"Happy Birthday" From Hosts of Big Hollywood Film Stars

Radio Record, Volume XI, Issue 1, 10 July 1936, Page 31

"Happy Birthday" From Hosts of Big Hollywood Film Stars

WERE positively giddy with congratulations on our tenth birthday. Do you see all the people on this page-Mary Pickford, Merle Oberon, Dolores Costello Barrymore, Freddie Bartholomew and Francis Lederer? Well, they sent us photographs of themselves with all sorts of nice birthday greetings underneath. Charlie Chaplin sent congratulations, too; so did Douglas Fairbanks, | Miriam Hopkins, Nino Martini and Irene Dunne. And guess who sent us cables! Shirley Temple, Warner Baxter, Loretta Young and Jane Withers! Are we feeling proud-or are we? (in case you don’t believe us, originals may be seen on application-as they say in the advertisements for back-ache pills). Pencil These In! AND now, as our birthday has probably left you with-a perfectly normal pulse, and you most likely turned to this section of the paper to read about fillums, I’d better tell you something about the talkies that will be along in a week or two. First, spectacle: biggest effort in this line is "Show Boat,’ the Universal musical which was previewed with numerous hand claps on these pages a few weeks ago. "Show Boat" is due for Aucklandand Wellington re lease within'a few days.A bird of a dif. ferent plumage, but equally important, is "Rhodes of Africa," the big Gau-mont-British spectacle dealing with the life of the immortal Cecil Rhodes. No release dates have yet been arranged: for this film, but early August

e should see it in most of the New Zealand centres. "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," the clever comedy with Gary Cooper-I waxed enthusiastic about it a fortnight ago, and meant every word I wrote-is Columbia’s -contribution to the gaiety of nations during July. Twentieth Century-Fox are growing keen about "Under Two Flags," the super-film that has an enormous cast headed by Ronald '¢ Colman, Claudette Colbert and Vic- =, tor McLaglen. The dates for this picture are not fixed. Warner Brothers have "I Married a Doci ‘tor," a skilful adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’s "Main Street," United Artists are now working on advance publicity for "One Rainy Afternoon," and Paramount is hoping for big things from Desire." , Travelling Camera. PICTURING a new side of New Zealand’s trave] features, a film has just been completed for the Tourist and Publicity Department entitled "Steel Ways of the Pacific." In the film are interesting and unusual shots of railway workshops, including the making of K-type engines and of carriages. Outstanding railway engineering feats at different places on the New Zealand lines are photographed-such places as the Matoketoke Viaduct and the Otira Tunnel. The camera also does a quick run through the country, showing the main scenic resorts which can be reached by rail, Another new film is of the South Island as a whole-Nel-son, Blenheim, Buller, Christchurch, Invercargill, Milford, the Lakes, the West Coast and Mount Cook. This publicity fim (Cont. on next page.)

was made with the co-operation of the development leagues and tourist inter- , ests in the island. "Silent" Ice.. ILEN'T" ‘ice, Hollyw6od’s most in-’ teresting new technical achieve- ° ment, was used for the first time in "One Rainy Afternoon," Pickford-_-Lasky’s gay, Parisian romantic com- | edy in which Francis Lederer is" starred. Produced after years of experimenting by. Benager NuDyke; film technician, the discovery made pos- ~ sible the big indoor ice-skating ' sequence, featuring Lederer.and Ida: Lu--pino, Which ‘is.a high ‘point of ‘the’ eomedy.! ‘The'new "ice". eliminates tlie squeak:-caused by the steel runners ° passing over the glazed surface of ‘na-° tural and..all previous chemically-pro- ‘ duced ices, and makes it possible for : the "mike" ‘to'pick up the dialogue of | the Skaters. ry, : 2 the "shades of Imperial Caesar": is 2 topical phrase, then the shades of Henry Irving meant far more to Oswaid Burtwistle, the poetry-drench-ed shopwalker .in. the :film; "Fame," a.

