FILM SIDELIGHTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 October 1938, Page 5

FILM SIDELIGHTS

PICTURES AND PLAYERS ON PARADE KAY FRANCIS RETIRES FROM SCREEN. TO MARRY FIFTH HUSBAND. Her contract for 5250 dollars a week having expired, Kay Francis has announced that she is retiring from the screen. She is to marry her fifth husband, Baron Erick Barnekow, a wealthy broker. She said that she was irked by not being assigned to dramatic roles and declared, “I will no longer be a clothes-horse for VZarner Brothers.” Cecil Kellaway Back. “I’m not sorry to get a decent part in Australia,” said Cecil Kellaway, the well-known comedian who passed through Auckland by the Mariposa on his return to Sydney from Hollywood. He is on loan from R.K.O. Radio to Cinesound to play the name part in “Mr Chedworth Hits Out,” and must return before January because of an R.K.O. Radio commitment. “Hollywood has typed me and I portrayed nothing but a hard-boiled business man

for the whole year I was there. “I am very keen to do the Cinesound film, as I feel that the part will be ideal for me. If Hollywood could see me in the Australian picture it might realise that I could do better work than what has been given me so far,” he added. Mr Kellaway was last in New Zealand with Gladys Moncrieff in “Maid of the Mountains” and “Merry Widow.” Mrs Charles Laughton.

Elsa Lanchester has filled in the time between her performance as the missionary, Miss Jones, in “The Vessel of Wrath,” —her husband, Charles Laughton, plays Ginger Ted in the film presentation of Somerset Maugham’s story—and her next screen appearance by writing an autobiography, which is to be published under the title, “Charles and I.” The book is to be illustrated with photographs and snapshots of herself and her husband, most'of them taken by Miss Lanchester herself. Hulbert in Hollywood. Jack Hulbert has returned to London from America with contracts to star in two Hollywood pictures. The first will be made next year for David Selznick. The second cannot be made until after the run of the West End musical play in which he will appear with his wife. Cicely Courtneidge, and another play to follow it. Warner Brothers’ Plan. Recently delegates from all over Australia attended Warner Brothers’ annual film sales convention. Mr Ralph Clark, managing director of Warner Brothers in Australia, announced the list of pictures to be released this year and in 1939. Errol Flynn will appear in “The Dawn Patrol," with Ginger Rogers in “You Can’t Escape Forever,” and with Bette Davis in “The Sisters.” Other productions will be Max Reinhart’s spectacle, “The Miracle;” the musical plays, “The Desert Song” (in colour) and “Sally,” “The Life of Beethoven,” with Paul Muni, “The Valley of the Giants,” in colour; Jack London’s “The Sea Wolf;” “Four Daughters,” in which Priscilla Rosemary and Lola Lane (who are sisters) appear; and “Jaurez,” with Edward G. Robinson and Bette Davis.