Star
2
THE HONGKONG, TELEGRAFIL SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 190
ENTERTAINMENT
Of The Week
Alex. Korda
Does This
Sort Of
Thing
"THE DARK
ANGEL"
'King's Current
He
LEXANDER KORDA has a lot to answer for.
has a way of putting ideas into people's heads.. He, you will remember, started, the producers on the historical tack. But our immediate concern with him is about-these Oberon and Barrie girls.
Four years ago Merle Oberon was an unknown girl in' And London. Her present name wasn't even invented, the other day you must have read that when Dietrich walked out of her latest picture. the producers started negotiating for Merle Oberon.
THAT'S how big she is to day.
But for Korda having noticed her lunching in the studio canteen' af Elstree one day I could still be telling serçen aspirants that those Cinderella stories don't happen in real life.
They can just say, "Look at Merle Oberon," and the rest is silence. from me.
2
Look at her, those four years be dred dollars, and engaged to a beauti tween nineteen and twenty-three ful girl. packed with the Ingredients of the most romantic story in the oldest, world, the poor girl who became a famous flm star.
***
3
THE dramatic point on which to raise the curtain on Merle's story is that day in the Els-
trec
roc walaurint, down there with the
Cene Raymond makes his bat with his uncle. (who wants him to go into the meat-packing business), and suc- ceeds after hilarious adventures with esenped convicts, the police and the newspapers and some "It Happened. One Night" dalliance with Wendy Barrie and her eider-drinking auni (Helen Broderick).
Wendy is prettier in this film than
MERLE OBERON
Merle Oberon
428 Films Then Success
For Hersholt
THE
five daughters of Mrs. Dionne have brought sudden fame to a film veteran who has been making pictures for the last 30 years without any great public acclamation. His name is Jean Hersholt. He has appeared in 428 pictures. The 428th Is The Country Doctor," in which he plays the part of Dr. Dafoe, the man who brought the Canadian quintuplets into the world.
America became Hersholt-conscious The man who hired actors looked him with the release of the film. A over and asked, "Are thest your own Chicago hospital named ward after clothes 7"
him, and a committee has been formed Hersholt and they were, "Have
to get him an honorary degree in you a tuxedo and full dress?" the medicine.
when
man naked,
"Yes," said Hershok.
Hollywood gave him a luncheon to "Right," said the casting director, celebrate his 30th year in pictures. Report at eight to-morrow. Your The unfortunate thing was that the pay is 15 dollars a week.", guest of honour was unable to eat So Hersholt broke into Hollywood, a bit. He was given an hour off from 23 yong ago. Fur only 10 months the studio, and he attended the lunch has he been without a contract. He in the make-up of a man of 76 he was one of the pioneers of Beverly plays in his next picture for 20th Hills, and he still lives in the same Century-Fox, Turmoil." Chewing house, which contains a library of would have cracked the make-up. frat cditions and 140 lettons from
Hersholt, with kindly, spectacled Hans Christian Andersen.. eyes, a grey moustache and a Scan- His salary rose to £ a week with dinavian accent, has played doctor in Thomas H. Ince, and then jumped to several nimis before, but it took tho a princely £8 with Universal. Erich quins to make him popular,
von Stroheim made him a star in Thirty years ago,
Greta "Greed," that epic which, in its full Carbo was a puling one-year-old in length ran to do reels. Stockholm (and Mary Pickford was Horsholt is one of the few people- making her first Broadway appear who enw the picture in that form. ance), Hersholt faced a moving pige He went to the projection room with turo camera in Copenhagen for the von Stroheim at 10 an, and staggered first time. The canicra had been im oat at 8 pm. Later he saw it cut. ported by a young man who wanted to down to the 24 reels in which von record the funeral procession of King Stroheim wanted it released. After violent protests it was shown to the Christian IX,
Then he imagined himself a pro- public in seven reels, and to producer that he has never scon Von Stroheim, 40- producer was unable to pay salaries cording to Hersholt, is the only genius on the first film and so Hersholt ap- the nereon has produced.
