Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Jul 1930)

HOLLYWOOD FILMOGRAPH 11 "SO THIS IS LONDON?" UNITED BRITISH ssss PRESS SERVICE TALKING VIA— "HAPPY, THOUGH MARRIED Sam Goldwyn and Joseph Schenck spent Christmas in Paris, and are back in London again. At time of writing Sam Goldwyn's search for a male star to play opposite Evelyn Laye has not been successful. Meanwhile, lovely Mrs. Goldwyn is spending part of her time in London buying antiques. "Look at her," said Mr. Goldwyn proudly at a Press reception. I've been married five years, and I'm more in love with her than ever." Jt <£ -j* BERNARD SHAW— FILM CRITIC George Bernard Shaw had a private view of "The Passion of Joan of Arc," Carl Dreyer's film which, after a succession of unfortunate setbacks, has just passed the censor. It must be emphasized that this is not an adaption of Shaw's own play, "St. Joan," but G. B. S., whilst expressing amazement at the photographic quality and technique, admitted that the character portrayed by Marie Falconetti — a Continental actress — hardly agreed with his idea of St. Joan. It is said that suggestions made by Shaw are being adopted before the picture goes for a run at the Plaza, Paramount's London Theatre. Scenes showing the administration of the Eucharist were responsible for the hold up, but the difficulties have now been ironed out. ^?* ^5* d?* HOME TALKIES? Mr. Basil Dean, head of Associated British Talking Pictures, announces an interesting deal as a result of a contract with Radio-Keith-Orpheum of America which gives Associated British solid advantages not possessed by any other British company. Home talkies are brought appreciably near, and it is said, these will be of miniature size, printed on paper, and purchasable in the same way as gramaphone records. An admirer of "Rio Rita," for example, will be able to buy a small sized copy of that film for his permanent entertainment. Meanwhile, Associated British and R-K-O will jointly produce supertalking features in British studios for which R-K-O guarantee release throughout the United States and the world. The first of these pictures, which will be produced and shown before July, will be "Escape," with Leslie Howard in the leading role. i 1 1 E. A. Boughan, dramatic and film critic of the London "Daily News," contends that the whole "center" of film production has shifted — the addition of dialogue has made of it a new art in which more responsibility is thrown upon the individual player. t&* ^w t5* Acceptance by Vienna of the American films is considered rather complimentary, as the natives are among the most appreciative in the world of good musical and theatrical entertainment. Practically all the motion picture theatres are using American SAM HARDY The villain of "A Man's Man" and many recent features, will provide the masculine menace in Marion Davies' new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, temporarily titled "The Gay '90's." In the picturization of the original story by Gene Markey, Hardy will play the part of Fontaine, Broadway gambler who seeks to lure the little Floradora heroine to the bright lights. Harry Beaumont is directing the new Davies musical talkie with Lawrence Gray playing opposite the star. Included in the supporting cast are Jed Prouty, Claude Allister, Walter Catlett, Maude Turner Gordon, John Louis Bartels and Ilka Chase. apparatus for projection, deeming it superior to the European product. t5* ^?* t?* Western Electric Sound System will soon be "sitting on top of the world" literally as well as figuratively. They are making an installation in the Empress Theatre, Fairbanks, Alaska, only sixty miles from the Arctic Circle. t&* ^?* ^» Joseph M. Schenck and Samuel Goldwyn, have completed negotiations whereby London is to gain a supercinema in the heart of the fashionable West End costing more than $5,000,000. This capital will be part British. Mr. Schenck is also interested in building a chain of picture theatres in the larger English provincial cities. Talking pictures are not yet favored in Sweden. This has been revealed by the Svenska Dagbladet, a morning paper of Stockholm, through a nation-wide symposium. Of the replies 92 per cent were strongly opposed to the talkies. Czechoslovakia is the latest European country to hail Al Jolson's Vitaphone production, "The Singing Fool." It was shown at the Alfa Eio Theatre in Prague and was called by the newspapers the best sound picture seen so far in that city. i 1 1 BACK George B. Miller is back from the East where he went for a three months vacation. He is working right now at the RKO studios. AMERICAN TALKIES WIN FAVOR IN GERMANY BERLIN. — An alarming condition is reported to be prevailing in Germany due to the desertion of some of Germany's finest operatic singers to the better paid film producions now in course of production and which will include many musical comedies and operettas. The opera houses have lost much patronage to the American talkie and singing films. Michael Bohnen, Vera Schwartz, Richard Tauber and other prominent artists have already swung over to the screen with others ready to follow their lead. The new type of singing films certainly open up a great field for the American productions, especially of the better grade musicalized versions.