SCREEN and STAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24424, 9 October 1940, Page 10

SCREEN and STAGE

By Harlequin

Deanna Durbin Again Robert Cummings, who won his first important screen recognition for his performance opposite Deanna Durbin in “ Three Smart Girls Grow Up," wilj be Deanna’s leading man again in “ Spring Parade." Now one of the screen’s most popular actors, Cummings has played romantic leads in numerous major productions during the past year. He recently, completed a leading role opposite Nancy Kelly in “ Private Affairs.’’ on the Universal home lot.

Anne Gwynne, one of Universal’s more promising younger players, has also been cast in an important role; likewise, S. Z. Sakai, the Hungarian actor who made an auspicious American film debut in the last Deanna Durbin production, “ It’s A Date.” Other additions to the cast include Henry Stephenson, popular character actor.

and Butch and Buddy, the little tornadoes of “The Under-Pup” fame. “ Spring Parade,” with seven original musical numbers by Gus Kahn and Robert Stolz, written especially for Miss Durbin, will be directed by Henry Koster, who held the directorial reins on four of her seven previous pictures. St. James Theatre George Formby’s new comedy, “Come On, George.” is coming to the St. James Theatre on Friday. Press reviewers are unanimous in. their declaration that this is the funniest film George has made. “Come On, George,” is a horse-racing comedy, and George admits that he has long been trying to persuade A.T.P. production executives to make such a film This is explained bv the fact that the world pooular comedian was once apprenticed to a racing stable and still retains his great love for horses. George Formby and Beryl (Mrs Formby) are still the hardest*working pair in the entertainment world. If anything, the coming of war has made this very popular Lancashire couple more busy than ever. When war was declared they were in their favourite locality, Blackpool, appearing in a 16-week enfagement. After a-temporary shutown, the show resumed, and when it had finished George and Beryl began to concentrate on giving the troops some free shows. This has kept them

busy until now. One recent week-end they were due to appear in a military camp "somewhere in England.” The local hall, taken lor the purpose, holds 100 people. Four times that number applied for seats when they heard that the Formbys were coming. “ Ee, that’s all right.” said George., putting on his goofiest expression and pretending to add up with the help of his fingers. “ if we give t’lads four separate shovys, then they can all see, can’t they? A.T.P. have already begun work on a new Formby film, which shows George winning the U-boat war single-handed after landing in a neutral country and getting mixed up with a spy organisation bv mistake. _ The second feature is ' Colorado Sunset,” starring Gene Autry and with Smiley Burnette, June Storey. William Farnum, Robert Barrat. and Buster Crabbe in support In this film Autry turns dairy farmer, but a “ milk war ” ensures that the action is as swift as usual. A gaol break is thrown in for go:d measure.

From GREEN ROOM and STUDIO

Empire Theatre Such ingredients as excitement, love and adventure are said to be combined in the production of “ Green Hell,” initial Famous Productions film for Universal release, which comes to the Empire Theatre on Friday. With Douglas Fairbanks, jun., and Joan Bennett heading an outstanding cast of 11 principals. ‘ Green Hell ” is declared to capture a realism seldom brought to the screen in films of this type. According to advance reports, a part of this realism is due to the authenticity of the enormous upper Amazon jungle sets constructed after months of research. But the major reason probably lies in the players themselves—Fairbanks, Bennett John Howard Alan Hale, George Bancroft. George Sanders, Vincent Price. Gene Garrick Francis

MacDonald. Ray Mala and Peter Bronte. Each a distinct type these players invariably make their screen characterisations ring true. They re natural human beings who do things in. a convincing manner. Frances Marion, for years one of Hollywood’s ace scenarists, wrote a story about a beautiful woman marooned in the heart of the Amazon jungle with six men. Harry Edington selected this story for his first offering as a producer. He is said to have produced it on a lavish scale, sparing n 0 time or expense. Diamond Rush Filmed Anne Nagel has been cast for the romantic lead opposite John Loder in Universal’s “A Modern Monte Cristo,” starring Victor McLaglen. Philip Dorn, Universal's young Dutch importation, and Lionel Belmore have also been added to the cast, paving the way for immediate start of the production, under the direction of Harold Schuster. Other principals in the screen saga of South Africa’s historic diamond rush in the late nineteenth century include J. Anthony Hughes, Francis Ford, Cecil Kellaway. Hugh Sothern, and Ferris Taylor. “A Modern Monte Cristo,” based on an original screen play by Edmund L. Hartmann and Stanley Rubin, dramatises the pioneer period of Africa's adventurous diamond industry

