STRIE-STOMEKONG-29 ADOR SATURDAY.AHRIL 25 1136.
ENTERTAINMENT
"FIRST NIGHT" ON THE TALKIES
Pirates And
Pilate For
Week-End Fare
"Captain Blood”-
Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Lionel Atwill
Queen's, Current
AFAEL SABATINI is pleased with the
Rim treatment of his rip-roaring novel
"Captain Blood". And when a novelist likes the way Hollywood treats his work, that is almost news.
Mr. Sabalini says that not only has First National followed the story, but it had also, used a great deal of his original dialogue, The result, anyhow, is a grand rèconstruction of buccancer- ing days In the Caribbean, crammed with spec- tacle, fast-moving.
It runs for two hours and finishes strongly, a fimic feat. The high, herole story struck me as being a little too good to be true. But wha wrong. Mir. Sabattal explained that It was based
experience. on actual
It scons that a man named Pitman,
a surgeon, was sent to slavery in the West Indies for having dressed the wound of a soldier who fought against James H the
in Monmouth rabelllon. Ho led his fellow slaves in n revolt- against the brutality of their masters
cicapod in an
in an open boat. -
and
Then there was another man named Morgan, a terror of the Caribbean, who scuttled ships, murdered tho crews and stole the treasure. This bloody pirate was persuaded to fight for the King and he was rewarded with the Beutenant-governorship of Jamaica, e diel Sir Henry Morgan. All the novelist did was to combine the two stories and to create a Captain Peter Blood out of The climeneters of Pitman and Morgan. Blood dresses the wound, is sent to slavery by Jeffreys, gets into favour
STAR OF THE WEEK: Errol Flynn, wild Australian-Irishman takes leading honours for current week, will do so often if he works on well and as hearty as doce in "Captain Blood", his first starring role Christian Flot- and first Hollywood acting. One of his anccalore seus cher, leader of Bounty matineers. That's why Flynn was cast for the Bounty Australian film which was sequel to American
W was released long before M.GM, thought of making Big
biography.
Has pearl Lunted, gold prompested in South Seas, made fortune at latter, lost it in Sydney. Then came to Hongkong, where tant rent of fortune-$20,000 in diamonds-to local thief. Flynn didn't know it, but loss of those diamonds in Hongkong-was turning point in career, Broke, he hit it for London, tramp-alrumored uernas Atlantic to Calif., caught Warner Bros, cure and Lil Damita's heart--and now he's all set for a great career-if adventure doom't call him to remote
parts of the world again.
"ANNIE OAKLEY”
Barbara Stanwyck, Preston Foster, Molvyn Douglas Alhambra, Current
DUFFALO BILL and the Wild
B
by treating the governor's out Weat prove that their day is (Pitman did that), escapes, turns pirate, and finishes up, like Morgan, as by no means through in "Annie First National those a young Irish. Oakley," at the Alhambra. This maa, Errol Flynn, to play the part. is a good film because it is satisfi He is the son of a Belfast professor, ed to tell a simple, straight-
stovernor,
He has done some adventuring him- nhead story, with no pretentious self, found gold in New Guinea, traded-norsenso.
in his own schooners in the Pacific,.
once came to Hongkong, where some
Barbara Stanwyck carries an un- low-down resident stole from hin usual part with surprising galety.. jewellery to tho value of $20,000. She is the best quail-shooter in Ohio The only carping criticism I can When Buffalo Bill and his circus of make is that; speaking English with Indians, cowboys, and sharpshooters out the trace of a brogue, he comes comes to town, local supporters back Annic, the quail-shooter, against the out with surprining "bedads."
swaggering champion ifleman (Pres-
BOT
"Captain loo" is strong meat tan Foster), in a match. There are floggings and brandings,
Annie Oakley lores the match-inten- sackings and slaughter. The fights are really bloody affairs. But tionally because her opponent has the film swings along with roistering.such a pretty face," but proves sho in good enough to join the Wild West bumour.
show. The show tours Europe, and
Olivia de Havilland is highly decor- Annie has the honour of shooting a Live and delightful as Arrabella, cigarette from the lips of the German Blood's only love, and Lionel Atwill is Crown Prince.
fine and brutal as a slave-owner. The "Be careful, Annie, warna her minor characters, from King James to friend Jeff (Melvyn Douglas). "This the crews of cut-throats, have been guy is going to be Kalsor one day,” selected with admirable care.
