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HELL DIVERS Wallace Beery Clark Gable
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1933.
THE LOVABLE GENIUS OF JACKIE
COOPER
BY CAMPBELL DIXON
Man is an academic animal. We the other. Surely it is possible, are not content, as more sensible for a New York, na for a London creatures are, to enjoy and pass doctor, to enjoy the rewards of his on; we love to hark back, to nualy- | brilliance, and at the same time to so, to classify. Which not very continue, through the public hospi profound truth should have pre, tals, his work for the, suffering pared me, but did not, for the poor.
tood of letters I have received commenting on my list of the best films of 1939.
Not one of my correspondents agrees with me. I have omitted this master-piece, shamefully neglected that star. "Is it possible, de mands an indignant young Dir mingham woman, "that you actual. ly saw Greta Garbo in Mata Hari' and did not think it one of the great films of the year?”.
A Beery Lover (Exeter) says it passes his comprehension how anyone supposed to be a critic could pass over "Hell Divers" And there are other complaints on be half of stars as diverse as Dressler and Dietrich, Lionel Barrymore ano Jackie Cooper.
**Something Wrong."
I wish all these letters could be given. Some reveal a critical in sight which proves again how sadly most Alm-makers underestirante the public. Others could be used to demonstrate the contrary--that the
average film fan cares little for the theine as long as his (or, more fre quently, her) favourate star can be seen in a rubber-stamp rôle.
!
Formule and Oycles, "My favourite male star is War ren William, admits (Miss) L Talbot, of Hampetend. Didn't you really think The Mouthpiece, and Skyscraper Soula tne of the most vital and stirring firms, of the whole
year!"
BRITISH FILM POLICY
ANGLO-U.S. STARS IN ONE STORY
PICTURE OF WORLD-WIDE
APPEAL
the day, Herbert Marshall and Two of the most popular stars of
Jeanette MacDonald, are to make film for British and Dominion 'Films.
COLOUR SECRETS appears on the set with a ghastly
MUSTARD YELLOW FACE AND MAROON LIPS
mustard colour complexion and purplish red lips.
Oriental players no longer enu act without make-up. Unless tan- ned from outdoor life their skins' Colour values cause some of the must be browned with SA grense- most baffling problemas in motion paint. This was used in preparing picture production although no
To the Jaces of all players of Oriental colour appears on the screen. get nature's true effect on the film roles in "Chandu." Negro autors
often necessary to falsify nature stil play minus make-up. before the lens. *
In addition to all its other pho tographic problems, such as the re cording of the eerie qualities of the magic, "Chandu Miss MacDonald has in unequal- Oriental led reputation in musical comedies, Magician" a Fox film coming short- Marshall, by his brilliant perform-t is problem of colour. Edraund mostly directed by Lubitsch. Mr. ly to the King's Theatre presented ance in "Trouble in Paradise," has Lowe, in the title role has a num world's best leading men. established himself as one of the ber of changes in both costume and!
from
MAJESTIC
THBATRE
make-up, and these had to be cor Nathan Road, Kowloon. Tel. 57222. The "teaming of these two in-rectly photographed to the minu ticular was as dashing and brii-play for making pictures with through a series of transforma-At 2.80, 5.20, 7.20 & 9.20 p.m. I did. The Mouthpiece' in par-ternational favourites is part of a test details of shading. Irene TO-DAY & TO-MORROW
Ware and Boln Lugosi likewise go liant a bit of commercial film world-wide appeal. Apart making as the year had to show the importation of Miss Mac- tions. The comedy of Herbert The plot bad a new twist every Donald, British and Dominion Mundin is brought to life by what minute, the acting was strong and Filme are engaging Mr. Samso smooth, and there is no one on the Raphaelson, whe
was responsible is said to be some of the must ad- screen who puta over lively dialo with Lubitsch for the script of vanced photographic technique. gar better than Mr. William, and Trouble in Paradise," an Ameri | Aline MacMahon.
an director and at least one other
To got the correct shade of green Why, then, didn't. "The Mouth-American technician.
in spring foliage, for example, piece" gain a place in the first, ten ? "The time has passed when Bri-Artificial leaves of autumnal russet For the same reason that "Scar tish films will succeed by reason of and yellow are employed. The red face didn't. "Scarface" had the pendulum and on patriotic averything a melodipina could have grounds," said Mr. Hubert T. coat worn by Irene Ware repro finished studies in villainy, high- Marsh, chairman of the company, duces as gray, not black, as was speed, terrific suspense, acting of in explaining his plans. The im extra ordinarypower and direction petus of the early success of Bri- formerly, the case with reds. (by Howard Hawke) of genuine tish films must enable us to take distinction,
a much broader view and conepli- date our success by the logical wood and England. British films must not he insular."
Mr. E. Thompson of Manchester, comes in the first category. "I it is true," he says that such a large proportion of the best films of the year are, made in Germany and other foreign countries-and while I disagree about certain films I agree on the whole that they are- │»
there must be something radically wrong with our own attitude 16- wards Almmaking. Either we have not the experts capable of advanc ed work, or we have the experts but they are restricted to hack work by the taste of the British put lie. Must we admit that on the whole the taste of our film-goers is lower than that of people abroad?"
