‘ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 39, 16 February 1939, Page 3

‘ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD

COMING TO MAJESTIC In line with their policy of presenting the pick of screen entertainment to their patrons, the Majestic Theatre will on Friday of next week screen “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” a technicolour melodrama, produced by Warner Bros., starring Errol Flynn, and featuring Olivia de Havilland, Claude Rains, Basil Rathbone, lan Hunter and a supporting cast of some thousand players. The handsome young star, Errol Flynn, who had such triumphs in “Captain Blood” and “The Charge of the Light Brigade, ' plays Robin. The beautiful young Olivia de Havilland, who was the heroine of those successes, is Maid Marian. This is their third picture together, and is said by previewers to excel its predecessors. This version of “The Adventures of Robin Hood” is altogether different from the great picture which Douglas Fairbanks made in silent form in 1922. It is filled with fighting—bows and arrows, quarter staffs, pikes and broadswords being the weapons—and is played in immense and beautiful scenic settings both indoors and out. Years of research preceded the filming of the great production. All of the vast body of “Robin Hood” literature was finecombed by the research department of Warner Bros, in order to find out the customs of the folks of that era, what they wore, what they ate, what kind of furniture they had and all the other details that make for authentic movie props. A special contingent of the department worked only on medieval weapons—bows and arrows, quarter staffs and pikes—which play a large part in the action of the picture The original story and the screen play were devised by Norman Rfilly Raine and Seton I. Miller, and has several of the well-authenti :ated incidents contained in most of the legends surrounding England’s greatest outlaw, but the bulk of the story is original in form. Four of the eleven existing technicolour cameras in the world, each valued at £7500, vzerc employed throughout the making of this thrilling romance.

To Make “Beau Geste.” One of the most important production intimations of recent years is contained in a cable just received by Mr. Harry Hunter, managing director in 'Australia for Paramount Pictures. The information is released by the local general manager for the company, Mr. S. H. Craig, and is to the effect that Paramount has completed several years of negotiations and their plans to produce a talking version of the famous “Beau Geste” and of special significance is the assignment of Gary Cooper to the leading role . Further details of production were not to hand when the cable was recieved, but it is known that production will commence on January 15. Important stellar names will be cast in the supporting roles and the leading lady of first rank will be chosen also. Paramount plans to make “Beau Geste” from the celebrated story by P. C. Wren on a lavish scale, and many of the important scenes will be taken on the deserts which at this time of the year in the northern hemisphere are considerably cooler, it being their winter. Paramount has planed to make this picture for some time now, having made the film in the silent days with Ronald Colman. William Powell, Noah Beery, Ralph Forbes, and Nell Hamilton.

“I Married An Angel.” The stage and screen actress, Bernice Claire, the brilliant comedienne now appearing in “I Married an Angel” in Melbourne, prefers the ...lights to the camera. “Working in films is too lm.j wonting in a factory,” she says. Among Miss Claire's film work in nine years’ acting experience was an appearance in the English-made film “Two Hearts in Harmony.’ Miss Claire considers Conrad Nagel the most impressive male lead with whom she has played. “He is exactly the same off stage as on,” she says, “ and has endearea himself to everyone by virtue of his sincerity and his association with the Christian Science Church in Hollywood, where he is a reader and an usher.” It is expected that “I Married an Angel” will be sent to New Zealand by Australian and New Zealand Theatres, Ltd. It was practically an all-American cast, and is brilliant musical comedy.