The Film Daily (1931)

THE [Sunday, February 8, 1931 DAILY 11 "Le Collier de la Reine" ("The Queen's Necklace") ■Jclair Productions Time, 1 hr., 30 mins. FRENCH COSTUME PRODUCTION WITH DUPED BITS, TITLES, POOR DIRECTION. 30NTINUITY AND ACTING POOR. This was a French production -nade at the time talkers started to ;ome in strong, so they shelved it, ind later took the first and last reels ind duped them to get the semblance >{ a talking picture. With the rest ji the reels showing titles, and a /evy amateurish continuity jumping abruptly, and very draggy in many spots, the whole affair is pretty sad. Taken from Alexander Dumas; novel it is an uninspired production of events in the time of Mane Antoinette and Cardinal de Rohan With the actors wearing powdered wigs and going through their parts in a stilted, pompous and woodeny manner, the offering becomes very boring and even absurd at times. It is so artificial that it fails to hold interest. It also lacks suspense, and the dramatic punch of the great novelist's original work. Only in one scene at the climax does it show any punch, which is in, the work of Marcelle Favrel-Chantal. Cast: Marcelle Favrel-Chantal; Diana Karenne, Jean Weber, Georges Lannes, Fernand Fabre, Jane Evrard. Director, Gaston Ravel; Author Alexander Dumas; no other credits available. Direction, Poor. Photography, Spotty. "Vi Tva" ("We Two") Paramount Time, 1 hr., 25 mins. SWEDISH TALKER VERSION OF "THE LADY LIES" NICELY PRODUCED WITH COMPETENT ACTING AND DIRECTING. This production was made in Paramount's Paris studios, employing an all-Swedish cast. The American version had in the featured roles Claudette Colbert and Walter Huston, and the Swedish players, Margit Manstad and Edwin Adolphson are a close second to them in the quality of their performance. The plot of the original "Lady Lies" has been closely followed. A widower with two children introduces his own children to* the lady he desires to make their step-mother, and they raise stren,uous objections, as another designing female who is after their daddy's money has complicated the situation. The story works out smoothly with some nice comedy touches to the point where the children are filled with remorse at the trouble they have caused, and then work to bring together the happy lovers. The production has been well received in New York where it is showing to Swedish audiences. Cast: Edvin Adolphson, Margit Manstad, Erik Berglund, Marta Ekstrom, Ivan Hed(luiat, Ann Marie Brunius, Ragnar Falck, Anna Lisa Froberg, Brita Vieweg, Elsa de Castro. Director. Charles De Roche ; Author, John Meehan ; Adaptor, Elsa Kastengren ; Dialogues, John Meehan, Elsa Kastengren ; Editor, not credited ; Cameraman, not credited. Direction, good. Photography, okay. 12 FEATURE PRODUCTIONS UNDER WAY AT RKO STUDIO (Continued from Page 1) his recent trip to New York. Irene Dunne will have the featured role. Victor Schertzinger has been assigned two pictures on this list: "The Sphinx Has Spoken," a story by Maurice DeKobra, with adaptation by Jane Murfin, and "Madame Julie." a story by Irving Kaye Johnson, with O. P. Heggie, Lily Damita, Lester Vail and Anita Louise already signed for the cast. Richard Boleslavsky is at work on •High River," with Charles Logue doing the adaptation. Herbert Brenon is busily engaged on "The Next Corner," story by Kate Jordan. Wesley Ruggles will direct "Too Many Crooks," from the play Tjy Frank Craven for which Douglas MacLean is doing the adaptation. It will co-feature Bert Wheeler and Dorothy Lee. "Waiting at the Church" to be done! in 100 per cent Technicolor, is the sixth in preparation) with Al Jackson and Barney Sarecky doing the script, and Mary Astor scheduled to head the cast. Pictures in rehearsal are "Traveling Husbands," with Evelyn Brent, Frank McHugh, James Gleason, and Hugh Herbert, under the direction of Paul Sloane; and "Board and Room," being directed by Gregory La Cava, with Hugh Herbert, Edna May Oliver, Dorothy Lee, Russell Gleason, John Harron, Hector V. Sarno, Wade Boteler1, Robert Emmett Keane and Charles Sellon. The four pictures in the cutting room are "Behind Office Doors," directed by Mel Brown, with Mary Astor, Robert Ames, Ricardo Cortez, Kitty Kelly, Noel Francis and Catherine Dale Owen; "Kept Husbands," directed by Lloyd Bacon, with Dorothy Mackaill, Joel McCrea, Robert McWade, Ned Sparks, Mary Carr, Clara Kimball Young, Douglas Gilmore, Lita Chevret and Bryant Washburn; "The Lady Refuses," di ected by George Archainbaud, with Betty Compson, Gilbert Emery, John Darrow, Margaret Livingston, Ivan Lebedeff and Daphne Pollard Bachelor Apartments," directed b> Lowell Sherman, with Sherman Irene Dunne, Mae Murray, Normal Kerry and Ivan Lebedeff. C> Presentations © By JACK HARROWER Classy Diversity Makes Jack Benny Headlines Swell Roxy Entertainment Fine Show at Capitol A varied stage program at the Roxy this week is alive with