico, its art, poetry, ausic, political problems, and customs. '■ 7he writer . penned the articles at light. During the day, she haunted iewspaper offices and Hollywood tudios trying, to obtain steady employlent as a writer. She never landed , writing job. But she did land on he screen. You know the would-be writer under the name of Andrea _,eeds. Andrea always wanted to be a writer. She studied dramatics, motion picture construction, and short story writing in school with the sole aim of some day being an author. When Hollywood studios and newspapers turned her down, she was horribly disappointed. Almost entirely discouraged. But she is happy about the whole thing now. For she is a big star, even though she has been in but four pictures and her experience totals less than a year's work. Andrea was born in Montana, the daughter of Charles Edward Lees, mining engineer. His work called him to far places, but most of the time found him in Mexico with his family. She has made four pictures, "Come and Get It," "Stage Door," "Goldwyn Follies," and "Letter of Introduction" during that period. "BURMESE SILVER." Alexander Korda announces that he has engaged Sir Robert Vansittart, a famous British diplomat, to write the screen play for "Burmese Silver," Edward Thompson's best-seller which Korda has purchased for filming during the next season. Mr. Thompson will collaborate with Sir Robert Vansittart on the film version of his novel, which will be photographed entirely in technicolour. Sabu, the Indian child star, and Conrad Veidt, will play the leading roles. Production of "Burmese Silver" will follow Mr. Korda's production of "The Thief of Bagdad," in which Sabu will play the thrilling and adventurous role of the thief. This picture will also be in technicolour. FILM STARS FIGHT GALE. Three members of a motion picture camera crew, caught in a sudden windstorm at the foot of Mount Whitney recently, crouched helpless on top of a 35-foot parallel while stars and extras fought for a quarter of an hour to hold the tower upright, preventing the men from crashing to the rocks below. Cameraman Joe August, assistants Charles Burke and Charles Straumer, were filming location scenes for RKORadio's "Gunga Din" from the high platform when the gale struck, breaking two supporting guy wires and leaving the tower rocking crazily. Gary Grant, Victoj? McLaglen, arid Douglas Fairbanks, jun., were among the first to reach the platform and supported it as it swayed in the wind. After a tense fifteen minutes the gale died sufficiently for the marooned cameramen to descend to safety, but not until August had suffered deep cuts around his wrists and hands while trying to lessen the gale's force by disconnecting a large umbrella fixed to shield the camera crew from the blazing sun. WARREN HULL. Warren Hull, popular leading man of the stage, screen, and radio, has been engaged for the title role in "The Spider," a new fifteen-chapter play serial which Columbia will place in production with Ray Taylor, in the role of Nita will be seen as the feminine lead. Warren Hull has been appearing on the screen for the past three seasons. He made his film debut in "Personal Maid's Secret." Then followed romantic leads in "Miss Pacific Fleet," "The Walking Dead," "Fugitive in the Sky," and "Her Husband's Secretary/ Some of his more recent pictures include "Night Key," "A Bride for Henry," "Paradise Isle," and "Hawaii Calls." Iris Meredith, young contract player and leading woman, has appeared as the feminine lead in a number of. Columbia's recent outdoor dramas. "THE ROAD TO RENO." Almost a "world-premiere" in the extent of its crowds and attending notables, Universal's "The Road to Reno" had its studio preview at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Although unannounced to the public, news of the special showing quickly attracted more than the regular throngs of sidewalk sightseers and studio production executives from all major lots who had been anticipating the event with unusual interest. In the capacity audience, first-line critics were outnumbered many times by preview fans and steady customers who voiced approval of Hope Hampton and her first talkie. A near ovation at the first screen announcement and generous applause after the final fadeout demonstrated the enthusiastic personal reception given the singing star. Included among attending celebrities were Charles Rogers, Joseph Schnitzer, Jack Warner, Pandro Berman, Louella