When he was making "The Country peared in a second one in order to
Bessions with Dr. Dafea to study the doctor's mannerlants and his outlook on life. The whisky could not be brought out unil the doctor's house keeper, a martinet in the household, E went to Hollywood, walked five had gone to bed, but then the two of
miles along a dusty road to In them settled down to talk.
Hersholt brought a pocketful of ceville. He wore its beat clothes, & silk hat, striped trousers and spats. pebbles back with him, and said that
ever before. Hollywood is improving DEATH TRYST THAT WAS ducer of dramatic dims, and he hired was so annoyed th
MADE IN HONGKONG
Pancras to Elstree and crept back at allest daughter of late Mr. F. C. Jen- MANY years ago two famous màgicians were in the this money. Stage and screen kept Doctor," Hersholt had many midnight
promise of the leading part in plenty of action and situations of high humour. It's the best flm our own "quickie".
Only a girl who has shivered star has turned out of Hollywood. through the grey morning from St. Wendy (Barrie is stage-name) wan night with a headache and a guinen kin, K.C. Most of her earlier days In her pocket knows just what that were spent in Hongkong, her first promise meant to Estelle Merle visit hera boing in 2012. She went O'Brien, Thompson, to give you at hope in 1919 for educational purposes, once her real name and the source but has periodically visited Colony of her present no.
since then. She didn't get the part...
ме
lounge of the Hongkong Hotel. They were Howard Thurston and Charles J. Carter.
They started talking about Spiritualism.
Out of that idle conversation was born a death tryst She won her way into motion pic- tares by lunching at the Savoy and Six months later Thurston and Carter returned to the United rose to prominence by a steadfast re- States and met Harry Houdini and Harry Blackstone,
They mentioned Hongkong-well known to Blackstone and Iler introduction to the cinema was
UP to then this had been her fusal to "aet"
life: Born in Tasmania;
taken, fatherless, to Calcutta, where in the approved manner of the story Houdini through previous visits and the conversation again she went to work in her uncle's office books but of the kind that so seldom reverted to Spiritualism. as typist and telephone operator for happens in real life.
52 a week.
The sequel took place in n Michigan township last month. Alexander Korda, the British pro“, As the golden hands of his grandfather clock crawled to the Har uncle went on leave to Eng. ducer, chanced to see her in the Savoy mystle hour of midnight, the Great Blackstone, sitting in the quiet land, and Merle's mother raised the grill one noon, introduced himself, and of his study, made a mighty effort to keep falth with his three dond money to send her along. Instead of offered her a screen test.
friends-Houdini Thurston and Carter. Up till then Wendy had never con-- holidaying, she took dancing lessons.
The world's premier magician, the last of a quartette of men When her uncle was due to go back, sidered the possibility of an acting the end she was going to slay and career. But she willingly accepted whose names were synonymous with bewildering witchery the world the proffered test, and afterwards was over, unsuccessfully tried to cross the borderline of eternity in keep go on the stage. Her uncle left her with £20 and her return ticket, which awarded a contract, by Karda. Her ing with the pact of friendship that grew out of the conversation in
first role was the feminine lead in the Hongkong Hotel. "Wedding Rehearsal", an instantane- offered, she ous success. Like Merle Oberon,
she sold at once.
When nothing else
As a result of that conversation, Blackstone, Houdini, Thurston went to work as a dance hostess in however, she first became known in- and Carter-all of whom had studied mysticism in the Far East- playing in crowd scenes in films when characterisations in "Private Life of with those who preceded him in death.
West End clubs at 210 a week; ternationally in one of the fending agreed that the last-alive-would make every effort to communicate she could.
Henry VIII,
When the third had died the survivor was to select a time agreed In September, 1934, Wondy went to New York with visions.cf an Ameri-upon by all-when the mysterious world of space was properly PRODUCERS who had inter- can career. She had sought no con- adjusted, for his mightiest try for communication with the beyond.
Viewed her had always tract In Hollywood,, but in a carefree Carter the Great was the last to die. He was suddenly stricken said the same thing. She was n vamp mood set out for the American film, in India, shortly after he had played in Hongkong.
