Stage and Screen

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 440, 22 May 1937, Page 3

Stage and Screen

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Plaza theatre To-day. Monday & Tuesday:—“Theodora Goes Wild” (Irene Dunne, Melvyn Douglas). * * * Wednesday & Thursday Th at Girl From Paris” (Lily Pons, Gene Raymond, Jack Oakie). * * * Friday, Saturday & Monday:—“Three Smart Girls” (Deanna Durbin, Binnie Barns, Ray MiUand, Charles Winninger). F - King’s Cbeasre To-day 4 Monday:—“Star Fell From Heaven (Joseph Schmidt, Florine McKinney); “Come Closer Folks” (James Dunne, Marian Marsh). * * * Tuesday 4 Wednesday:—“Murder With Pictures” (Lew Ayres, Gail Patrick) 4 “Sunset Pass” (Ran-, dolph Scott, Tom Keen, Kathleen Burke). * * * Thursday 4 Friday:—“Crime Of Dr. Forbes” .(Gloria Stuart, Robert Kent 4 “Music Is Magic” (Alice Faye, Ray Walker, Bebe Daniels) * * * Saturday & Monday:—“Without Orders” (Robert Armstrong, Sally Eilers) & "They Wanted To Marry” (Gordon Jones, Betty Furness). VERSATILE BINNIE BARNES ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE Binnie Barnes, attractive blonde of the cinema world has achieved that point of versatility as an actrest where she is all things to ‘all people. In her latest picture, Universal’s “Three Smart Girls,” which will be at the Plaza to-night and Monday, Binne has the role of a fortune seeking international beauty. Charles Winninger, portraying the millionaire father of the three wise dameehe, is the target of Bin|iie’£ attentions. Binnie Barnes ha® played the queen, Katherine Howard, to Charles Laughton’s “Henry VIII;” she was a CounteEs to Enward Arnold in ‘‘Suiter’s Gold” and a lavishing stage beauty to him in “Diamond Jim;” she w r as a barmaid who intrigued Douglas Fairbanks in “The Private Life of Don Juan.” Binnie was a fair charmer who snared Victor McLaglen in “The Magnificent Brute;” she was a spy in ‘‘Rendezvous” and trapped William Powell. In her latest role in “Three Smart Girls,” Binnie appears as an enchantress in the eyes of. the millionaire ehe bewitches. She seems to offer a chance for a fat, juicy life pension (to her scheming mother, who is portrayed by Alice Brady To the “Three Smart Girls,” played by Deanna Durbin, Nan Grey and j Barbara Read, the captivating Binnie

LILY PONS IS 18th LEADIN LADY FOR GENE RAYMOND IN “THAT GIRL FROM PARIS.” WiHh the release of “That Girl from Paris,” at the plaza next week, movie-goers see Gene Raymond with his e'ghteenth leading lady, Lily Pons—a record considered unusual among Hollywood folk. Excepting Anin SOt'tiern, well whom Raymond 'has been seen in “Walking on "Hooray flor Love,” and "Smartest Girl In Town,” none of the other seventeen stars appeared with the blonde actor more than once. These include Barbara Stanwycik, Wendy Barrie, Sylvia Sidney, Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, Bette Davis, Francis Dee, Kay Francis, Dol_ ores Del Rio, Fay Wray, Nancy Carroll, Lilian Harvey, Margaret Callahan, Loretta Young, and Sari Maritza,

Miss Pons makes a counterclaim. Although Henry Fonda has been her only other leading man, she has appeared with such outstanding male singers at Giovanni Martinelli, Tito Schipa, Richard Crooks, Nino Martini, Charles Hackett, Lawrence Tib_ bett, Erie Pinza, Guiseppi de Luca and Richard Bonelly.

looms as a menace 'to their welfare, all the more dangerous because of her loveliness. To their mother, Ithe former wife, the blonde is the symbol of the destruction of her last chance at happiness. She skill loves her children’s father. There is an impoverished Count in the picture, played by Mischa Auer. To him Binnie is the opportunity to return to his homeland. Ray Millard is seen as the' sweetheart of one of ■the three sisters. Her treats the fortune huntress as a person to dismiss after an amusing matching of wits.

GLAMOROUS MARLENE WOULD RATHER BE MAN I Marlene Dietrich, glamorous screen j star, would rather be a man. “I’d j much sooner be a man than a woI man, because men are smarter and I have clearer and superior minds,” she said, in an interview cabled from I Hollywood. j Miss Dietrich believes brains are

DEANNA DURBIN, 14, HAS MATURE VOICE Al'thpugh Deanjia Durbin is only fourteen she ha s the singing voice of a mature person, according to Andres de Segurola, noted opera singer. Deanna whose marvellous soprano ha® been heard by millions.' on Eddie Cantor’s weekly national radio programme in America, has achieved recognition in both radio and the movies during the past year. She makes her screen debut in “Three Smart. Girls,’’ which screens at the Plaza next week.

While working before the cameras, she was l notified that she had an excellent opportunity to become an opera star. The notification came from Segurola himself, who Had been, commissioned by officials of the Metropolitan Opera to watch Deanna’s progress carefully and keep them advised. Segurola was for 12 years a leading baritone at the New York “Met.” Segurola declares that while it is far from common for a grand opera company to be seriously interested in such a youthful singer, it is not wi hout precedent. Lucrezia Bort made her Metropolitan debut at the age of 14 and Adelina Patti first sang in Spanish opera when she was 11. According to the famed baritone, Deanna already is the possessor of a fully developed set of vocal organs, and. her voice will change only in volume as she grows older. This mature quality is noticeable in all Deannla’s broadcasts. Segurola recommends a delay of three years in her operatic debut, for the reason that “more preparation will enlarge and enrich an already mature soprano voice.” “The quality of her voice,” he continues, “is like ,a perfect blue-white diamond, and just at rare. Yes, her voice is on e in ten million. In addition, she has the invaluable assets of ; charm, poise and beauty.

far more important than beauty. “I’d rather have Charles.' Laughiton make love to me on the screen than anybody,” she said. “He’s such a perfect actor, and manages to look beautiful, despite his untidy hair and dishevelled clothes.” Miss .Dietrich does not think that two people really in love are more convincing on the screen than other actors, because true feelings are never portrayed on the movies.