Parsons, Eugene Zukor, William Goetz, William Leßaron, Rosa Ponselle, Sigmund Romberg, Harry Warner, Rose Warner, Harry Joe Brown, David Loew, and Adolph Zukor. "IF I WERE KING." Reproducing a liberal section of fifteenth century Paris on the back lot of Paramount Studios, workmen have neared completion of the • largest and most picturesque set to be constructed by the company this year. It is a Paris street set, encompassing a section of the Seine River and the medieval Court of Miracles, haven of beggars, thieves, and .fakers, which is to be a major background of the new Frank Lloyd production, "If I Were King," starring Ronald Colman as Francois Villon. More than 750 feet long and covering an area-of 75,000 square feet, the set includes 15 buildings in the distinctive architectural style of the period," fhe 14605, which marked the end of the Gothic influence and ihe beginning of the Renaissance. The set is being made ready for camera work when the 'picture will go into production with Basil Rathbone, Frances Dee, Ellen Drew, and others yet to be cast, appearing in featured roles in Colman's support. In addition to the Court of Miracles, individual backgrounds in the Paris street set include historic St. Benoit Church and part of the church square, the exterior and interior of the RJQyal Warehouse, the west gates of the City Wall, and a number of shops. OUTPOSTS OF THE DRAMA. London has two very popular western outposts of the drama, in the "Q" and Richmond Theatres, where a varied number of plays has been presented of recent months. These suburban theatres fill a big want, particularly in slack centre-of-city activities. Recent productions at the "Q" (so named because it is in Kew), included "The Last Day," by Frank Stay ton and John Walton. . Jack de Leon was producer. Esther McCracken's "Counter Attraction" was just what its name implied at the Richmond Theatre on the same night. In the cast was Basil Radford, who is still remembered for his superb work in the Williamson production in New Zealand of "The Ghost Train." Another successful Richmond presentation was "Red for Danger," by Evadne Price, authoress of "The Phantom Light." FUTURE SABU FILM. Alexander Korda has obtained the story rights to Kipling's famous "Jungle Book" for a future Sabu vehicle in which the youthful star will portray Mowgli. Months of preparation and experiment will be necessary on this film, in which, as in the book, the animals will talk.

FROM FORGE TO OPERA. Friends in New Zealand who made it possible for Mr. Oscar Natzke to come to London to continue his vocal studies at the London College of Music, will be much interested to hear at his satisfactory progress. On arrival in the early part of }935, Mr. Natzke began his tuition ' with Mr. Albert Garcia, grandson of the late Manuel Garcia. Arrangements for the singer to come here were made, it may be recalled, by Mr. Andersen Tyrer, who was in Auckland as examiner for Trinity College of Music, writes The Post's" London correspondent on* beptember 12. One day while Mr. Vladimir Rosing was walking down Wigmore Street, his attention was arrested by a fine bass voice in Verdi s Requiem. The singer was at Mr Garcia's studio there. . Mr. Hosing made inquiries and was informed that the vocalist was Mr. Natzke. He made himself known to the New Zealander and arranged for him to have an audition at Co vent Garden. As the direct outcome of this. Mr. Percy Heming and Mr. Rosing offered Oscar Natzke the role of De Fulke, the leading part in George Lloyd's new opera, "The Serf," which will be heard toi the first time this autumn, with a fine cast. The Lloyds—George and Robert—father and son, are Cormshmen, one having written the music, the other the libretto. The story is Norman m period, conception, and setting. Lie Fulke is a blind man, with two eh Idren Women in the cast are Kutn Naylor (soprano) and Edith Fumage (contralto). The other men are Henry Wendon (who plays Cedric), Arthur Fear and Richard Watson (prS.Sr Thomas Beecham, Mr. Harold Holt, and other people well known for their connection with grand opera have heard the New Zealand bLs at the rehearsals which are^now in nrnorp<;<; and all of them aniiciP nat e Pa Oi rn ee SSfut aure for him Mr. Natzke thinks he may go ™t to tiie D<Mmnion on a concert tour in the near iv liirp Meanwhile, he is to sing, in "Faust" "Rigoletto" and "Die Meisterleft his blacksmith's forge. WELLINGTON REPERTORY THEATRE. Mr George Cooper as