Last month Blackstone made his supreme effort and failed. type and vamps were out.
centre. Sho was given a test by Paramount and placed under contract
Korda saw her differently. 11e in December. Twelve months ago she
secretary. in one of bla
made her this bespectacled, mousey was anmounted as one of the six Para- World's Greatest Violinist VIII pictures, "Wedding-Henry mount proteges for: 1935,
Then Ann Boleyn in "Henry"-and-
The fight was over.
☆ ★ ✩
UNDER
INDER her original contract with Korda, Merle, with a
bunch of other girls, had £12 a bunch
of other girls, had £12 a week between
pictares and £20 when working.
"STORY OF LOUIS:
PASTEUR"
•Queen's Current -----
JACQUES
THIBAULD
WILL PLAY HERE
BRILLIANT biographical A professional-pleasure jaunt
Ho has played throughout the. to the Far East next United States, in South America,
As soon as "Henry" was seen sho drama, rich in human inter- month will give Hongkong the Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, had a £700 a week offer from Holly- est, intelligently and realistically opportunity of listening to the England, Spain, Portugal, Germany,
based on the career of Louis Pas greatest violinist in the world. It was to £100 a week-but every teur, France's famous chemist
His name le Jacques Thibaud, Hungary,
wood, She didn't go.
When she did, just two years ago,
film
Austria, Yugo-Slavia, work in the year, not just for one and bacteriologist. So magni- If you're French you'll most cer- Roumanin, Poland, Russia, Japan and ficent is Paul Muni's perform tainly have heard of him. If the Indies, and has received distin In The Dark Angel," released at the King's to-day, she had 5200 a ance, that few will fail to be pro- you're British, and still haven't guished decorations from almost all week plus half of the £8,000 fee Sam foundly moved by its unusual heard of Thibaud, your musical of these countries.
education has been andly, reg Goldwyn paid Kords for borrowing subject-matter.
lected. her.
Spectacular emotional Kigh- Nor her contract stipulates for an
Provious visits to Hongkong have Increase of £5,000 on each successive lights are cleverly worked into the picture she makes.
theme, thereby reducing scientific passed unnoticed because Thibaud has passed through horo without stepping-
:
જ
And now let's talk about Wendy technicalities to an comprehenal- over except on one occasion when he Barria
ble perspective, while there is a gave a recital. tender conventional love Interest This visit, however, he intends to further to engender mass and stay in Hongkong, will give a recital feminine appeal.
at the Hongkong Hotel on July 17. Reservations are already being made. The star, like the character de a Ho learned to play the violin 'whoa called upon to portray, has been long he was seven years old. Since then in finding the recognition' his genius (1887) it has rarely been out of his deserves, but such is the high quality handasan daha d of name thinmont wrapped up. Over 20 yea
“LOVE ON A BET" Alhambra, To-morrow
WENDY BARRIE was working
ago he allied himself
4 STAR PICTURES AT THE STAR
on this film in Hollywood that at there is now no doubt with Alfred Cortot, famed French BIG line up of "Old Favourites"
when an urgent cablegram from Hongkong was placed in her hands.
acknowledgment.
his artistry will receive fall pianist, Fabio Casals, equally famed has been booked by Star
cellist. The three formed the world- Louis Pasteur, a French chemist, renowned trio which played for al- Theatre for next four weeks, for proves that the root of virulent child- most 30 years throughout the world which you can thank remarkable bed fever les in uncleanliness and is Thuy broke up in 1932 and since that'
In simple, sad words, it told prevention in sterilisation, but his timo Thibaud has been making exten- success of recently ballot con her that the man she had ro theories are scoffed at by Dr. Char-sive concert tours all over the world."
me ducted by contemporary. These vored in this Colony as her bommet, leader of the French medical father had tragically died a few denly refuse to acknowledge the ex- childbirth Charbonnet only agrees to are some of the pictures you hours beforehand.
