Cinema... Snapshots

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20922, 29 September 1939, Page 8

Cinema ... Snapshots

Mav Robson in Crime Story The latest Hollywood figure to find herself involved in screen crime is May Robson —though she will be on the side of the law. Warners are preparing for her a story called “Granny Get Your Gun.” In it, Miss Robson will appear as a fearsome old lady of %he West, who has pioneered since early mining days. She has a daughter, Jane Bryan, who goes to the city and gets involved with a gang of racketeers, led by Humphrey Bogart. Through being mixed up with all this low company, Jane finds herself accused of murder. And it i< then that Granny Robson gets her gun and somes to town to deal with the gangster “sissies.” It sounds a fine opportunity for Miss Robson to exhibit the humorously dragonish side of her screen personality. Valerie Hobson An English Success How many times have you read of English players who, tired of the bad breaks they have been getting in this country, have gone to Hollywood and found success there? It’s not often that the story is presented the other way round —of players leaving Hollywood to get better breaks in England. Valerie Hopson has achieved the incredible. Many people would have said the impossible. At the moment she is far and away the most consistently successful screen actress we have over here. England has done for her what Hollywood failed to do, turned her into an important box-office name. Her run of luck is phenomenal. Check over her last half a dozen pictures, and you will find that they have all been smash hits. Breaking Records It began with “ Jump for Glory,” when Douglas Fairbanks, jnr., chose her as his leading lady. Her performance was ‘surprisingly good. She received rave notices from nearly all the critics. Then, “ The Drum,” “ This Man Is News,” “ Q Planes,” “ This Man in Paris ” and “ The Spy in Black.” Call it luck, ability, personality or what you will. It doesn’t matter much which. The plain facts are there for anyone to see. Valerie Hobson has set up a new record, and has established herself as one of Britain’s leading actresses, with Hollywood making strenuous efforts to get her back again. On the Screen at Sixteen These English pictures are the ones by which all filmgoers know her these days. Her Hollywood career has slipped into the background, almost forgotten. In many ways, hers is one of screenland’s most remarkable success stories. There have been so many “ ifs ” and “ buts ” about it; gambles that have come off; and coincidence and romance have played their parts. And this young Irish girl, with wide grey eyes, brown hair and an unusually tall figure, is only twentytwo now. Her biggest successes have come during the last 12 months, but she has nearly six years’ film acting experience to her credit. Her first film opportunity came to her right at the beginning of her career, unexpectedly and without her asking. The luck of the Irish was with her. “ I had been to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.” she told an interviewer. “ I went there when I was fourteen, left when I was fifteen.” “ At fifteen-and-a-half, I was understudying in a West End show, and the millionth chance came off. The actress I was understudying fell ill and I got my chance. “ And it was because of this that I received my first film offer. There was nothing strikingly romantic or unusual about it. A film man happened to see me, thought I had possibilities, and asked me to make a test.” FLASHES JpOLLOWING her success in “Maisie,” Ann Sothem is to star for M-G-M in “Congo Maisie,” a comedy set in Africa. J. Walter Ruben, producer of “Maisie,” will also be in charge of this sequel. * * * * are negotiating with Dixie Davis, the lawyer who formerly worked for gangster “Dutch” Schultz, to film his life story. So far they have refused to pay the price asked by Davis, which is reputed to be £20,000. * * * • * * • • IT DWARD SMALL is to make a film of “Two Years Before the Mast,” ninety-year-old adventure story by Richard Henry Dana. Victor McLaglen has already been given a role, and it is possible that Joel McCrea may play the hero. * • • • £OE AKINS, author of “The Greeks Had a Word For It,” has written a novel called “Trojan Pony,” which Warners are considering buying for Bette Davis. The central figure is a chorus girl—hard-boiled and wisecracking. * * • * LEROY has resigned as x a producer at M-G-M and will in future work for the studio only as a director. Among the pictures he will direct are “The Ziegfeld Girl,” “Sea of Grass” and "National Velvet.'*