FOOTLIGHT FLASHES AND TALKIE GOSSIP

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 261, 6 December 1930, Page 9

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES AND TALKIE GOSSIP

pen in hand Marie Dressler, who wrote "The Life of an Ugly Duekling," has taken lier pen in hand again. Between scenes in "The Derelicts" at the Metro-Goldxvyn-Mayer studios Marie is busy writing a new hook, in which .some of lier inovie experiences will he recounted. "east is west" * Many of the scenes in "East is West" are heing screened in San Francisco's famous Chinntown. Much of the aetion of "East is West," the talking screen adaptation of the famous stage success of the same name, takes plaee in San Francisco. Tlie cast includes Lupe Yelez, Lewis Ayres and Edward G. Eobinsou. jeanette lo Jeanette Loff plays the role of Greta, "the one true love" ; in the life of a Continental diplomat, in the screen version of the Gottwald-Lothar stage hit, "The Boudoir Diplomat." Acknowledged as one of the ranking beauties of filmdom, Miss Loff has plcasant competition from Mary Duncan and Betty Compson in lier latest production. lights out Rupert Julian has hung up his megaphone and called "lights out!" on "Tlie Cat Creeps," xersion of John Willard's gripping stage play. Helen Twelvetrees, Raymond Hackett, Neil Hamilton, Lilyan Tashman, Jean Hersholt, Theodore Von Eltz, Lawrence Grant, Blanclie Froderici and Elizabeth Patterson make np a galaxy of screen lummaries in f'his mystery play. call for *accuracy Reproduction of a Spanish eathedral, by means of churcli decorations and' utensils horrowed from several churches in Mexico, is the length gone to fbr accuracy in "Call of the Elesh," Ramon Novarro's new ' talking-singing starring vehicle for Metro -GoldwynMayer. In order to make a xierfect r6plica of a Spanish church, actuai Spanish vestments and altar cups, etc., which differ radically from those used in other countries, were necessary. CJiarles Brabin, the director, liad a special riiessenger' sent' t'o Mfexlto td borrow tlie ' church fittingsi * .# * "slim" r Slim Summerville gaxe up Senuett comedies to get work iu feature pictures. He got his wish. In the last four montlis "Slim" lias heen prouunently cast in four outstanding productions, the most reeent heing "All Quiet on tlie "Western Eront," "The Little Accident" and "See America Thirst," the latter now in production. Summervilie is teamed with Harry Langdon in "See America Thirst." Williara J. Craft is directing the timely comedy which serves as Slim's latest, as well as his most ac-tixe, feature play. Sparkling black exes, « sle.nder figure, and a natural drawl. have made Siunmerville oue of filmdom'^ most distiuctive comedians.

