1930-02-07 — Page 11

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1930.

•

MUSIC DRAMA FILMS

THE THEATRE YEAR, from the bitter, unstressed ironles

IN LONDON

RETURN OF THE SOLDIER: REVIVAL OF LIGHT OPERA

BOX OFFICE RECORDS

Two things have dominated the London theatre this year, writes "J. B." in the Manchester Guardian

One has been the return of the soldier to the stage as well as to the bookshelf of the best-sellers. The other has been the revival of light opera. Mr. Sherriff's "Journey's End" was produced by the Stage Society in December of last year and was immediately proclaimed a sus ress of cateem. But there was no managerial rush for the rights, and when it was taken to the Savoy Theatre in January there was the greatest timidity as to the result. There is no need to discuss the mat- ter further; the play ran across the world. Never expected to attract the public of 1929, it broke box-office records in every direction, Nover intended to be a manifesto against war, it was made so by its own logle and by the passionate tendency of the time. For the author there was an almost hysterical reclamo; he could scarce utter a word without someone calling it his "message."

It

It can hardly be said again that the nation is never interested in the

"Journey's theatre.

End" brought to the playhouse those who rarely or never went there. suddenly nationalised the appeal of the drama and showed to the world that Britain could achieve that rarest fent of courage in the arts; It could face contemporary tragedy, The Greeks, the fathers of tragedy, never did that. When Phrynichus dramatised contemporary warfare he was fined by his fellow-Athenians for opening their mental wounds. The Elizabethans, relishing blood- bolstered endings, dated them back or placed them abroad, except in such an exceptional case as "Arden of Faversham." Mr. Sherriff has been unique in his class. He has offered tragedy not to a specialized theatrical audience but to the mli- llon, and they have devoured it. At the same time he would be the first to admit that the peculiar cir- cumstance of a returned or growing curiosity about the war had made the soil ripe for his seed at the exact moment when he planted it.

A Grand Comedian

Mr. O'Casey's wry and wrathful war play "The Silver Tassie" did not long outlive Its success of the first weeks. It was a hit-or-miss play that won either favish praise or complete distaste. In no sense a work of art, if by that phrase be meant something with shape and unity, it went scrambling from a realistic Dublin to a fantastic firing-line, where a formal, blood. leas agony kept up its litany of pain. It Introduced to London a grand comedian in the person of Mr. Barry Fitzgerald, and em- phasized with its harsh utterance of anger and its ragged rhythm Mr. Raymond Massey's genius in production of pieces where some- thing more is needed than the nice conduct of cocktail-glass and ciga- rette, It was a pity that Mr. Massey could not renew his render- ing of Mr. Hubert Grinth's war play "Tunnel Trench." That piece did not "develop" so well when tried for a run at the new Duchess Theatre as it had done at its ex perimental production by Mr. "Jour. Massey five years earlier. ney's End" had set us a higher standard, it is true, but Mr. Massey had evoked more poignancy

By

GEORGE JESSEL

of the swaying, murderous battla fought day after day for a hole in the mud.

THE

TALKING FILMS. ·

Complicate Work of Casting Director

Musical comedy may go from bad to worse as the Austrian tradition fades out and syncopation can ins vent no fresh tricks to play. It la No longer, is the work of the mo- just the time, accordingly, to re- tion picture casting director rea- vive the British tradition of "light|tricted to the selection of players comedy. Sir Nigel Playfair has who possess acting ability and sa- kept alive at Hammersmith the tisfactory microphone voices: "Sym- painted stage of an 18th century phonic casting" is the latest com- seen through a roseate quizzing-plication to develop in the always- glass; on that stage he has main dificult task of assembling actors tained the gay operatic convention for a talking screen play. from Gay to Sheridan. It is now desirable that we should do a little of our own lyrical work, and Mr. A. P. Herbert la an admirable a movement which librettist for will teach manners to the musical play that has fallen elsewhere into such rough hands.

"Symphonic casting" in practice resolves itself into choosing players whose voices blend satisfactorily together while retaining their in- dividual distinctiveness according to H. Emerson Yorke, casting direc

(Continued on Next `Column.)

WAS

star, Pay Bainter, popular stage $4,260,25 richer as the result of a ten-minute appearance in court. Miss Bainter testified in her suit against the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland for insurance on two ringa stolen from her apartment three years ago.

