FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1930.
MUSIC DRAMA FILMS
TALKIE TALKS.
much moss.
He served from 1914 and when the Armistice was signed he was Provost-Marshal of Bagdad.
Quartermaine, who was out here
--Frank Vosper.
"Rio Rita."
THE
spending about $300,000 on the thing. No one knows the real reason of this act.
CHINA
MAIL.
ROUND THE CINEMAS, view. The unfamiliarity of the sounds he will hear may at frat
YOUTH UNIT,
DANCE MASTER WITH FOX prove a little disconcerting to the occidental ear, but the wise person is the one who does not immediately condemn what may not in the begin- quite a while. They are made to
"HOT FOR PARIS." ring, and their volces are not their
ning seem easy to comprehand, for let it at once be understood that the strongest points. Memories of
Several .novel dance numbers "Seventh Heaven" cling to me, when
"The Street of Chance"
I mention their names. I naver
Glad to see that
we are to have introduced in the cafe acenes of music of Egypt is a very real art. Beeker after truth. Those whose want to see greater acting, nor a George Bancroft in his new talkfes. Raoul Walsh's all talking, laugh-and has a great deal to teach the Victor McLaglen, who will be more human story. The mother's liked him in "The Mighty," but ing Fox Movietone picture "Hot with us over the week-end at the part is taken by an old friend of he has done better.
A trio. I favour, For Puris," which is playing tears are not attuned to the quarter- Queen's Theatre in "Hot for Paris," mine, Mary Forbes, wife of Charles William Powell, (the greatest steal day at the Queen's Theatre, are tone will not at first apprehend that is a rolling stone that has gathered
ar of pictures in the films) and given by the famous Fox Youththe music they find "weird" and What he has not done with the Waring Co. many years Evelyn Brent. They will be seen at Unit of two scuro girls, yet in/"out of 'tune" is, in reality, much! the people of Western nations have in his eventful career is not worth ago. Ralph Forbes is her you, and | thè Majestic in "The Drag Net", I their teens and trained by that more in tune than the music which tentioning. He was born in Lea Ruth Chatterton her daughter-in-rate William Powell as the finest celebrated master of dance ensem-studied from association with the don, served in the Army from the law, Talking of that Co reminds actor on the screen to-day. Wait ble, Danny Dare.
Staging of the dances is Dare's piano. What we have, been accus- age of fourteen, went through the
me that another member of the Cast, till you see him in "The Street of.
tomed to all our life in Europe is first contribution to the screen Boer War, then to Canada 39 has done extraordinarily well in
Chance." miner, then in a circus as a pugilist, London, and is now one of the most
When I talk of great actors, the since signed to a long term con of course, the tempered interval of a Briton may and then the Great War-one of
successful play-writers. besides name of Emil Jannings comes to tract by Fox Movietone. Prior to the Immobile pianoforte, and thus it in his The Fighting McLaglens there
being the youngest Actor Manager-mind. He is returning to Holly coming to the Fox organization, comes about that were eight of them.
wood to make two talkies for Warner Dare had staged shows in London, find an Egyptian song Bros. If you missed seeing him in Paris, Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo, view, out of ture. On the other find that the piano would be a vory "The Patriot" and "The Last Com and other important centres of hand, an Egyptian would certainly
Europe.
In New York, he staged the unsatisfactory medium for his best some of the finest mand" you mlased two truly great pictures, and I might add that I am
be reproduced glad they were bath Movies, As, dances in "The Little Show", "Hot music, because
we would have lost the Chocolates," and "Sweet Adeline," melodies could not
The music of Egypt can be rough- talkies fitusion. We just lived in Russia, celebrated outstanding Broadway upon it.
of by divided into two classes, ás can Dare declares the group We lived their lives with them, but hits.
production like had it been a "Sergeant Grischa"well, the less young girls under contract to Fox the music of most other countries. said the bettter; talking made that Movietone comprise the most cap-There is the music of the people, of able as well as the most beautiful the simple melody order, which a burlesque. There was a new name
group he has ever trained. They carries the tradition of the country in that Cast--Leyland Hodgson. 1
are the pick of talented dancers within its compass, and corresponds more or less to the folk song, of the from all parts of the world. went to remember him in 1915-16 with
"Hot For Paris," & bigger hit West. a matinec Bandman's Co., then he
than "The Cock-Eyed World," Australia, and became Idol. I gaw him in Los Angeles with Lenore Ulrich in Maughan's features Victor MeLaglen with ed type of music-making practised Fin Dorsay, Polly Moran, and El by the educated classes, much in the "East of Suez," and liked him on the
Brendel. It is based on a story by aame way that the social and educa- Walsh with dialogue by Billy K. tional sections of the community in- i
in that art in legitimate stage.
