NAPOLEON'S STAR

Radio Record, 25 March 1938, Page 27

NAPOLEON'S STAR

Garbo Does Not Filch The Thunder of The Emperor

HERE is a littleness in man which must have _ its ghoulish chuckle when great things and great people tumble down to earth. Myself not least, we all take, at some moments, our inward consolation for failures from the thought that sooner or later, death or the fates will bring beggars and kings alike to the dull level of all mortality. Was it a trace of this human weakness that made a first-rate sensation in America out of Greta Garbo’s latest M.-G.-M. picture, "Marie Walewska"’-or "Conquest" as it was called at its first release’ For in that film many crities discerned at last a halt in the Garbo's steady dominance. She was ont-starred, they said, and over-shadowed. Mournful-eyed Charles Boyer, for the first time in history, had stolen her picture. She was merely his leading lady. The controversy travelled with the film round the world, so that when I went to the New Zealand preview in Wellington the other day I was, if not expecting, at least prepared for, the worst,

Not By Chance NEED not have feared. "Marie Walewska" is emphatically not a Garbo defeat. Even though it must stand as Boyer's triumph, it is equally the splendid tribute to an actress who is great enough-in every sense--to allow herself to be dwarfed. No one but Garbo, I believe, after long years of unchallenged solo-starring, would have had either the generosity or the artistic intelligence so consistently to subdue herself to the demands of a picture as a whole. It could, of course, have been just chance or a strong director’s will. On the other hand, Garbo herself suggested the love story of the Polish Countess Walewska and Napoleon as a film subject to Irving Thalberg just before his death, although she well knew that the part of Napoleon must inevitably he stronger than her own. And when the picture was under way, she proved so easy a working partner that Charles Boyer-before that on the point of leaying Hollywood for ever with an inferiority complex-was (lesperately anxious to have her opposite him again in "Tovarich,." His disappointment when he was given Claudette Colbert

instead nearly wrecked the production of the Warner Bros,’ comedy. Ultimate Proof (PHESE facts support the evidence of the Walewska film itself. If Garbo is the lesser figure, it is no detraction, but rather the ultimate proof of her genius. I defy anyone to name nn actress who could have more subtly and surely drawn the character of the Countess Walewska, within the limits of the script, and at the same time in every word and gesture immeasurably strengthened Boyer’s dark portrayal of Napoleon. : Boyer’s Napoleon (THE French actor has here the role of a lifetime, and he gives it eyerything he knows. There are no undertones in his Napoleon-it is harsh and ruthless with the thunder of increasing discords. We are given the French version of this star-doomed corporal-not just a (Otd, next: page),

tyrannical megalomaniac, but a pas sionate idealist, who started with the dream of union for all Europe and ended by the destroying of his own self, Boyer’s hunched, angry little figure crashes across the screen just as Napoleon’s armies crashed through Europe. But the tragedy is there from the first. Soon the realisation comes that war and guns can kill only men, never hat-red-and yet he knows no other weapon to achieve his ends, Gradually the dream of union fades before the lust for power that grows in the Emperor’s haunted eyes. He goes-on through blood and bitterness,

SeRRSEREE REESE SERREEROGGESOS CER AAE RDA eae, through the wreckage of his own through woman’s love and man’s loyalty. At the last, when he could yet have had the one thing to bring him peace, he goes to his exile alone. Poor, beaten, untamed Emperor! You will see.a hundred or a thousand films before you shake*the memory of that pent,: frustrated figure | from your mind. Walewska’s Love AND beside him, around him, is always the quiet presence of Vurie Walewska-the Polish girl who, wor- \