VAI
PROTNOTE! Olivia De Havilland, eighteen- year-old British girl, ie Entext meteer in Holly- wood sky. Dark. Amiling-eyed Olivia bora in Tokyo. Pather was firitish head of Arm of lawyers in Japan. Was taken to California when two years old. Lired quietly with mother and later in Farsioga-little Californian village. Went to Hollywood. Get Job an understudy in Mex Reinhardt's produc
on af "A Midrammer Night's Dream" al Hollywood Bowl. They pereunded Reinhardt, to make dim of play. He chose unknown Offvla
"DRAKE OF ENGLAND"
Matheson Lang. Jane Baxter' Athona Soylar
Pin Alhambra, Wednesday"
Hoch garden at Repulse Bay.
ABOVE. Winton
The Gaddings About Of
Mr. Charles Chaplin
...
PROBABLY only one man knew until yesterday, when the cables started humming about rumours of his death, where Charlie Chaplin was spending his holiday. That person was Douglas Fairbanks, his greatest friend, who is honeymooning Eastwards with his new and third wife--Lady Cynthia Ashley to join the little tramp and his leading lady, Paulette Goddard..
Some say that by the time Doug. and Charlie meet, it'll be a double honeymoon.
Despite all the rumours and counter-rumours, Charlie and Paulette are not yet married.
You'll recall that newspapermen were quite definite that they were going to marry in Shanghai. They were equally emphatic that the two stars were going to marry in Singapore. Now it's Saigon.
Probably the reason' Charlie likes Hongkong so much is that it's the only place that hasn't pestered him about his romance.
Anyway, he inconveniently disappeared, into the French Colony that is the easiest place in the world to be married quickly and accretly.
•
You only need a short residential qualification to get married in French Indo-China and, on ordinary hunting trips, you can visit centres where film stars, newspapermen, and other iniquities of modern civilisation are unknown.
The French Indo-China trip is an afterthought, and wasn't included in Charlie's original itinerary, mapped by Cook's.
As a matter of fact, the film star should have returned to Hongkong
last Wednesday by the Dutch liner Tainegarn.
He would have remained here, as the guest of a prominent local resident, until the arrival of Doug, and Mrs. Fairbanks, a fortnight hence.
It looks now as if they'll not meet in longkong, for Charlie is now definitely scheduled to arrive from Tourane or ay while Fairbanks is not due until some fuw days later. Charlie may take up residence in Hongkong to wait his arrival. Indo-China is a French Colony oft visited by Doug. Fairbanks on hunting expeditions, being given the once-over for the first time by Charlie,
Charlie will definitely remain in Hongkong to attend gain premiere of "Modern Times"-ne only Chaplin plcture at which the greatest stor has not attended either the London or New York premiere. The premiere will tako place at the King's Theatre on May 7. "Modern Times" has already been passed by the Hongkong Censora,
photographing Tehenicolor
scenes
in
-Staf Photographer.
"FIRST NIGHT"--HELPS- TECHNICOLOR ACE CAMERAMAN PUTS H. K. ON MAP.
obtained by girl of her age. Critics singled THIS British film presents the life BEFORE end of year Hongkong cinema audiences will sec
to play termia.". One of heat paris ever
her out far praise. he was the cast for
of Drake, from the time of his
Travelogue of native city that will beat all previous efforts
part opposite Joe E. Brown la Alibi Ike" departure, with his Cousin, John Into cocked hat,
Performance proved that she had arrived. Hawkins, and their trading voyage Rewarded by starring in "Captain lood," Warner Brothers get her name on a long of 1687 up to the time of the defeat term contract. Now having a trai, la little of the Spanish Armadu. Interwoven attrpriced herself at her success. Likro riding, with the story of his romance with lins never been to England. Intends to hars Elizabeth Sydenham, a mediate plane for future Alma,
events of his caree
* holiday there as soon as posible. No iming at the Court, are the outstanding
“LAST DAYS OF POMPEII"
Ing.
comes to
news
ship's to apokon
lady-in-walt career. We see his first meeting with Queen Elizabeth when
Londen, bring the loss of one of her mips the Spaniards, file out
of
to Spain in of Lord Burghley's protest, amiles on his plan for weakening King Philip's supre THE foreword to "The Last macy by cutting his wealth at ita
Days of Pompell," Cording to sure the Treasure
Proston Foster, Basil
Rathbono
mine King's, To-morrow
him her "pirercalls-
Vaults of the
Elizabeth knights him instead.
It has been "shot” in new three-colour Technicolor which you saw, in "La Cucarucha", "Becky Sharp", by Technicolor's ace
camera-man.
