Mae West, What America Calls A Wiseguy, Finds That No One Loves Her Any More

Radio Record, Volume X, Issue 5, 14 August 1936, Page 25

Mae West, What America Calls A Wiseguy, Finds That No One Loves Her Any More

POOR Mae-the public doesn’t love her any more! Rumours filtering through from Hollywood for the ‘past few months are now confirmed and Mae West finds herself travelling with the "baggage not wanted on the voyage." I remember her in the first picture in which anyone took notice of the famous West curves. "Night After Night" it was ealled, and George Raft and Alison Skipworth were in the cast too. The picture public liked Mae West, and Hollywood decided that there was gold in them thar hills. She made a big hit in her first starring film, "I’m No Angel," became the yogue, the subject of a million not-so-drawing-room stories. She was. a gusty, grotesque, amusing creature, too essentially a parody on sex io be really immoral. Nobody took Mae West seriously-except Miss West. And that’s where the trouble began,

She Was a Wiseguy AN English film writer has commented very sensibly on the situation. "If she had been clever," he writes, "if she had put herself in the hands of a comic genius like Lubitsch, if she. had commissioned scripts from Ben Hecht and Donald Ogden Stewart, she might at least have delayed the end, but she had other ideas. She was what America calls a wiseguy. She knew it all. Ne sooner had she made a hit in one picture than she began to take herself seriously. She not merely insisted on writing her own stories, which might have been put down to a thrifty desire to make a bit both ways, but she also thought she knew all about direction, casting and all the other technicalities that go to make a successful moving picture. She demanded handsome young leading men, but would never give them a chance,"

Upstage! AE WEST developed a temperament, made scenes, quarrelled with her ‘producer, and = generally showed every symptom of thut commonest of stage and film complaintsbeing upstage! She insisted on have ing a certain cameraman who alone knew the angles from which to photograph her eurves-as if photographing her was an esoteric craft! And while Mue’s temperament has been mounting. public interest has been slipping. With every picture it has become clearer that she is not, in the real sense, an ‘aetress at all-that she has only one line, one make-up, one joke, Over to Suva HE Fiji Islanders, according to Mr. George M. Dillon, New Zealand manager for Warner Brothers, have given up head-hunting (if they ever did) for star-gazing-and they know as much about Bing Crosby and Mae West as- you or I, Mr. Dillon; travelled out to Suva on the Monterey recently, and he is full of enthusiasm,

not only for the beauty of the islands, but for the manner in which the picture houses are run. "There are two theatres in Suva," said Mr. Dillon, "one, the Lilac, being run by a Brahmin of high east, John Grant. The other. is called the Universal | At Nandaviratu, a town.on the goldfields, there is a new-thentre which was opened the other week with one of my company’s films. At Tofua there are two theatres, both run by Indians." Films for Natives "TN the Fiji group," continued. Mr. Dillon, "there are about 150,000 natives, 80,000 Hindus and 5000 white people. The natives and Hindus go te the cinema. quite often, anc for this reason there are 4 number of indian films shown. Of the ordinary American picture the majority are musicals and Westerns-those are the

ones the native population likes best. The pictures are sent from New Zealand and are usually released shortly after the first city releases in this country, The Fiji [stands are great for a holiday-I'm sure if New Zealanders knew more about them they’d often sail over for a vacation. I went over on one Matson boat and came back to Auckland on the next." Down Dunedin Way PENEDIN'S last citadel of the legitimate theatre falls before the talkie onslaught next month when His Majesty’s Theatre, which was parily rebuilt and completely redecorated last year, will screen its first cinema programme, Warner Brothers’ film, "A Midsummer Night’s 'Dream," "His Majesty’s will be used to sereen big and unusual features." said the publiticy manager of Fuller-Haywards (Mr. A, R. MeEiwain), "and it will be opened on September 16. This does not mean, of course, that legitimare productions will be shut ouf-talkies Will be suspended when flesh and blood shows are offering." Much the same policy is observed in Melbourne, where

the Comedy. Theatre, a _ legitimate house opened about eight years ago, is used for special films when no stage productions are forthcoming. 45 Sets Used EXT in importance to the magnificent portrayals by Katharine Hepburn and Fredric March and the dramatic significance of the Maxweil Anderson play, are the historic settings and costumes of "Mary of Scotland," soon to be released by RKO (Radio). Approximately 45 sets were used in this picture. . Queen Elizabeth's | lavish Palace, the austere -picturesque Scottish castles-Holyrood, Fotheringay, Dunbar and Lochlevyen are reproduced in all their authentic splendour. Breaking Records | PARAMOUNT'S all-colour masterpiece, "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine,’ which stars Sylvia Sidney, Henry Fonda and Fred MacMurray, has established popularity records in every centre in which it has been shown. Little need be said of this pic-

