NEWS OF THE CINEMA

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

NEWS OF THE CINEMA

John Barrymore has been signed by | RKO Radio Pictures to play the leading role in “The Great Man Votes,” in which Peter Holden, Broadway's brilliant boy actor, will make his screen debut. • • • • Universal have bought two new pos- ; sible stories for Danielle Darrieux, “Half American,” and “Manhattan j Masquerade.’ Fredric March, just finished his part in “Trade Winds,” has gone to New York, where he intends to take a stage role. • * • • Mack’s second production in Hollywood for Ocean Films will be “The Mad Monk of San Michel.” He hopes to sign Robert Morley as star. Helen Hayes Holidaying Gilbert Miller is to present Charles MacArthur's new untitled comedy in New York in the spring. Helen Hayes, who goes to Egypt with her husband (Charles MacArthur) when her forthcoming “Victoria Regina” tour is over, will not be in the play. She does not intend to do any more acting this season. • • • • Evelyn Brent Evelyn Brent, top-ranking favourite of silent films is beginning a campaign to clinvb to her former eminence in a new type of role. Miss Brent was the idol of the film world when she played with George Bancroft in the heyday of underworld drama, but slipped into eclipse with the advent of sound. Later she returned to the talking screen but was replaced in popularity by the rising tide of newer stars. “Now, as a mature woman, I want to carve a new niche for myself as a character actress,” said Miss 'Brent, who currently is playing a French music hall singer of the 1887 era in “The Law West of Tombstone,” Harry Carey's new starring vehicle. “There is a wide field for this type of work and not so much competition as there is in other ranks. lam not particularly anxious to regain stardom, but 1 would like to play important char i acter roles in good films.” I * * * • Fifty Street and Evening Dresses Fifty elaborate street and evening gowns and thirty luxurious fur coal are worn by Barbara Stanwyck an< the feminine members of the cast ii “The Mad Miss Manton.” In addition Miss Stanwyck and her coterie o. seven soc ety girls, display intimate attire of various kinds including night gowns and negligees. • • • » Edna May Oliver In Major Rols Edna May Oliver, considered b> many critics as America’s greater character comedienne, has been signed for one of the most important supporting roles in “The Castles,” now in production with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers co-starring. “The Castles” is based on the lives of the late Vernon Castle and his wife, Irene. America’s internationally-famous dance team during the period just prior to this nation’s entry into the World war.

Actors’ Close Call Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Victor McLaglen narrowly escaped possibly serious injuries when a fear-crazed elephant, frightened by a mountain thunder storm, broke her chains, ran amok and collided with Fairbanks* car containing the two actors, nearly throwing them from the machine, crumpling a fender and denting the side of the car. The elephant, one of four taken on location at the foot of Mt. Whitney for “Gunga Din.” became terrified when a sudden thunder storm broke, bolted from tier stall end ran headlong into Fairbanks' car. in which the two had just driven up. The elephant's trainer, succeeded in quieting the frightened beast, guarded against a repetition of the near-acci-dent by stuffing the elephant's ears with eotton to shut out the sound of the thunder. Both Fairbanks and McLaglan escaped with only a bad shaking up. Not Worn Now Insofar as Hollywood is concerned, the old-fashioned flannel nightgown has sung its swan song. Director Edward Cline found this out after a clerk in the wardrobe department had spent a couple of hours on a telephone trying to buy one for Tommy Kelly to wear in “Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus.” Most of the stores thought it was a gag and the wardrobe : department finally gave up in despair. Tommy was called for height and shoulder measurements and the nightgown was made in the studio wardrobe department.