THE SHOW'S THE THING

NZ Truth, Issue 1239, 29 August 1929, Page 11

THE SHOW'S THE THING

CARRYING out the policy of the Joseph M. Schenck organization of securing

the finest talent for its sound film department,', Adolf Tandler, widely known m American and European musical circles has been signed as assistant director of Dr. Hugo Reisenfeld's recording orchestra at the United States Studio. Dr. Reisenfield took charge of all musical activities on the United Artists lot when sound films were first launched.

"rkESERT NIGHTS," a vivid story of »J grim revenge, set amid dark Africa, will be released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer shortly. John Gilbert, Ernest Torrence and Mary Nolan .are seen m this picture, . which is a thrilling and dramatically, told stcry.

FOR some years, Hollywood and the film industry m general has been wondering what woUld happen if the great German director, Ernest Lubitsch, made a picture with John Barrymore m the starring role— and the answer is "Eternal Love"— A United Artists picture, with Camilla Horn, Hobart Bosworth, Victor Varconl, Mona Rico and .hundreds of others. The story has been taken from Jacob C. Herr's celebrated novel,, "Der Koenig der Berninft." and lt is stated that Lubitsch is the only director who would undertake its translation to the screen. Barrymore will be seen as an adventurer, Alpine mountaineer and dare-devil, whoso love affair s defy screen story traditions. He and his sweetheart marry— but not each other and what happens is stated to be a complete surprise.

THE central theme of "Conquest," Warner Bros.' Vitaphone all-talking

production is of such a stirring nature as to grip the imagination, dealing as it does with an aeroplane flight to and over the South Pole. Voice recording reaches a high standard with outstanding work from H. B. Warner, Tully Marshall, Lois Wilson and Monte Blue.

IITTLE did the producers of "Under the * Southern Cross" realise what they were

• m for when they left the "completely equipped" studio stages of Universal City for New Zealand to make a picture dealing with the Maori race. One of their big handicaps proved the handling of the big mob scenes m which many of the native extras could speak little English, and were quite confused by the "American" accent of the director and his assistants.

In order to secure the correct facial expressions and "registrations" so necessary m "close-up photography, Director Collins had to communicate his idea to an educated Maori assistant, who m turn conveyed what was wanted on to the Maori actor m his own language. Very often, m .his enthusiasm, Mr. Collins would revert to studio parlance, at which even his Maori interpreter would "register" a blank expression.

FAST LIFE," the First National Vitaphone all-dialogue special Just com-

pleted, is, according to reports, one of the most gripping pictures that has been made m mahy ntonths. Thc leading roles are carried by Dotiglas Fairbanks, Jr.* and Lorctta Young.

AL ST, JOHN, one of the famous funsters on the lints of the old Keystone

company and now featured m Henry King's "She Goes to War!", the United Artists' picture recently released on the NTew Zealand circuit, owes his screen eminence to having been a bicycle rider and juggler m his childhood. During the delivery of a message one day, marked by Al's balancing a tray of food on his head, Al's bicycling feat attracted the attention of a theatrical producer. The result was a long term vaudeville contract.

GERTRUDE LAWRENCE, recently signed by Paramount, will commence

work m "The Gay Lady," a 100 per cent, dialogue picture, shortly. Miss Lawrence is yet another talented artist from the London legitimate stage.

COLLEEN MOORE'S next talking picture, "Footlights and Fools," will be

ih technicolor. Colleen portrays an exotic French actress m "Footlights and Fools," and is dividing her time between acquiring a French accent, and learning lyrics for a series of catchy songs written specially for the picture

DARK STREETS," an underworld

picture featuring Jadk Mulhall m a dual talking role, has been completed at First National Studios. The production is unique m that it will bring to the screen for the first time, the first dual dialogue role since talkies made their arrival.

AGAINST the background of war-

torn France, with flying cases zooming m the air overhead, a little slip of a girl m simple frocks takes you to great emotional heights, brings a heart-throb here and a tear there, as you follow her through one of the greatest epics of the air, "Love Never Dies," First National's synchronised special production, starring Colleen Moore.

