Variety (Mar 1936)

12 g^SiigHigguaaL. INTERNATIONAL NEWS Telephone Tcnple Bar 5M1-M4I _ C*bl0 Addreu: VABLBTy, LONDON Fifteen Pix in Work at London Studios as Lull Sets In; Heavy Skeds Being Lined Up for Future London, March 15. British film production hit a low this week—with only 15 subjects on the floors, lowest figure In. months. Production : 6n 30 subjects has been the, average around London since the local lndustr started booming. Reason for the dive is the partial, darkening of the three main film plants—Qaumont-British at Shep- herds Bush, British International at Elstree, and. Korda's London Alms, spread between the new Denham studios and Worton Hall. All three companies are between schedules and, until they get under way again, production-will be at low ebb. Two years ago production of 15 pix at r 6ne time would have been thought big. Conni Gaumont has Constance Bennett. Jn 'Everything is Thunder*' held up pending the' actress' recuperating from a splash of tonsil trouble. Con- stance Cummings and Eddie Lowe are current, there In 'The Wrecker.' Largest film on the floors is prob- ably 'Love in Exile,' a Max Schach- Capitol production, with Clive-Brook and Helen Vinson. Picture is cur- rent'at Worton Hall, recently con- verted studio on which Kor has a renting contract At British and Dominions,. Her-- : b,ert Wilcox Prod, has Anna' Neagle and Leslie Banks making 'The .Three Maxims,- trapeze yarn. Film its for C. M* Woolf distribution. • Picture , by a new company, ranco-Lpndon," which aims at bi- linguals to be made in London, is current at. Ealing—'Guilty Melody/ with Gitta Alpar, Hungarian singer; JTilsi A-Sther, and John Loder. ' Programmers Remainder' of the: productions are mainly, in the programmer field, being headed by' 'In the Soup,* a Julius Hagen' pic- at-Twickenham, with Ralph Lynn and Nelson keys. jRtenry . Edwards, one-time comedy • star here, directs. . - Gaumont - Gainsborough has *Where There's A Will" at Islingr ton. Fox-Britishy/with-'its plant on the •bid exposition ground at Wembley has two current, 'Find the Lady,' "Produced by Roland Glllet and fea- turing Jack Melford, and 'Highland Fling/ just starting, With Manning Haynes directing and Naughton and Cold starring* Frances Day and Neil Hamilton •rare teamed' in 'You Must Get Mar- ' ried,' a City Films production, being made at Nettlefold. Same unit has rented space at the B. & P. studios ! .. for 'Postman's Knock,' to star Stan- ley Holloway. British Lion, is at work on. .'In- terrupted Honeymoon,' at its Bea- consfield plant, teaming Jane Carr and Hugh Wakefield, and produc- tion by Leslie Hiscott. onty Banks, Monty Bank's took over and finished 'Gay Adventure,' from the Walter Hackett .play at Welwyn studios for Grosvenor Prod, Orig- inal director, Sinclair frill; got sick during the third week's shooting. "Warner plant, headed by Irving Asher, has Ralph Ince finishing pro- duction on 'Fair Exchange,' with Roscoe Ates and Patric Knowles featured. Knowles leaves imme- diately on completion for Warners, in Hollywood. Butchers has a programmer, •Melody of the Heart,' being com- pleted, at Cricklewood, with Derek Oldham leading. Julius Hagen, who opens his con- verted am recently purchased plant at Elstree shortly, has 'Dusty Er- mine' on location in Austria.. Phiy from which film is taken opened In London at the' Comedy on March t>. About 45 films are around the labs here, waiting registration and trade show on their way to the public Some of them, like Bergner's ver- sion of the Shakespearian 'As You Like It,* suggest world importance. This goes for 'Marriage of Corbal,' •Limelight,' Hitchcock's 'Secret A gen.' and others. G-B Programs Jn the .immediate future Gaumont will put final shape to a hefty line- up; of pictures, most of which figure on a Hollywood personality angle. George Arliss is due in for rehear- sals on 'Hands Off.' Story gives Arliss his old 'Green Goddess' tur- ban makeup, rlental background. Boris Karloff Is about to start on 'The Man Who Changed His Mind,* for G-B, to be m egged- by Robert Stevenson. Victor McLaglen is due in for G-B to star in.'Soldiers Three,' Kip- ling yarn. Maureen O'Sulllvari Weighs in for the same picture. ' Joan Bennett is due for 'The Northing Tramp,' an Edgar Wallace yarn;.and Sylvia Sydney is to star in' Hitchcock's next 'Gaumont film. With 'Courier of the Czar/ based on the silently successful 'Michael