1934-12-28 — Page 7

AT

TO-MORROW THE

KING'S

THE MELODY MASTERPIECE OF THE SCREEN BY THE PRODUCERS OF "FLYING DOWN TO`RIO"

The story

of a millionaire family who were

"DOWN TO

THEIR LAST

YACHT

RKO

RADIO

PICTURE

Warm hearts

on the cold blue

oceani Rad shythm under blue

zkius!.

with MARY JOLAND,

FOLLY MOSAN RID SPARKS' $1-D-NEY FOX SIDNEY BLACKMER 5 Directed by PAUL SLOANE Pandro S. Bermos, executive producer

THE

ALT MAJESTIC

TO-DAY & TO-MORROW AT 2.30, 5.20, 7.20, & 9.20

"MYRT and MARGE

COMMENCING

30th SUNDAY

Wallace Beery

IN

"VIVA VILLA'

• LEE THEATRE

COMMENCING 30th DEC., 1934.

WILLIAM HUTTER presents

77 PARK LANE DENNIS NEILSON TERRY BETTY STOCKFELD

Directed by ALBERT DE COURVILLE.

UNITED ARTISTS

COMMENCING 1st JAN,, 1935.

With

THIS IS THE PICTURE THAT OVERSHADOWS

ANY ONE EVER MADE !

"THE LEGEND

OF SIEGFRIED”

THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1934

"THE MERRY WIDOW" LUBITSCH MASTERPIECE "LOVE PARADE" STARS SEEN AT

..

BEST IN MEMORABLE FILM WEALTH OF BEAUTY SEEN IN "DAMES" WARNER'S LATEST MUSICAL HIT HAWAIIAN BACKGROUND FOR “DOWN TO THEIR LAST YACHT" COMEDY

AVISH production, costing, LM.G.M. Pearly U.S.$2,000,000)

and Chevalier and Jeanette' Mac- donald with Ernest Lubitsch dir- ecting is sufficient to guarantee tho latest version of Franz Lehar's operetta "The Merry... Widow" to be, without question, the musical that shares with the Columbia hit-starring Grace Moore "One Night of Love" — the honour of being the greatest since the talkię era.

Lubitsch has the rare gift of treating romance lightly, although one senses he felt the presence of the newly-formed Purity League in some of his scenes, and his tongue- in-the-cheek attitude has somehow changed the old passionate romance into a more sophisticated comedy, which does not, however, in any way The detract from the success. glorious muste remains intact, and The the new lyrics are excellent. dedication of the film to the com poser is a big compliment, and it should share in the record-breaking success of the original play.

By Diane WARNER BROS, come again to

Ruby Keeler is as beautiful as ever in "Dames" at the Alhambra.

town with an array of musi cal talent in Dick Powell, Joan Blon- dell, Ruby Keeler, Hugh Herbert, Guy Kibbee and ZaZu Pitts, their stock suppliers of amusement, who

make "Dames" another of their

many "hits."

Ray Enwright handles the select

cast, and Busby Berkeley is still breath-taking in his dance ensem- bles:

.:.

Guy Kibbee, Zasu Pitts, and Hugh Herbert will rock you off your meat in "Dames" at the Alhambra.

DIVORCE CHAOS IN HOLLYWOOD,

Court Rules Many Decrees Invalid

EVEN SCENARIOS BETTERED

Hollywood.

multi-mil- The story tells of a lionaire (Hugh Herbert) whose sole ambition is to clean up the morals of the world. The adventures this entails, put over with most catchy songs and dance numbers, prove a

Thia divorce and remarriage busi-| delight, and the. Alhambra manageness of the Hollywood film colony ment is to be commended for giving has now become more complex ever this excellent musical as their New than the most intriguing "eternal Year attractionTM

triangle" scenario ever written..

For a decision of the Appeals Court at Sacramento has render ed doubtful the marital status of a number of prominent cinema stars.

