SCREENLAND SECRETS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 316, 23 December 1936, Page 2

SCREENLAND SECRETS

BY

JOHN HOLT

“ACCUSED” The new English producing company, Criterion Films Productions, who started off with “The Amateur Gentleman,” have now turned out “Accused,” a story of mystery and romance. Directed by’ Thornton Freeland and starring Dolores Del Rio and Douglas Fairbanks jnr, ’the picture is a breezy type of story infused with music and dancing, pathos and romance, ending in a powerful trial scene in which circumstantial evidence almost separated two lovers. Finally a missing man is found and his testimony clears up several points and convicts the murderer, who was a previous witness. Gaby and Tony, who are dancing partners in a Paris theatre are thus reunited. In the cast also are Florence Desmond and Basil Sydney’.

DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JNR Douglas Fairbanks jnr has now completed his co-starring picture, “Accused,” with Dolores Del Rio. This is his second picture in England —where he is rapidly becoming more English than the English. He likes England, was largely brought up there, and intends to work there as much as possible. Consequently, he isn’t as popular in Hollywood, as he might otherwise be. He inherits the Fairbanks smile from his father, has a smooth pleasant manner, and likes hob-nobbing in Mayfair. He won’t talk about his past—modestly’ doesn’t believe he has a right to have one at his-age.' He has written short stories and verse in his time —possibly' still practises the vice, but keeps it dark. He has a large say in the making of his films now,, butcarefully avoids interfering once he is in the studio.

VIENNESE ACTRESS irfady Christians, the faiholis Viennese actress, has been secured for the important, role of “Kajrie" in Samuel Goldwyn’s production of Edna Ferber’s “Comei and Get it,.’ starring Edward Arnold. The signing of Miss’’Christians solved '’£T ‘diffly cult casting problem. Goldwyn and his director, Howard Hawks, spent several days looking at a number of foreign films inAthe frope of finding the right type oOctress fpr the part. One of the pictures was a German production, “Fredrika,” in which Miss Christians starred. Goldwyn

immediately cabled instructions to his agents in Vienna ‘to sign the actress, only to receive the answer that she was at that moment, in Hollywood.

* * TURBAN WRAPPING So rare are expert turban wrappers, that Jamiel Hasson, alone, had ■the difficult task of wrapping all the turbans worn by stars and extras in David O. Selznick’s tschnicblour production, “The Garden of Allah,” starring Marlene Dietrich and Charles Boyer. Hasson, who is also technical director, had personally 'to wrap the turbans of Miss Diedrich and every other player down to the most insignificant atmosphere player.

“REMBRANDT” In the blazing sunshine of the hottest dayi this summer, Charles Laughton was trudging through the deep snow of one of the largest sets built for “RembYandt.” His costume consisted of a heavy fur-trimmed coat, cloak and hat, while more fortunate Alexander Korda was able to direct in shirtsleeves and sun-hat. The set, which is the work of Vincent Korda, art director, covers several acres, and shows the street, house and quays with shipping at Leyden, when Rembrandt returns to his father’s home. It has taken several weeks to build, and is erected in the grounds of Denham studios along the banks of 'the River Goin?. “Rembrandt” will be completed in about a week’s time when Alexander Korda will start preparation of the last, film which he intends to personally direct, “I, Claudius,” also starring Charles Laughton.

ERROL FLYNN Errol Flynn isn’t a doctor. He’s a motion picture star, at 'the moment playing in “Green Light” for Warner Bros, Cosmopolitan. But the other day he received payment for a surgical operation he performed in New Guinea eight years ago. One day’ Speedle limped into camp and asked for help. He had been bitten by a poisonous fish and gangrene had set in. So Flynn whacked off the man’s toe. Flynn heard no more from the prospector until last week. In a letter accompanying the gift, Speedle explained that he had often (tried to locate Flynn without success until he visited a motion picture theatre and saw the actor in “Captain Blood.”