“UNDER TWO FLAGS”

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 428, 8 May 1937, Page 3

“UNDER TWO FLAGS”

Ouida’s Masterpiece Will Be At The Plaza The supposedly limitless stores of zositumes that 20th. Century-Fox kept in Hollywood were sorely taxed to provide the authentic garb for “Under Two Flags/’ which it* the great Plaza attraction itext week,| with more- than six thousand costumes in use at a time. And out of the studio arsenal, the largest on the West. Coast, came thousands’ of arms that were later to expend 32,000 rounds of ammunition on the desert air. That sum is more than is shot off in many a South American revolution. When all the million and one small details were properly set, work began in earnest. At 4.30 each morning a strident bugle cut. into the slumbers of the cast and crew. A few minutes later watchmen stormed into their tents, fanned dying oil stoves into lite and pulled, the drones out of bed. HiJlf an hour. later breakfast w r as served, and by 6 30, the thousands were trekking to the scene of action for the day. A typical day would see the Legionnaires detailed to one scene, the Arabs to another miles away, while Lloyd and his technical crew would climb to a vantage point. . There they would sit out the day while tremendous battles raged in the hills about them. By means of the radio he was able to direct his two forces so that they could converge at a point where camels would be stationed to catch all of the furious action. Rehearsals were out of question, because only one shot could be made at any site. That was due to the tact that the desert sands tracked easily, and once hundreds of men and horses had passed over it, it was ruined for a second shooting. So every “take” had to be' carefully planned and thought out, simply had to be letter perfect. There were short recesses for lunch, Then as the blue shadows began to lengthen over the dunes, usually at six o’clock. Lloyd would call a halt to the work .and the weary, perspiring men and horses would return totheir well-earned dinners and: sleep, in preparation for more hard work on >the morrow.

Florence Rose started to follow her father, Grantland Rice, as a journalist. Rosalind Russell studied interior decorating and designing before taking up acting. Grace Ford was (a successful dancing teacher. * * * Charles Laughton was a successful hotel man. Robert.' Taylor studied medicine. Spencer Tracy is an expert with horses, raising them professionally at the present time.

JEANETTE MacDONALD SETS WEDDING DATE Jeanette MacDonald will be a June bride. She and Gene Raymond have set the date for their marriage at June 17, and will take a month’s honeymoon trip afterwards, they reveal. The reason for the long engagement—their bethrothaj was announced last August—lt that they do not want a quick marriage on days off from work, but insist upon a honeymoon. The June date is set because their picture schedules will not permit of a month off until that time.. Miss MacDonald now is costarrin'g with Nelson Eddy in “Maytime” at the M.G.M. Studios, and is due to start another picture as soon as this is completed. Plans are under way now for a “honeymoon borne’’ whiph FvTiss MacDonald and Raymond expect to have completed by the time they return to Hollywood from their marriage trip. Th e house will be located in. San Fernando Valley and, if work is started this month, they are certain it will be fully furnished by the middle of July. LOUISE DRESSER IN "MAID OF SALEM." Louise Dresser views mature years as an asset “You can tell the world that I wouldn’t want to be a day younger,” declared Khe widely-loved character actress as she left Paramount’s “Maid of Salem” set to celebrate her bir'-hday by moving from her Glendale, California residence, to her home in Beverly Hills. Having reached the age at which many women specialise in face culture and diets, Miss Dresser is complacent. Each passing year, she says, has been an asset to her. “Were I any younger,” she said, “I wouldn’t have been given this role in ‘Maid of Salem.’ Of all 'the parts 1 have played, recently at any rate the one I most desired is this one. Producer.director Frank Lloyd’ tells me that almost every character woman in Hollywood has been tested for it. That’s the sort of challenge that makes a role worth getting.” Co-starred in the production are Claudette Colbert and Fred Mac Murray, with Harvey Stephens, Gale Son_ de.rgaard, Edward Ellis and Boniita Granville.

HEPBURN MOODS IN PORTRAITURE. No x wo photographs of Kamarine Hepburn ever loolk alike) because her face is a kaleidoscope of moods and fleeting emotions, according to Earnest Bac'hnach, head photographer at RKO Rad toy where the auburn-haired, star and Fredric March were filmed in “Mary of Scotland.’’ “When you photograph Miss' Hepburn, you photograph her mind and her mood as well as her face,” said Machrach. “She is a fascinating arid inspiring subject for the’ enmera- because she never ss the same. One picture will reveal her as a shy, radiant youngi girl, and an instant later she may ser.m an impervious queen. Her beauty is influenced by her active mentality, s he is so vital that she is vibrant even in repose. Sihet has an amazing vitality which is caught in its various aspects in all of her portraits.’’ NEW EXPERIENCE FOR COLBERT. It would be senseless to maintain that the cast of principals completely enjoyed the grinding experience, but most surprising of all was 'the reaction of Claudette Colbert. She was the lady whom Hollywood had come to regard as a Park Avenue butterfly, who could never be divorced from glamorous gowns and lavish settings. Grimy, ho‘, in the odd garments that were assigned to her role, she seemed to he revelling in the experience delighted at having a genuine characterisation for once, some hing into which she could throw her heart and soul. She was an entirely new Miss Colbert, riding like a fury, wealing pants, and fighting with the Legionnaires to save the man she loved!— and probably happier than she cbiiid say to be away from the silks and luxuries which had begun to bore her slightly. (Screen writers, like stars land directors, also come .to the screen from many callings. Leon Gordon started a s an actor. Bayard Veiller, Frank Dolan, Bartlett Cormack, J. K, McGuinness, and Richard Schinyer came from the newspaper. Frances' Marion was a newspaper artist Anita Loos started) her career in the same way. Frank Wead wias a lieutenant-com-mander in the navy and a fine aviator.