shipped him from afar, who met him. and was disillusioned; and then as a woman, came to love him for’ the troubled soul she saw beneath his turbulent ways. Even when his soul had changed, when he cast her off brutally to make a policy marriage with a Hapsburg he had never seen, when he rewarded her for going to him at Elba by forcing her into his one last intrigue for power-eyen then Marie Walewska . remained unquestionably true to him. In its actnal tale of se--paration and unavailing love. her story too, was tragedy; but in reality it found its whole meaning in sorrow, At his brusque parting before St. Helena, she thanked him gravely: "You touched me and gave me life. You lifted me up, so that I shall neyer know this little world again." You Will Remember... 7OU may remember Napoleon for bis shaking rages, or his puzzled brooding. Or you may remember him better for a woman’s tears when she watches hey little man proudly review his soldiers, for the lift and fear in her eyes when he-comes to her at Vienna, for that despairing, clear-sight-ed summary of his life, "If you really loved me, your love would save you now," I don’t know. Only time will tell whether Garbo’s or Boyer’s performance will live the longer. But T have the feeling that both are indelible. And this I do know, that. this was the most moving film I have seen in years. You may discount as much as you like of a personal enthusiasm, and you may quibble at departures from historical truth which seem to me in this case supremely unimportant. But all the same you should see this picture for its lyric script, for the brilliant unity of Clarence Brown’s direction, and, above all, for the screen’s most magnificent example of unselfish dual starring. "Marie Walewska." M.G.M. Directed by Clarence Brown. Starring Gveia Garbo. Charles Boyer. First reiease: April 16, Wellington and Auckland,

Makes Fun Of It. [NX spite of the fact that it contains American football, American college life, and a hard-faced woman who croons in a bass voice, Columbia’s "Start Cheering" is, on the whole, a very amusing picture. The reason being that it makes fun of the things that are so wearisome when taken seriously -American football, and American college life, I mean. I’m afraid we were meant to take the crooning seriously, but I’m equally certain I didn’t. While it lasted I closed by eyes and wished for death-or cotton-wool. In "Start Cheering," Hollywood also pulls its own leg a trifle, by providing as hero an idolised film star (Charles Starrett) seeking escape from fame. He longs for the clean, fresh air of the college campus, where men are men and the better ones are football players. His manager does all he can to bring him back in front of hungry cameras, while the professors and coaches and co-eds are equally determined to keep him at college because of the publicity and heart-throbs he can produce. From between this

clash of rival interests, Columbia have squeezed out a trifle of young love, some song ’n dance, and a large amount of ribald, burlesque comedy. That Schnozzle! ARDEST worker in the cause of laughter is Jimmy Durante, who pokes his. schnozzle into everything as

TORUURAEELERESDDEREREDEELEEEEEEEREGEAT RODS EREERE SEP SEER S PEEL Eee eee eeee eras. the half-witted assistant of the film star’s manager. It is some time since Durante’s nose has graced a picture, and I found him and it as refreshing as ever. Particularly his two-way telephone conversation with himself, and his efforts to read a railway time-table. Walter Connolly’s splutters of protest are always a joy to hear. As the film star’s manager in "Start Cheering" he has plenty to splutter about. "Start Cheering." Columbia. Directed by Albert S. Rogell, starring Jimmy Durante, Walter Connolly. Release date indefinite. To Play Louis XVI (SHARLES LAUGHTON, George San- ° ders and Peter Lorre were at various times suggested for the part of Louis XVI in Norma Shearer’s "Marie Antoinette." Each suggestion in turn fell through, The question of building up boots to make Peter Lorre attain the requisite height was again being discussed, when M.-G.-M. found theiy man. He is a young English actor of whom you have probably never heard. His name is Robert Morley. It sounds like the best break an unknown English actor has ever had in Hollywood. There is a chance that Norma Shear- er’s other leading man in "Marie Antionette’ will also be unknown to filmgoers, Vincent Price, at present touring opposite Helen Hayes in "Victoria Regina," is being sought for the part of Axel Fersen, the Queen’s lover. Theatre Prices in U.S.A. HD long anticipated advance in motion picture theatre admission prices throughout the United States will be inaugurated with the nationwide, first-run engagements of Samuel Goldwyn’s "The Adventures of Marco Polo," in which Gary Cooper plays the title role. As the film is to be exhibited simultaneously in key cities, the industry will benefit by having the increase effected at one sweep. Commenting on the situation that is likely to follow a general advance in theatre admissions in America, Samuel Goldwyn stated: "The standards of the industry would improve to such an extent that Grade B pictures would

