The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 38

THE AGE. SATURDAY. AUGUST 20. 1037 HOME SECTION. KING SOLOMON MINES PLAYS AND PLAYERS ripO BRING Africa vividly to the screen for the JL background of King Solomon's Mines was the necessity which confronted Gaumont-British Films when setting but to make this huge picture with authentic exterior scenes-in that part of South Africa where Sir Rider' Haggard laid the action of his world-famous story.

Consequently, a very complete organisation schedule, minutely detailed for. every phase'of; African production, was worked out before the location unit, headed by director Geoffrey Barkas, left England. elaborate film, will be shown at the Athenaeum Theatre at an early date This five-star cast is supported by well-known players and thousands of native extras. Paul Robeson Sings. Paul Robeson sings two special numbers written into the film story by Spoliansky, who has composed for Europe's leading singers.

In this pic-turisatlon of Rider Haggard's story the film makers climbed mountains, tolled over the desert wastes, swel- tered in the heat of the Valley of a Thousand Hills to recapture the spirit of Haggard's famous novel. At one point they found themselves within 200 yards of where Sir Rider Haggard lived and wrote his breezy African tales of mystery and adventure. Tens of thousands of feet of film ran through the cameras as they photographed the African scenes; and more than 2500 Zulu warriors fought in fierce combat in some of the most thrilling battle spectacles yet filmed for any picture. Proud of the chance to show their might to the outside world, the Zulus rallied with glee to the requirements sunstroke to those not accustomed to working under tropical conditions. The chart of the King Solomon's Mines unit also uccounted for the attendance of a special medical section with snake-bite kit.

The Umgenl Valley, In Natal, where much work was done, harbors many poisonous snakes, including the mamba, one of the most venomous. Filming on Grand Scale. Africa has provided much glamor in entertainment before to-day. film Rhodes of Africa showed its great potentialities for the screen. When Geoffrey Barkas and his unit started work in South Africa they had the co-operation the Native Affairs department.

Thousands of natives took part, with restless enthusiasm, In rather astounding realism of native warfare and spectacular village celebrations. The unit took scenes In the north-eastern corner of the Drakens-berg Mountains, part of the Desert, over the whole of Zululand and in the Valley of a Thousand Hills in Natal. These splendid, authentic if ti If Jo Mnton The famous European actor is starred in MICHAEL STROGOFF, an RJC.O. film which is awaiting release from the Australian distributor's vaults. by one tribe "The Man Who Drinks Trouble." In Rhodesia they named him "The Goat" because of his dapper imperial beard.

Over the Natal border his name translated "The Beard that Beats Out the Fire," because ot his diplomacy when things were going wrong. So keen were the Zulus to do Justice to the scenes that they obeyed almost at the cost of their lives. In King Solomon's Mines one thrilling moment is the burning of a native village. The victorious warriors plunge through the fires, ransacking homes as they go. Although shown by the film men where t.

avoid the flames, several Zulus, surrounded by fire, charged straight into in their zeal for dramatlo effect. Fortunately they were not at all seriously injured. Allan Quatermain. Sir Cedrlo Hardwlcke has some interesting things to say of Allan Quatermain in King Solomon's mines. "Allan Quatermain, is of pourse, based on the famous explorer and hunter, Selous," he said.

"My makeup is copied as nearly as possible from the photographs of the great man, who was at the height of his fame when I was first in Africa. He typifies the adventurous, hard-living, open air adventurer, who has always been the hero of boys of all ages and an object of admiration amongst women. "The type of story which Rider Haggard wrote around him is really in the same category as the Western, only Instead of cowboys you have white hunters and explorers in search of hidden treasure, and African warriors take the place of Indians. It is fairly certain that the idea of the mines themselves grew from Haggard's knowledge of the strange and wonderful ruins of Zimbabwe, a vast mass of crumbling masonry which provides one of the most intriguing historical problems in the world, and the exact origin of whicb has never been proved." Colored Characters. Many interesting colored characters figure in the cast of the picture.

E. I. Ekpenyon, an ebony-black Eflk from Nigeria, coached Paul Robeson in the Efik speeches or the picture. Ekpen-yon is the part-author of a standard text book on the complex and musical language of his people, and it was from this book that British and other European officials learned to communicate with the natives without the aid of an interpreter. Then there is Toto Ware, grizzled negro, whose role in Sanders of the River brought him credit.