B.H.IF. product recently previewed in Wellington. His mania pleased not a soul, his customers no less than his_ boss. For all his buffoonery, Burt-, wistle had one asset-a face like Cromwell, so like it,.in fact, that he wins a film contract:for a picture concerning that gentleman, but rather: spoils things by asking, "Where did you last see your dadda?’ In many more amusing scenes Sydney Howard, as Burtwistle, puts across some very clever and witty talk, and one can’t help coming away with the impression that he Was cast in the right film. There is also a note of pathos in it-and. can he look pathetic! . Thumbs Down! L{K2 manna from heaven was the opportunity; presented . to Margaret Sullavan the other . day while appearing before the camera for "The Moon’s Our Home," ‘at the Paramount Studios. Acting is an exacting: and trying profession which. often teases. the temperament and causes the performer to wish he were .a‘.bull or a cow im a china shop, so that he could break a lot of glassware to relieve pent-up feelings. However, in these days temperament in a star is frowned ‘upon. If a star

displays the slightest temperament the public shouts, "High hat’; the publicity department says, "Naughty actor, mustn’t do’; the front office yells, "Hey, trying to ruin this picture?" So our stars sit and suffer in silence. If a carpenter on the set drops a hammer on his toe, he may curse like a sailor’s parrot. But if the leading man suffers the same accident, he must bear it. with a grin. It’s not gentlemanly like to cuss. All of which brings us back to Miss Sullavan. The director, William Seiter, showed her a modernistic set, filled with fragile bric-a-brac vases, dainty glassware and stately lampstands. "Margaret," he said, "I want you to plough through this room and wreck it completely." Margaret

could hardly believe her ears. ‘ "Honest, Bill," she inquired. "You: : really mean for me to smash all that lovely glassware?" "That's the way to ‘story reads," said the director. "Let’s go." : Margaret went, but how!.. When she > Was through there wasn’t ‘a’ whole article left on the set, and the- director’ complimented her upon her realistic . performance. But other . Hollywood stars knew why she gave,the particular bit of action ‘such great -interpretation. And- they’ re a envious, £00. Disney Does. Tt Again. oe you: saw a’ picture called "~hree Orphan Kittens" recently, . you saw a prize winner. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at’: its. annual ‘dinner ‘in’.Hollywood te-. cently voted Walt Disney the award of merit for having produced this outstanding cartoon of 1935. It was a Silly ‘Symphony in ‘technicolor,’ and ‘it °

had to do with the mischief stirred up by three kittens who get into a house, annoy the cook, and raise a riot on the piano keys. This is the fourth suc-

cessive year that the creator of the Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony films has captured the "best cartoon" honours. . In 1932 he won with "Flowers and Trees." In 1933 he won with "Three Little . Pigs." In 1934 he won with "The Tortoise and the Hare’" Mary Pickford summed it all up in. 15 words. "There is only one Disney. He is the greatest producer in the motion picture industry."

_"Before I Go." HEN the members of the Press interviewed Samuel]: Goldwyn on the eve of his recent departure for London, he revealed a little human interest anecdote in connection with "Hurricane," another of his forthcoming productions, the story of which appeared serially in the "Saturday Evening Post," one of the foremost weekly magazines of the United States. Aceording to Goldwyn, the editors of the "Post" recently received the following letter: "I am going to leave next week, and where I am going I cannot get the ‘Post. I am very much interested in the story, ‘Hurricane,’ and I will appreciate it very much if you -could send me proofs so that I can finish reading it before. I go." ‘This letter was hand-written, dated January §8, and signed Miller F. Clark. The "Post" sent him proofs of the last instalments of "Hurricane." On January 12 Clark died in the electric chair of Charleston State Prison for murder! Cigarette Girl. (CCLAUDETTE COLBERT, whose rise _ to screen prominence has been attained in roles where her remarkable ability to wear clothes well has been featured, finds distinctly novel her part as the cigarette girl of the desert in "Under Two Wags,’ the 20th Century production. Her costume, a rakish Legionnaire cap, a blouse, and loose-fitting trousers, Miss Colbert’s role is that of a. presiding figure at an entertainment spot frequented by Foreign Legionnaires based at an. isolated North African outpost. The career of the character whom she portrays is one of association with the rough-and-tumble soldiers during the hilarious moments of their leave: periods. Australian Maestro. FRANK COUGHLAN, the 31-year-old brilliant young Australian maestro, who directed the Trocadero OrHeralded by the critics as one of the truest historical films yet produced, "Rhodes of Africa," which will be seen in New Zealand early in- August, promises much entertainment and not a little education. Walter Huston (left) plays .the part of Cecil Rhodes, while: Oscar Homolka, the Hungarian stage star, is Kruge: (right). ‘The film is a. British production. _-