Strand Theatre Wiht the five Dead End Kids and the Little Tough Guys sharing honours with Nan Grey and an excellent sup porting cast. Universal’s “You’re not so* Tough ” opens on Friday at the Strend Theatre The Dead End boys include Billy Halop. Huntz Hall. Gabriel Dell. Bernard Punsly and Bobby Jordan, all from the New York cast of the play “Dead End.” They are seen as migrant workers following Californis’s crops, but preferring to live by their wits rather than by the sweat of their brows. Nan Grey is a “ Dust Bowl ” refugee with whom Halop falls in love Others in the cast are Rosma Galli and Henry Armetta. Miss Galli is seen as the owner of a Sacramento Valley ranch where the bovs and Nan obtain work Starring Wayne Morris and Pat O’Brien, with Joan Blondell, May Robson. and Jane, Wyman in the leading feminine roles, Warner Bros.’ new com-edy-romance, “ The Kid from Kokomo,

will open at the Strand Theatre on Friday. A story of the prize ring and its behind-the-scenes angles, with plenty of romantic and hilarious touches, “The Kid from Kokomo has in addition to its headliners a number of outstanding players in its cast, which include Maxie Rosenbloom, Sidney Toler, Clem Bevans. Ward Bond, Stanlev Fields Ed Brophy, Wini-fred-Harris, Morgan Conway, and many other film funsters. “ Sailor’s Lady ” According to advance reports “Sailor’s Lady,’’ 20th Century-Fox film starring Nancy Kelly and Jon Hall, which is due on Friday at the State Theatre, is one of the most hilarious pictures to come out of Hollywood this year. “Sailor’s Lady" has romance ashore and fun afloat. Imagine a thousand sailors on the loose and one of their sweethearts adopting a baby and stowing it away on the flagship just as the navy’s war games start. That s the kind of action that goes on befpre “ Sailor’s Lady ’ reaches its surprising climax. After playing heavy dramatic roles in “ Jesse James ” and “ Stanley and Livingstone,” Nancy Kelly s flair for comedy was discovered and she went into the top comedy part opposite Joel McCrea in “He Married His Wife.” In “Sailor’s Lady” versatile Nancy has another role that should add to her stature as' a comedienne. “Sailor’s Lady” also features the re-

turn of Jon Hall, who scored a sensational success in “Hurricane. The selection of the handsome 1901 b Tahitiborn athlete was a “natural for, a sailor role opposite Nancy Kelly. J ne new comedy hit also boasts a strong supporting cast of funmakers headed by Joan Davis, one of Hollywood s favourite personalities. They include Dana Andrews. Mary Nash, Larry Crabbe, Katharine Aldridge, Harry Shannon, Wally Vernon and “ Skipper." (Bruce Hampton), the cutest little sailor you ever saw. Comedy, fast-moving romance, hilarious battles among the sailors and naval colour are the basic ingredients of producer Sol M. Wurtzel’s latest offering. “Sailor’s Lady was directed by Allan Dwan.

Story of the Australian Horse The studio sequences of ” Forty Thousand Horsemen,” which Mr Charles Chauvel is producing for Famous Feature Films,' have been completed, and the company has been living under canvas and in caravans m the Botany sandhills, where the final outdoor scenes were photographed

During the last few days the sound stages in the studio at Bondi presented an' ever-changing variety of scenes. First there was a Sinai Desert oasis, with waving palm trees and camels where the Turkish and German Headquarters Staff conferred: then a series of entrenchments in which the male leads Grant Taylor. ” Chips ” Rafferty and Pat Twohill. were seen in a fighting sequence: a village well with the Australian Light Horse: and a marsh through which Grant Taylor had to squirm despite the early-morning cold, Since the conclusion of the studio work the transport of dozens of machine guns, light artillery soup kitchens, and other military gear to the Botany sandhills has provided a problem. It has been taken to La Perouse, loaded on boats ferried across Botany Bay to Kurnell. and then hauled about five miles over a rough track to , a native village which the art staff has constructed. , . This native village is a faithful reconstruction of the Sinai Desert village of El Arish. It includes minarets a mosque, market places, wells, adobe huts, and an impressive arch between two towers, which forms the main entrance. ' ... The construction of the village has entailed many weeks of work, but the transport problem has been cleverly overcome by using local sand for cement, tons of cut rushes nearby for thatched roofs, and the staunchest saplings in surrounding scrub have been felled for the main supports ol the buildings. As the area is exposed to high winds, which move the sandhills in a few hours,, all buildings have had to be strongly braced to stand up to the vagaries of the weather. The colourful effect of the village scene has been heightened by camels brought from Hungerford. near the Queensland border, and dozens of donkeys and goats. Pigeons have made their homes on the roofs of the buildings, and fowls and geese are in the market places and near the adobe huts.

