SCREEN and STAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24412, 25 September 1940, Page 4

SCREEN and STAGE

Real Life Story "The most beautiful woman in America" is what they called Lillian Rtlssell, famous actress of the gay nineties, and one of the most colourful, fabulous figures America has produced. Now Darryl Zanuck. of 20th CenturyFox, has taken a slice out of her life arid moulded it into a-film story in which Alice Faye impersonates the amazing Lillian. Not even the reams of publicity accorded Hollywood's most sensational movie stars can compare with that published about Lillian Russell in her heyday. Whatever she did. whatever she wore, wherever she went. she , made neyvs. Her life was. one long, vivid series of episodes from the time Tony Pastor. New York entrepreneur, discovered her in 1879 until the day she died in 1922.

The highest-paid artiste the New York stage has "known—she - received over £IOOO a week for many years-e Lillian was a lavish spender, a spectacular dresser, a leader fo fashion For years her clothes, her jewels, and her furs were the talk of America, copied by fashionable women through-, out the entire continent. Her furs were the finest ihqney could buv. and she bought them in profusion Her jewels were worth a fortune, and she wore them in every conceivable place—around her neck, her arms, her hands, her fingers. ,

That was in 1912. At that.time Lillian was being courted by Alexander Mo6re. the Pittsburgh publisher, who became her fourth husband. She was still beine ardently pursued by Diamond Jim Brady, who showered her with lavish gifts, and is said to have offered-her- £500,000 to marry him. The rojeot Alexander Moore is por-' trayed by, Henry: Fonda, and Diamond Jim Brady* by Edward Arnold.

Don Ameche plays: the. part of the English composer, Edward Solojmon. who was "Lillian'Russell's second husband and the father of her only child. Dorothy, who now lives in New York.

Strand Theatre , A fantastic and little-known provition of the Versailles Treaty is the basis for Universale adventure drama, M Zanzibar," which cOmes on Friday to the Strand Theatre, with Lola Lane, James Craig, and Eduardo Cianelli in feature roles. Lifted intact from the world-famous document, the provision commanded that the sacred skull of an African Sultan which was removed from German East Africa be turned over to the British Government. Described as an ideal theme for thrilling action drama, the story presents Miss Lane as "a noted woman explorer seeking to find the skull in Africa arid restore the religious symbol to its rightful tribe and bring an end to savage uprisings. Although in real life the skull has never been found, the film shows it being locatedby Miss Lane with the help of Craig, who portrays a young American adventurer. Cianelli has the role of a foreign spy, and others in the cast include Tom Fadden, Henry Victor, Samuel S. Hinds, and Clarence Muse. Action highlights

From GREEN ROOM and STUDIO

By Harlequin

in the picture include battles between whites and natives, adventures among wild animals in the jungle, a big game •Kunt, and the escape, of the whites as a volcano erupts and destroys a native village. The picture was directed by Harold Schuster. The supporting feature will be a new "Blondie" story, starring Penny Singleton. " Juarez" In the re-creation of one of the most dramatic stories in the history of Mexico, the film "Juarez" also seems to forecast in miniature the great world movements of our time. It is claimed to be by far the most ambitious production ever undertaken by Warner Bros.' studio. Ranging in the settings from the magnificence of European palaces to the arid Mexican terrain, on

which a peon army won back the. in- 6 dependence of their nation from an imperialistic invader, the productionis calculated to dazzle the beholder with its magnificence and convince with its fidelity and authenticity. Two Academy Award winners in Paul Muni and Bette Davis, leading screen artists of their time. play, the leading roles in "Juarez," while an array of screen celebrities head a large supporting cast —Brian Aherne. Claude Rains, John Garfield, Donald Crisp, Joseph Calleia, Gale Sondergaard. Gilbert Roland, and Henry O'Neill. "Juarez" paints the pathetic story of the ill-fated Maximilian von Hapsburg, brother of Francis Joseph. Emperor of Austria. Louis Napoleon' of France induced Maximilian' to become the puppet Emperor of Mexico in order that he could set complete control of that country. Weak and undecided* in some respects, Maximilian' was.""yet;, a' man; of, "y'ery. high'ideals, sincere, and determined to perform what he considered his. duty ; only accepting the " phantom Crown " of Mexico because hje believed the neoole wanted him there, the/packed vote -.cast: for' him being the result of:

French force arid'superior arms. It is a drama of an ideal of government, told throu'Ch the persons of two idealists—the ill-fated . Maximilian and Benito Juarez, Mexico's Republican President, an "ugly little Indian in a black frock coat." The role of Maximilian is played with penetrating perception by Brian Aherne. and that of Juarez by Paul Munju'whb shows in-his bortrayal all his usual power and his unexampled genius of personalisation in placing before us this man of the people, the peon. slow, quiet, though passionate at times and adamant in his purpose to rid Mexico of the foreign element. Bette Davis is crowned again with the triumph of her interpretation of Charlotte or Carlotta, wife and Empress of Maximilian. Claude Rains eives a fine portrayal of the weak and mischievous Napoleon lII.' John Gar. field is forceful and impressive as Porfirio Diaz, lieutenant of Juarez. In the role of Juarez, Paul Muni is said to be superb.- He is given an opportunity to display new facets of the brilliant art

which has already established him as the foremost actor on the screen. Muni so thoroughly identifies himself with the man he is'plavine that one forgets he is just acting. " Juarez " commences a season at the Regent Theatre next Friday.