It will be major Travelogue of series of Technicolor films released by famed globe-trotter James A. Fitzpatrick through M.G.M. and
It was made with co-operation of people who should know
highlights of Colony--the newshawks. Modesty forbids mention
of particular newsman who made arrangements for this co- operation, gathered local "stars", dug out data necessary for running commentary, which will be dubbed in by Jaster A. Fitz., when film is developed in Hollywood.
Biggest thing in its favour→
FOOTNOTE: Iour Fairbanks, putedly Hoolywood's wealthiest ALAT, was born in Denter un May 23, 1884, which' munken blin Just $3 Years old next month. Itis real nameșja Dongina Ulman. Married (2) Bash Hully- young Boug. Is their child (2) Mary Pickford (3) Lady Ashley. Charlie Chaplin was born 47 years ago today In London. If he marries Paulelir she'll be his third wife, previous being (1) Mildred Iarring 2) Lita firey, both now in London. Lita här two Chaplin
白结果。
ABOVE-Technicolor camera. men went nuts about Helen Chow, local Chinese beauty, photo graphed her from every angle.
-Stag Photographer.
Peak Of The Broadcasts
L
OOKING back over ZBW`radio programmes of the last few
It won't cost the Hongkong Government or Travel Associa- months, what stands out?
Orchestra (Incidentally, why has 28W, cut out Majestic Cabarot Orchestra?)
tion a penny. Acc cameraman in charge of Many harbour sequences were also the King's to-morrow, explains A series of successful voyages, from
I will offer my miserable opinion that the picture owes nothing to each of which he returned inden with Technicolor unit which "shot" local made with co-operation of newsmen, of the "best" in different departments Was Winton C. Huch. His 2,000 feet, being shot during twelve of recent programmes--in order of treasure, places Drako high in his scenes Bulwer Lytton, except descrip- Sovereign's esteem, and eventually work you already know, for he days unit was in Hongkong. Original tions of the city and the title, precipitates war with Spain, for King "hot" many of the major Techni- itinerary called for only four days merit.
Herc. goes:- stay was lengthened through ex- In the more demonstrative days Philly demands that the "pirates" color scenes in "Becky Sharp." of film publicity this would have shall be punished, whereupon, in the
During current world tour he has asperating dull weather, which Dance Bands--1, Empress of Britain'. been described as a "stupendous presence of the Spanish Ambassador taken 'scenes of Rio de Janiero, in shots.
unsuitable for vivid Technicolor super-epic of the glamorous Spain replica with the Armada, South Africa, at St. Helena, Mada-
Technicolor is almost thrice as Roman Empire.”
Wo see the famous scene of Drake gascar, in India, Colombo, Java, playing bowls on Plymouth Hoo when Slam.
richest
and while cinetravelogues, due prin- Here he has hoius-bolus taken cipally to fact that triple negative It is now labelled simply "gigantic the Spanish ficut in sighted; then the vided him with his river, has pro- expensive to shoot as ordinary black spectacle drama." It is all that It English ships stealing out of the sound claims to bring to the screen, in full and opening fire on the enemy, driving suggestion made on this page during must be used. One negative accepts authenticity beautiful backgrounds, them out of Calais Ronds by means review of Fox Maple Carpet "Hong- only those colours in scene that come stirring and terrible events and fierce of fire-ships: Drako's own pursuit of kong Hi-Lights," emphasised her within scope of blue primary colour doctrinas of a long-dead civilisation De Valdes, ship, and the chivalrous bour and native life and contrasted Another negative accepts only red (what will Mussolini sny7] to amaze surrender of its
old and the new. captain. A
and. Its associate colours, the third. flm accepts green." and thrill a twentieth century, world." The final secno is at Tilbury. Camp, Most of the sceneà 'shol by. Fitz.
So we have gladiatorial combats, whore Elizabeth, as stout-hearted as patrici unit massacres in the arena, the recon any king, encourages the troops Telegraph columnist,
suggested by There are only three primary colours In entire visual colour struction and the spectacular destruc- mobilised in anticipation of tion of the city with its Temple of Spanish Invasion. Drake
spectrum.. These three colours, com- arrives For instance, Chinese girls," wear- bined, give human eye the sensation Jupiter and-Forum.