Dr. ClitterhoMse MD , M.R.C.P.; Miss Irene Spidy asTfs nurse, Ann; Mr Leonard^Walker, Detective-Inspector Charles mr. Evan Harrowell, Benny Kellerman, Mr. « A Painter "Pal" Green; Daisy (a leytjones; and Sir Williairf Grant, K.C., Mr W F. C. Balham; comprise the cast of characters selected by the Wellington Repertory Theatre Society to present Mr. Barre1 Lyndon's three-act thr'ller "The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse, which is to be directed by Mr. Leo dv Chateau. The season, limited, as usual, to five evening performances, begins on October 18. A London critic says: "This is an unusually enjoyable entertainment. We are shown a young doctor becoming a burglar. The gusto with which he goes about his 30b infects us with his own enjoyment and we keep hoping that he won't be captured by the horrid police. The Ten Minute Alibi' the hero was allowed to "murder a White Slaver with impunity. Are we similarly encouraged to abolish our blackmailers? We are not. The doctor is arrested but declared mad. Edgar Wallace, in fact, gives way to Pirandello, for we leave the theatre arguing about whether or not we were intended to believe in his As amusing as it is exciting." AT THE OLD VIC. It was an interesting new departure for the Old/Vie Theatre, in London, to vary recently its Shakespearean,policy in the performance of a play by a contemporary author, with a purely contemporary setting and scene. This was James Bridie's 'The King _of Nowhere," an excursion into the realms of mania. In it, Laurence Ollivier forsook Macbeth to portray a famous actor whose mind has become unhinged through overstrain and who escapes from a mental rest home, lne Old Vie has occasionally varied its Shakespearean programme with the more modern works of Ibsen, Tchehov, 'and Shaw, and two years ago it even put on a costume play by two living authors, Jeanne de Casalis and R. U Sherriff. This was- "St. Helena, a play on Napoleon that had also production in America, with Maurice Evans in the chief role. SUMMER SHOW. Many of the shows seen on the coast during the summer seem to have been devised with the notion that people on holiday will accept almost anything. The results at the box-office are frequently disastrous. Robert Ellison and Alfred Shaughnessy, two young West End producers who feel that the theatregoer when he is at the sea is riot very different from the theatregoer in London, aimed at metropolitan standards when they planned "The Pleasure of Your Company," the entertainment they presented at the Winter Garden, Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, comments a writer in the "Sunday Times." Charles Heslop was the star, and supporting him were Madeline Gibson, who has been in Cochran revues, Pamela Foster, Leonard Hayes, Cyril Wells, Bert Brownbill, Betty Hare, and May Hallatt (the lady with an unusual and attractive voice). A WELSH PLAY. Emlyn Williams, the young Welsh playwright-actor, has made Welsh country life fifty years ago the background for his new comedy, "The Corn Is Green." The leading part, that of a pioneer in education, was specially written by Mr. Williams for Dame Sybil Thorndike, who played the part when the comedy was presented at a West End theatre recently. Mr. Williams is producer. He will be remembered for his thrilling play "Night Must Fall," *in which he played the leading role himself and also made a name for himself in New York in the same piece. TOLSTOY'S "WAR AND PEACE." A stage version of Tolstoy's tremendous novel, "War and Peace," is being planned for London production by Gilbert Miller, who hopes to have it ready by November or December. Mr. Miller, who is accustomed to working on a large scale, describes the venture as quite the most ambitious that he has undertaken. The adaptation by Alfred Neumann in collaboration with Erwin Piscator, renowned German producer (who is also to direct the stage presentation), will provide a great dramatic spectacle for the delight of Londoners. Mr. Neumann is the author of several internationally famous novels as well as of the play, "Such Men Are Dangerous." STUDENT AT OLD VIC. Thus the London correspondent of "The Post" on September s:—Mr. Miles F. Greenwood (Havelock North) has entered as a student at the Old Vie School for the coming season, which extends from the middle of September until about May, 1939. Mr. Greenwood is anxious to see all sides of theatre work in actual commercial functioning after his course at the Old Vie.