desert village A desert village of the type which dot the edge of tlie Sahara was constructed on the sand dunes of Guadalupe, California, for scenes of "Morocco." lt is an _ adventure-romance ot the Erench Foreign Legion, with Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietricli and Adolphe Menjou in the leading roles. veteran director The direction of "Ladies' Man," the talking versiou ' of Rupert Hughes' novel, will he in the liands of Louis Gasnier, veterau director, and David Burton, newly Vecruited stage director. Bartlett Cormack, autlior of "The Racket" and otlier outstanding filin stor•ies, is adapting' tlie novel for the screen. natural cqlour The famons "Strange As It Seems" seides, by the cartoonist John Hix, is heing picturised, They are heing filmed in coloiir, sound and dialogue. With artistic and liistorieal euhjects, as well as the wonders of ua ture included, "eacli' topie of the series ,is screened jusfc like- a photoplay, and contains dialogue wlrere appropriate in the pictorial presentation. Sound eftects and music are also used to great advautage, and each subjcet is presented in natural colour. acting career Edwin Carewe who will sliortly direct Tolstoy's "Resurrection," began his career as an actor. Practically every well-known play or novel that Carewe has placed on, the screen brings hack memories of many years ago wlieu he, as an actor, portrayed the principal roles before the footlights. Almost twenty years ago Carewe plaved tlie role of Prince Dmitri in a stage production of "Resurrection." Jolrn Boles will appear in this important assignment. Lupe A'elez will appear as Katusha Maslova, tlie leading feminine role. , - to wed soon Jetta Goudal, tlie temperameutal actress of the sifent screen, who gave up motion pictiire acting to heconie an interlor decorator, disclosed last nionth that she "Will wed lier business partner, Haitold Gi'ieye. Three years ago Jetta Goudal made liei- last- appearance in screen prodiictiohs. '>Then slie dev.oted considerahle time to furnish'ing and decorating her house. So successful was this that friends urged her to make their liomes attractive, and last year she launched into the business of interior decorating. In July, she met Harold Grieve, a Hollywood interior decorator. They worked togetlier in a Hollywood Hill liome, and formecf a business partnership. Now they have decided to make it a life one, The marriage will probably take place this year, as soon as the rush of business slackens, according to a statement made by tlie former actress. south sea cannibals •The famous camiibal tribes of the Solomon Islands, who, a few years ago, swarmed out of tiiiy remote bays in their battle canoes in prey upon passing- pearling luggers, have again heen brought to . life in oue of the most amazing stories yet produced on the talking screen. One liundred and fifty of these colourful natives in full war regalia and manning eleven fantastic shelldecorated canoes participated in scenes , of Paramount's. all-talking adventureromance, "Tlie Sea God," iu which Richard Arlen. Fiiy Ray and Eugene Pi'Hette are featured. Tlie war canoes arc from tliirty to fifty feet in length and have a capncity of niore.than a score of warriors. Pearl shells in weird desi.ens decorate tlie sidcs of the craft. At both stern and s'tem are liigh heaks ornamented with conch-shells. At the bow, just helow the line of shells and close to tiie water, are hends carved of wood. These are supposed to wafcch for hidden reefs. John Russell, one of the liestknown writers. -of . South Sea fiction, wrote tlie amazing tale of a deep-sea diver who was venernted hv the ua-, tixes. from which tlie "Sea God" is adapted. George Abbott wrote tlie screen storx and dirorted, and Robert Glockler. Maurice Black and Tvan Simpson liend the fupporting cast. * * * travelling studio The world's tirst ccmplete sound stmlio on i ailroad tracks moved mto Gallup, New Mexico, when exterior location scenes were filmed among the ancient Hopi -Indian ynieblos for William Haiue.s' latest talking picture, "Wav Out West." A special train, equipped with PuIImans served as a travelling hotel ior ihe cast, which includes, hesides ihe star, Leila Hyams, Polly Moran, Cliff Edwnrds, Francis X. Bushmau, junr., Vera Marsli, Charles Middleton, Jack Peiniiek, Buddy Roosevclt and Jay Wilsey. Oue car was fitted up as a camera shop and laboratory and carriod complete sound -recoruing apparatus. Dynamos operated by steam from the locomotive charged tlie storage batterios of the sound plant and cables were dropped from the tops of pueblos down three liundred feet to ihe recording car to carry tlie voices of the players irom "location" to tbe ■microphones. The strange location train was made •necessary because ot tlie -primitive region. into which. the conipany penetrated. No hotels were availafrle near the pueblo country and no electriity, hence tlie travelling hotel and the studio on wheels. In addition to cameras, equipment and cast, the train also carried horses for the cowboys as well as portable stable equipment. Fred Niblo direeted the new comedy, in which Haines plays a circus grafter who turns cowboy and meets with thrilling and hilarious adventures.

short vacation Her role in "A Lacl.y Surrenders" completed, Genevieve Tobin, tlie chstinctive blonde player, is taking advantage of a short vacation and establishing a permanent home in Hollywood. Miss Tobin cam© to Hollywood two montlis ago after a brilliant stage career in London and New York, her last Broadway appearance being in • ' i if ty Million Frenehmen." native pets Barhara Kent has added two tiny humming birds to her collection of native Oalifornian pets. Some weeks ago Barhara discovered a wee bird's nest on a. honeysuckle vine outside her bedroom window. Later cliirps were heard from within the nest. Investigating, Barbara found the two baby humming birds, which measured no more than an incli from hill to tail. woman's pr1v1lege Janet Gaynor exercised the woman's privilege of changing her mind and became reconciled to Fox on the eve of that company's plans to star Maui-een Q'Sullivan with Charles Farrell. Costumes for Miss O'Sullivan were well under way before the reconciliation was effected. This news will spread happiness among thousands of FarrellGaynor fans who could never assimiJate the idea of the new team. film wol * Lewis Ayres is finding that his work in "All Quiet on the Western Front" has made him more of an idol than he lmagined Recently Ayres attended a midnight show at a Hollywood theatre. On the way out lie was recognised by tliree elderly women. Iu a moment oO men and women Avere around him and as the modest liew explains it, lie had "to autograph his way out" of the crowd. Ayres will soon lie seen ou the screen as Billy Benson in "East is West" and will have "Mississippi" as his next picture. scenarist and cook ■ One can he a famoiis sceiiarist and a good cook as well. Every day Frances Marion, noted screen writer, brings a home-cooked lunch to the Metro - Goldwyn-Mayer studios for her husband, George Hill, directing Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery xn "The Derelicts:3'' She does it partly to see that he eats regularly and partly to be sure he won't have indigestion — because she says that indigestion liampers a dijrector's work. Since he's been married Hill's put 011 some ten pounds. Hill also direeted "The Big House." theatre book1ngs NAPIER. Dec. 6, 8, 9 and 10. — Napier Operatic Society. Dec. 11. — Gjrls' High Scliool. Dec. 16. — Napier Techuical Oollegc. Dcc. ^0 and 22. — J. C. Willianison's "New Moon" C'ompany. HASTINGS. Dec. 12. — Hastings Convent School. Dec. 19. — J. C. Williamson.