The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

July 15, 1931 THE BIOSCOPE 23 British Studios To-day “McGlusky” in the Desert— Stewart Rome’s New Part— Hagen Starts “ Splinters Sunshine Susie” Hold-up B.r.P. Unit for Africa F. W. Kraemer, who will direct the British International picture " McGlusky, the Sea Rover,” leaves within a week or so for North Africa to secure desert exteriors. Equipment for a party of 20 and the necessary provisions for a month’s camp are being commissioned in order that the unit may be totally independent throughout its sojourn. Guns and ammunition will be taken as a precaution against marauding tribesmen. Technical subjects are being tested out for African conditions, and experiments are being made with a new type of camera " blimp ” which will guard the gears against sand storms, and with film negative in order to ascertain how much heat it will stand before the emulsion begins to run ! Portable " dark rooms ” are being constructed for loading purposes, and a film stock supply will be forwarded from Elstree. Claude Friese-Greene will be in charge of the cameras. Sound technicians will be included in the unit, and it is hoped that the desert scenes will be recorded at Elstree by means of land lines and telephone relays. McGlusky Cast Dennis Hoey has been cast for the title role, Harold Huth will play Captain Mazarin, and Betty Amann, now playing in Hitchcock’s " Rich and Strange,” will appear as " The Flame of the Desert.” Stewart Rome for “Great Gay Road”? Sinclair Hill, engaged on preliminaries for his new British production, " The Great Gay Road,” which he is to make for Butchers, wrote to the Daily M ail, asking for suggestions from its readers as to suitable locations for the picture, in which he is anxious to incorporate some of the finest British beauty spots. To his utter surprise, he had over 3,500 replies from beauty-lovers in every part of the country ; 1,500 letters arrived at the Daily Mail offices and 2,000 more reached Mr. Hill direct, extra clerical assistance having to be engaged to cope with the flood. One correspondent worked out a complete tour for the hero of " The Great Gay Road ” and his quaint companion. Many of the suggestions were of the utmost value. Sinclair Hill’s flair for originality has never been more fruitfully employed, and this splendid result is a testimony also to the interest in films which W. A. Mutch, as film critic of the Daily Mail, has evidently stimulated. It is anticipated that shooting on " The Great Gay Road ” will begin next week, and I shall not be surprised if the principal role is taken by Stewart Rome. “Splinters in the Navy ” Starts ” Splinters in the Navy,” which has just gone into production at the Twickenham studio, introduces the famous Splinters company. Julius Hagen has secured the services of Walter Forde (by courtesy of Gainsborough) to direct this subject, the material for which has been specially written round the famous war-time comics by H. Fowler Mear. Sydney Howard is starred in " Splinters in the Navy,” and is supported by Frederic Bentley, Hal Jones, Reg Stone, Lew Lake and the Splinters chorus. There are two important female roles, which will be played by Helena Pickard (so successful as the parlourmaid in “ Lord Richard in the Pantry ”) and Paddy Brown, a new discovery. I understand that “ Splinters in the Navy ” is planned as a really big production, and James Carter promises something remarkable in the way of interior sets, while special naval facilities are being afforded for the shooting of exteriors. Sydney Blythe is cameraman, Baynham Honri chief recordist, Cyril Stanborough still cameraman, and Jack Harris will edit the picture. W. & F. will distribute the film. Lon Chaney' s Make-Up Expert Another sure indication that the Paramount British unit now working at Elstree has been recruited to make pictures well above the established " quota ” level is the engagement of M. Ernesto, one of the greatest Hollywood experts on make-up, to take charge of the make-up department. Ernesto was for ten years with Rex Ingram, and later was responsible for most of the amazing disguises which made Lon Chaney famous as an impersonator. “Sunshine Susie ” Misfortune I am sorry to hear that Victor Saville, who started on his new Gainsborough production, “ Sunshine .Susie,” at the Poole Street Studios last week, has been brought to a standstill by the sudden illness of his leading player, Nancy Miller. Miss Miller was taken seriously ill while on the set and was hurried to a nursing home, where an operation for peritonitis was performed by the well-known surgeon Victor Bonney. Miss Miller is making satisfactory progress, but is unlikely to be fully recovered for some time. Gainsborough are now planning to bring forward one of their other productions which Saville will direct. Harcourt Templeton Supervises “Blue Danube ” Herbert Wilcox, director of production of British and Dominions Film Corporation, Ltd., announces that he has engaged Harcourt Templeton to supervise production of " The Blue Danube,” the subject which will feature Alfred Rode and his Royal Tzigane Orchestra, now playing to enthusiastic audiences at the Dominion Theatre, and who have been honoured by Royal Command to play the waltzes at the ball at Buckingham Palace on July 16th. Their engagement has led to a petition of protest from the Musicians Union addressed to His Majesty the King. Harcourt Templeton was associate director of A.S.F.I.’s " City of Song,” and recently completed " The Bells.” It is intended to make " The Blue Danube ” in English and German versions. An "Old’ Film Artist's Party The other evening I was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. James Tinling at their home in New Cavendish Street. The name of Tinling hides the identity of a striking personality who has played small parts in British films — more for the love of it than anything — and who made an imposing Admiral in Evelyn Laye’s first picture, "The Luck of the Navy.” Mr. Tinling, although since Margot Grahame in one of the beautiful sets designed for the Paramount British super “ Stamboul,” now nearing completion at Elstree engaged in company promotion, with, I believe, considerable success, has never forgotten — nor been forgotten by — his friends in the film business. Many unnamed acts of kindness have endeared him to a large number of film artists. Mr. Tinling, who has also written theme songs, surrounds himself with friends drawn from literary and artistic circles, and at the party were J. B. Fagan, the well-known producer, and Mrs. Fagan ; Lady Beecham and Mr. Beecham ; Countess Clancarty ; Princess Wiszneiwska ; Mdme. Lewinskaya, the great Russian pianist ; the Hon. Esmond Harmsworth ; Lady Baillie ; Lady Poynter ; General Sir Amanda Mola ; Vice-Admiral and Mrs. Taylor ; Doctor Mather Thompson ; Doctor White ; Doctor Ethel Morton ; Sir Ernest Petter ; the Rev. and Mrs. Freese ; and Mrs. Shuttleworth, the well-known charity hostess. Two other distinguished guests were Miss Ryan, the tennis star, and Mr. Lissant Beardmore, the first man to cross the Channel in a glider. A delightful programme of music included songs by Mrs. Tinling, who is possessed of a most beautiful contralto voice. Hayes Hunter' s Ascot Scenes T. Hayes Hunter is keeping up to schedule on " The Calendar,” the second of the British Lion-Gainsborough joint productions which now occupies the floor at Beaconsfield. Edna Best and Herbert Marshall make their first appearance together on the set this week, when the big Ascot Ball sequence will be shot. A huge set occupying the whole of the floor space has been erected and more than 300 extras have been engaged for this scene, which forms one of the many high-lights of the film. Edna Best and Anne Grey, who have the leading roles, are wearing a number of lavish gowns specially designed by the famous house of Hartnell’s. Ascot exteriors will be filmed during the latter part of next week. W.H.M.