'the news; the Armada is, do- ing variegated・・ split-skirted The story is not
volcanic
cos of varlegation. rested, the English frot has opened lunes, were required for sequences Toster appears as a black the Gates of the Sen, won the Keys in famed Repulgo Bay Hotel gar Three negatives are developer who becomes chumpion nghter, bells his nasil for gold, fed of the World, and the little spot they dens, on lawns of Lione separately but, unlike other colour on the bricks. recovers it in the gruption: A PA
stand
has on
the centre of the Charlie Gray, genial
fima, they are not printed onto- Majestle Cabaret, was approached by thrce positives. Under other systems crios Drake, "Firat Might," naked his alx three positives, are accurately mated by one, they are pressed against a pirate in Captain Blood"), is a real thorts we have been too much proffest dance periners to par- together to inske one filim. But in strip of plain celluloid, just ostpaper stylised Pontius Pilato, drawn into the plot because some of the action takes afraid. Henceforth, we will feat only ticipate. Result of co-operation was Technicolor three primary-colour is pressed against type, to make à placo in Juden, God. And by n common impulse the "most magnificent shots taken on matrices are made from negative newspaper, and the pressure trans- Marian C. Cooper has made a crowd breaks into a psalm of thanks present tour, as cameraman Hoch and these matrices are dyed red, fers the dyes to the cellulok!, 'Re- thorough job of the production, 500 glving,
blue, green espectively. Then, one sult in Technicolor.
80..
Basil Rathbone (who is a pompous ston
**
WERD
described scenes.
Dance Music -1, "Cheek to Check";"" 1 2, "Top Hat"; 3, "Red Sails in the.
Sunset". (Sorry my two favourites come from the same show.) Light Musto, Doreen Mu. Speakers-1, Captain 'Walter J. Voss, who spoke this week on St. Dunstan's Institution for the Blind. What I'd Like to Hear-A broadcast of the Legislative Council proceed- inga, more outdoor broadcasts, carly morning exercises...") Well, folks, that's my list. Bring
Governor-Designate Sir Thos.
Southorn Sings a Song
NIR THOMAS SOUTHORN and his well-liked Sady were in gayest spirits at farewell Cocktail Party in Sports Club on Tuesday, when Gambla's Governor-designate sang "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyos," surprised those who did not know that he had more than passable voice. ..
Hon. Mr. T. N. Chau declined vociferous ré quests to render "Three Blind Mice" in Chinese, so party broke into these well-known strains aana his leadership, Highlight of evening was Chinesó song by venerable Ho Kom-tong, who brought house down with applause.
Sir Thomas proved himself thoroughly good club man, and made happiest speech, reported Wednesday by local newshawks. One of Hong- kong's best parties wound, up with "They are Jolly Good Fellows"-sentiments all Hongkong endorses and a couple of “Auld Lang Syne's,' in which everybody joined.
Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo and wife, Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Mitchell, President Lam and a score of others made up the party.
DIS
“FIRST NIGHT” DISSECTS
Financial Report Of Philharmonic Society
ISSECTION of Hongkong Philharmonic Society com- parative account of Operas, published at end of An- nual Report, shows that while deficit on "A Country Girl" is lowest loss since at least 1929 (excepting 1930, when slight profit was made), receipts have been steadily declin- ing.
Thus, Philharmonic has been able to keep down deficits only by pruning expenses to minimum.
Tabulation covers six Operas
The Geisha" (December, 1929), The Ycomen of the Guard" (December, 1930), "Miss Hook of Holland" (Decem ber, 1931), "The Fountain of Youth" (January, 1933), "The Pirates of Penzance" (February, 1934), "A Country Girl" (Jan- uary, 1936).
Worst experience was with "Mine Hook of Holland", which resulted in Nott Less of $1,748. Il-starred "Fountain of Youth" resulted in Ibss of $956, "Pirates of Penzance" in loss of $911, and "The Geisha" in loss of $039. Compared with these figures. Loss of $120 on "A Country Girl was flea-bite. But Philharmonic expended only $8,166 on its production, as com pared with $10,985 on The Geisha, $8,448 on "Miss Hook of Holland", $7,123 on profitable "Yoomen of the Guard" and $7,101 on "Pirates of Penzance,"
Biggest slump in "A Country Girl" receipts was on Receipts from Pro- grammes, which went down.lo $900, lowest recorded since 1920, and com- paring with $1,417 of "Yeomen of the Guard,"
But Nett Sale of Tickets was also down to lowest peak during above- mentioned period, patrons paying only $4,536 (after deduction of inx, etc.), As compared with $7,200 to see "The Geisha', $5,284 to see "Yeomen of the Guard" and slightly lesser sums to see uthors,
eceipts from sale of costumes and sale of vocal scores showed slight in-.
creznes.