FILM CLOTHES STOLEN. A complete wardrobe valued at £500 which was Jack Mulhall's "stock in trade" as a screen player, recently was stolen from his Santa Monica, California, home while he was at the RKO-Radio Studios in Hollywood appearing in "Crime Ring." By a strange paradox, Mulhall was playing a police officer in the film and had passed the day successfully running down screen crooks. "It was a tough break, because it will take some time to replace the clothes," said Mulhall, "but it could have been worse. Everything was covered by insurance." DODIE SMITH SEASON. John Gielgud, after a strenuous season of four plays in London, went to the south. of France for a well-de-served holiday and was to return to the metropolis for the commencement of a Dodie Smith season of her new play. Dame Marie Tempest was the other co-star with Mr. Gielgud, and he was looking forward to his association with the veteran actress. It was put on at the Queen's this month. Dodie Smith is the London business woman who, with her first play, "Autumn Crocus," attained overnight fame, since added to by her "Service" and other productions. PROLIFIC AUTHORESS. Amory Hare wrote the costume play "Return of Hannibal," which has been a popular choice with Broadway producers. It is in eighteen scenes, and has twenty-seven speaking parts. Amory Hare is the pseudonym of a •Philadelphia poetess, short-story writer, and novelist, Mrs. J. P. Hutchinson. She is the author of "Deep Country," in which she dealt with the hunting set in South-eastern Pennsylvania; her husband is master of the hounds for the Rostree Hunt, so her\ technical knowledge of the sport was authentic. Four other plays of hers are: "Hard Bargain," "Passport," "Black Dianthus," and "Tristram." A CHUCKLING PLAY. It is interesting, in view of the Wellington Repertory Society's choice of James Bridie's "Storm in a Teacup" (adapted from Bruno Frank's "Sturm in Wasserglass"), to know that. the piece had a great run on Broadway early in 1938. It was a Theatre Guild selection; in the cast were Sara Allgood and lan McLean of the original London cast. It had been on the Broadway horizon since 1931, but had never been presented until this year, though a version by Brewster Morgan certainly was tried out seven years ago. The Bridie adaptation is described as fantastic comedy that made New York chuckle for weeks. CLEVER FARCE. In the St. Martin Theatre production of Thomas Browne's comedy, "Plan for a Hostess," London audiences saw Yvonne Arnaud in one of her best roles to date. Briefly the theme of this amusing farce is that of a mother, who provides her coming-out daughter with a proper background by blackmailing her own husband. First having secured the services of a young woman to compromise her spouse, the mother mulcts him of the expenditure necessary for champagne and a suitable atmosphere of festivity. Miss Arnaud's performance was described as the,last word in femininity's power to exasperate; an enchanting result to all but the husband. Mr. Ronald Squire gave a delicious study in discomfiture; William Douglas Home and Jacqueline Squire brought both fun and invention to their roles of the frisky young couple; Adrienne Allen was the forthright young lady who allows herself to be compromised with the husband. Miss Allen is the wife of Raymond Massey, the clever Canadian actor who is such a celebrity on the London stage. SEYMOUR HICKS. It was fitting that Sir Seymour Hicks should return* to the Lyceum—where he made two of his greatest successes in London—recently. Older theatregoers retain pleasant memories of his "The" Man in Dress Clothes" and "Mr. What's His Name." When he put on a new play, "Money Talks," there were many among the large audiences who had seen the veteran in his other two triumphs. Jane Carr was the leading lady to Sir Seymour on this occasion, and in the cast also were Elaine Hamill, from New Zealand, Julian Royce, Vincent Sternroyd, Geoffrey Summer, Stanley Vivien, and Phyllis Thomas. SHAVIAN JESTS. George Bernard Shaw began to write his "Heartbreak House" play before the World War; he finished it shortly after, the war ended, and when it was produced on Broadway last month it was seventeen years since New York had seen it. It is described by enthusiastic American critics as "three solid hours of farce and wisdom" and "as probably the best example of the Shavian ability to speak profound truth in jest." Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre group gave the play thoughtful and sensitive production on Broadway last month. "A SERIOUS SEASON." Generalising on the current Broadway season, John Hobart, the clever critic, came, to the conclusion that it was a "serious season." Almost every hit in New York was a play with a tragic ending. "Death scenes, some violent, some pathetic," he said, "cluttered up the city's stages." Not that that meant the theatre was developing into a sort of gruesome charnel-house, but" as a sample of his argument he mentioned the serene and lovely graveyard scene in Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" (thePulitzer Prize winner); the slavey's death in "Shadow and Substance," in which a hard man's soul is regenerated by death; the mercy killing that ends John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" (the logical conclusion to a play on man's compassion). Mr. Hobart gave the palm to "Our Town" as being the most memorable of the plays on Broadway. It is the anatomy of a small, town as it was three decades ago and as it always will be, so long as the eternal simplicities of life endure. THE SCHILDKRAUTS. Joseph Schildkraut, who has appeared in many successful American films, has been an actor since he was five years of age. His father was an actor before him, a great character player, whose name, Rudolph Schildkraut, was sufficient to pack, theatres. The elder spent his life touring the world and playing Shakespeare in five different languages. Young Joseph thrived in this atmosphere and carefully studied the varied actors whom he saw on the world's stages. His second tutor was Max Reinhardt, the German theatrical genius who has trained many of the world's most famous stage and screen folk, including Elisabeth Bergner, Conrad Veidt, and Francis Lederer. From this fine school of acting, young Schildkraut graduated into a European reputation. The father and son had numerous successes on the New York stage and finally went to Hollywood, where the elder Schildkraut especially made a reputation for character parts. Joseph liked neither his silent film parts nor those of his talking ones, and fled from Hollywood back to the stage. He speaks eight languages, is married to an Englishwoman, and is 42.

"DEATH ON THE TABLE." There is only one girl character in the cast of "Death on the Table" a play recently presented by Basil Dean at the Strand Theatre; London. It is a comedy by Guy Beauchamp and Michael Pertwee. Kay Walsh played the only feminine role in the piece, which followed the American farce "Room Service," which did not appeal to English audiences and was taken off. It was apparently too American in conception, being an American farce about Americans. "Death on the Table," which could easily have been called "Ward Service," as a compliment to its predecessor, is an English farce about Americans, and its appeal was instantaneous. It is all about a nursing home, and the development of the theme calls for almost thrilling happenings. In fact the piece is a farcethriller. One lot of gangsters masquerades as blood-donors; another gang lounees about the corridors, and altogether there axe some preposterous incidents in the sanctity of the hospital. Hartley Power, who came from America to take up a leading role in "Room Service," was prominently cast in "Death on the Table," and many of his colleagues remained to take up parts. COMIC VERA PEARCE. One of London's most popular comedy teams at present is the Sydney Howard-Arthur Riscoe-Vera Pearce trio. The three funny people were presented by Firth Shephard in the musical show "Wild Oats" t the Manchester Opera House, prior to production at the Prince Theatre, London, where the season of the tuneful show proved most successful. "Wild Oats" is a revue with a story. Two Yorkshiremen win a large sum ofmoney and set out to see the World. And Douglas Furber, author of the piece, saw to it that they saw it; that the pair had many amusing predicaments. Vera Pearce, once a lissome Williamson star of musical comedy and pantomime, has put on a lot of weight since her Australian and New Zealand days, but it does not prevent her from being one of London's most comical acrobatic comediennes. In "Wild Oats" she played an ageing but active star of the French revue stage. The heroine of the play was taken by Josephine Houston, a star from the States who was seen as a cabaret artist. Miss Houston has . appeared in revue, musical comedy, and opera. She is a Bachelor of Music as well. THE LONDON STAGE. Diana Wynyard, Madge Titheradge, and Hugh Sinclair were