NEWS of the FILMS

Evening Post, Volume c, Issue 82, 3 October 1940, Page 18

NEWS of the FILMS

CALICO AND JEWELS.

It is rare when the leading lady wears only three costumes in a picture. Doris Davenport, Gary Cooper's leading lady in Samuel Goldwyn's "The Westerner," wears only three simple calico dresses costing not over five dollars apiece. At the other extreme Lilian 'Bond, who appears in only a few-of the later.sequences of the picture, wears eight different costumes, all of them elaborate and costing weli over a thousand dollars. Miss Bond plays the part of Lily Langtry, the famous English beauty and the world's first "glamour girl." Miss Bond's costumes are in many cases exact copies of dresses worn in the eighties by Miss Langtry, who was considered the best-dressed woman of her time. Miss Davenport plays the part of a hardy frontier girl, whose clothes are made for hard usage.

GOES ROMANTIC.

r During his eight Hollywood years, 'Gary Grant has fought hard to keep ; out of the danger spot, called stereotyping, which is regularly the undoing ;of many a promising leading man. "Film fame is a brief experience for • actors who let themselves be cast in :;the-same type of role too often. His •selection to play the leading role in Frank Lloyd's ambitious romantic drama, "The_ Howards of Virginia" -caused quite a lot of head shaking in Hollywood. They could not picture ; devil-may-care Cary in other than a •boisterous modern role. Frank Lloyd knows better. Cary as Matt Howard will wear lace cravat, breeches, silk stockings, and buckle shoes. He has let his hair grow and will shortly emerge as one of the romantic screen ioyere. The lovely newcomer, Martha Scott, plays opposite Cary in the film arid the British character star, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, has an important role;

SCREEN BABIES' PAY,

Your Greta Garbos, Carole Lombards, Clark Gables, Enrol Flynns, and James Cagneys are not the most-pam-pered individuals in Hollywod. Nor are they, the best paid for the time they give to pictures. The film babies are. Consider, the case of ten-day-old Carolyn Weist, the baby in Sol Lesser's "Our Town.'* Miss Weist went to the studio accompanied by her father, Charles Weist, a nurse, Mary Clarkson, and a welfare worker, Veta Geddes. Before she could-work, the studio had to take, her in a. limousine to the Board of Education office in Los Anegeles. There she was examined by a school doctor, pronounced fit, and given a permit. From there she was taken to the Social Security Department where a social security card was issued. On the set Miss Weist had a stand-in,' a rubber doll. Martha Scott, one of the stars in the picture, who plays Carolyn's mother, held the doll until they were ready for the infant actress. When Sam Wood, the director, called for action, the baby was given to Miss Scott. At. Wood's elbow stood Mrs. Geddes holding a stopwatch. At the end. of thirty seconds Mrs. Geddes poked Director Wood's arm and the director called "cut." Miss Weist was put back in her crib for five minutes to rest. Then she worked thirty seconds again. In all, she worked two minutes, with a five-minute rest period between each appearance in front of the camera. For this she- was paid seventy-five dollars.

EX-STARS TO RECEIVE

PREFERENCE

! The recent formation of the Society [ ; of Screen Seniors, an organisation dedi- \ cated to the establishment of tradijtions of the motion picture industry, ' has brought concrete repayment to the \ •eight ex-stars who form the nucleus [ lot the society. Acting at the sugges- : jjion of producer Joe Pasternak, who ; I past the former stars in Universal's "A ' ; Little Bit of Heaven," assistant direc- ! tor Fred-Frank has organised a moveUnent among other assistants to give ; ;jex-stars preference for roles wherever casting allows. "Men like Charles Ray, Maurice Costello, Monte Blue, and others Mr. Pasternak cast for our film are all fine actors and fine 'types,'" -Frank states. "Because they do their jobs well, there is no reason '■ ■Why we should not repay them for their loyalty by giving them what they want —steady work." Frank has com- ' niunicated the idea to all assistant directors, who have promised to fulfil the i plan. Other ex-stars cast by Pasternakas, Gloria Jean's uncles in the ; film, and who- thus have their most < important; roles in several years, are < Kenneth. Harlan, William Desmond, i Noah Beery; Pat O'Malley; and Fred ' Kelsey. :

GARFIELD AND SHERIDAN.

