Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 29 August 1936, page 36


Maurice Ches alter: "Ou, la, la, with, my" looks and my brains what a

team won two will make." j

2 Hush Sinclalr and lazy Tcm i principal players in "The Marris,' '

of Corbel," "

THE SHOW SHOP

WINDOW

.

Film Stars Parade

Claimed as one of the really "big" pictures for 1936, the Metro-Go)chvyn-Mayer production of "San Francisco" will follow the current programme at the Metro. One of the highlights of the film is the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. . . . And there is one actor in Melbourne at the moment who knows all about the thrills of that terrifying upheaval-Mr. Reginald Roberts.

ON the morning of the 'Frisco

quake he was sleeping when the rumbling disturbed him, and he had only time to leave his

hotel before it crashed in ruins. He was due to leave for Australia, but his vessel was tied up in mid-stream, and it was many days before he embarked. With thousands of other homeless people, he camped in Golden Gate Park. In 1929 Roberts had another thrill. He was a passenger on the Union liner Manuka when she foundered off the coast of New Zealand. He was one of the 286 persons picked up at sea. i

e 4 *

One Hollywood restaurant has become such a centre for heated debates between film players that the management is thinking of hanging on the shingle . . . "Open as usual during altercations."

* * *

Social Lioness

PROM Hollywood comes the latest

'- gossip that all the social leaders in Los Angeles and the film centre have taken the new blonde and very lovely Mrs. Douglas Fairbanks to their hearts. There have been parties galore with real tea to drink, and the top film stars have all looked lier over-and approved. When the last mail left the only important person in Hollywood who had not yet said "How do you do?" to the former Lady Ashley was the previous Mrs. Douglas Fairbanks Mary Pickford. . . . Anti, by the way, nothing has been heard in weeks of Buddy Rogers and his reported affection for Mary.

* * *

Jessie's Progress

IF it were put to a vote I suggest that

the British film star most popular with American audiences would be Jessie Matthews. She is already being labelled "The Dancing Divinity" along Broadway and by the men and women writers who make and break actors and actresses with their fountain pens and typewriters. Jessie Matthews of the tilted nose, the poetic legs, and irresistible personality lins an appeal that bridges the Atlantic, and thus tile dancing divinity" should provide Elstree with encouragement concerning other things to come.

* * -K

J matrimonial fickleness

is at last explained by Virginia Bruce, who says: Acting is a portrayal of life, and certainly the best and quickest way to gain a knowledge of life is in matrimony." . . For years and years I have been wondering why so many stars were so versatile.

* * *

Local Film

SEVERAL outdoor sequences for the

, Apex Films production of "Pearl Last" have been taken in and around Melbourne, and on Monday interior

scenes will _S___

H

be "shot" at Cinesound studios, St. Kilda. Under the direction of Mr. A. R. Harwood, with Mr. C. Arnold as his assistant, progress on filming has been rapid, and already some

thousands of feet (of positive is ready

for editing and putting. Miss Fay Devil, a local actress, and Mr.

l'a y Kcvil.

John Bowden are the principals in a story which deals with life in the South

Sea Islands

* * *

Dr. Dafoe, the Canadian medico who has charge of the Dionne Quin-triplets, stars of "The Country Doctor," soon to be seen here, has seen only one film in his life . . . That was

"Sunshine Susie."

* * *

Far From Home

MARGARET VYNER, the Sydney

actress, who has a leading part in The Flying Doctor" and who left for Hollywood three months ago, has gone on to London Before leaving the American film centre she said she would return to Hollywood next year. Mary Maguire, the Queensland girl who played the feminine lead in the 'Doctor." left for Hollywood last week Miles Mander, who directed the picture after a short visit to England is now in Hollywood He is occupying Madeleine Carroll s home while she is touring the Continent

-te * *

SAID the dim hereafter The tenth

take of -a scene "The rp are only two things wrong with her everything she says and everything, she does "

-K 3 K

Back To Stage

THERE seems to be a back-to-the-stage

movement among Hollywood's femi-nine stars Katherine Hepburn has announced that she will play the title role in "Jane Eyre," which is to be staged in New York in January, Margaret Sullavan is to return to the theatre this year in Stage Door ' a new play by George S Kaufmann, and Kitty Carlisle will be seen in the lead in White Horse Inn '

4 4 4

CHARLES LAUGHTON, after a Holiday

from screen work, is now play-was the title role in "Rembrandt," which is being made in London by Alexander Korda. Laughton has grown a moustache for the part. . . . Carne the

down.

R -K S

Distinction

TV/TM. R. A HARWOOD, who is IVA making "Pearl List" In Melbourne,

told me this one An old actor, after weeks of standing on the doorstep was told to report for a film test In a scene in which he had to toss some playing cards into a hit He arrived promptly on the set, but without the cards "I assured said the director, that you would bring your own cards 'Sir,' answered the old player, haughtily I am an actornot a property man '

-K * *

Some of these film actors make careless statements Listen to Clark (heavy screen lover) Cable. "Max Baer will have to do heavier training than swinging a baton before I take him seriously."

