Another Spy Drama

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 11 (Supplement)

Another Spy Drama

The first large set for “Dark Journey” at Denham was intricate enough to get even experienced Victor Saville worried. It showed the Cherry Orchard, a cafe and dance hall in Stockholm in 1918, which was the meeting place of spies and agents for the British, French and German espionage organisations with which neutral Sweden was infested during the war. A crowd of 250 was needed for this scene. “Dark Journey,” the screen play of which is by Lajos Biro, and the scenario and dialogue by Arthur Wimperis, is packed with thrills, and provides Conrad Veidt with an excellent part as the Baron Karl Marwitz, obstensibly a cashiered German officer taking refuge iu Stockholm, but really the head of the German espionage system in Sweden. Opposite him is the 20-year-old London Film contract star, Vivien Leigh, who is working for the French Government. One of London Films’ contract artists and one of the four girls originally signed by Alexander Korda—Joan Gardner—is assigned another important role. Others in the cast are Anthony Bushell, Austin Trevor, Margery Pickard, Elliot Makeham, Sam Livesey and Edmund Willard.

The 1936 gold medal for the best animated cartoons was awarded to Walt Disney at the International Film Exhibit in Venice. The Disney entries this year included: ‘‘Mickey on Ice,” “Three Orphan Kittens” anc “Who Killed Cocfl Robin!” This is the third consecutive year that the creator of the Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony films has captured this award. In 1931 he won with “Funny Little Bunnies;” and in 1935 with “The Band Concert.”

Fred Mac Murray, Paramount star, sings for the first time in “Champagne J Waltz” with Gladys Swarthout.