John Garfield and Ann Sheridan make their first appearance as a romantic team in "Castle on the Hudson." Although both young stars are well known to film audiences for their work during the past year, "Castle on the Hudson" marks their debut as a team; they make a dynamic combination. Pat O'Brien is co-starred with them, and Burgess Meredith heads the supporting cast, which includes a host of well-known players. Anatole Litvak directed from the screen play by Seton I. Miller, Brown Holmes, and

'GUNNER GEORGE."

George Formby in "Gunner .George" will be here soon. Here the Lancashire lad, who has been acclaimed "England's No. 1 Gloom-chaser," has been supplied with a vehicle which is as topical as today's stop-press news. The locale of the story is Bergen, Norway, where by mischance Formby finds himself, instead of at Blackpool. Together with his ukulele he gets a job in a broadcasting dance band, the leader of which turns out to be an enemy secret service agent, who has devised a code whereby the notes of music played by his band reveal information of departing vessels to U-boats. Formby cleans up the situation in typical Formby fashion.

JOE E. BROWN RECOVERS.

Wide-mouthed comic star, Joe E. Brown, reclined on a bed. He was attired in green silk pyjamas with a paisley motif, over which he wore a rich wine-coloured silk dressing gown. Emitting a whoop that revealed his tonsils, he fell off the bed, rolled under it, jumped over it, raced to a bathroom window, and jumped out. It was the same Joe E. Brown who but recently concluded four months' convalescence in a hospital and at one time was given up for dead as the result of an automobile accident. He was back at his job making pictures. The studio was - Columbia, and the title of the screen play "So You Won't Talk." "Feel," echoed Joe, when the scene was over. "I feel great. All this talk about doctors not wanting me to return to worlj is rubbish. Someone printed that I had lost nineteen pounds. That's foolish. I couldn't take off nineteen pounds if I used o carving knife."

RECORD PRICE.

Columbia Pictures purchased for a record price the new- Susan Glaspell novel "The Morning is Near Us." Miss Glaspell, internationally famous for her many best-selling novels, won the coveted Litex-ary Guild selection with this book. A tremendous demand for the book by the public accounted for the large volume advance sale of ->ver one hundred thousand copies. B. !<?. Schulberg, Columbia producer, will bring the story to the screen. The story revolves about a young girl who returns to her home town after a fifteen-year absence.

'THREE FACES WEST

Mass migration! The one hope of a weary people who are near despair in the face of poverty and starvation. Repercussions of the Nazi invasion of Austria are dramatised in Republic's "Three Faces West." The story deals with the tribulations of a Viennese physician, a refugee from a Nazi concentration camp, who finds refuge and a new chance to be of service to humanity in the dust bowl region of America's

mid-west. The three leading artists are John Wayne, Sigrid Gurie, and Charles Coburn. This picture is a British Empire Film release.

"CHARLEY'S (BIG-HEARTED)

AUNT."

"TOO MANY HUSBANDS."

New Zealand audiences will soon see Arthur Askey in his latest starring opus. "Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt" (G.8.D.). The film version is a modern one, adapted from the recordbreaking stage farce. Askey's impersonation is of a visiting aunt by a scallywag Oxford undergraduate to prevent expulsion, while a flirtation in a punt by the aunt with the unsuspecting Proctor, a midstream upset, the rescue of Askey by a bevy of gh'ls, and risque complications when they try to tend and re-dress him, provide a climax to this comedy. The supporting cast includes Graham Moffatt, Moore Marriott. Richard Murdoch, and Phyllis Calvert.

"LILLIAN RUSSELL"

The life and loves of Lillian Rus-

sell, "the most beautiful woman in America," have been made into a picture by 20th Century-Fox, and feature Alice Faye in the title role, with Don Ameche and Henry Fonda heading the outstanding supporting cast. It is a motion picture that brings out what Hollywood can do, for "Lillian Russell" has drama, comedy, pathos, action, colour. "Lillian Russell" revives many of the popular song hits of her day, including "After the Ball is Over!" "Rose, You are My Posie." "My Evening Star," and "The Band Played On." Lillian Russell was the most colourful of all the personalities of the most fabulous era America ever knew. She lived a vivid life that lends itself to screen adaptation. Alice Faye is said to more than justify the faith which Darryl Zanuck placed in her when he chose her to portray the great Lillian Russell. Her acting is outstanding and her charm and her singing voice heighten the,triumph. Edward Arnold as Diamond Jim Brady, another of her countless admirers, Warren William as J.esss-Ti Lewisohn, the copper king, Leo Canrillo as Tony Postor, the Ziegfeld of his era, and "discoverer" of Lillian Russell, .all are in the film.