Mrs. Olivé An Farnum, wife of William Farnum, former film actor, is pictured in court, at Los Angeles, where her maintenance suit goes on trial. She asks the court to award her an allowance of $2,500 per month

COLOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY

(Fox Movietone Artist) ·

could get a little sleep in the morn-{deville act and played in it with some ings

anecess. Later I had various engage-

That was the first time I ever had ments with Broadway shows. I been away from my natiya.. New wrote the muscal adaptation of the York. About a year later. Edwards play, "The Jazz Singer," nd played. My first appearance on the stage bird for his "Kid: "Cabaret" the lead in it. It war ́s process, was when I was eight years old as an vaudeville act. When I was ten years: Next I played in "The War Song1299 employee of William Fox. When I old I had risen to the station of lead About that time Wandeld Sheehan,

was ten, under ing man in the act. the management One day Edwards and I were walle vice president of Fur Films, came to mu si a dinner in New York and told

Es of Gus Edwards log down the street in Union City, me I ought to try the new talking I had my first N. J. As an artist will do I was pictures. I thought it over and rese Leading lady complaining about my supported most of my Broadwayfriends Lila Locaged] at girl that sings with me in go were already in Hollywood. It looked four. And now food old Edwards. She hasn't like a good bet so Iffareed, twenty years of the look or the class.

***Yeh, said: Edwards, Well, |- I finished "Love, Live and Laugh" later I am 20- pearing agaip un- you're so particular, let's see pick out recently and am scheduled soon

start making a Concy der Williant For a girl that would be better

How shout that girl over there?" which they have not

modi” againg with "swered: pointing to lidd on a RitzzaEN BARGAINS

sanky,Tead-

An: the porch across the streetline Apple – any thirtyong

b. Not so bad at, ihad, as decided: Ed2] | Ribition:

|wards After taking (4-Took

ova on Broadwa

CHINA MAIL.

Hollywood Humor

PUPPY LUCK

By JOYCE COMPTON

(For Movietone Artist)

I have always been very fond of dogs 21 pets. When I came to Holly wood to try to get in the movies I

brought several with me. I had ŁWo Pekinese and two griffons, those funny laulė- thalt plats with ibanjo "eyes.

Well, every where I went I either took my pups with me or talked about them Ito the point where people were bored. Whet several months ghed and I was getting nothing but bits and extra assignments my friends advised me to gel my pups off my mind.

"You talk about them: so much it annoys the studio people and burts your dances," they told me,

I thought it over and decided my friems were right in saying I had made myself tiresome. I not only vowed to myself not to speak of them in public again but I was on the point of selling them.

Then one day I got a phone call asking me to come down to the For

dies the next day. I went and was greeted with the grand news that two Fix directors wanted me Yor featured parts in new pictures. John Ford wanted me for "Salute" and John Bly. stone for "The Sky Hawk." After I had signed for the parts I told them how surprised I was

"I didn't think anybody even knew

my name around here, rasch less want- ing me for a big part,” I said to Bly--

stone.

"Nobody did." he answered. "We probably never would have found you, except that I remembered a pet Pek- inese you used to carry around. Ford called a kennel ehtib and got your ad- dress."

My pups are not, for sale now..

tor at the Paramount Long Island stadio.

"In the perfect screen cast of to- day, every voice should be as dis- tinctive as are the different groups: of instrumenta in a symphony or chestra, Yorke maintaine, in elabor-, ating on his theory of choosing playera. "Carrying the comparison a little farther, the ensemble of voices should blend together withoutį discord. In other words, the voices of a group of players should posseṣa both contrast and harmony-a pára- doxical combination that, coupled| with the other requirements of the roles, complicates the task of the casting director a thousand-fold.

"If, for instance, there are two feminine characters of approximate-| ly equal importance to the story, [the casting director must not only choose contrasting physical types but he must also find actresses with contrasting voices. Preferably, one) of the players should have 4 soprano quality in her talking voice and the other a contralto range. When this Ideal combination is achieved, the audience unconsci- [ously appreciates the vocal variety and the harmonious blending of the two voices.

"Distinctiveness of voice is equal- ly essential in choosing the mascu- | line players for a screen production. If the herd and the villain both pos- sess voices of the same general quality, the audience is sub- consciously annoyed, and the char- acterizations of the actors suffer ac- cordingly.

"The featured players in "The River Inn, the all-talking picture recently completed at the Astoria studio, offer an excellent example of 'symphonic. casting" in practice," Yorke points out.

"Helen. Morgan plays the only feminina role in this production, [so the necessity of contrast for her voice offered no problems. But Charles Ruggies, Fred Kohler and Jimmy Durante, the trio of masca- line principals, are the possessora of distinctly different voices which aid in individualizing their charac tarisations while combining to pro- duce a harmonious ensemble.

Kohler, as the menacing KWA- runner heavy of the screen play, possesses a rather deep voice that Is In perfect accord with his role. Ruggies, as the devil-may-care re- porter, has a high baritone rocal quality that both contrasts and blends with Kohler's voice, while Jimmy Durante, providing the broad comedy in the action, has a vocal range between the other two, and a certain aasal quality which distin- gusshes it from both Ruggles, and Kohler's voices.