I know Warner Bros. have the habit of following a well-known formula, that is to say 1 slight story, climaxing in elaborate and ingenious manœuvres of countless girla in endless novel formations Mrs. Al Jolson (Ruby Keeler) whose talent is not above the back divorce decrees given to Californian line of the lowiest member of the residents in Mexico and other for

The court has ruled that all

I am proud of the fact that I saw Lehar conducting one night in Wien, and also nearly 30 years ago on à Souvenir Night at Daly's Theatre.! We old-timers recall with joy that Joseph Coyne ne the first English-signs that fill the screen and gather sidents, and had not gone there

Careers Of

The Stars

ideally matched couple Lily Eslie and "Pony Ballet", is featured with eign parts are invalid unless the innumerable. heads of herself in de parties thereto were bona-fde re-

Mexican Decrees

Dick Powell is given a big chance in "Dames."

SHORT

SHOTS

"Sonia" and "Danilo". together in a jigsaw puzzle.

purely for the purpose of obtaining speaking

From the feminine point of view decrees. Who will ever forget the thrill of

lovely Joan. Blondell steals the show the ever-green waltz?" and to-day the with a portrayal of the forlorn

Among well-knkown film people)-- music is as glorious as ever and laundress of the '90's. This num whose divorce decrees were obtain what a wonderful piece of work ber and the Dick Powell's singing ed in Mexico are:

Richard Dix, whose ex-wife, DETTY COMPSON the famous film ... Albertina Rasch has done in the are the high-lights. to my mind.

Recommended. (Alhambra),

Winifred Coe, married 'Dr. Harvey D star, who recently appeared at the production of the waltz now. The "Down To Their Last Yacht" Gunderson only yesterday. She ob- Alhambra is now on her way back to settings are costly and lavish in the

In the R.K.O. Musical "Down To tained the decree in September 1988. Hollywood, after a short stay in Shang-

hai. She was tremendously impress-· TOAN BLONDELL was born in New extreme, but we have learned to ex-Their Last, Yacht“ (titled in Eng- Jack Holt, whose wife, Mrs. Mared with the Orient, and was flattered

York City in 1909. She was the daughter of professionials, and toured peet only perfection from Cedric and "Hawaiian Nights") the story garet Wood-loit, obtained a decree at the enormous interest taken in har

theatre appearances.¡.... ́ ́. the world when a child, appearing". Inj the principal cities of Australla Gibbon's designs, with the same to tells of a voyage in which the new in April 1938.

Sally Ellers, who obtained a do- act as stewards and the new poor

Fay Wray has been signed by G.B. Europe, the Orient, and Canada. When be said of the gorgeous gowns of rich as passengers. The skipper's cree in August 1903 from her husto act as leading lady in "Allar Bull- 18, she appeared on the stage in the early 90's, designed by Adrian idea is to rob his wealthy patrons, band, Hoot Gibson, and who later dog Drummond with Jack Hulbert, America; and then in 1930 made her first screen appearance with Warner's. Maurice Chevalier is all we hoped

Charles MacArthur and, Ben Hecht, where she is now one of their biggest him to be, unfalling in his charm and for that reason he runs the ship married Harry Joe Brown, the film

on an Hawaiian Island, where a director. attractions. She is married to the and, humour, but you may notice a White Queen" locks up the skipper, Dolores del Rio, who obtained a the famous playwrights and scenario acc-cameraman George Barnes, and has

new sad note in the lover-kere of robs the passengers herself and sets divorce from her husband in June writers, are to visit Russia to make the immortal "Love Parade".

1928. The cast, a big one, makes the Harry Langdon, who obtained a Maris in 1883. He was given his firat and radiant as the richest widow of best of their material. MAURICE CHEVALIER was born in Jeanette Macdonald is bewitching

Mary Bo-divorce from his wife, Helen Walten big opportunity by Mistinguette, the foal Marshovia who masquerades to test land, who never fails to turn in a O'Brien, in February this year, and of Paris, but not till after he had been the quality of the love pffered by the good showing, while Ned Sparks, married this month, Miss Mabel through years of poverty and best men sent from her country to Paris Sidney Fox, Polly Moran, Sydney Georgina Sheldon, a native of Porta- forced to struggle desperately hard fr

He went all through to marry her and save her riches for Blackmer, Marjorie Gateson, Ster-mouth, England.-British United cheap cafes.

ling Holloway and Irene Franklin Press. the Great War, and was badly wound-Marshovia.

Edward Everett Horton, contri- Taken prisoner, he learned his

Are among those present. English when in camp, and returned)

one son.

ed.

