FILM SIDELIGHTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1938, Page 5

FILM SIDELIGHTS

PICTURES AND PLAYERS ON PARADE JANET GAYNOR BREAKS RULE. , APPEARANCE IN “YOUNG IN HEART.” Janet Gaynor has broken a personal rule of long standing, by appearing before the camera in a white bathing suit for a scene in “The Young In Heart.” In her career as a star, she had never before worn seaside attire in a film scene. She disclosed, however, that in her extra days she began her film career as a bathing girl. Extras then supplied all of their own wardrobes, and the only article in her closet, save a few plain dresses, was a bathing suit. For this reason, Miss Gaynor was unable to accept calls from studios that required evening gowns or pretty afternoon frocks. She went on, week after week, taking only the bathing girl jobs, until she had saved enough to expand her wardrobe. After she became a star, she vowed she had had enough of bathing suits and would wear no more. “But here I am,” she said, as'she paddled to the pool-side, after a scene with Carlson, “right back where I started —in a bathing suit.” Tickling Tassels. Tickling tassels have emerged, as the latest, cause of ruining a motion picture scene. Charles Boyer, Joseph Calleia and Gene Lockhart were taking part in a dramatic “close shot” for “Algiers,” the Walter Wanger picture laid in the native quarter of the Algerian "city. Though Boyer was hatless, both Calleia and Lockhart wore Turkish fezzes, each with a swinging tassel hanging down the back. As the scene progressed the ornaments began tickling the actors’ necks, and they indulged in such elaborate shrugs, and finally surreptitious scratches, that Director John Cromwell called the scene to a halt. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but you boys will just have to grin and bear it —only don’t grin! This is a serious scene.” “Algiers” is released through United Artists. Zoltan Korda. Following the arrival at Denham of several carloads of props from Khartoum, Zoltan Korda will start photographing interior scenes for Alexander Korda’s “Four Feathers,” one of the most ambitious Technicolour productions on the producer’s current film programme, which will star Ralph Richardson, John Clements, Roger Livesey and Barry K. Barnes. This company will spepd at least two more months on location and will shortly make for the interior of the Sudan to photograph Lord Kitchener’s greatest battle with five thousand Egyptian troops, the largest mass scenes ever taken by the colour cameras. The location crews will be housed on an immense barge on the Nile, specially built and equipped to accommodate the huge laboratories and provide living quarters for the crew. The script of “Four Feathers” is based on an original story

by A. E. W. Mason, author of “The Drum,” the Alexander Korda film of India which was also photographed in technicolour. s Tracy and Beery for England. Spencer Tracy and Wallace Beery will go to England to make pictures for M-G-M as soon as negotiations with Hollywood Studios to release them have been completed. Tracy is to star in “National Velvet,” and Beery in “The Missing Miniature.” Following completion at Denham of “The Citadel,” Metro will put Robert Donat into “Goodbye, Mr Chips.” “And So —Victoria” is being scripted by Hugh Walpole. “Busman’s Honeymoon” and “Death on the Table” are two further stories lined up for production in the near future. Queer Accident to Film Star. Tripping over her pet dog, May Robson, well-known cinema actress, fell and broke her arm in Hollywood. Her stay in hospital is delaying the filming of “They Made Me a Criminal.” She may be replaced if her incapacity lasts longer than a few days. “The Citadel.” Few coming events are more eagerly awaited than the film of “The Citadel,” Cronin’s great controversial story dealing with the medical profession and now being produced by the M-G-M British Studios, says Sydney Vv r . Carroll writing in the “Sunday Times.” King Vidor has been brought specially from Hollywood to direct this picture in which Robert Donat and Rosalind Russell will star. Comfort for Penguins.

Property men on “The Young In Heart” set moved only by the kindest motives hastened to build ice igloos for the penguins used in the London Zoological Gardens scenes, to keep the birds comfortable. Just as they preoared to introduce three of the strange birds to their new home, a trainer rushed up and shouted, “Take ’em out. They’ll catch pneumonia. Those- birds are from the Galapagos Islands, where it’s hotter than Hades!”