chestra in the cabaret sequence of "The Flying Doctor,’ was born at Hmmaville, a small country town situated in New South Wales near the Queensland border. In 1928, after a number of successes locally, he went to Wngland, where his outstanding ability was immediately recognised by Jack Hylton. He toured the Continent and played at leading theatres in London with this world-famous combination, and-later left the Hylton organisation to play at the Savoy Hotel. He also played at Claridge’s, the Berkley, and later became a member of Ray Noble’s famous recording band. Gable in Training. (CLARK GABLE will be taking life somewhat easy these next few weeks. Gable, co-starred with Marion Davies in Warner Brothers, First National’s "Cain and Mabel," has a_ ten-round fight to go through ag one of the climatic sequences of the production, which involves the romance of a Broadway dance star, played by Miss Davies, and the world’s heavyweight champion, Larry Cain, played by Gable. In preparation for the fight, in which he will meet an ag yet unnamed opponent, Gable and Harvey Parry, a former ring champion, who igs now acting as the star’s trainer, have mapped out a rigid training schedule. Gable has started his daily training schedule, which will last until filming of the fight sequence starts, with five miles of road work. Then he boxes from three to six rounds with -a sparring partner, After that comes ten min-. utes of strenuous calisthenics and a’ session With the medicine ball, A rubdown concludes the day’s work-out,

Human Skull. F the many personal possessions of Mary Stuart and Queen Hliza~ beth reproduced for R.K.O. Radio’s historical drama, "Mary of Scotland," co-starring Katherine Hepburn and Fredric March, one of the most interestirig ig the ‘Memento Mori," a small metal replicg of the human skull with a time-piece encased. ‘The time-plece ‘was taken by Mary Stuart from France to Seotland, and was one of her most prized possessions. It was possible to reproduce it accurately, becayse the otiginal is still in the possession of Sir W. Dick-Lauder Hart in Scotland. In ‘the film, Director John Ford utilises the piece as an evil omen. It symbolises the tragic fate toward whieh Mary is inevitably headed. Jack Hylton. "GQHE Shall Have Music," js very fine entertainment, and proves that the Americans are no longer supreme in the art of making spectacular musical films. This British picture from the Twickenham studios is one of the most entertaining and original efforts of its kind, and undoubtedly gains by the fact that the spectacle’ does not dwarf everything else in the picture, as in most big musicals. The film ig beautifully mounted, but the settings form an integral part of

the story, which is q light-hearted affair written to exploit the first screen appearance of Jack Hylton and his band. Academy Winner. "How does it feel to have won the academy award? Well, it feel’s good!" Thus spoke Bette Davis, whom the Academy of Motion Picture Arts ‘and Sciences hag honoured for her por-

trayal in the picture "Dangerous," as the outstanding feminine dramatie interpretation of 1935. She is the same Bette who for the past three or four years, has been quietly but steadily building for herself one of the. most solid and substantial careers in -modern screen history-and who hag kept her head and her sense of humour and proportion through it. all. Lots of people thought she should have had the academy award last year for her work with Leslie Howard in "Of Human Bondage"; she got a fine vote and was just nosed out, That didn’t worry her. "It was a wonderful tribute for so many people to have liked my work and written in about it," she’ says. "Rhodes of Africa," THE lives of great Britons and the pages of immortal history .continue to be relived on the screen. for. the edificatlon ‘of the world. Very. shorily "Rhodes of Africa," matrvellously well done by Gaumont-British, will arrive for release through the Fox Film Corporation. It is the latest addition to the cycle of biographical subjects, a cycle which has been admirably handled at well-timed intervals by producers, and one which has been greeted with acclamation by the public. A real welcome awaits "Rhodes" for, based on the life of the great Em-pire-builder, it tells its story, not as a dry-as-dust historical reading, but with all that vibrant colour and underlying drama: that is only: possible to interpret through actual characterisations. March in Lead. A PRE-VIDW of "Anthony Adverse" ‘held ‘at the Beverly Theatre, in Keverly Hills, received a- "tremendous welcome" from the audience, ‘says a telegram: from ‘the ‘West ‘Ooust: studios