Strogoff,' scheduled for fall produc- tion, G-B has Chester Morris inked for the lead. May Robsbn comes over , to play opposite. Charles Rug- gles will come oyer for- 'The World Without a Mask,' and Roland Young is to star in 'King Splomon's Mines.' Korda, who steals more space in the local press than most of 'em, has 'Hamlet' lining up for Robert Donat, 'Cyrano' back , for script al- terations, with Charles Laughtbn scheduled, and a Mariene Dietrich picture to be shot in the fall. British International, with heavy, floor> spaco rental commitments, is not likely to shoot up its-usual 25 a year, despite earlier plans. Its major problem is the preliminaries at present.'on 'Glamourous Night/ Ivor Novello. melodrama -which ran a long time at the Driiry Lane. Ascbe Dies at 65 London, March 24. Oscar Asche, 65, died here yes- terday (23). Originally a Shakespearean actor, Asche turned to writing and one of his most distinctive successes in that line was the. libretto of 'Chu Chin Chow/'which created several World's records and earned him close to $i,000,QOO. —• Asche died poor, "however," follow- ing a bankruptcy. TWO MORE CINEMAS PLANNED IN CALCUTTA Calcutta, Feb. 29. Same interests which control the New Empire theatre, flrstrrun spot for British pictures In" India, have obtained sites for two new..cinemas in. the immediate vicinity. Building operations are scheduled to start at once. Both will be modern and in- corporate latest equipment and decorative features. Bulk- 1 of pic- tures for the duo will be supplied by RKO and United Artists, This Construction program is re- ported to be a direct result of rapid growth in picture popularity"'here within the last 12 months. Open- ing of the Metro theatre last No- vember started the ball roiling. It is ultra-modern' in design; with giant floodlights, Neon signs and multi-colored bulbs. In addition to the luxurious interior, which im- presses Calcutta theatregoers, it has a big bar. Opening of the house exerted a vast influence on other cinemas; Who have gone in for redecorating and general refurbishing. Americans In London London, March 15. Gilbert- Miller wants 'Hazassag/ ('Marriage')^ current Budapest Wt, for Broadway. Meanwhile, Henry Sherek is landing it for; London. Bernard Finean here In capacity, of right hand man to Max Shach. Berinoff-and Angeline, currently in Stockholm, due at Mayfalr hotel for month of June, Hildegarde has made a hit in the Florence Desmond part in 'Seeing Stars/ Leslie Henson's Gaiety show. Dwight Fiske to return to the Ritz and Carlton hotels cabaret in June. Gordon and ReVel to broadcast for British Broadcasting Corp on March 26 for 45 minutes* Mary Carlisle discussing a busi- ness proposition with Max Shach. Russell Medcraft appointed story editor for new Warner Bros.' Ted- dington Studios.. Harvey Watkins niovlhg to an- other flat. Sam Eckman; suffering from lumbago. Herbert renon wears his hat while directing. Bill Beaudine keeping Irving. Asher waiting while he finishes a pic for G. B. Marcel Varnel on a flat hunt. ' Val Guest dialoging a new indie pic. • Ralph Ince writing, producing, and leading in a new local made film for Warners. Earl St, John most anglicized American: always invites callers to tea. J. C. Graham on a health cruise: West Indies. • Neil Hamilton making an indie film at Walton'. Walter Hackett completed a new show. Constance Bennett In bed with laryngitis, necessitating a week's postponement of her G-B film 'Everything is • Thunder.' .Edmund Lowe looking- over some of the boxing, bouts at Blackfriars. . Harriet Hutchins .to the. A,. ,B. C. Paris for a fortnight, and then back on the General. Theatres circuit. Will do an act in.French there. ,Tommy Russeli fiat hunting for the Mrs. and Kid; due here in a month's, time. Gaylene Sisters to double Into the May Fair hotel from the Palladium. Beaumont Alexander throwing a surprise party at his Luxury Liner uilery for Ohaz Chase. Stanley Wathon still scouring the continent for novelties for next year's circuses. Arthur Ceasar rented a real.Eng- lish cottage, the. property of Lady Meredith, near the Brompton Ora- tory. Alex Yokel expected to return to London In June to spend his'honey moon. Also negotiating tot Ameri- can rights to 'The Two Mrs. Car- rolls/.and 'Anthony and Anna/ cur- rently in London, at the Garrlck and Whitehall. Alexander Korda and John Max- well both bidding for Gordon and Revel's services, but boys not in- terested unless " Gaumbnt-British consents. •John Flood, Hollywoodian, here to produce for Associated Talking Picts. Complains he can't sleep, can't drink the water, can't get any heat, and has a headache. But he's getting to iike the place. Sam GoldWyn in. Arrived by air from'Cherbourg, was met by Alex Korda at the airport and went into immediate, conference with Korda, Murray Silverstone and Max Schach. Has stayed in conference ever since. ♦ Monty Banks now signed ahead for seven more pictures. 