Taking figures all in all, it seems certain that Philharmonie will still need to carefully watch finances, pick Operas that will appeal to public and make much stronger efforts than heretofore to pubileise their activities.
Moonstruck
Fl
apparently THERE A
epidemic of moon-madness prevalent among the lyric writters and crooners at the moment.
ZBW, record-dealers and other jazzologists are all tee enger to remind you that the moon; (1) is for sale; (2) is over Miami; (3) la honey-coloured; (4) is yellow; (5) la bing wished-on; (0) is
low.
Won't some kind scientist place a rocket airplane at the disposal of this moonstruck mob and ensure a little wariety for those among us whose minds are not monopolised by the planets.
SNAPSHOTS
LUBITSCH ON COLOUR FILMS
In two or three years more than 50 per cent. of American films will be. made in colour; according to Ernst Lubltech, Paramount prodiierr
"Colour, of course, is a little more exponsivo, but that expense, will naturally be lowered with the number of films made. I can truthfully may that I foresee a tremendous revolu tion in Hollywood due to colour."
BRIEFS FROM
HOLLYWOOD Randolph Scot has been signed by Reliance Pictures to play the starring role. In The Last of the Mohicans, which will go into production shortly. Julie Haydon will play her first film rolo since her success in "The Sebun- drel" with Noel Coward, in Parn mount's "Too Many Parents,"
Fin D'Orsay, the film actress born in Canada in 1908, has become an American citizen.
Mary Holand to ill in Los Angeles with acuto throat. trouble.
Arline Judge, the film actress, has announced In Hollywood that she and her husband, Wesley Ruggles, the director, whom she described as "the" finert man I have ever met, are to -separate shortly,
NEW RECORDS
HERE are three records for three different faster in
muukić.
(1) Gracic Fichis in as pont a number as I have heard her aing mince the day she was not over- working herself to death: "Cloga and Shawl," done by Rez (8718 B) and written by one Haines,the white
Consul
of the Haitian Repibille in London.
(2)
Liszt's old warhorse, "Hun- Farian Rhapsody," given some re- freshing sparkle by the brass band
the
Garin Republicaine, This in a double-sided Columbia dise (DX 724).
Tenor John Hendrik, from Middle Europe, shows how the English language should bo enunciated on a Parlophone record bearing two baliais: "Ile's an Angel" and "Star and Rose," Two years ago Hendrik could hardly. apeak English; he sings it better than most natives now (It 2172). Dig work of the week is Best- hoven's A Minor Quartette, dona for Golunthia by the Lener ployers on five big dieca. This is "for string music connoisseurs, but
Non are not, one, ask to have tho and of the second movement play-. -ed-for-you-May-stimulate--your ~|
interest..
READERS WRITE: ONE TAKES ME TO TASK
FOR
RETRIEVING. A REJECTED PARAGRAPH
I
...you are going to retrieve a rejected paragraph from the Editorial waste-paper.basket (Enter- tainment, April 18), you might at least quote it correctly."
In your well-deserved appreciation of the performances of "Lovers' Leap" you refer rather pointlessly to the suggestion of a charity concert given either by the A.D.C. or the Phil- harmonic Society for mutual benefit.
On the face of it, the only Society that could have been meant was the one that works entirely for charitable. enda-the Hongkong Singers. As a matter of fact, the paragraph was sent in by a friend of mine as a joke. on the public announcement of another
deficit in the report of the annual moeting of the Philharmonic Society' and read as follows:
"The rumour, that the Hongkong: Singers are giving a Charity Concert. on behalf of the Philharmonic Society. is denied."-BT.
Correspondent erra. Time-honoured joke, which has gone the roman Hongkong ever since Philharmonic,
stayed A.D.C.
in own back-yards, was. zent in, presumably by another reader, us stated. Just one of thees
coincid ences that keep on cropping up. Point" correspondent missed was suggestion that A.D.C.. Philharmonie should get together for mutual benefit ont for sake of theatrically-starved public.
אטמן מדי :
Monster's bride
friends cannot agroa as to the part Elsa Lanchester took in the film "Bride of Frankenston and tha
and parts of the other: actresses. Could you enlighten us W.IV.
Lanchester played Mary Shelley in the prologue and the bride of the monster in the rest of
Elats
..
the film. Other parts surre taken by Valerio Hobavi, tuife of Dr. Frankenstein; Anna Dorling, shep hordess: Ena O'Connor, da difanio;. Mary Gordon und Grace Cunard in amuller roles
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