* * *

Simply Colossal

ONE has to travel far for local film

news these days in the Motion Picture Herald ' published in New York on July 18, there is an article by Mr

Cliff Holt (Australian repo esentativ c of the paper), covering the activities of Geneal Theatres Corporation and Hoyts Theatres Ltd in 1935 During that year 26,152,986 admittance tickets were sold by these companies the figures being more than four times the total population of Australia. Other figures show that in the six years ended June 30. 1935, Hoyts Theatres Ltd returned a net profit of £173,313, and in that period the company,

paid in taxation £140 190 It also collected in amusement tax £450 000 Seemingly there is money in the bus!

ness-box someone

* * *

q"_lE Comedy Theatre Is bringing, J- back. Frank Buck who brings em

muck flies This explorers latest film Fang and Claw which deals with wild life in the Malay, Peninsula is on the list of pictures for screening at the Comedy The Petrified Forest with Bette Day is and 1 Leslie Howard is another of the different films for release at this theatre

* * *

Vci "wildly)

VILLAINS and heroes are all alike to

Lance Nicholls who if he doesn't actually meet himself coming out of one

Lance Nicholls

door, is at least a very versatile actor. He was last seen in Gregan McMahon's production of "Richard of Bordeaux," and when this highly successful play is again produced on September 19 and 21, at the King's Theatre, he will be in his old part of Henry, Earl of Derby. He will also play a leading part in "Crime at

Blossoms," which Gregan McMahon will produce on September 12 for a. four nights' season. He is in the cast of the film "Pearl List." which is being shot in Melbourne at present by the Apex Film

Company.

A writer claims that Hollywood is the Athens of America . . . If sounds

Creek to mc.

-K W F

Cornhill Home

Russian Ballet now on its way to Australia is Daphne Deane, who before going to England some years ago was a wellknown newspaper woman and actress. Her first stage appearance was at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, in 1925, when she played the lead in "Anna Christie." In recent years she has been on the managerial side of concert tours conducted by famous artists on the Continent, and when this ballet of youth arrives will Helene Kirsova as Its principal. Miss Deane should have a busy time renewing old friendships.

* * *

On I he March

BUMPSTEAD M-TIDDELY-UMPHI The

dance bands are on the march for new plans are out for 1937 to feature such learned professors of the art of jazz as Harry Roy. Jack Hylton, Henry Hall, Buddy Rogers, Paul Whiteman, Ted Lewis, and others in screen musicals. You have already heard the whining crash of sidedrums and the means of saxophones in films; but these will be as nothing in the new pictures. The conductors are to be featured, and already the cameras are turning on these mysterious personalities the unseen emperors of the air whose nightly offerings are wafted to us by our own and neighbours' radios tuned in to "B" class stations. Oh! well, we can stand

it.

-K 5 4

IN" a letter to me a country reader

says (that he thinks Anna Neagle is misses as Peg Woffington. The Square Peg of Old Drury, perhaps?

-K 4 2

in British Films

LATEST American recruit to British

pictures is James ("Schnozzle") Durante, who has been engaged for a leading role in "Land Without Music." Richard Tauber is the star." . . . Eugene Palette has been signed for "Dishonour Bright," Tom Walsh's latest comedy. . . . "Love from a Stranger" has been decided upon as the subject for Ann Harding's British production.

* * *

SIXTEEN' new vaudeville artists will

begin a season at the Tivoli on September 12, when "Laugh, Town, Laugh" will be presented. The Australian comedian, Roy Rene ("Mo") will be the principal comic, appearing in several new sketches to be presented by Mr. Wallace Parnell, the English producer.

* * *

Early Widow

APROPOS the forthcoming appearance

- of Gladys Moncrieff in "The Merry Widow," at His Majesty's Theatre on September 5, the first performance of Lehar's opera took place in Melbourne at Her Majesty's Theatre on May 10, 1908. The title role was played by Carrie Moore, and Andrew Higginson was Danilo. The last revival took place in Melbourne at the Theatre Royal on November 7, 1931, with Dorothy Brunton as the widow and Frank Leighton as Danilo. Previously it had been revived at the Theatre Royal on April 26, 1930, with Gladys Moncrieff! as Sonia and Michael Cole as Danilo.

Herbert Marshall and Gertrude Michael in a scene from "Till We Meet Again," which begins a season at the Capitol Theatre to-day.

Search for Types

wHERE is a frantic search for new

*? screen types being conducted by American and English producing studios, but it is stressed that amateur talent only is acceptable. Men and girls who have already entered the theatrical and cabaret field are not encouraged, how even strong their film aspirations Rather are the studios looking for the new Garbos among typists, shop girls for factory workers, and for the Clark Gables mid Montgomery, of the future in insurance offices, the army, the navy, and the field of sport One studio claims that It has the greatest find for 16 years in Simon Simone, a little French star snapped up by Hollywood.... We'll be seeing her.