“ My Favourite Wife ” A sparkling treatment of the Enoch Arden story is the basis of “My Favourite Wife,” coming to the Octagon Theatre on Friday, with Irene Dunne and Cary Grant in the stellar roles. Described as a sophisticated entertainment, “My Favourite Wife ” has Miss Dunne, portraying Grant’s wife, returning from a scientific exploration which met a sea disaster in which all members were declared lost. Her return is welcomed by Grant with astonishment, joy. and apprehension —because he weds and leaves on his second honeymoon that very day. By clever connivance, Grant manages to keep the news of Irene’s return from wife No. 2. He immediately packs up the kissless bride. leaves the honeymoon hotel, and goes home —where he again meets Irene, now posing as an old friend of the familv. The plot introduces a handsome explorer with whom Irene spent her seven-year absence on a South Sea island, who now wants to marry her; all of which leads to a double skirmish along the romantic front—wife v. bride for Grant, and explorer v. Grant for Irene. “My Favourite Wife” gives scope for comedy expression to Miss Dunne and Grant. In the featured brackets, Randolph Scott and Gail Patrick, as the explorer and bride, top an excellent support, which includes Ann Shoemaker, Donald Macßride, Granville Bates, and two youngsters. Scotty Beckett and Mary Lou Harrington. A production by

Leo McCarey (“The Awful Truth,” “Love Affair”) “My Favourite Wife” was directed by Garson Kanin, famed for his “A Man to Remember,” “The Great Man Votes.” and “ Bachelor Mother.” Bella and Samuel Spewack, of “ Boy Meets Girl ” fame, wrote the screen play for this R.K.O. Radio picture. Mayfair Theatre Nine musical numbers, ranging from songs familiar to every household in the world to the greatest of operatic arias, are again brought to the screen by Jeanette MacDonald in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s great musical romance “ San Francisco,” to be screened at the Mayfair Theatre for the next three nights, with Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy sharing stellar honours The following numbers-are heard in the new W S. Van Dyke production:— “Jewel Song” (from “Faust"), trio (prison scene from “Faust”), "Nearer. Mv God, to Thee.” "Love Me and the

World is Mine,” “Ave Maria,” " San Francisco,” “Would You?” “My Heart is Free,” “ Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and “ Sempre Libera” (from “Traviata”) Miss MacDonald has never before been in better voice and whether she is singing the operas bf Puccini or the swinging theme song, “ San Francisco.” she is superb Clark Gable gives a powerful portrayal of the man to whom earthly things mean everything, and the clash of wills between him and the Catholic priest brilliantly portrayed by Spencer Tracy, is one of the most interesting aspects of the production. The second feature is “ I’ve Got a Horse,” starring Sandy Powell, the famous Yorkshire comedian Sandy is a bookmaker who becomes a horseowner when he accepts a horse as stake money and the lucky punter loses leaving him with the horse on his hands. There is a strong plot in the screen story, and comedy is 9btained from the situations, thus giving the comedian a greater chance to characterise the role.

“Judge Hardy and Son ” A further episode in the lives of that most lovable of “ screen families ” so popular with picture-goers, the “Judge Hardys,” is presented in the latest of the series. "Judge Hardy and Son,” which commences a season at the Regent Theatre next Friday. This group is composed of Lewis Stone, as the father. Mickey Rooney, as the son. Fay Holden as the mother Cecilia Parker. Sara Haden and Ann Rutherford, of the original “ family and are