Wells. The supporting cast, which terest themselves is also of stellar quality, includes European countries. Wherever the Charles Judels, and Lennox Pawie. traveller spends his time in Egypt, he will, if he la observant, find the music of the people; and a very delightful music it is when one has That scintillating senorita from learnt, how to appreciate it at its
Rio Grande bids proper value.. down near the adios to patrons of the Central Quite simple, but a very interest- Theatre to-morrow night (Saturing study, is the Mohammedan (i. e. Muslim) "Call to Prayer" of the day).
In other words, "Rio Rita, muezzinn (i.e. mueththin) from the Radio- Pictures' all-talking, all minaret of a, mosque, which com- musical extravaganza, featuring mences with the words, "Allah-u- Babe Daniels, closes its successful Akbar. The whole of this extensive engagement here to-morrow night. and significant enil can be divided and therefore all those who wish to into some sixty bars of melody of a appealing character. Western see this big picture have only to-day peculiarly
composers,· who have and to-morrow to do so.
Ever since the RCA Photophone sought inspiration from the Near version of the famous Ziegfeld auc- East, have occasionally made use of cess began its local engagement, this wonderful call to prayer, one seats at the Central Theatre have of the most notable examples being been at a premium,
Granville Bantock's use of it in his setting of "Omar Khayyam."
"Man Trouble."
I may be fa the minority, but I It is quite interesting to note the still cannot compare "Rio Rita" with The latter is names of present-day stars who "The Love Parade." served their Country. Men who streets ahead of it, but to the 'gen- never dreamed they would be world-eral public, especially in China, Rio famous. Tuke Ronald Colmun. HeRita makes a bigger appeal, because was amongst the first to enlist, but of the addition of technicolour, and was invalided out quite early in the the gorgeousness of the production.
the
Bebe Daniels has no bigger ad- game. Clive Brooke with Machine Gun Corps, Reginald Denny mirer than the writer, and John,
Boles has a pleasing, artistic voice, with the B.F.C. Maurice Chevalier,
not great (the one man of whom I who was awarded the Military Cross, and was a prisoner in a Ger- ean truthfully write that word is nian Camp, where he learned his Lawrance Tibbetts, who will be seen first English from his fellow British soon at the Queen's in "The Rogue prisoners George K. Arthur, in Song"), but I like the natural man- born in ner of Boles. He was the war at fifteen and a half; en- listed the same day as his father. Greenville, Texas. His ambition was The son increased his age, and the to write M.D. after his name when he left College, but the war called, father put back his, and they march.
and he served for eighteen montha |
After many many months of seri FRU
in the Intelligence Section ous illness, Milton Sills returned to thework, and recently finished a gang- France. When I went over Universal Studios, he was at work ter story with Dorothy Mackail- with Laura la Plante, but the play, "Man Trouble." It is a thrilling "Captain of the Guard," has not picture, and the critics bestow much been a success. He made his initial raise on the leads. They did not appearance in the talkies in "The like each personally, but they were Desert Song," then this hit in "Rio excellently matched in the films, and Rita." I remember him in the illow another famous actor in his fated play-"Sunya" with Gloria early forties has gone west. I am Swanson, and he had to wait many very very sorry. Milton Sills did some great work. I, for one, will years for the big chance. He mar ried when he left College, and still never forget "The Sea Hawk" He beautiful wife and hus the same wife, also two children. leaves a very
son. This was his second marriage Doris Kenyou has staged a come back, too, in the new medium, as she possesses a lovely singing voice. I hope this sad occurrence does not menn her retirement from the screen.
in khaki together. Adolphe Menjou, Waltar Byron, Dennis King, (the call-boy who is now the star in the Drury Lane Production of "The Three Musketeers," and 'whom I saw in a marvellous talkie of "The Vagabond King"). On the American Legion Club House, you will note amongst the names, those of Lewis Stone, Conrad Nagel, Bert Lytell, Norman Kerry, Buster Keaton. Kenneth Harlan, Gilbert Emery, (so many people think him British, he was. good in the, talkie that was so liked here, "Behind that Curtain"), and many others leas known. Amongst the foreigners are many names of those who also served their countries.
Synthetic Swede.
-
"Hot for Paris" introduces a new man here-El Brendel, the synthetic Swede, who makes a speciality of dialect parts. He was doing a Ger- man net in Vaudeville, when the war came, so thought it healthier to change to something else. In spite of the fact that his ancestry "Is Scottish, German, and English, he is making a success of the simple Swede. Fin Dorsay, whom you will remember with Will Rogers in "They Had to See Paris" is the little bit, of fluff. She sings, she dances,
In
Van and Schenck At the Queen's we have had Van and Schenck in what proved to be their only talkie. I saw them many times on the Orpheum Circuit, and liked their turn in vaudeville im mensely, but they should never have left it. They are not sultable for the talkies. They were the greatest boosters for America's game, baseball. Wherever they went they gave prizes to boys, and did their utmost to encourage the love of the game in the younger genera. tion. No wonder then that their story was about their "strongest
national
eakness." That is the only thing in the story that made any appeal! to me, but then I happen to be a
-DIANE
DOLORES DEL RIO.
