NORMA SHEARER

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20728, 11 February 1939, Page 17 (Supplement)

NORMA SHEARER

“Marie Antoinette” Norma Shearer sings In French and German in the spectacular drama, “Marie Antoinette,” in which she makes her return to the screen in the title role of one of history’s greatest romances. The suggestion of singing in German as well as French was Miss Shearer’s, and came about when the star was discussing a charming way to play a scene with Scotty Beckett, who plays the role of her son, the little Dauphin. George Richelavie, technical adviser. immediately thought of “ Sohlaf, Kindlein, Schlaf/’ or “ Sleep. Baby, Sleep.” an old Austrian folk song, sung to him as a child by his mother. Herbert, Stothart, composer, drew on music of the period, including the compositions of Gluck, of Rameaux and other contemporary French composers. and the result was the introduction of the song into this ambitious production. Miss Shearer is co-starred with Tyrone Power as the dashing young Count Axel de Fersen, and supported bv such outstanding players as John Barrymore, Robert Morley, Joseph Schildkraut, Gladys George, Anita Louise and Henry Stephenson.

Footlight Flashes Richard Crooks for New Zealand Richard Crooks, the American tenor who was so popular a year or two ago, will return to New Zealand shortly, giving concerts in Auckland in May. Gladys Cooper is described by Brooks Atkinson, of the New York Times, as rushing at her part “like a mating swallow, all tluttory and knowing," in the Broadway production of “Spring Meeting.” The humour of the play seems to have moved New Yorkers where other British comedies have left them cold, and despite apparently father ragged production, it is still “a chuckler’s holiday in any land.” Gladys Cooper plays Zena Dare’s part and lean Cadell seems to have gone far towards equalling Margaret Rutherford's lovely performance as Bijou with her "cartoon of a ragbag aunt, untidy. shrewish. hit ter - tongued grotesquely snobbish and hilarious wit had.” i