1 Fay Marbe, who was engaged by British. Lion for a lead, is out; her part has been given to Jane. Cam Marion Harris, doing standee trade at the swagger Cafe de Paris. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., to direct ■Accused' for himself. Charles Cochran taking a look at Cy Landry, with the Tro'cadero res- taurant floor show in mind. Dave Badei" has Noah Beery un- der exclusive contract. Gina Malo gone all peroxide. Jules Bledsoe and Clarence John- stone split after a "fortnight. John- stone claims he is quitting till his income tax trouble passes; led- soe will go solo in the future for good, he says. Bobby Crawford throwing a party for 30 at kahn's kosher eatery. One of newest teams on the ether is Joe Hayman and Joe /Cohen. Hay man was formerly of Hayman and Franklyn, and Cohen was many years ago with Sam Lowensworth. . Chaz Chase developed 'flu sud- denly, Which ' held up his Paris dates. • Lassiter Brothers back from an Axistralian tour. Laddie Rlgoletto, a former Swan- son sister, in from America. Jack Tracy here alone from Aus- tralia, with Vinette having gone to Hollywood. Kremlin Wipes Out Second Art Theatre, Once Important Troupe Britons In HVobd American Cast Set For Sydney 'Horse' Melbourne, March 4. Ray Seabrook, Betty Hanna, Jon- athan Hole, Louis Tanno, and Fred Sherman have arrived here under contract to Williamson-? Tait for 'Three Men oil a Horse/ with open- ing set late In March, Performers were engaged in New York by E. J. Tait. Polly Moran did splendidly here on opening in 'Hot From Holly- Wood/ vaude unit for Frank Nell at the Tivoli; Much Hush-Hush Hollywood, March 24. Alan Mowbray and Geoj-ge Brent celebrating the latter's birthday to- gether, by throwing a large shindy. Madeleine Carroll, moving to a new house in Bel-Air so that she may find horses (for riding) more accessibly. Lester Matthews spent the week- Film Quota Law London, March 10. Backstage negotiations continue to surround the British quota situ- ation, due to the fact that. Films Act comes up for reconsideration this year.. Urns Group of the Federation of British Industries is likely to con- fer with the TCiiiematograph Exhib- itors Asso. and the Renters group, before sending its'findings and sug- gestions to the Board- of Trade, which will have final say in the drafting of any supplementary leg- islation planned to take the place of the quota when it. expires. Understanding so far, after a number of conferences, is that at- tempt to introduce a 'quality clause* into the revised quota will be slung overboard. Original idea was to strive for a paragraph barring all home fea- ture footage costing less than $40,- 000 from availability as quota. Strong pleas from indie produc- ers and distribs, many of whom mak e a ten-penny_ living on the shoddy stuff, have." resulted "in tliis being unofficially discarded. Likelihood, as a result, is that tlie existing loophole in the quota leg- islation will continue. Regarding the proportion at which the. quota should be fixed it having now been a sliding scale rising from 5% to 17%% of all product-^ex- pectation .is that both producers and distribs Will agree that it should be standardized at lV/z%. end searching for his sail boat, which drifted away from its moor- ing. Ronald Howar , who hopes to be a playwri ht, deep in a discussion of plays with Hugh Walpole, G. B. Stern, John Balderston, Constance Collier and his father, Leslie How- ard. Douglas Walton, playing in 'Mary of Scotland,' building a house in the hills overlooking Hollywood. Says It is chiefly windows, with just enough wall in between to hold them together. Alison Skipwovth finds her house is too far out in the valley to be convenient for work, so wants to sell it and move back to town. Cyril MacLaglen planning on bringing his wife and little girl from England to settle here. Frieda Inescourt and husband, Bert