Toto is also famous for a meeting with George Ailiss. The old negro met the actor (who was on location near by) without a trace of shyness or embarrassment; talked freely, and left him with the remark, "Good-bye, Mr. Arllss. This has been a great pleasure. If we do not meet again in this world we will in the next The director tells of an amusing instance of the good living of the Zulu, for the unit fed its colored retainers well.

picked out a perfect Gagool," he said. "He was an incredibly shrivelled and withered old fellow. He passed a test with distinction. We 'shot' him several times, and then had to switch for another sequence. When I returned to Gagool scenes I shouted for Gagool.

some time an ex- ceedlngly plump-looking man succeeded in attracting my attention. It was our Gagool, fattened like a Christmas turkey, and Just as unsuitable for the part. So "1 had to another and rlasoes un-n. UHMVA i 'A This picture" shows Sir CEDRIC HARDWICKE. (top left); who plays Allan Quatermain; PAUL ROBESON with warriors in full bottle panoply; Anna Lee and John Loder, and (lower right ANNA LEE with ROBESON.

SCENES FROM KING SOLOMON'S MINES, into which a feminine interest has been introduced. locations represent some of Africa's finest scenery. Playing a role that might have been written for him is Paul Robeson, whose unique voice is matched by his instinctive dramatic verve. He appears as Umbopa, the negro waggon driver, who becomes King of the Zulus. Sir.

Cedric Hardwlcke, with his usual splendid characterisation, brings the adventurer Allan Quatermain to life. The apologetic, but subtle, RolandYoung has the part of Commander Good. John Loder is Henry Curtis, and Anna Lee, the British screen's "glamor girl," relished the role of Kathy O'Brien, adventuring with her father amongst the diamond mines of South Africa. him kr.j S7 I 'A of the unit, artists and equipment, from the they left England until the time they returned. From these, charts what proved a fairly accurate estimate of the cost of production was made, with due allowance for delays caused by adverse weather Many special considerations entered Into the compilation of these charts.

For instance, a normal day's on location varies considerably from a normal day's studio work. In the tropics it is wise to rule out three hours in the middle of the day, say from 11 to 2, for during that period the sun is so -high that the light destroys the modelling of landscape and figure. It also involves the risk of mmmmmm npHE MELBOURNE LITTLE TIIEA- -H- THE has included manv dra matlo and tragic presentations, but Brett Randall and his players have been rehearsing comedy. The play chosen for a six nights' season at St. Chad's, commencing to-night, is They All the pen Sophia Cleugh and Dorothy Mortimer.

The though better known as a novelist than a playwright, has written a number of plays. They All Do treats of the fortunes of an American- English marriage. Betty Henry, who did excellent work in the Victoria Regina playlets, gets a big chance as the tumultuous wife of Sir Nigel Anstruther. Other members of the strong cast are Florence English, Margaret Turner, Duncan Kerr, John "Rose, Mena Hede, Colin Mack and Hilda Whitburn. FREDERICK FRENCH, who played the part of Wing-Commander BidgeweH, D.S.O., in the Dorothy Crawford Players' production of Collusion at King's Theatre, is known to audiences in two States.

Mr. French appeared in the Melbourne production of Ivor Novello's comedy Full HouBe, at the Princess Theatre, and in the Adelaide season of that play, under the management of J. C. Williamson Ltd. His recent portrayal of the Bishop, in The Bishop Misbehaves, revealed also his ability in character acting.

KEITH CAMPBELL, who was cast to the life as Sir Benjamin Backbite in The School for Scandal, made his first appearance with the Gregan McMahon Players in The Black Eye. He will play the role of Faulkland In The Rivals, at the King's Theatre on September 4. TBSEN'S The Master-Builder will be staged by The Art Theatre Play ers in the Old Playgoers' Hall, Nicholas this evening. It will be preceded by Cupboard Love, a play from the Grand Gulgnol, in which Mr. J.