disappear from production schedules and double features would be eliminated." Bon Voyage PT BAVING on the Awatea on March 29 for a combined holiday and business visit to Great Britain is J. B. Smythe, well-known and well-liked fig: ure in New Zealand‘s film world. At present he holds an executive position in New Zealand Theatres’ head office in Wellington, Johnny Smythe has been actively engaged in the film business since leaving college, and was one of the first to join M.-G.-M. when that company opened offices in Wellington. After several years with M.-G.-M. he went

to Celebrity Pictures, which at that time released Pathe and Radio pictures. When Radio Pictures became RKO Radio and absorbed the old Pathe company, he moved with the new organisation into their present offices. . After five years with RKO ag booker, he joined the J.C. Williamson Picture Corporation in a similar capacity, In 1936 he went to Timaru to manage the Regent Theatre there, but in June,

1937, returned to, Wellington to. takevup his present position with New Zealand Theatres. And now he intends to add to hig knowledge and experience with a six months’ trip which will give him an opportunity to visit studios and theatres in Australin and Great Britain, Donat For "Citadel" fs LATEST advice from M-G-M is that Robert Donat has been signed up to make four pictures in England for that company ata cost of 800.000 dollars each. aor The first will be Dr. A. J. Cronin’s story, "The Citadel." Clark. Gable, . Ronald Colman and Franchot- Tone. were previously named as possibilities for this role, along with Donat. ° Gracie A Star PARAMOUNT has commissioned. S,. S. Van Dine, master of mystery’: fiction, to write an original starring vehicle for George Burng and Gracie Allen under the title "The Gracie Allen Murder Mystery." Van Dine. will do all of his writing in the East. Lewis W. Gensler will produce the © picture. Gensler hag also made known that he plans prominently to feature John Barrymore in the big comedy production. Which For Which? "THREE male stars are wanted for the film which Warners have an- nounced they will make about the tragie history of Maximilian’and Car. lotta of Mexico. The three whom the studio hope to secure are Paul Muni. Edward G Robinson and_ Fredric March. The roles to be filled are those ° of Maximilian himself, the Emperor Franz Josef’s brother who renounced his Austrian rights to sit on the uneasy throne of Mexico; Napoleon ITT. who put him on it to fulfil his dreams of a Catholic Latin Empire; and Juarez, the Mexican-Indian patriot Who drove him off. The question is, which star shall play which? However the question is answered it will be a highly sensational cast. : But Kay Francis, who first thought AAD AAien en _

up the idea of making a picture on this subject, has now been left out; and Helen Menken (formerly Mrs, Humphrey Bogart and a famous figure on the.American stage) has been "practically persuaded" to play the role of the Wmpress Carlotta. ‘Hudson’s Bay Cecil B. de Mille is going to film an historic drama of the Hudson’s Bay Company for Paramount, De Mille intends to film the major part of the picture in Northern Canada, working in the places which were the scenes of the many exciting and dramatic events that resulted in the development of the great fur industry. He plans to lead more than one thousand Hollywood players and workers into remote parts of Canada for camera work which will take at least two months to perform in an effort to bring the story of the Hudson’s Bay Company to the screen in the elaborate and mb aceeuehcsees Panenneenacaneans pamonnnonmnn nnn 7

eeeperses leith i thee thee Lr authentic manner characteristic of his productions. Jeanie MacPherson, bistorical research expert on the De ‘Mille production, has been working for séyeral months gathering data -on. which the story will be based. Missing Tooth SHOOTING "of "There Goes the Groom" was held up at RKO Radio recently while the entire company combed the set for a missing tooth. ° Six-year-old Patsy Lee Parsons has lost one of her front teeth, : and wears a tiny plate which supports an artificial molar. All was in readiness for a scene when director J oseph | Santly stopped proceedings. "Where’s your bridge-work, Patsy ?"’ he asked. Patsy couldn’t find it. She’d mislaid it between scenes, and it required several minutes of thorough searching before Burgess Meredith found the missing plate resting among the atxings of a grand piano! Si