Yorke's theory of variety and harmony in voices is founded on his long experience, in the sound re- cording, and radio tie Joining the Paramo

Before Teland

for

for the

MODERN STUDIOS

Make Work a Pleasure

While the rest of Hollywood bakes under the summer sun, that part of it engaged in the making of all-talking pictures works in comfortable coolness, breathing water-washed air and wholly un- disturbed by the din of living that goes on outdoors.

List that as one of the fow pleasures of sound picture mak- ing. At the Paramount studios in Hollywood, each of the RAW modern sound proof stages is von- tilated by a cooled (in summer time) and heated (in winter) air- circulating system comparable to those installed in the larger metropolitan theatres of the coun- try.

Maurice Chevaller and his sup porting cast aiming "The Love Parade" And this especially satisfying. "The Love Parade" is the screen's first original operetta, and being an operetta, the cos- tumes are elaborate. Chevalier, for example, wears tight-cut mill- tary uniforms, with high collars, ropes of heavy braid and high boota.

"The Love Parade," is directod by Ernst Lubitsch from a libretto by Guy Bolton and a story by Ernest Vajda. The original musi- cal score was written by Victor the lyrics by Schertzinger and Clifford Grey.

| HONG KONG HEIGHTS

For the information of visitors the following list of some of the highest points on the Island and Mainland is published:

Island,

THE

HONG KONG

PENINSULA HOTEL:

11

HONG KONG HOTEL: REPULSE BAY HOTEL:

PEAK HOTEL

`AND

SHANGHAI

ASTOR HOUSE: PALACE HOTEL:

MAJESTIC HOTEL.

HOTELS,

LIMITED

In association with the Grand Hotel des Wagons Lits, Peking,

DAILY CROSS-WORD PUZZLE.

(This cross-word puzzle has been made by an expert dat our readers are warned to look out for occasional phonatio spellings, such as harbor, plow, and altho.)

+

14

5

15

10 11 12 13

16

17

19

70

125

28 29

35

39

45

49

52 53

59

63

HORIZONTAL

Feet.

Victoria Peak

1828

1-Famous American

Signal Station

1774

angineer and

Mt. Parker

1794

bridge bullder

Mountain Lodge

B-Cork used in

1725

Ruhing

The Eyrie ..

1725

Peak Hotel

1305

Talkoo Sanatorium

1000

Mt. Davis

877

16-Heart

Bowen Road (filterbeds) 297

Mamiend Talmoshan. Kowloon Peak

Feet.

8124

. 1971

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION

CAROLI ACERATE IMP. BIN. CE BASTIN

PIA HAN E

MAGES IDE STRENO NAGAR

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COLOR BARONS JALI YEAGN_ACRY ENDOR REN ETA O IT NOVITIATE OK BAO TEM MAN OPE ETON 1 RATION

GRADUAL

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tress 14-Narrative poem 18-Bulky

17-Falalfers 19-Oldest member by

rasion of service 20-One of the grand

diviatore of the world

21-Great

23-Astral

21-1.iquid meERUPO 27-Fresher

28-School back (pl.) 32-A color 33-Eastern State of

U. 8. (abbr) 38-Old Instrument of

torture 36-Sicker 98-Coal scuttla 39-Molodies 40-Wespon 41-Man's namo 42-Non-professional 49-Drove along with

great force

15+

56 57 58

60

166

HORIZONTAL (Cont.) VERTICAL (Cont.) 44-Ascend

45-The (Spanish) 48-Authority of the

י.

Pope 47-Offered 49-Horse 81-Hause covering 52-Departed speedily 65-Harness straps 69-By word of mouth 60-Send forth $2-8triking effect |63-klat (slang)

64-Shakespearean hero 68-Department of

France 47-Prophet

[#0-Dispatched -

VERTICAL

13-Fresh-water duck 18-8llant

(22-Polat of compass

(abbr.)

24-Water jug

26-Animal stomach

ced us food [28-Low.marshy ground

29-8malt glass bottle 30-Mysterious 91-Blumbered

33-Stir up 34-Wasted time 37-More recently 38-Fibrous tube" [40-8trest cleaning maj

ohines 41-introdusOB

43-Appear. 44-Worship

Fish without-ver-6-146–More vapid

traf dan (PL)

2-Harbor In Bamer 3-Clock face 4-Conscientious heal

tations B-Florin (abbr) 6-Boy

7-Native minerala 8-Once mor S-More sensitive 10-Frightened 11-The vanquished 12-Melody

48-En no manner. 40-Balance

|50-Davil

52-8packs |53–A large lako

84-U. 9. coin

50-Hint

57-Marit

58-Let it stand. In

proof reading St-Bavarage

65-Certified as correct

(abbr.)

The solution of the above cross-word puzzle will appear in

to-murreta irus along with a new cross-word puzuia.i

The World demands -the World

WILL'S

GOLD FLAKE

CIGARETTES

*

IRAN ZERINALL CLIMES