stence of germs. Hanished from act upon Pastour's theory of sterillan Paris as a quack, Pastour later dis- tion provided that Pastour signs a voted
profession, the members of which sude new
Hollywood has no time to pause covoras serum that will protect sheep paper saying his treatment for rabies for, with dates.of release
for heartbreaks or tears and pro- from anthrax, but in spite of patent is a fake, Fasteur is forced to agree, at Star Theatre opposite each: duction went on. Wendy went proof of his success no reward comes but it is not long before his vaccine
អ
FA agetsurvives the supremo test; and the converted Charbonnet has to shake ono home for the afternoon, and re- turned to the studio next day. Following the marriage of his of mankind's
befactors by daughter, Annetto, to Jean Martel, a the mankind's greatest benef
Cables, from the film centre said young doctor, converted to Pasteur's Paul Munt is superb us Louis Pas that she wna heartbroken at the theory the concentrates on a vacoina
teur In his performance is to be. news of her father's
hat a that will give Immunity from hydrop found, avery shade of human drámaj the third of hobla: Charbonnet and his coterie, aro, it is b. cormelling masterpiece, of.
still content to soul/and Charbonnel.
character-drawing?wns
World" "==Whir besi
"good" silek Sand
even gros so far an to infect himself VASARIOWA.wminor
th
Aleneding; theyrables; microbi
Americanisms and vade: the besto
tocht
June 20: "David Copperfield" July 26, Tell Me To-night" July 15: "The Thin Man" July 16: "Red-Hended Woman" July 17; “Back Street” ...“ July 18: “Design for Living" July 23 July 2318 HARALDIYA ZA
him in Denmark until 1913.
H
BEST
NEW RECORDS
BEST ten tunes on the new disca might be suspect-as high- brow-until you hear them;
They form William Walton's. "Facade" raite, written fourteen
· jears ago ́as background for the Sitwell recitations: which Noel Cousard savagely satirised in "The Whittiebot Family." Now claborated and done alone by London Philharmonie,
Walion, like many other great- composers, might have been a rich man had he been content juist to write tunes; this fascinat- ing and witty assortment-polka, valke, tango, tarantella, and yodelling song--prove it. There is enough saxophone,, trumpet, and drum in the scoring to please. Jazzists, more than enough adralt. neas in their use to interent high- ér brows. ("Facade," wa 70- cords. H.M.V. C 2830-37.)
Most impressive recording of month is the Arst act of Wagner's "Die Walkure," by Melchior and Covent Lotte Lehmann--both Garden broadcast each spring for many yoors--with Vienna Phil- hermanic under Bruno Walter's baton.
Sixteen big records, but if you can't afford all, choose the first, with its throbbing storm music, and the last three. This trio glues you the music from the Sword motif enwards, with Step- mund's glorious love song, and the impassioned ellmaz. At this get is Wagner, without tears. I have, by the way, been expert- menting lately with many kinds. of needles; good vocal and or chestral muste of this kind souls best on Universal needica, while for jazz, Tungstyle
brings
out crispness, Extraordinary
how
much diference a needle can make.
("Die Walkure," Act I Eight records. H.M.V.)
they were gathered in the Dlonne yard -- and had certain magic properties. They were eagerly seized by friends, several of whom have since become fathers.
But the secret is that they were gathered near Kansas City,
His own good-luck charm is wooden whistle well-chewed by ench of the Dionne daughters. Hersholt keeps it in his pocket in each acone he makes. He does not want is star. dom to fade in the next film "Tur- moil."
Purnell's
SAUCES & PICKLES "Yoo good to pass!'
Obtainable from all leading stores,
Sole Agents: DANBY & HANCE:
FIT and in Shape
Cream canvas with Brown Imitation. crocodile tipping,
Black and White if you prefer it.
Alexandra Buliding.
-Keep your feet free from foot trouble imagine them in this smart oxford vogue in footwear
to-day's
its fitting qualities, snug
at the heel with ample room for the toes
at the arch which will enable you to do your shopping or visiting without that tired feeling. They will keep your feet Fit and in Shape, ap treat you well
GORDON'S LTD.
Hongkong's Ladles Shoe Spec
Page 10Page 11