*

+

them to work. -

The

to his former theatrical life after the butes one of his perfectly delightful native, dance done to a Bolero-like war, making a furore at the London character studies as the Marshovian drum accompaniment is the best.

His first film for Paramount Ambassador, while Una Merkel and thing in the picture. (King's). was "Innocents of Paris," which gave George Barbier satirise small-king- him world popularity, but it was dom royalty. Mention must be

Palace.

iu

"Love Parado" that he became the idol

and

"365 Nights In Hollywood" Jimmy Dunn is a has-been direc-

of the world, He married a fellow made too of Minna Gombell artist. Yvonne Vallec, but has since Sterling Holloway. It would be im-[tor who teaches acting in a crooked been divorced.

possible to exaggerate the magni-Dramatic School run by Grant Mit- ficence of this production, Scenical-chell in 865 Nights .In Hollywood." JEANETTE MACDONALD was bornly, as well as musically, the picture Finding a backer, Jimmy turns pro-

in Philadelphia in 1907. ed with New Wayburn as a chorus girl has everything that money and the ducer and makes a "wow" of a pic-

•

*

She start-

BRITISH STAR'S ROMANCE

Phoenix, Arizona, Saturday. Sari Maritza, the British film

in his Revues, but very quickly took resources of the M.G.M. Studio ture, winning in the course of

She owes her world could give it. Here, let me add, is events, the pretty leading lady, Alice actress, was married here to-day to leading roles.

wide success to the fame acquired the supreme spectacle of music, love, Faye. The two knock about come Sam Katz, a multi-millionaire film

Miss this at your idiane, Mitchell and Durante, are chief.

when co-starred with Chevalier in and laughter.

"Love Parade." She makes all her peril. (Queen's).

films also in French, and is said to be

married to her manager, Bob Ritchie.

MA

*

*

MARY BOLAND was born in Detroit Min 1880. She made her fame on the stage, then later in the films with Paramount, where she is still one of She their most dependable artists. has never been married.

QIDNEY FOX was born in New York City in 1910. She started earning! her living as a shop girl. Then came the success. Her first appearance was with Universal in "Bad Sister" in 1931. She has also acted in British films, and is married to a leading cameraman.

* # * WARREN WILLIAM was born. in Minnesota, He started stago work studying at the New York Academy of Dramatic Art. He served through the Great War, then returned to the stage and stock company.

Bis first screen appearances were gained through his likeness to the famous John Barrymore, but now his talent has made him a star for Warner's.

*

**

UNA MERKEL was born in Ken-

tucky in 1907. Her first film ap- pearances were in small parts under the once-famous D. W. Grinth. Then came the stage, and, despite the fact she was given a dramatic role In "Abraham Lincoln," proved her special forte was comedy, and success hap come to her now She was married in 1932 to a broker namod Burla," and at present is under contract with M.G.M.

DIANE

Joe E. Brown is in li ele- ment In "The Circus Clown" Snal at the Alhambra..

showings are to-day.

(Continued on Page 12)

The couple flew from Hollywood for the ceremony.

'Miss Maritza is the most cosmo- politan of film stars.

She was born in China of an English father and Austrian mother, and was brought up in London and Vienna.

Hor grandfather was a Spanish, her, grandmother German, and her great-grandmother Swedish.

Before going to Hollywood two years ago she made a number of British films.**

Mr. Katz is a Russian.

ALL FILMS IN COLOUR

IN FIVE YEARS

Producer's Prophecy

In five years' time all moving pic tures will be made in colour, accord- ing to Mr. Merian C. Cooper, the Hollywood film producer, who made "King Kong." He believes that half the output will be in colour within three years.

Mr. Cooper is to act in an advisory capacity for a production in colour of Thackeray's Vanity Fair."

*

films on behalf of the Soviet Govern? ment.

(Continued on Page, 12)'

THE NATION'S SENSATIONI

Greatest of of Warner, Bres' musical wonder. shował j

A

S

AUBY KEELER BICK POWELL JOAN BLONDELL ZASU PITTS

GUY KIBBEE

HUGH HERBERT

and Other Great Far verifail Hundrede of. Busby Berkeley's Olor Tied Booties! A Mila

· af. YaÏvoima. dokira, Stage-150 Conrad ~~ - tu make the most rump-

teous skin of all times

COMMENCING NEW YEAR DAY at the

ALHAMBRA