SAID to be a highly ..e n t crt a i ning

"comedy - drama laid m the romantic south and involving the adventures of a modern rider of the air, is "The Little Wildcat," Warner Bros.' all-star production, which is to be released m Wellington shortly.

"•THE Home Tow- ' ers," Warner

Bros.' screen revival of the gr^at stage success of that name, is a genial, heart-warming chuckling play, and has an all-star cast, every member of which has had both screen and stage experience.

NEW .ZEALAND theatre-goers are awaiting the appearance In the Dominion of .1. C. Williamson's dramatic. ■ company,- which is headed by Nat Madison m the thrilling dramas, "No. 17" and "Draeula." In each of these thrilling playis, Nat. "Madison appears m the leading folert Which are full of character, rich m comedy and most admirably suited to the genius of this popular young actor". * * * THE tremendous progress that the talking picture has made during the past year is evidenced by a record shipment of. 22 Paramount talking films that arrived m New by the s.s. "MaufigahUi" recently. The films Included a large number' of feature length all-talking productions and also many new Paramount talking and singing acts, which will be released shortly throughout the Dominion. # ■ .* * . THE Gypsy hop is the latest dance! Dolores Del Rio uses it m her forthcoming picture, "ReVenge," produced by Edwin Carewe for United Artists. The Mexican star acquired . the new dance steps from Serge Curairisky, well known ballet master and instructor. "When Miss Del Rio made "Resurrection," she ahd Rod La Rocque had to master difficult Russian steps. \Vheh Bhe filmed "Ramona" she used her native da.rice numbers. Every film m which the actress has so far appeared, required a different dance routine. .» # * GRETA GARBO, Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer star,- spent the other clay <on location with "The Single Standard" company working m the Old Soldiers' Home at SaWtelle. They say the old boys are ready for another war now! * * * "nUNGALOWS" are now all the rage In ** motion pictures. However, you don't live m 'cm — they're the brand hew coverings just invented to do away with the huge "ice-boxes" now used to "denoise" cameras. The "bungalows" fit over the camera, but do not disturb the Workings of the tripod. They made their debut at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Btudios m Cecil B. De Mille's production, "Dynamite."

BORIS KARLOFF, famous on the stage and screen, has been added to the cast of Ben liecht's "-The Green Ghost," how being filmed as an all-tklking mystery drama at the Metro-GoldWyn-Mayer studios. **. . # IN no picture yet made has there been quite such a convincing demonstration of drama m every day life as m "On Trial." Warner Bros' special, which stars Pauline Frederick. The dramatic power of the story, it is said, is brought out with great effectiveness. - ;, # * Bl LL I E DOVE, beautiful First National star, was formerly a secretary, and personally answers the most interesting letters from her fans, writing on her own portable typewriter. Her latest picture is •'Her Private Life." # # NEIL HAMILTON has been assigned by Paramount to play one of the leading roles m "Illusion," the all-talk-ing film of Arthur Train's latest novel, Sealing with a young magician's ' adventures m society. Charles (Buddy) Rogers and Nancy Carroll, who Were co-featured m "Close Harmon y,'' will again appear together m "Illusion." # # THE talklna pictures have made possible ihe presentation of lavish and beautiful stage shows, and for theatre scenes In Paramount's singing, talking ana dancing picture, "The Dance of Life," over 300 glittering costumes were designed by Travis Bantoii, fashion designer at the Paramount studios. -

TESTS conducted by acoustic engineers m An effort to establish a resonant floor material,