STAR'S SECOND VENTURE IN MATRIMONY.
n
she vamps, and she reminds me of strong "Rooter" for the game. It famous film star, is shortly to marry
the old song--"I can't make my eyes
behave." Born in Paris,
lived nearly all her life in Canada. Gave up a stenographer's job to Lecome an actress, and is certainly scoring in the type she has made
Dolores Del Rio, the convent- bred Mexican girl who is now Mr. Cedric Gibbons, a Alm director. according to a statemennt the star's private secretary is reported to have
made.
would not make much of a hit in There is she has the British Colonies.
something very pathetic in seeing a artiste on the screen, (especially when he sings and talks), who has Van and recently passed on. Schenck were pals through thick and thin, and then the combination was You will lika El Brendel, too, in at the height of its fame, they were "Sunny Side Up." It will be liked the highest paid artistes in their here, because it possesses line. I can't picture Gus Van carry. formula that makes for general gucing on without Joe Schenck. ees. Catchy music, pretty girls, well-produced-ballets.
her own.
the
By the bye, when are we going to see a show without at least one ex- lbition of tap dancing by a bunch uf half dressed girls, but one has to give them full marks; their routine work is super. I think in all the revues I have seen that the work done by these girls (who are now on the permanent staff of all the Studios) wins first honours. Mark you, I am not raving over the work of Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. They do not like this type of play, and, as a matter of fact the headstrong little Janet has gone on strike, and has not been answering the roil-call at the Fox Studlo for
Miniature Golf.
I
"RIO RITA."
#
There is also the more sophisticat-
"Heralded widely by critics, a the best picture of the year; word-
It has often been my privilege to of-mouth advertising has repeated drift down on the bosom of the river itself here. Were it not for the Nite from Cairo on a feluces and fact that another picture had been there to listen to the boatmen in contracted to open on Sunday, the charge of my craft, singing their Central Theatre management la cheerful song a song that is quite confident "Rio Rita" would "pack as typical of its kind, and just as 'em in" for many days to come.
"THE SCARLET LETTER."
Mr. Victor Seastrom's production,
"The Scarlet Letter," was produced at the Star Theatre yesterday, being shown also to-day and to-morrow.
Henry B. Walthall, Karl Dane, William H. Tucker, Marcelle Corday, Fred Herzog, and Jules Cowles are in the supporting cast.
It is an M.G.M. presentation, and Mr. Gibbons, when asked to con- Mr. Lars Hanson has the capital firm the report, was not communica-role, with Miss Lillian Gish opposite tive, saying that it was necessary him. Both are great emotionalists, for him to have a talk with Dolores and this pleture affords Mr. Hanson a splendid oppor- Like Ramon Navarro, Dolares Del and. Miss Glah
their Rio is a native of Durango, Mexico, tunity of interpretation in
The story tells of the love After being educated at a convent. roles.. she studied dancing in Seville and of a Puritan priest for a girl. Then, Madrid. At the age of 16 she mar- heavy drama follows. I have been reading recently that ried Jaime Martínez Del Rio, an miniature golf has taken on in author, whom she divorced in 1928. In my letters from Del Rio said he could not stand Bhanghai,
told that every merely being known as Dolores Del Hollywood I am vacant lot has been transfarined Into Rio's husband. He died in Berlin golf course, and, although I saw in 1928. When Dolores heard of the first opened a few months ago, his illness, she sent a message to her now 3,500 around Los agent, saying "Move heaven and there are Angelea alone-going some, is it earth to save him." not? Mary Pickford is having a 50,000 course made. Just to settle the rumour that persists, of the parting of the ways between her and Douglas. I do not think it will ever mean a permanent parting, but it is true that she has scrapped her production of "Secrets," after
MUSIC OF EGYPT.
A contributor writes as follows on the subject of Eastern Music:
When Edwin Carewe, the Amer. The following, which is a part of lean producer, was in Mexico in an article written by the well-known 1925, he met Dolores, and was so composer "Julla Chatterton," may be impressed by her singing and danc-of interest to some of your readers.
"The Westerner who visite the ing that he suggested her taking up
As a result, she Land of the Pharaohs for the first a' screen career. made her first appearance in a small time bas many delightful surprises in store from the musical point of film known as "Joanna."
First Impressions of “Hot for Paris” at the Queen's.
beautiful as the better-known melody of the Russian Volga Boat Song, or the Song of the Haulers, as it is more correctly described.
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WHO IS THE
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BENE RAD
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SO PARKS
MY OH MY! THIS
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