" My Favourite Wife " Telling of the farcical experiences of a man who becomes an unintentional bimagist, "My Favourite Wife." which is ,cne.of the forthcoming attractions at the Octagon Theatre, is said to he grand entertainment for those who like their comedies to be of the ultrasophisticated type. Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, the comedy team of " The Awful Truth," give all that might be expected of them. Grant endeavouring vainly to exolain t 5 his " bride" why their'honeymoon is being indefinitely •postponed while his wife in the next room plans busily as to how -she-may persuade her husband that the seven vears she SDent on a lonely tropical island with a virile specimen of manhood, played bv Pandolph Scott, were entirely blameless ones. The complications of the plot turn out to be so mirth-provoking that the thinness and implausibility of the story are overlocked, for which all praise must go to Director Garson Kannin, who was also in charge of the production of " Bachelor Mother."

" Charlie McCarthy, Detective " Charlie McCarthy attains the status of a star in his new Universal offering, " Charlie McCarthy. Detective," which will be seen on Friday at the Empire Theatre. Of course, Edgar Bergen shares the starring position with

Charlie, edging in on every one of Charlie's scenes, but not attempting to steal anything from McCarthy. Mortimer Snerd, another .of Bergen's family, is also starred. "Charlie McCarthy, Detective," is a murder mystery story, with Charlie (with Bergen's aid) ultimately unravelling the maze of twisted clues and pinning the crime Pn the guilty party. The story is unusually sound, and with Bergen's inimitable comedy offers good entertainment. Robert Cummings, Constance Moore, and John Sutton furnish the romantic, element of the story, with Cummings as a magazine columnist, Miss More as Bergen's partner in his night club act. and Sutton as Miss Moore's sweetheart. In other important .'. role? are Louis Calhern, Edgar Kennedy. Harold Huber, Milburn Stone, Samuel S. Hinds. Ray Turner, Alec Craig, and Warren Hymer Miss Moore sings two songs—one more than does McCarthy, who bursts into song for the first time on the screen. Charlie's number is "I'm Charlie McCarthy, Detective.!' Especially good are Bergen's various comedy routines with McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. They are smoothly and logically; included, in the action of the story without slowing the fast pace of the action.

Mayfair Theatre When a millionaire's wife plans a trip to Reno so she can marry a playboy, his son neglects the family pumpmaking business for polo and the daughter travels with a. crowd of gold-fish-gulpers. something should be done. What that something is and the sidesplitting results make up the theme of "Fifth Avenue Girl," RKO Radio's latest starring vehicle for Ginger Rogers. Walter Connolly plays the millionaire who sees his family disintegrating before his eyes. His solution is to engage Miss Rogers, a cheerful young member of the army of the unemployed, to be his house guesi and let his family think she is a little golddigger,- The scheme works out in hilarious and often unexpected fashion. with the star managing to solve the of all the others, but not getting her own difficulties straightened out until the very end. Distinctly out of the ordinary in its unusual basis and treatment, the picture is said to be one of the season's most delightful offerings, and to establish Miss Rogers even more firmly as a brilliant comedienne Veree Teasdale. Tim Holt, Kathryn Adams and Franklin Pangbom have the other principal roles in the film. Flyers blazin? an air trail, over tht Alaskan wilderness are the central figures in Universal's new Richard Arlen. Andy Devine co-starring action drama. " Legion of Lost Flyers," which is the associate feature. The new team, fast winning favour in a series of action films, offers two more adventurous characterisations. Arlen as an ace pilot, and Andy as a mechanic at an Alaskan airnort. The most important cast vet lined up for the series includes Anna Nagel and William Lundigan.

Grand Theatre The mail train is thundering through the night and most of the passengers are asleep when suddenly there is a grinding of brakes. The communication cord has been pulled. The guard of the train hastens along the corridors to find the cause: he comes to a first class compartment; on the floor is a beautiful young girl lying unconscious and the door open. The unravelling of the motive behind this mysterious occurrence forms the enthralling plot of "The Spider," the G-B-D action drama coming to the Grand Theatre to-day. Derrick de Marney, the well-known screen, stage, and radio actor, plays the role of Gilbert Silver of the C.1.D.. who is given charge of the case, and he is aided in his efforts to solve the mystery and also capture the notorious jewel thief. " The Spider," by his young wife. Sally (Diana- Churchill). Glamorous Jean Gillie plays the role of Clare Marley, a stage star in this film, which was directed bv Maurice Elvey. and the remainder of the cast comprises many noted artists, including Cecil Parker, Frank Cellier, Edward Lexy, Ronald Shiner. Allan Jeayes Moira Lynd. and Anthony Holies.