suitable for the re-

. « . production ;.of sound from tap dancers ih Metro-GoldWyh-Muyer's all-synchronised picture, "The Broadway Melody," led to the use of varnished plywood. Concrete, masonite and dancing mats Were among other materials found unsuitable. -"The Broadway Melody" is now showing to capacity houses m Wellington. * * * FACIAL and bodily freakishness may very often be distinct advantages m motion pictures, which are generally supposed to be interested solely m the elegant profile and the shapely figure. . In "Two Lovers," the roirtant'c film which Samuel Goldwyn releases [shortly,- Lon PofC and Scott Mattraw 'appear as characters ■ whose unlovelii ness make one long agaih ahd again for l sight of Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky, the title stars. But it is by these very peculiarities that they present such effective Impersonations. PofC has an egg-shaped, bald head and gets his numerous jobs because of it. Scott Mattraw, 61 inches high and 63 inches around the waist, is thfe. fattest short man m the world. Both serve to intensify the authenticity of the colorful historical atmosphere which "Two Lovers" offers. • * •« MANY new faces Will be seen on the screen when "The Four Feathers," Paraniount's film adaption of the famous novel by A. B. W. Mason, is presented shortly m New Zealand. The faces are those of thousands of Fuzzy-Wuzzys, as Kipling called them; The Fuzzy-Wuzzys are famous savage warriors who enjoy the distinction of be-r ing the only native forces who ever bfoke a British square. * # * THE COCOANUTS," the first Paramount all-talking, singing ahd. dancing musical comedy, starring the "Four Marx Brothers," famous comedians of the Broadway stage, will be ah early release m. New Zealand, it is described as a riot of fun from the beginning to the end. # * * PARAMOUNT Is completing "The Virginian," a 100 per cent, dialogue picture based . on . Owen Wister's wellknoWh story of Virginia. iMdfet of the picture lias been filmed out-of-doors. Gary Cooper,. AValter HUston ( Richard Arlen and Mary Brian play the leading roles.-

EVEN though most 6? hei* past roles have portrayed her as the languid ; . type of beautiful blonde, Vilma Banky, star of "The , Awakening," the Samuel ftoldwyn trailed Artists' picture is far froih languid ih her daily life. No member of the Hollywood, film colony is more addicted to outdoor sports thSm the girl whom the World knOWs as the "Hungarian Rhapsody." Living In California, she is, of course, an enthusiastic swimmer; but. m addition, she rides and plays tennis. In fact, she believes that one of the greatest advantages of being ah American girl Is the liberty it gives for indulging m all kinds of sport. •■■• * -••* •- •■--■■.■ .V* PARAMOUNT announces the production of many rteW all-talking pictures shortly. The titles include "Applause," with Helen Morgan; "Fast Company," with Evelyn Brent; "Illusion," with Charles (Buddy) Rogers and Nartcy ! Carroll: "Kibitzer" with Harry Green, ahd ''The Mighty," starring George Bancroft. ■> * » ROBERT EDESON, veteran of the old screen days, and formerly ohe of the most famous stars of the American stage, will play the role of the general m "Marianne," MaHon Davies's new starring vehicle for Metro-Goldwn-Mayer. Edeson recently proved himself an excellent talking picture player m W. De Mille's short feature, "The Man Higher Up." # * # AN important addition to the cast of "The Love Parade," the Paramount film operetta which will star Maurice Chevalier, is Lupino Lane. Lupiiio Lane is a former comedy star of the. London ; stage and has, for some time, been producing short film comedies m Hollywood. . «. # y * METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER announces that It has signed Kay Johnson, noted stage actress to a long-term contract. Miss Johnson has just completed the leading fem'nine role m Cecil S. De Mille's "Dynamite," and studio executives jire most enthusiastic regarding her career as a talking picture player. * * » PfcGGY WOOD, whose first role Ih niotion pictures is m "The Wife of Stephen Tromholt," spends her leisure moments on the set reading "prop" books. Since most of these books are such interesting and timely works as "The Report of tlie British Museum for 1902," "A City Directory of Cairo of 1899" ana ''The Functions of the Thyroid Gland," we imagine the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer playerhas a jolly time of iL « «* « "| WENT into the movies," says Phyllis * Haver, "because I wanted to act. There are fifty other reasons generally given, but m my case, I was caught by the glamor of the screen— ;and ahi still caught by it. Whenever I told people all that I thought it would mean to work m pictures, they said I was suffering from day dreams— that nothing tlirned out as you expected it loo." Miss Haver will be seen m "The Battle of the Sexes" shortly, a United Artists' production.

LON CHANEY is busy preparing for his new role of the screen, m which he

will ,play a veteran sergeant m the French ' Foreign Legion, m Metro-Goldwyh-Mayer's screen version of Major Zinovi Pechkolt's famous book, . "The Bugle Sounds." George Hill, who directed Chancy m "Tell It to the Marines " will direct this new play, much of which was filmed m Morocco with the actual Foreign Legion ih action.