the stars of the interesting play "A Thing Apart" when it went on tour before opening at the St. Martin's Theatre, London. It was presented by the H. M. Tennent, Ltd., management. This concern has a great belief in the prospects of the British theatre and is planning an ambitious season. Five plays in the West End of recent success were "Robert's Wife," by St. John Ervine; "George and Margaret," by Gerald Savory; "Plan for a Hostess," a comedy by Thomas Browne; "A Thing Apart"; and another St. John Ervine Piece, "People of Our Class," in which the chief roles were taken by Nicholas Hannen; his wife, Athene Seyler; Mary Jerrold, Caroline Bayly, Betty Hardy, Bernard Lee, and Whitmore Humphreys. : A CIRCUS PLAY. The theme of a very successful play presented at the New Theatre, don, "The Painted Smile," is circus life. Most of the characters are circus folk, vivid, spontaneous, theatrical types. Its people are so beautifully observed, and in this direction the young author, William P. Templeton, has revealed a remarkable insight into human nature. The action of his play takes place in the artists' entrance to the big circus tent. Atmosphere is suggested by off-stage sounds of a fairground, and by coloured lights from the ring, necessitating a clever, intricate system of light-cues. . In the New Theatre production, Stanley Vilven and John Abbott played two clowns— the first stout and sentimental and the second a thin, philosophising fellow. Greta Gynt, a beautiful Norwegian who has danced at the Open Air Theatre, made her first stage role as the heroine. Walter Hudd played a disillusioned journalist with a taste for the bottle; Alexis France, a tyro woman reporter; and Nan Munro a study of gossiping spinsterhood. It was produced by the Albery-Wyndham organisation. Mr. Bronson Albery. having seen it done by a repertory company in Edinburgh. VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND. Gracie Fields, the highest-salaried artist of them all and the idol of the British public, has long had a desire to visit New Zealand, but with her multitudinous engagements on stage and screen, and her extensive charitable work, it has been, and still is. impossible for her to do more than think about. a personal appearance in the Antipodes. However, she has now reached the stage where she is giving the outposts of the Empire serious "consideration. If she does manage to come to New Zealand, a great welcome awaits her. In England she is in heavy demand, for the opening of bazaars, and all manner of charitable institutions. Numberless politicians have begged this favourite to speak at their meetings, but she is firm that she will not mix in politics. A TALENTED PAIR. George Posford, who wrote the music for the big musical hit, "Balalaika" (the libretto for which was written by Eric Maschwitz, director of variety for the 8.8.C. and husband of Hermione Gingold, a popular London stage celebrity), is married to Rene Ray, now a British film star. They have p lovely house on the Sussex coast which was specially designed by Mr. Posford. Miss Ray will be remembered by film lovers for her excellent work in "The Passing of the Third Floor Back," in which Conrad Veidt played the lodger who befriends the little maid-of-all work. She has also appeared with distinction in "Housemaster," "The Rat" (with Ruth Chatterton and Anton Walbrook). "Bank Holiday," and "Mountains of Mourne." Her sister, Beryl Brynton, acts as her stand-m in pictures; Miss Ray is a petite, wideeyed actress who is going far in British films. Her success has been amazingly quick. In "Mountains of Mourne" she sings three Irish songs, with brogue complete. "ALF'S BUTTON AFLOAT." A small -.ensation has been created in British film circles by the success of the G.B.D. extravaganza, "Alf's Button Afloat," with the Crazy Gang scoring. The prints of the film have arrived in New Zealand and the picture will be released at an early date. "TITANIC." Alfred Hitchcock, foremost British director, has been signed by David O. Selznick to direct "Titanic," the story of the gr*'it ship disaster. Jean Renwick de Roche, for four years a courier for the State Department attached to the American Embassy in Paris, has been signed as research assistant for the film. Paramount studios have acquired the film rights to the popular R. C. Fetherstonhaugh book, "Royal Canadian Mounted Police," and will bring it to the screen as an outstanding Technicolor production with Dorothy Lamour, Ray Milland, and Akim Tamiroff heading the cast.