What is a girl to do when she finds herself possessed of an extra husband? This is the problem which confronts Jean Arthur in Columbia's Wesley Ruggles production, "Too Many Husbands." Fred Mac Murray and Melvyn Douglas are the husbands in the picture, and it takes Miss Arthur all her time to decide which one she really wants Mac Murray is seen as the lovable devil-may-care type,-while Douglas-is considerate, home-loving, and devoted. The critical situation arises when' Jean's first husband, Fred Mac Murray, returns to life after having been .reported drowned and finds his wife wedded to his best friend. Both men want Jean, and Jean wants both men—and the law won't allow! Just how she works out this perplexing problem provides material for one of the comedies of the year.

"our town:

The New York film reviewers were unanimous in praise of "Our Town." the Thornton Wilder Pulitzer prize play which Sol Lesser has brought to the screen. Here is an extract of the review provided by the "NewYork Daily News": "Only once in a blue moon is a moving picture reviewer impelled to shout from the housetops the praises of a Hollywood production. 'Our Town' is far and away the finest picture to reach the screen tins year. In bringing the Thornton Wilder play to the screen Sol Lesser moves up to the front ranks of Hollywood's producers. He has lavished v great deal of loving care on the picture. He has widened the scop? of the screen, in the manner of the film's presentation, and he has raised the standards of Hollywood. Martha Scott possesses that intangible quality that has made Bette Davis the outstanding actress of the screen and that will bring her immediate stardom. 'Our Town' is a picture with a soul, as well as a heart."

BENCH LEY SINGS.

Robert Benchley, noted literary and screen humorist, will make his film debut as a singing mandolin virtuoso in Universal's new comedy, "Hired Wife.". During a discussion of music with director William Seiter between scenes, Benchley modestly mentioned that he had plunked a fairly decent mandolin string during his .college days. Seiter immediately sent out for the instrument and demanded an audition. As a result, the comedian will not only play the mandolin but will also warble a' few choruses of ''Little Brown Jug" in a scene in the film. Rosalind Russell. Brian Aherne. and Virginia Bruce are co-starred in "Hired Wife."

"convoy:

The bravery of our Fighting . Navy is brought to the screen by British Empire Films in "Convoy," the most topical film of today. Clive Brook is the captain of a ship, John Clements a lieutenant who runs away with the captain's wife, played by Judy Campbell.

YOUNG AND DOUGLAS,

Newest starring comedy combination is Loretta Young and Melvyn Douglas. They began work in '"He Stayed for Breakfast," Columbia studio's latest Hollywood production, under the direction of Alexander Hall. The picture is B. P. Schulberg's first under his new producing contract with this major studio. Miss Young and Douglas are aided and abetted by a supporting cast which includes Eugene Pallette, Alan Marshal, and Una .O'Connor. "He Stayed for Breakfast1' is based on the Broadway stage success "Ode to Liberty," which the late Sidney Howard adapted from a French play. The set is a Paris background, the story concerns the romance of a politically radical writer —played by Douglas —and the estranged wife of a pompous banker —played by Miss Young. The situation is complicated by a second suitor for the lady's hand, a newspaper publisher played by Alan Marshal, who is out after the political scalp of her husband.

CLEVER NORWEGIAN

A Norwegian actress of great charm is Greta Gynt, who is now happy in England making pictures. Her home is in Oslo, and her father is an engi-. neer who has made trips to England. At one time the family spent some years in England, when Greta learned to speak English fluently. Miss Gynt has been kept busy since her arrival in England, and has appeared in many films, as well as acting in stage plays. She has the role of a temptress in. the British picture, "Room for Two," in which Vie. Oliver, American husband of Sarah Churchill (daughter of England's Prime Minister) is starred in the leading male role. Frances Day, another charming blonde, plays the wife whose husband is lured by the fascinating blonde Norwegian. Miss Gynt has figured in the popular British releases "Arsenal Stadium Mystery" (with Leslie Banks), "Middle Watch." and "Bulldog Sees it Through" (with Jack Buchanan), "Two for Danger" (with Barry K. Barnes), and "Crooks' Tour," the film version of the 8.8.C. serial (with Basil Radford and his engaging partner. Naunton Wayne).