entertainment and class. The first offering is "La Sculpture," a beautifully staged bit, showing various pieces of well known statuary such as The discus Thrower, The Three Graces, etc., posed on pedestals. One after another they come to life, do their dancing and other interpretations, then go back at the end to their statuesque positions. "The Rathskeller" setting is a reproduction of the famous cafe in Berlin with the immense beer vat. In front of this are grouped the Heidelberg students and the Bavarian maidens in native costumes, singing and dancing as they drink thejr toasts and revel. "Ready to Wear" opens with twin dancers in white. One poses before what appears an immense mirror, while her double goes through the same motions, giving a startling effect of one performer reflected in a mirror. Then follows a scene in a modiste shop, with the mannequins parading. The final offering is "Old King Cole," with the famous painting reproduced as the setting, with King Cole on his throne with his jester and three fiddlers. Choruses costumed to represent different countries in turn render the nursery rhyme of "Old King Cole," and then various specialty acts are introduced. The Roxyettes have two gorgeous routines in the presentations, and score heavily. The current Capitol Revue is practically all Jack Benny — and Jack Benny is good. The comedian is assisted by a clever bevy of entertainers and the Chester Hale GirL who sport some unusually startling and picturesque costumes. The Hale girls open the show with a dance number that is snappy and well "tapped." Their costumes, consisting of green high hats, black velvet jackets and green silk pantaloons, are effective. Following their dance they introduce Benny. Duval, a prestidigitator of no mean ability, follows with some sleight-of-hand that is interesting and novel. Benny then collects his share of laughs by introducing Marie Marsh (Mrs. Benny) and carrying on a really humorous dialogue. A spectacular number is presented in which the H?1e girls in black and white tights, portray the keys on a huge grand piano. The number is well directed and a fine "flash." Dances by Billy Rolls and songs by Evelyn Wilson were applause getters. Benny winds up the show by putting on a burlesque orchestra leader stunt that is a wow. The Hale girls in more fresh and good-looking costumes dance in for the finale. It's a laugh show from start to finish. Headquarters Selected For S.M.P.E. Spring Meet The Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood has been selected as convention headquarters for the spring meeting of the Society of M. P. Engineers to be held in the fi'm capital May 25 to 28. The convention committee, composed of W. C. Kunzman, W C, Hubbard and M. W. Palmer, ha. prepared transportation itineraries over three preferred routes from New York and Chicago. Summer tourists fares will be in effect. Irene Bordoni Clicks On Paramount Program Irene Bordoni adds her charm and song-selling ability to the Paramount stage program this week. The audience warmed up to her work considerably at the opening matinee. Among other numbers she does an impersonation of Maurice Chevalier. Leo Reisman is back with his Casino orchestra. His program provides: "Waltz of the Flowers," "Just A Gigolo" and "Sweet Jennie Lee." Plenty of variety is afforded by the main show. Stetson gives a Class A exhibition of juggling with hats and boxes. John Quinlan and Helen Gordon sing in good style and the ballet does its usual excellent work. A sort cf Moran and Mack act is contributed by two blackfaces, who get over pretty well. The production, staged bv Frank Cambria is titled "Drag in the Dragon." New Penna. Bill Favors Sunday Shows, No Charge Harrisburg, Pa. — Under a new liberal Sunday bill introduced by Representative James Weetach and now before the General Assembly, motion picture performances and other amusements would be permitted on the Sabbath provided no admission fees were charged, unless the money collected is wholly for charitable or educational purposes. British Industrial Films For S. A. Trade Exhibit London — As a part of the film industry's contribution to the Brit Mi Rmnire Trade Exhibition to bo held at Buenos Aires in March, industrial films advertising the products of Great Britain will be on view. New House for Kutinsky Excavation work has started for a theater to be erected at Lydig and White Plains Road, the Bronx, for Morris Kutinsky. The house will scat 1,800 and cost about $500,000. M. H. Feldman is the architect. New Incorporations Equity Productions, operate theaters; S. IU. Kaye, 236 VV. 44th St . New York. 100 ••hares common. Hughes-Franklin Theaters Co., Ltd., Wil minRton, Del., operate theaters. Corporation Trust Co., Wilmington, Pel. 4,n(10 share Publix Pennsylvania Theaters, tnc., WU mington, Del., theaters, dance halls, entertainment places; Corporation Trust , l'rl. 1.000 shares common.