#
The North,
So far as the West-end and cer tain provincial towns are concern ed the answer is "No." This is proved by the long runs of good foreign films, like "A Nous In Libert" and "The Blue Light," despite the handicap of foreign dialogue.
Bat both pictures had the defent of being essentially synthetic. They
were built to formula. In addi- tion each had the disadvantages of belonging to one of those wretched cycles which are the curse of the film world. The year's best films should at least attempt to explore new ground.
Jackie Cooper.
A cloquent appeal for the
combination of the best from Holly-
Mr. Marah justly emphasised the fact that he had engaged two fine artists at the height of their fame, and that the film was assured of a world market by an agreement with Mr. Joseph Schenck, of Unit- ed Artists.
According to Fred Ryle, the make-up expert at the Fox eastern studio, the new high speed film now used in studios' requires that
all colours be deepened by three! shades to photograph effectively.
Make-up bas deepened five 'shades | since the days of and white and panchromatic film.
screen's youngest star is made by BEST PICTURES OF turer unde
Mr. P. Ades, of Bournemouth.
"During 1932 4 name has stood alone in my mind, and that in Jackie Cooper," he says.
"To my mind, after Skippy' Broky, The Champ, and Di- vorce in the Family, which I have just seen and consider to he one of the best character studies of a little-boy that I have seen. Jackie Cooper is the finest piece of human appeal that has been shown on the screen. He is not only a very real little boy and undoubtedly the greatest child actor in history, but he has a certain quality of child. hood which is irresistible and which I can only define as the nearest equivalent of sex appeal' in grown player.
"Please say word for Jackie
But I think there is a bigger gulf between our best and our worst | Cooper!" audiences than there is in Ger- many. People who wonder why certain films ever see the light--and I admit I was one of them-do not realise that there are. industrial areas in the north where Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn are considered highbrow.
A Drama of the Ghetto.
*
A Great Artist, Gladly, if I were not doesn't need it. I
sure te agree with everything Mr. Ades says about the hoy's appeal, to which I would add amazing strength and maturity of technique.
Dut my admiration for young Master Coopor does not blind me May I remind you of Melody to the faults of his films. They,
1932
AMERICA'S OPINION
GRAND HOTEL, LEADS THE POLL
200 214
170
tea
In the biggest vote of its kind to date Grand Hotel bends the list of the ten best pictures of 1932, ac- cording to the votes recorded by Amerien's leading film critics and editors in the eleventh annual poll conducted by The Film Daily,
The tea films chosen were:- Grand Hotel (M.G.M.) The Champ (M.G.M.). Arrowsmith (United Artists)... 192 The Guardsman (M.G.M.) Smilin' Through (M.G.M.) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
(Paramount) 161 Emma (M.G.M.)
•**** 154 Bill of Divorcement (R.K.O.) 141 Back Street (Universal) 138 Scarface (United Artists)
... 135. 'Grand Hotel's total of 296 votes was a record for a single picture, the next highest figure was scored in 1931 by Commaron with 973 votes. A new record for a number of win- ners by one company was scored by M.G.M. who are responsible for five out of the ten films chosen.
of Life' says Miss B. Norton too, are formula affairs-highly en- (London, 8.W. 1); and she pays àtertaining but hardly significant fresh tribute to the brilliance of as films. This applies even to the the two Jewish players from New best of them-that magnificent con- York, Gregory Ratoff and Aana coction, that guaranteed tear-A FILM ROMANCE Appel, who etched, with a line so wringer The Champ...
deep and firm and unforgettable,
the characters of the hero's mather and father.
I agree that "Melody of Life"! was a very good film indeed, if I could have completely believed in the hero.
תס
LOCAL OPINION WANTED
It would I interesting to ste what our local cinema fans think this subject. Letters received But Mis Fannie Hurst's plot is
on or before Monday, Feb. 20th based on the assumption that for a doctor there is the course between will be considered for publication beartless money-grubbing - on
the on this page on Wednesday, Feb. one band, and bonourable poverty 22nd. Please write.
2
All the film romances are not staged in Hollywood, writes the film critic of a London paper. Re- cently the little daughter of a friend of mine was playing in
·Tront of her home when an impos-, ing limousine passed. The car re turned, travelling slowly, and then stopped opposite the child. The gertleman who descended asked the girl to take him to her parents, and the sequel was the appearance at an Ealing film. studio of a British child prodigy and rival to the American marvels, Jackie Coogait and Cooper.
A yellowish
brown greasepaint is now used as groundwork. It is known as Pan- chromatic No. 20. The lip red of would photograph gray, so a deep maroon is applied to-day. The actress who photo. graphs with such fresh, diaphanous skin and softly tinted lips really!
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RKO
Radho
THIRTEEN WOMEN
TIFFANY THAYER'S senatronal Catiling sa the screen!
RETE DUANE, BITARNO CORTEZ JELL ESMOND,
Director
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