Lovely Lynn Bari, Mary Beth Hughes. Katharine Aldridge, and Helen Ericson head the beauty brigade at the Sherrington, the swank metropolitan hotel for women in " Free, Blonde, and 21." the new Twentieth Century-Fox film showing to-dav at the Grand Theatre. Jean Davis lends her matchless comedv touch as the hotel maid; Henry Wilcoxon, Robert Lowery, and Alan'Baxter are the chief males in the picture, and Chick Chandler plays Joan's taxi-driver boy friend.

Film Topics M.G.M.'s "Hollywood Style Centre of the World," a new one-reeler, will show the Hollywood influence on the styles of the world, and will reveal the work of Adrian and other famous screen designers. Ann Morris has the lead in the one-reeler, which will also show scenes between Robert Taylor and Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson, and Fredric March and Joan Crawford.

"Drums Along the Mohawk" Of all the possible ways there are of presenting action for the public's entertainment, the screen has proved time and again its unrivalled power in this field. Reading about action always left the actual picture of excitement to the reader's own imagination, while action on the stage is limited by space, props, and scope. This is again indicated in Darryl F. Zanucks production of "Drums Along the Mohawk," which is filmed in technicolor, under the direction of John Ford. Action is not the only highlight of " Drums Along the Mohawk." Starred in the film are Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda, as a pair of young pioneers who settle in the Mohawk Valley and soon find themselves under the onslaught of the savage Iroquois. In the days when torch and tomahawk spread their terror, these two braved the wilderness together. The film is based on 'the best-seller by Walter D. Edmonds, renowned author whose Mohawk Valley background is matched only by Henry Fcnda. who himself was born and raised in the valley and bears one of its best-known names. Featured in the cast are Edna May Oliver. Eddie Collins. John Carradine, Dorris Bowdon. Jessie Ralph, Arthur Shields. Robert Lowery, and Roger Imhof. Not the least remarkable fact about "Drums Alone the Mohawk," which comes to the State Theatre on Friday, is the great location trip that

marked its production. More than 300 studio workers and actcrs were transported to a valley in Utah which approximated New York's famed locale. "Talking Feet" One of the chief points of Interest in " Talking Feet," which will be shown at the St. James Theatre on Friday, is that among the cast are two artists who are personally known to many in Dunedin, and whose visits are still remembered by many more. They are the celebrated pianist Mark Hambourg and the popular Scottish singer. William Heughan. "Talking Feet" has been well received in the North Island, and the St. James Theatre is to have the South Island premiere. The film tells the story of a little girl and her friends raising money to save their local hospital from closing down, and it will introduce a number of new and old favourites, including Hazel Ascot, known the world over as the "Little Sunbeam." In this picture this nine-vear-old wonder star, who is also England's champion dancer, takes the leading role and will warm the hearts of all who see her. The story, which is a light one. will make a marked contrast to many of the more serious films shown recently. Among the supporting players are such renowned stars as Davy Burnabv. Enid Stamp-Taylor. John Stuart, Jack Barty and Kenneth Kove. Mark Hambourg. who toured New Zealand some years ago. presents a mini-piano ensemble featuring himself and fourteen clever juveniles. William Heughan, the famous Scottish baritone, is also well known to New

Zealanders, and his number. "The Meeting of the Clan," in which he is supported by the Scottish Kilties Band, is said to be magnificent in music and voice and picture perfect. The ThreeCockney Comedians are responsible for much wit, humour and comedy, and the Eight Dancy Boys and the Dagenham Girl Pipers are champions at their art. Novelty is added by the clever work of the band of the Royal Marines, who led the procession of "Sailor Heroes " of the H.M.S. Ajax and H.M.S. Exeter in London. Valentino's Home "Falcon's Lair," the famous home of the late Rudolph Valentino, has been reopened and once again is the talk of Hollywood. Juan Romero, Brazilian coffee millionaire and close friend of Valentino, bought the place from the Valentino estate for 50,000 dollars, a fraction of its original cost. Termites were undermining the walls, weeds covered the garden, and Romero decided Falcon's Lair was a seedy-look-ing memento of the Sheik.

He thought the decline of the. home was a shame, and set out to do something about it—to the tune of 170,000 dollars! For months he kept a crew of 20 workmen billeted on the place so they could be handy to the job. They built gardens and terraces, spotted gigantic vases among the pines, and even built a marble shrine to Valentino's memory. It has an altar upon which Romero keeps two candles burning. The house itself only has eight rooms, mostly with cream-coloured carpets that tickle your ankles they're so thick, and furniture so fancy that you're afraid to sit in it. When Valentino lived there he had all the floors and walls painted black and trimmed with gold and hidden from the daylight by ebony velvet drapes. ' Romero has left Valentino's bedroom as it was —furnished with black carved bed, an old chest, a heavily-carved chair, and a crucifix. The windows are draped just as Valentino liked them. Why he hated sunlight is something that never has been explained.