ture’s great success in America, England and Australia, but of local interest is the fact that it has just conCluded an excellent four weeks’ run at the Embassy Theatre, Auckland, and in Wellington it played for two weeks at the Majestic Theatre and was then transferred for another week to the Opera House. It has yet to be released in the South Island, and it seemg assured of a grand reception in all centres. In Dunedin the release ig announced as August 28 and Christehurch on September 4. Wodehouse Film DASH of London in Hollywood will be "Piccadilly Jim,’’ which Metro hopes will get under way this week. The P. G. Wodehouse yarn has been in the hands of several writers. Robert Benchley and Edwin Knopf contributed early treatments and then others worked on it. Just as the cameras were ready to turn, Charles Brackett was assigned to do still another rewrite. The vehicle will be the first teaming of Frank Morgan and Billie Burke, a combination the studio hopes will catch the public fancy. They will

be the chief support of Robert Montgomery and Madge Evans, with the cast including Eric Blore, Grant Mitchell, Reginald Owen and Ralph Forbes. Following this picture Miss Burke and Morgan will again appear as a team in John Fitzpatrick’s "Ada Beats the Drum." A Sydney Find! HARLES CHAUVEL, Australia’s film pioneer, has a decided flair for the discovery of new talent. The most striking examples are Peggy Maguire, who obtained her first real opportunity in "Heritage," and the

much-discussed Errol Flynn, who played in "The Wake of the Bounty," produced and directed by Mr. Chauvel about three years ago. The latter's sensutional rise to stardom is well known, and is admittedly due to the early ‘fostering of his talent by Charles Chauvei. Now comes someone who promises to be a sensation in every sense of the word-Marcelle Marney-as glamorous as anyone turned out from Hollywood, an emotional actress of ‘fine ability, whose French blood gives her a fire and warmth ‘that.has immediate appeal,:to which, is.added a charming voice-husky,.yet modulated, and with just a suggestion of an accent. Exotic’ s the Word! . MAR&CELLE MARNEY has a striking ' dress sense. The ‘bizarre’ ‘looks de rigeur when worn ‘by this: dashing star: Black is her favourite é¢olour--relieved with the latest Renaissance jewelléry. She created a‘ sensation recently when she appeared in a’ Sydney ballroom in a shot lame wrap with full Sleeves and classic neckline, A‘ tiny diamond leaf glistened in long ‘hair which is real midnight blue-swept off her face and "coiled l6w in tlie nape of her ‘neck. ' Silvér toe-nails- harmonised with the wrap. The whole effect was

"vadiance." So this exotic young star flashes across the screen firmament--dazzling and beautiful. Her work as Sondra in "Unciyilised"’ will undoubt-

edly place her in the front -rank of film actresses in Australia, and then whe knows to what heights she will ascend, along with Charles Chauvel’s other "discoveries." From Adelaide BRAN LAWRENCH, who is doing so well in English film productions, is a native of Adelaide, and Australians are pleased at the fame he is enjoying. George Malone was instrumental] in

Brian making-his first stage appearance. The lad possessed an unusual voice at the age of five, and when introduced to Bert Lennon, at the Majestic Theatre, 2 trial was suggested. This was successful and led to further stage work, Brian eventually appearing at numerous theatres through the country. Leaving for England, stage breaks were not easy, and he acquired some of the more important essentials necessary to a film career, but raving got his opportunity made every post a winner. Trying a Change. ET another picture theatre manuger has decided to join the ranks of the Fuller-Hayward, picture organisation. This is popular Alec Regan, who has been manager of the J. C. Williamson Picture Corporation’s Regent Theatre at Auckland. His resignation takes effect from.the end of the present month. Formerly well known in various parts of the Empire as a vaudeville star, Mr. Regan, since the brief period he has managed the Regent, has formed a wide circle of friends. Before coming to Auckland he was manager of the Regent and Octagon theatres in Dunedin, and the Regent in Wellington. With a two-year contract in his pocket, he will continue his connection with the film industry under the Fuller-Hayward banner in Wellington. A New Hardwicke. AM, I confess, prejudiced about J. B. Priestley’s clever comedy, "Laburnum Grove." I have a suspicion that the B.I.P. film of the play which was privately screened in Wellington the other day is not really very goodnevertheless, I enjoyed every minute of

the picture. Edmund Gwenn we all know; in the leading role in this film he turns on another of. his delightfui performances-particularly effective in the scene with the detective at the end of the film; but it is Sir Cedric Hardwicke whom many will not recognise in this picture-it is the first time he has appeared as a character comedian on the screen, and he makes a perfect job of the part of the sponging relative, who has spent most of his life "out Bast." The ‘other characters are all competently handled. and though, perhaps, the play is a Lit too quiet and slow-moving ever to make u great picture, it’s amusing and interesting none the less. Worth sesng. Thrills ’n’ Chills "PHERE’S quite a bit of fun in "Some. one at the Door," a film from B..P. previewed in Wellington recently. The plot is unusual and gives ore a chance to look into the ence. unoccupied Narracot Manor, an old place, just the setting for a murder or two.- And the creaking doors ‘help things along, too. Billy Milton, who has been cast in a number of films, notably "Young Woodley" (although he has been principally concerned for the last ten years in stage work), takes the lead and plays opposite Aileen Marson. Noah Beery is in it too, and takes the part of a certain Mr. Cable, an unscrupulous fellow whose theft of 40,000 pounds’ worth of jewels is the cause of many unusual adventures.