Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Oct 1934)

MARCH 24, 1934 Seen and Heard By ARTHUR FORDE Arthur Forde THE HIGH PEAK is now being hit at Paramount Studios, with employment at high gear. Seventeen pictures in various stages of work, and s i x more scheduled in two weeks. Scores of extras and bit players are now paying their back rent. * * * TOOK FIFTEEN MINUTES to catch a pose of Sylvia Sidney while she bobbed around in the Paramount commissary, when she was all dressed royally for her production of "Thirty Day Princess." The still camera man was almost dizzy. * * * HIS FIRST PICTURE as Director, will show his wife, Dolores, and baby, making a screen appearance, now that John Barrymore has decided to produce and direct a picture of his travels on many lands and seas. * * * "THE LIFE OF VIRGIE WINTERS"— taken from a series of short stories by Louis Bromfield, will serve Ann Harding as her next vehicle for RKO Pictures. This one is just built for the star and will shortly start in production. * # * BARRYMORE AND KRUGER are two more famous names added to the roster of "Treasure Island," the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, at the MG-M Studios, with Hunt Stromberg in charge of the production. * * * ACADEMY'S BEST ACTOR — Charles Laughton was assigned to play the role of the elder Barrett in "The Barrett's of Wimpole Street," by Irv SLEN ffl DER Loveliness IS YOURS If you will do what thousands of other women have done — use the famous Gertrude Nova method. So e: -y and simple--no harmful drugs — no dieting —no exercises. ABSOLUTELY SAFE. Write or phone in confidence for information. GERTRUDE NOVA 6404 Hollywood Blvd. GL-2728 "MELODY IN SPRING" DISTINCT HITS FOR DIRECTOR McLEOD AND LAN NY ROSS, A NEWCOMER There is one thing certain — Lanny Ross, the young singer, will certainly forge rapidly to the front if they give him half a chance, with his lovely lyric voice and splendid personality. Here is a light, lyrical offering that has a refreshing atmosphere and is a real treat. The yarn concerns a young singer who takes strenuous means of getting on a certain radio programme, by pursuing the daughter of the sponsor, a manufacturer of soap, and eventually wins by his efforts. The setting is charming, and Lewis Gensler, who wrote the catchy music, with Harlan Thompson adding his talents to the lyrics, being in a great measure responsible for carrying the production to success. "The Milking Song" and the one of "The Open Road" will probably be whistled on the streets, and Lanny Ross is delightful with his lovely singing voice, and with one or two more pictures to mellow his acting ability, we predict he will go further than any crooner who preceded him. Of course, anything that Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland are in may be sure of delivering delightful comedy, and they do not disappoint in this one. George Meeker is splendid as a rival to the crooner, with Herman Bing delivering something distinctive as the inn keeper. Ann Sothern we have not seen before, but her path should be easy on the cinema ladder if she keeps going like she did in this production. The Gale Triplets fit nicely into the general scheme of things, with Norma Mitchell and Helen Lynd adding delightful bits. Frank Leon Smith is responsible for a delightful story, with much good comedy interspersed by Benn W. Levy delivering a splendid adaptation. Special awards should be given to Hans Drier and Bernard Herzbrun for their fine art direction, and Henry Sharp, who added greatly to the pictorial beauty of the whole with his splendid photography. Norman McLeod gave just the right light, frothy touch to the direction; coupled with some real lilting music and the general atmosphere of the production, getting that much wanted "word of mouth advertising" that is the showman's delight, to carry this one to success. ing Thalberg, for the M-G-M Studios, with Norma Shearer in the star role. * * * HOLLYWOOD GETS THEM ALL — as Ethel Merman was offered $3500 per week at Radio City's Music Hall in New York, but turned it down to accept fifty per cent less at Paramount Studios for a chance at the flickers. * * * THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRLS are claimed by most of the studios, but Albertina R.asch affirms that her glamorous ballet numbers in the "Merry Widow" will far surpass all others for pulchritude. * * * MOST FAMOUS COLLEGE in all the world is soon to be the locale of a screen production, since Louis B. Mayer decided to film "Manners Maketh Men," an original by Johnny Considine, who was at the University. * * * WHAT WILL BING CROSBY DO now that his golf partner, boating companion and fishing pal, Richard Arlen, is Europe bound. Mrs. Bing also loses her bridge partner for her daily contract game, that Mrs. Dick knew so well. * * * JUST BEFORE THE BABY COMES — Frances Dee is making her last fling at pictures with her appearance in "Of Human Bondage" for RKO Pictures. Her fine work in "Finishing School" made her invaluable to Leslie Howard. * * * OVERCOME WITH DELIGHT was Gail Patrick, scintillating Southern beauty, when she was told to leave for New York, and go into one of the best plays of the season. Just finished "Murder in the Studio" for Columbia Pictures. * * * DE MILLE SAYS IT'S THE BEER that has put all the bay windows on the men since prohibition went out, as he has had great trouble in picking trim, stalwart men to act as Roman Legionnaires in his production of "Cleopatra." * * * HER PAST CATCHES UP as Carl Brisson, of Paramount Studios, claims he gave Greta Garbo her first chance on the stage, and she acknowledges that she had a crush on handsome Carl and presented him a bunch of violets at the stage door in Sweden. * * * WORKED IN TWENTY FILMS but was never photographed is the claim of a man who goes by the cognomen of John Laugh. His work was to bolster up laughing sequences on the side lines with his peculiar noises. * * * NAUGHTY GIRLS GET IT, claims Bette Davis, who says that the sweet and gentle girl of the screen does not get the eye of the public. Always the naughty ones win. Of course, Bette avers, only for the screen does this work. * * * ALL IN FOUR YEARS came the great success of Lionel Barrymore, who is almost ready to celebrate his twenty-fifth year on the screen. Recently he made a personal appearance tour for M-G-M Studios that went over big. * * * "NO MORE LADIES" is the title of a play purchased by M-G-M for a screen vehicle for their latest star for the screen, Lucille Watson, from the New York stage. The elegant Franchot Tone will help Lucille succeed in her first. * * * JUST LIKE A CHRYSALIS came Virginia Bruce, after a short wedded life to Jack Gilbert. Her contract was only suspended when she married Jack, and she burst forth at the MG-M commissary a few days back looking more beautiful than ever. * * * POLLY MORAN GETS TWO pictures at RKO Studios. The first will be Lou Brock's "Down To Their Last Yacht," that Paul Sloane will direct. Other players in the production are Sidney Fox and Sidney Blackmer. * * * WHAT A LOVER Jimmy Durante would be in Eskimo land, where the ecstacies of true love consists in rubbing noses. Jimmy says he never had any real luck being born here and thinks that Mother Nature miscast him. .. GRAUMAN S United artists BROADWAY ol 9lh • PHONE MA 2511 History's < LOVERS brought to life by the creator of /^\V/ "HENRY VIII'V ALEXANDER KORDA'S PRODUCTION JVTHERINE FleGREAT DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, Jr. ELIZABETH BERGNER CONTINUOUS IO:45 A. 30c lo 1 P.M. • 40c to 6 P.M. • 55c EVES