B. Fowler hastens to assure the public Sybil Thorndykeand Nicholas Hannen appeared in London. V' LECTURE on Lulgi Pirandello, with' special reference to th dramatist's play Henry TV. (of Ger many), will be given at His Majesty's Theatre to-morrow (Sunday) evening. TC'LORENCE ENGLISH is a dramatic vrvvwv Vil4W Jf WUV ft VeC3aSG an excellent stafee oersonalitv.

she studied music for a number of years, out now devotes much of her evening leisure to the Only 21, she is ambitious for a career. In The Children's Hour, at the Princess- Theatre, she played one of the girls. She will be seen in a leading role in The Little Theatre play at South Yarra, They All Do, this evening. (OLAUDE THOMAS, Collins' Hilton, Goddard and John Law play the Emperor's "secret counsellors" in Pirandello's Henry which will be staged for the- first time by the Gregan McMahon Players on September li. JOAN WATT, young and attractive player, returned recently from Honolulu.

With the Gregan McMahon Players, she has had only a few1 lines to speak. She "walked on" in Crime at Blossoms, but has been entrusted with the part of Julia in The "OONITA FREEMAN, brunette, who appeared in Noah and Crime at Blossoms, will play the Marchioness Mathilda Spina in Henry IV. Her daughter Frida in the drama win give Gwen Izzard her first chance with the McMahon organisation. -0- Coronation In Color Record The two-color films of the Coronation procession recorded by the Koda-chrome and the Dufay-Chromex processes will be preserved, at the request of the office of works, in the national library of the British Film Institute. Neither film is a complete record of the procession, but both are sufficiently valuable to Justify permanent preservation.

In addition to these records, the library also possesses a short photographic record of Queen Victoria's funeral, the Coronation of King Edward the Jubilee and funeral of King George and a complete Bet. of the various news reels ot the Coronation of King George VL NINA MAE McKINNEY (top) and AL VERDE with THELMA LEE, "musical vandals," who will be prominent In the Tlvoll bill, HELLO HARLEM, opening on Monday, Sep tember 6. Roy Rene Is contributing to this 'variety programme, which Frank Nell Is enthusiastically pr-' paring. -a 4 W' 3 4 f. a -tVV of the film men.

District native commissioners, who spend their time keeping the peace between various tribes on the reserves, warned Mr. Barkas of the great risk he was running In bringing together 2500 natives from the tribes which had been at loggerheads for years. Barkas called them together, spoke to them and waited for any turmoil. It did not Warriors whose fierce tribal pride had caused life-long feuds met as enemies on the same soil, and, subjects of film fascination, became the best of fellows. The director, known soon by a variety of nicknames in Africa, had patched up the quarrels of generations.

Man Who Drinks Trouble. But those nicknames Owing to his capacity for work and for overcoming difficulties, Barkas was called SHOULD you see anywhere a story about Simone Simon slapping a director it is not true. Or if you read that she tried to borrow a panther to take in with her on a recent Interview with Darryl F. Za-nuck before she left America for Marseilles, that is not true either. How can she help it If, Instead of the facts of her life, Simone Simon the press agenU write poems to her In point of fact, the true biography of Mile.

Simon cannot possibly come out till she returns from France to make Suez, because the press agents have never asked her for the facts; they do not seem to want them. O' PAUL CAVANAGH has recently taken over John Halliday's role in the New- York stage production of Tovorich. A master of arts of Cambridge, he was a barrister before taking up stage and screen work. He has had many successes in Hollywood, and last year went to England to play the leading role in the Twickenham film Dusty Ermine, set in the Swiss Alps. Unfortunately he broke his ankle during the first few days of shooting while engaged on ski-ins sequences, and was unable to continue in the picture.

His role was taken by Anthony Bushell. He was born in England, and educated at the Royal Grammar School, New-castle-on-Tyne, and Emmanuel college, Cambridge. He is cast in a leading role in Cafe Colette at the Athenieum Cambridge. A LEO KELLEWAY. the most travelled of the four theatrical brothers of that name, and brother of Cecil, once 6lept on the Thames Embankment.

He slept sitting up, bo-cause he found that if you sprawled or lav on a seat a policeman woke vou. This was some years ago, when he left his native South Africa for the first time. He thought he was going straight to London, but the- steamer landed him at Southampton. But hs managed to reaca London hidden beneath a seat of Alee Kelleway the train. la London he had en appointment with -fellow artist at "Jones's Corner." Not even the London policeman could direct him to such a place.