of Warner Brothers. -'The-screen version of Hervy Allen’s celebrated romance hag been edited and cut. The film, directed by Mervyn LeRoy, has Fredric March in the title role, There are 76 speaking parts, some of the leading players being Olivia de Havilland, Anita Louise, Olaude Rains, Pedro de Cordoba, Hdmund Gwenn, Billy Mauch, Alma Lloyd, Marjorie Gateson, Luid Alberni, Donald Wood, Leonard Mudie and Steffi Duna. "Easily Best." A CABLE just received by Mr. B. L. Rutledge, general manager of the Fox Film Corporation (A’sia) Ltd., concerning the Australian production, "The Flying Doctor," reads: "Viewed Flying Doctor to-day, delighted assure you easily, best Australian picture ever made. Direction acting photography settings all first class. Picture certain big success . everywhere." The views expressed in the cable are those of Mr. Ralph Smith, district manager of the British Division of the Fox Film Corporation, Sydney. Jory Arrives, (SABLE advice to Mr. Cecil Mason, general manager of Columbia, includes the information that’. Victory Jory, who has been signed for the leading male role in the Columbia-National Studios local production, "Rangle River," completed an important part in the new Grace Moore film, "The King Steps Out, " _ just a | few days prior to

embarking on the Niagara, for Australia, where he is due to arrive on July 11. . Mr. Jory will also be seen to great advantage in another Columbia

production, titled, "Fer De Lance," which is also hnreleased as yet in this country. Grace Moore’s Film. HE announcement that Grace Moore is: to begin work on a new pro-

duction is the signal for a host of‘inquiries directed to the Columbia studios from all parts of the world, as to who will support the lovely diva, to whom will fall the task of composing her songs, in what setting and period will the story be laid, and last, but by no means least, to which director will fall the honour-and responsibility-of blending these ingredients. Now that Grace ‘Moore’s, latest Columbia production, "The King Steps Out," is completed, and is almost ready -to be released to an eagerly awaiting world, one learns that a’ new.formula has been _ adopted for the production of this, her third, and if overseas critics be correct -her’ greatest production. A Cooper Triumph. TE WENTY million. dollars is a lot of money. Your first thought iswhat a’ grand time ‘one could have -Spending so much. But money does not always supply a round of good times, as Gary Cooper ‘discovers in -Columbia’s romantic comedy-drama, "Mr. Deeds Goes to.Town." In the story, Gary is left: twenty million’ dollars .by an eccentric uncle, although you would probably find a better word, if any of your relations willed you a similar amount. Gary is an important,.if not simple figure in his home town,.Mendrake Falls, but when he-goes to New York to collect his fortune, he realises that it’s not the human, friendly little town of.Mandrake Falls. Cold and bitter are his ‘first impressions,.especially when he

finds everybody trying to chisel a sum out of his legacy.

"Show Boat." HE big surprise of "Show Boat" preview was the Irene Dunne performance. Wollywood, which had gathered in full force-stars, producers, executives, directors, newspaper and magazine writers and critics-almost fell right out of their seats at the sight of the dignified Miss Dunne suddenly breaking into a negro sand shuffle dance, and shaking her lithe hips in a manner nobody dreamed she could, For ' a moment there was silence, then an almost collective gasp of siuxprise, then laughter, and finally, vociferous, goodnatured applause. Never had.the town been so surprised-Irené Dunne of all people! Later, when Miss Dunne flashed across the screen in blackface, rolling’her eyes and showing white tecth, when she did an old-fashioned kick dance,° the old-fashioned "After the Ball" waltz which any burlesque prima .. donna worth her salt used to know backwards and forwards, the audience roared some more. Here wag an Irene ‘Dunne nobody knew oxisted.

IM-MENSE! PRODUCED ona scale that might not have outrun the great producer’s imagination, but which would most certainly have outrun his purse, "The Great Ziegfeld," M.-G.-M.’s story of the life of Flo Ziegfeld, originator of the world-famous Ziegfeld Follies, makes any ather musical film look like a concert in the village Sunday school. . There is one set, of Rock of Gibraltar proportions, done on Hollywood :alabaster, mounted on a huge turntable, mantled with flowing ivory curtains and peopled with two or three orchestras, a few hundred singers and dancets, a.covey of pianists and one tenor.

New Studios ‘THE British and Dominions Film Corporation, Ltd., whose studios at Elstree were de- ' stroyed in.a recent fire, plans to transfer ‘to the new ‘Pinewood Studies at Iver, Bucks, which will be ready about August. . The directors have decided. subject to ratification by the shareholders, to transfer the company’s studio intérest to Pinewood, and acquire half the share capital of Pinewood’ Studios, Limited. The: studios at Pinewood cover 40 acres, It is estimated that about £600,000 will be required to cover the cost of erecting these studios and for providing the working capital.