Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1935)

Cal York's Gossip of Hollywood [ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 90 pv ID you have any idea that one single lone *-^ solitary fly — a common house-fly — can cause more excitement around a picture set than a lion on the loose? They could catch a lion. But a fly right up close to the camera lens looks like a prehistoric monster, his buzz near a microphone is all right only for an aviation picture — with dozens of planes zooming in the air. Strong men armed with lethal weapons stride about sets with a grim look, stars and directors sit and wait — when there is a hint of a fly in the place. If the leading lady merely breaks down with appendicitis or somebody just loses the script, that's little trouble. But a fly, my hearties, a fly is a major catastrophe! K A AY ROBSON'S Bonny Boy, she tells me, ' " 'is so smart she has to figure out ways to fool him. He's a pup, and he understands every thing she says. So she took to spelling out the words. Now he knows what the words spell. She is trying to invent a new language which will permit her companion, Lillian Harmer, to know what she means without letting Bonny Boy in on it I \V/K don't know why everyone is working up W a lather about it, but to be a good and dutiful reporter we must inform you that Katharine Hepburn is running about the RKO lot in a pair of woolen socks and no shoes. For some very vague reason, these little tricks are considered just too cute and democratic for words. Possibly you have done the same thing lots of times around the house or garden — but would be properly hesitant to meet your public thus shod. (~*LAUDETTE COLBERT is not the sort of ^'person who saves the reviews of her pictures, but there is one that she will never throw away. It appeared on page one in the January issue of the Manchurian Daily News, which calls itself, "The oldest English Lan guage newspaper in Manchuria." It is published in Dairen. The review, without the change of a word or a comma, follows: GRAMOROUS AND FLAGRANT CLEOPATRA BRISTLES EYES DeMille's 'Cleopatra' Exposes in Dairen. So extravagence, so lavishly, so fanciest betimes, Cecil B. DeMille's "Cleopatra" will be shown to the fans from January 7, Monday, at the Nikka-tsu-kan cinema hall. Cecil B. DeMille in "Cleopatra" produced a eye-bristling spectacles classed among the most thrillings of last year's screens givings. The critic is certain several superfluous word of praises can be offered to this picture which is so colossal, so charming and so vividly with an eye to interesting, and that is ahead of his expectations. But eyeing from artistic points, this is just to get the passing mark, to boots. A I.L that "Cleopatra" possesses is lavish' \iess not only, but also it contains some fine acting, especiary in part of gramorous flagrant and competent Claudette Colbert who makes the role as Cleopatra every inch, an ell. "Cleopatra" is the luring picture-scroll entracing romance of the Siren of the Nile and the inflexible and valiant Roman of them all. The "Cleopatra" the critic sees here is not so immoral woman of the vampireship type as the critic has been taught from his teacher, but rather beautiful martry who intended to saving Egypt and a woman whom we can easily entertain with friendly sentiments. This "Cleopatra" at any rate is one of those breathtaking spectacles which seems able to direct and to review. It is said that the film cost to a million and a half dollars in which more than 5,000 peoples are to produce. The story is cranked from a scene of struggle of power between Cleopatra and his brother, Ptolemy, in Egypt. The critic has no space to hear repetition in these columns that the content of Cleop is too popular to insist it. You, the fans, tainly be struck all of a bump if you see DeMille for sets of several thrilling seem battle on the sands and in the sea, the Egyp armies fighting against the Romans, an dancing by the Egyptian girls who swing swirl and revolving through grand marble and on the sumptuos barge to the swis gully slaves. A scene from "Les Miserables," when Jean Valjean's strength as he lifts a stalled peasant cart betrays him to his arch pursuer, Javert. Fredric March is the hero of the Victor Hugo book and Charles Laughton plays the vengeful nemesis Lilian Harvey proudly shows you her nev handbag or muff. That is, you zip th muff and you have a bag. It's coverei with three tiers of ostrich feather HAUL KELLY is a city boy — brought t|] ' Brooklyn — so naturally he is mad ap horses. He has his first opportunity nob own one, and he bought a fine polo pony I Ray Griffith. Some one said, "Why notb your horse and buy a home?" Paul ansup that he lives in a rented house and boud: horse because he can turn the house into ate home if the persons he loves are in it. I|| rented horse doesn't seem to belong — any than a rented dog would. Paul has the| polo practice field in his back yard . . . a wol horse from which he practices with balll mallet. There is plenty of screen aroumf yard out of consideration for the neighj windows! IN answer to the many who have wil 'Photoplay inquiring what had beconl Jack Mulhall, I want to say thatyou cal him, if you look sharply in "Love in Biol He plays the part of a beggar in frontf restaurant. He is not on the screen lonl Jack Mulhall is an actor. I saw hinl long ago. He was dressed for some bit hi J to do. He was cheerful and sunny as evil "I'm an actor," he said, "and that'f way I want to make my living. Sure I ■ mind playing these small parts. It's ai| isn't it? Well — that's what I like to do.' Now, of course, Jack Mulhall used to bel much of a star. If you remember himl want to see him, register your howls. He I of the best, I'll tell you that, and I agree! a whole lot of you that he deserves somij breaks in some real parts. [ PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 127 ] 94