Cinema . . . Snapshots

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20739, 24 February 1939, Page 4

Cinema . . . Snapshots

“Captain Midnight” Nearing Completion Preparations for ‘‘Captain Midnight,"* Hal Roach's big dramatic production, arc now reaching the final stage, when j tliis romantic adventure story of Aus- | trilia in the 1850’s will get underway with Norman /. McLeod directing, j Brian Aherno has been signed for the | title n>!- ,ind Victor McLaglen has been secun d for one of tlie prominent i parts. Bren is now negotiating for Edward Arnold in another role of importance. Francine Bordeaux will be the only woman in the east. Miss n, is the Hal Roach studio discovery who has been under contract for several months and for whom the officials predict sensational success. Tin* story, a thrilling roin mce of pioneer days in Australia. deals with the final chapter in England's polic* of settling the colony with convicts and the part played by a valiant bush ranger, Captain Midnight. in bringing this form of colonisation to a close. Actress Sees Her Own Father in Film Scene Ann Miller thought a miracle had happened recently on the set of RKO’s “Tarnished Angel.” in which she is featured with Sally Eilers. Filming a closeup in a night club scene Miss Miller was supposed to ! register surprise when she noticed a certain person seated at a table. She ! registered surprise all right, in fact a bit too realistically, because seated at the table was the actress* father, J. A. Collier, a prominent attorney of Houston, Texas. Collier was paying his daughter a short visit, and only that morning father and daughter had bid each other ■good-bye before Miss Miller left for the studio, and he to take a train east. Collier missed his train, and since he had never seen his daughter work, decided to pay her a surprise visit at the studio. Director Goodwins had him admitted to the stage and seated him at the table. Future Movies of “The Saint”

Ending a search of several months, RKO Radio Pictures has signed George Sanders, one of the most suave leading men of the screen, to play the title role in “The Saint** series of feature films, the first of which, “The Saint fn New* York,” was released last year.

Sanders, an Englishman born In Russia, is considered an ideal type for the part, inasmuch as the character of “The Saint,** based on the long series of novels by the popular British author, Leslie Charterfs, is that of a successful gentleman-crook and an equally successful aide (at times) to the police of both London and New York.

Sanders, who in recent months has been playing leads in England, has appeared in many successful Hollywood films, including “International Settlement,** “Lancer Spy.” “Lloyds of London** and “Slave Ship.**

Robert Sisk will produce the second film in the new series, “The Saint Strikes Back,” scheduled to go before camera’s late this month. The screen play already has been completed by John Twist. Joan Bennett of the Acting Bennetts It stood to reason that Joan Bennett would become an actress, though she never so much as expressed a desire for the stage until she was 17 years old. But Miss Bennett is of" the seventh generation of theatrical folk on her mother’9 side, and it was but natural that -she should eventually decide to follow a career in the theatre. Her great-great-great-grandfather had bren manager of the old Drury Lane theatre in London, and her greatgrandfather was the famous English pnntnmtmtet. William Wood. Her grandmother came to America from Scotland as a young girl, and made h*r stage debut fn New Orleans at the a- ** of nine, later becoming Lester Wallack’s leading woman in New York’s great Wallaek Stork Company. Miss Bennett's fattier. Richard Bennett. was overjoyed when his youngest daughter finally signified her intention to follow in his footsteps. The delighted father gave her a role in his play “Jarnegan.” then in rehearsal in New York, and this one part was suffi- . from several Hollywood film producers. Except for a temporary return to the stage a year ~ r o as the star of “Stage Door,” Miss Benneft has been on the screen ever since, and long ago achieved a position as one of filmdom’s most firmly established luminaries. Miss Bennett, co-starring with Fredrie March, is at present appearing in “Trade Winds,” a fast-moving story - a colourful countries of fhFar East, produced by Walter Wanger under the direction of Tay Garnett. The supporting east includes Ralph Bellamy, Ann Sotbem, Sidney Blackmer and Robert Emmett O’Connor, Fernand Grave* has had to postpone his retnrn to France. He caught a bad cold and has not yet been able to finish his work ou the additional scenes of “The Great Watts.” * « * * Tulßo GarmtoaO, not seen on the screen lately, hns arranged to star in a musical comedy- on Broadway in fhp autumn. • * • • Gladys 'teamed with Bob Burns nr -PorTerooa Missouri.”