augmented in this new picture by Maria Ouspenskaya, who scored a recent hit in “The Rains Came" June Preisser, Martha O’Driscoll Margaret Early. Leona Maricle and others, including Joe Yule Mickey's father with whom he plays scenes for the first time on the screen. “ Judge Hardy and Son ” is a blend of comedy, youthful romance, and drama, with —as in the previous films of the series—a preponderance of wholesome fun: but this time a more solemn note is introduced through the illness of Fay Holden, the mother, which, as in real life, gives the others the realisation that without health and strength no true happiness can be expected. And the fear induced by the mother's illness teaches Mickey to be more unselfish. Mickey turns detective when his father interests himself in the foreclosure case of a lovable old couple, and a missing relative must be found. Mickey’s sleuthing gets him into contact with three pretty girls, and resulting complications' with his sweetheart. Polly Benedict, played by Ann Rutherford. The scenes connected with the mother’s ißhess are well conceived, and Mickey’s reaction when, in the depths of despair, he prays for his mother is a fine piece of realism. So. too. is his stepping from boyhood to manhood inspiring his worried father with a new courage, Lewis Stone, as the man who fears to lose the faithful and loved partner oi many years, will bring the mist to many an eye. while the tremendous reaction to joy of the family when it

is known the mother is out of danger is just as likely to cause that troublesome lump in the throat to rise. Grand Theatre Jimmy Nervo and Teddy Knox, in real life James Henry Holloway and Albert Edward Cromwell Knox met in 1918 started a double act together in 1919 and have been making Britain rock with laughter ever since They will be seen in “ Frozen Limits ” at the Grand Theatre to-day Nervo was born in Dalston and was brought up in an atmosphere of sawdust his father a performer in a ladder act/ and his mother a bare-back rider were members of Sangers’s Circus. He went to America when he was three years old. and there vouna Holloway jun. became Nervo. on account of his likeness to a monkbv of that name in a zoo the family visited. Later like so many contemporary comedians, he joined the famous Fred Kamo’s company Knox hails from Gateshead and also comes

from theatrical stock. His father, an Aberdonian, was a vocalist comedian, and his mother was one of the famous Lorenzi sisters. Being an integral part of the famous London Palladium Crazy Gang Nervo and Knox have appeared in all the crazy stage shows. They have starred in several short films and played with the reminder of the Crazy Gang in “Okay for Sound.” “Alfs Button Afloat.” and “ Frozen Limits ” The next Crazy Gang film will be titled “The Siegfried Line.” “Young as You Feel," the new 20th Century-Fox comedy which opens at the Grand Theatre to-dav. finds all the Joneses taking over Broadway. Dad finds there is a bit of the jitterbug in him and Ma turns glamour girl Thev match wits with some New York “ phoneys.” son Jack stages a wild ride on an ostrich up the Gay White Way and Lucy falls for a fake Russian opera star. That’s just the start of the hilarious upsets in “Young as You Feel.” Jed Proutv Spring Byington Russell Gleason, Ken Howell. George Ernest. June Carlson Florence Roberts and Billy Mahan are back in their famous end familiar roles, while Joan Valerie. Helen Ericson and George Givot are also featured.

Choral Society’s Patriotic Effort Many Dunedinites will be interested to know that the Choral Society will contribute towards the Queen Carnival campaign by presenting a concert in aid of the Navy Queen funds. This concert, which will be held shortly in the Town Hall, will mark the society’s

first appearance since its participation in the recent Centennial Musical Festival, and a programme of great interest is being arranged. For example, the thrilling “ Prince Igor ” dances, one of the most popular works the society has yet done, will find a place on the programme, and Miss Mavis Macdonald will be the solo pianist in Beethoven’s well-known “ Choral Fantasia." Then, besides a number of popular part-songs, the society is to present all the favourite excerpts from Elgar’s “ Caractacus,” with Mr Russell J. Laurenson as the baritone „oloist, and the Navy Queen (Miss Jessie McLennan) will speak the epilogue. The concert will be under the direction of Mr Alfred Walmsley, and the Choral Society’s orchestra, with Miss Ethel Wallace as leader, will participate. English Diction The journal “ Picture Show’’ announces that Herbert Marshall, the noted British actor who has been restdept in Hollywood for many years (he is a veteran of the last war and stiß limps as a result of a leg injury), has had the honour of being chosen by the Department of English of the Linguaphone Institute of America as the screen actor who has made the greatest contribution in the field of English speech, diction, and articulation for the year 1939. He received a parchment scroll from the president of the Institute, the presentation being made on the set where the British actor was appearing in “Foreign Correspondent.” Mr Marshall is very popular in Hollywood; he w'as formerly married to Edna Best, the beautiful English actress, who is also immensely popular, and has a big following in the colonies by reason of her superb acting in British films, notably “South Riding,” “Prison Without Bars,” and “Mary and Michael” (in which she was co-starred with Mr Marshall).