Ray Redman, taking a house in Westwood. They plan to remain on the west coast. Briandon Hurst in. training for the forthcoming Bobby Jones golf tournament at Catalina. Island. Molly Lamont, working in 'Mary of Scotland,' displaying a bouquet of chicory cheese to the cast. It ar- rived by airmail from her South African home; Wilfred Lucas has bought,another chow pup, the first one died sud- denly. Sybil Jason learning to tap for her part in a new techniclor short. Charles Croker-King, Nigel Bruce, George. Curzon, Halliwell Hoggs, Ian Hunter and Georgia Caine cast in 'Florence Nightingale.' Pat Knowles arriving this week from England to take part in 'Charge of the Light Brigade' with Errol Flyrtn. Brian Donlevy claiming to be the only Irish (actor) poet In Hollywood. Moscow, March 7. Holding that -the Second Art theatre lias hot justified its name ■ wasn't really a first class theatre and that there was no reason for its continuance, the Kremlin has wiped It out of existence by decree. Premises of the shbwhouse have already been turned over to the up- and-coming Moscow Children's the- atre—to be known in the future as the Central Children's theatre. Natali Satz, playwright and, di- rector, recently decorated by the. Kremlin, is named to head , the hew theatre.- Actors au<3 other personnel of the liquidated Second Art do not suffer financially. Salaries go on until' they have found other jobs. De- cree stipulates that they can func- tion as a group (but not under the name of Second Art Theatre), in Sverdlovsk, Saratov, Novosibirsk, Gorki, Samara or other designated provincial towns, or break up and augment troupes ' at the vai'ious Moscow and Leningrad theatres. Russian actors have no great love for the sticks, so it's a safe bet that most of them will, bob up on local stages. Second Art was born in 1913 as the First Studio of the First Art theatre, with a small group of ac- tors, organized to work out the basic principles of stage art laid down by Stanislavski. In 1924 the theatre entirely di- vorced .itself; from .the First Art, taking the name Second Aut and putting on, as its first production, 'Hamlet,' with M» A. Chekov, now In New York, in the title role, Chekov was director of the theatre at this period, and was enjoy ing tremendous- success, alhough charged with 'having cut itself oft from Soviet life." Again in 1928 the Second Art was reorganized, and has since produced many modern Soviet plays, The- atre's best efforts went into the classics, howeverj even in recent years. This is the first Moscow theatre of first raiik to close in recent years. Leasers (Continued from page 2) writers who insist on worming their, way; into groups. There's little or no reader interest in these lads but you can't tell them that. Consequently, cameramen have a hard time with them for they can usually mess up 9, picture. Actors know how to pose but execs Usually want to be clowns when facing a lens. Here the lads have learned to set off a flashbulb without exposing the negative, rearrange the group for another picture without the lens hounds. Getting Around the Kirs, Same goes for wives of players who . mean nothing in selling the picture. They get the flash bulb tx-eatment. Players seldom bother about the pictures after they are taken, but execs, writers and wives usually get in touch with the photpg later to find cut where the picture will break and get a few extra copies for themselves. Boys give them the runarourtd. However, they never seem to get wise. For players who ire the earner men, the treatment sometimes ber comes severe. Lads often pho- tograph, them at bad angles and have everyone in the picture except their menace x'etouched. They send out these pictures with the players looking their worst. A few of these negatives and the player usually becomes regular. FOr some time the photogs were completely off a filmusical girl and gave, her the heat oh all occasions. After a couple of months of this she threw up the white flag, took all the bulbsqueezers to dinner and called a truce. From then on, things have been lovely and she gets all the breaks they can give her. Lads take care of their favorites. Carole Lombard is one who can ask them to lay off and the boys do just that but when she gives them a break, nothing is too good for them. There are a number of players who come in this classifica- tion for whom the cameramen &° the limit.