AIR THRILLS IN PICTURE. All thrills will be real thrills as far as the aviation work in • Paramount's "Men With Wings" is concerned. Aeroplanes with veteran stunt pilots at the controls will be featured in the Technicolor epic being -produced and directed by William A. Wellman. More than twenty of these aeroplanes, dating from the first flight df the-Wright Brothers' until the present time, will be seen in. the cavalcade of the air. Wellman himself,;"" forrrier world warT flyer, made this announcement as", more than one hundred craftsman worked to create and re-create the planes needed for sequences covering thirtyfive years of aviation progress. "Any thrills which will be shown on the screen will be real," Wellman declared. "We have had more than one hundred men working for more than three months rebuilding planes we searched all over the world to find." "And no 'stock shots' from other aviation pictures will be made," asked an inquirer. "That would be impossible," he replied. "We are making this picture in Technicolor, and it is the first coloured air picture ever made. Naturally we can't use any black and white films,, old or new, in.it." Wellman is using 25 pilots in "Men With Wisss." Together^ they .have more than 100,000 hours of flying time,most of it

CHINESE MAGICIAN. Chang, the Chinese magician, with his £10,000 stage production, is packing the King's Theatre, Melbourne, nightly; on the first Saturday night of his season the theatre was booked out_ before the doors opened, and hundreds were turned away. Chang in his imperturbable manner, takes his success calmly, as he says that his horoscope predicted success for him on his Australian tour. Chang never makes a big decision without consulting the stars and they have never failed him. As an entertainer Chang has won the approval of Melbourne audiences with his quiet and modest style, and he has quickly become a fbotlight favourite although many of the most brilliant tricks are-performed in an auditorium. On a visit to the Caulfield Military Hospital, where he. entertained the "diggers," he thoroughly enjoyed himself by performing some interesting illusions which even tricked the shrewd inmates of the hospital. Chang also gave an afternoon of fun to the young paralysis patients at Stonnington House. LANDED IN GAOL. By a strange twist of circumstances as Jack Oakie, screen comic, was shooting scenes for RKO-Radio's. "The Affairs of Annabel," outside of the Lincoln -Heights gaol in Los Angeles, an old man with the same nafne was ber ing charged, inside for drunken driving. Several meihbers of the. cast had stepped into the court while the localtion shot was being set up and thought it was some kind of a joke when the clerk of the court called the name "Jack Oakie." Questioned by the Judge, the man said his true name was Jack Oakie. He. pleaded guilty and was sentenced to. ninety days. The screen comedian's true name is Lewis D. Offield. ■'-■ ] "TRADE WINDS." " Walter Wanger announces that "Trade Winds," co-starring Fredric March and Joan Bennett, has, been added to his current programme of pic-; tures. Tay Garriett will direct the production. Behind this simple'- announcement is an interesting bit. of history. The idea-for the picture originated in the brain of Tay Garnett, author-director, about two years ago. To secure authentic background for :t, Garnett fitted out a cruiser with special equipment for motion picture filming and made a trip around the world. In all he shot 70,000 feet of film, largely in India, Ceylon, China, Japan, and the Straits Settlements. This footage will be incorporated in the production:

. NEW ZEALAND AUTHORS. Mr. Stanley; Wainwright' 'Morgan (Christchurch) is conducting "rehearsals with the company producing -'An Elephant in Arcady,"; a musical;comedy by Mr. Herbert Farj eon arid his sister, Miss 'Farjeon; talented writers with a .New VZealand background. Their father. B. .L. Farjeon^ was the well-known, writer;6f : many thrillers. He used to live in Dunedin* writes the. London ■: correspondent' of "The Post" on September 15. .The first-night of "An Elephant in Arcady" will be at the Kingsway Theatre on September 29,' arid it is expected that it will repeat the success of "The Two Bouquets," also written by the Farj eons. It ran for many months in London. Much of the music for the new production has been adapted from, 18th century scores searched for in the British Museum and the Naples Museum. Mr. Morgan says the cast is excellent and that the play should: prove to be exceptionaly popular. Recently he spent a holiday cyclings to Torquay to rejoin his wife, ;formerly Manetta Marriott, who has been, engaged with a concert party there during the summer. . Mr. Hubert Carta (recently of Christchurch) is also at Torquay with the; same partyr. With the conclusion of the rehearsals- of the coming Farj eon production,; Mrv-vMbr-gan will continue his work-, at . th« Royal Academy of Dahcirig arid" at th# Royal Academy, of Dramatic Arti

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BARBARA BEDFORD. ; Making her first cinema effort in'over a year, • Barbara Bedford . makeSi her come back to: the: screen! in;"Tb_ridi> row's Youth," the Action Pictures release which is to be released-shortly. Miss Bedford, who was born .in- Wisconsin and.made her debut.irijmctjures shortly after leaving school in; Chicago, was forced to abandon her pfctura career about a year ago: due too ill health. In? this Action Pictures duction, which features John. Miljan, Martha Sleeper^ and Dickie Moore, Miss Bedford will be seen as Miss Booth, the school mistress. Graced with a voice that is unusually deep, Miss Bedford did not drop^entirely from, the public's eye, for while she was away from *the screen she devoted her time-to singing over the radio and was featured over* national programme from San 7 Francisco. AN ALL^WOMAN CAST. Because of its controversial nature "The Women," the New York comedy hit by Claire Booth, which is to-be produced in Melbourne this mohth, is. unquestionably the most-discussed play of the last.decade.. It is played by. an all-feminine , cast, who .tell truths about themselves, -which - the fair sex wqiuld,prefer obtrusive .man did not hear. Thus it is hot uncbriimon for male auditors -at a••; pefifoirharice, in America,' to applaud.-a line op situation which draw hisses^fro*m>.-their wives and sisters. ."In, anyyeverit, .it is a . pungently hilarious,, :if Cacidy. comedy," which a New. York, critic states^ "entertainment **' ;seekerSD "'.-- feel they must witness, no: matter: what their feelings on the - subject.-"^- It :is to" be' presented throughout;. Australia and New Zealand,* by. Australian and New. Zealand Theatres- Ltd.; (la;te?,Williamson's). .; .. . ...- .'.-■X..'X-4'X' ' '.; .-..-'treat,for';A 'mKJt^Xyx. X Fourteen jurors who decided ;the; fat* of Tairimany leader James A..Hines attended a special showing ' of-rColum-bia's "You Can't Take' .It* With^Ybu,** in .the company's .private projectidn room at -Seventh: Avenue, 'New j York. While guards patrolled: the corridors arid the building .- was •closed*' .to.' all visitors, ;the blue-ribbon -jury'found their ' first relaxatibn : . from the ; cares of listening to testimony in watching the Frank Capra production of-the George S. Kaufman-Moss Hart Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Following the screening of "You Can't Take: It With. You" and the several shorts that rounded out the programme, the jury returned to their ; hotel in the buses which had brought them to the Columbia offices. . _' • -