Cinema... Snapshots

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21211, 6 September 1940, Page 8

Cinema ... Snapshots

Hollywood, Attitude Toward War Themes Hollywood studios propose to elimmate almost entirely war themes from the productions in hand and planned for the rest of 1940. It is believed that the public wants a change and diversion from the ‘‘barrage of war worry.” Mr Harry Cohn, president of Columbia Pictures, recently said that the first principles of the screen were to entertain. Propaganda, social problems and grim drama were subjects for class rooms. The great theatres nf the world must never lose their atmosphere of cheerful welcome or offer anything but recreation for the masses. Columbia’s reports indicate that in all countries the most successful boxoffice pictures have been comedy. Some of Columbia’s comedy films for 1940 are 44 The Amazing Mr Williams,” 44 His Girl Friday,” 44 Blondie on a Budget,” 44 Too Many Husbands,” and 44 The Doctor Takes a Wife.” BIOGRAPHY BOOM There is a new outbreak of biography at the Warner studio and Edward G. Robinson is in the centre of it, says an exchange. With Paul Muni away playing on the New York stage, Robinson has fallen heir to the studio’s prize historical subjects. He recently completed 44 Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet,” the story of the scientist who devoted his life toward combating social diseases. He goes almost immediately into 44 That Man Reuter,” a film based on the life of the founder of the famous news agency, and after that has the coveted title role in 44 Benjamin Franklin.” An interesting newcomer to the screen in 44 Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet ” is Albert Basserman. making his Hollywood debut at the age of seventy-five. Charles Laughton de • scribes him as the finest actor in the world today. Basserman, a refugee from the Nazi regime, was one of the outstanding figures of the Berlin stage. He was awarded the Ifflande Ring, which for 150 years has been presented to Germany’s greatest actor. When he left he buried it because he felt that German art and culture are dead. Warners are planning to team Robinson and Muni, its two top characters in a magazine story, 44 The Jealous House.” That should be something. Beulah Bondi 44 Give me a good supporting role, and that’s all I ask,” says Beulah Bondi, who portrays the role of “Mrs Webb ” in the Sol Lesser production of 44 Our Town.” The actress says she never wanted to be a star, because the life of a star, with few exceptions. is brief. Supporting players, unless they get themselves typed, go on forever. Ever since she became an actress, Miss Bondi has been busy. There have been no lean years. She was born in Chicago, daughter of a real estate man. She finished her education at Valparaiso University, where she was given a master’s degree in oratory. In pictures Miss Bondi has played mean women and good women, harridans and gentlewoman. When Sol Lesser and Director Sam Wood were casting 44 Our Town ” they had tough time finding a girl to play 44 Emily.” But there was no trouble in figuring out who to get to play 44 Mrs Webb.” Beulah Bondi’s name came to mind at once and she got the job. There’s a reason. Miss Bondi is a character actress and one of the best. She is always in demand in Hollywood even if the boys at college don’t name her their dream princess.

FLASHES HOWARD has written a new swing tune for which several music publishers are bidding. TRAINED goat and a trained cow ■*' will have comedy roles with Deanna Durbin in “ Spring Parade.” * * * v JJISCHA AUER, actor-mayor of Universal City, is sponsoring a soccer team composed of himself and fellow-Russians in the film colony. "BUSTER" CRABBE is appearing in New York in Billy Rose’s Aquacade. T?ITA HAYWORTH gets her big break as Douglas Fairbanks Junior’s leading lady in “ Until I Die.” COMEDIAN FRANK FAY goes dramatic as a priest in the Carole Lombard-Charles Laughton picture “ They Knew What They Wanted.” .... QENEVIEVE TOBIN and Charles Ruggles are in the cast of “ No Time For Comedy,” which William Keighley is directing for Warners.’ UNIVERSAL is making “ A modem Monte Cristo,” with Victor McLaglen and John Loder in the leading male roles. Anne Nagel and Philip Dorn are also in the cast. •G.M. has purchased the Robert * Louis Stevenson story, “ Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde,” from Paramount. and it is intended as a starring vehicle for Robert Donat. Production will be done in England immediately after Donat finishes his role in “ Ruined City,” the adaptation of Neville Shute's "Kindling.” “Jekyll and Hyde” was made several years ago by Paramount with Fredric March starred.