It was only after spending four nights on the Embankment, that the actor discovered there was a Jones's Corner in the West En music hall centre. He found nil friend, and from then things took turn for the better. Within thirteen weeks he nad broxen into the West End. playing Juvenile lead in a mujrt-cal show with George Robey, Barry Lupino and other top notchers. bis present visit to Australia has lasted two years and a half.

He came out plav in The Merry Malones. wee Kelleway plays McTavlsh in cme-sound's Lovers and Luggers. He grew whiskers for the paju "JOHN BOLES and IRENE DUNN3 .,.111 tha clon nf MnHnjnC CUrfe, TT WW W1U OVU.U which Universal is producing under John M. Stahl's direction. FT Studio IDA LUPINO has been "suspended" by Paramount, which means that she is taken off salary; because she re fused to play a role in The Ascending Dragon, the picture which B.

P. Schulberg is going to make. Marlene Dietrich and George Raft have both been suspended at various times for "misbehaving." However, their differences with the studio were Ida Lopino amicably settled, and they are now happily at work George Raft In Souls at Sea, in which he stars with Gary Cooper, and Marlene Dietrich in Angel. for Ernst Lu-bitsch. O.

NOVA' PILBEAM'S new film adapted from Josephine Tey's story "A Shilling for Candles," is being made at the Pinewood Studios, under Alfred Hitchcock's direction. Much local English color is likely to be provided, with the Cornish coast drawn upon for the seaside sequences. Nova's last film was the very brilliant TudOr Rose. Her latest picture will be released by Gaumont-British Dominions OROTHY AMOUR, who was introduced to film audiences in the. title role The Jungle Princess, in Which, she sang Moonlight and Shadow, is starred, in The Last Train From Madrid at the Capitol Theatre.

Her second picture was Swing High, Swing Low. As a patrician Spanish Dorothy Lamoar beauty anxious to flee from Madrid before the bombardment she is supported by Gilbert Bo-land, Lew Ayres, Karen Moriey, Lionel Atwill, Helen Mack, Robert Cummlngs, Olympe Bran da and Anthony Qulnn. -o GILBERT ROLAND'S moustache is worth studying. More than '300 men, representing five nationalities, including Spanish, French and Italian, appear in Paramount's Last Train From Madrid, but Gilbert Roland is the 1 only one of them allowed to wear a moustache. MARTHA RAYB abandons her usual style and sings a senti- mental ballad in Para mount's Mountain Muslo at the Capitol Theatre.

The queen of song caricaturist really has a voice, it was revealed, and as a child In vaudeville, sang such songs as Mother Machree and Dear Little Boy Martha Raye Mine. 0.e. LUPE VELEZ, sparkling Mexican actress, has been signed as the feminine lead in The Kangaroos, the next starring vehicle for Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey. v5 A i i Vi'f i FROM carefully prepared charts could be read the dates on which the members of 'the party sailed for the total time each artist or technician would be away from Eng. land, every Journey they would make by car, and every railway 'Journey.

The also showed the number of tents, -hotel reservations, porterage, transport costs, the" estimated number of cable," or telephone between England and Africa, the number of native natives, equipment, goats and cattle for the native scenes; the raftsroad parties, the places and days when they could, draw-electric current from' cables on the seepe operations, and, in fact. every single detail of the life and work. 'i'S--' Greek Drama To Be strong, healthy 4 I 8treilSth th i TimW -1 natural way. more recent arrival who was still plly in the skinny He describes aiso a reception which heads of the unit attended In the house of great chief. "A large circular grass hut with the roof supported on nine poles, the earth floor beaten and polished, acrid smell of smoke, gloomy and cool.

The chiefs many wives ting about, three barrels of beer specially brewed for us. We had to drink quarts of the fiery stuff and endure two hours' head-aching talk with chief and his advisers. A parade of his warriors for our benefit; then a ram was dragged in the chiefs present to me then dragged out again, slaughtered, and in ten minutes the best Joints were dumped in front of me to take back home in the car." King Solomon's Mines will be released here by Gaumont-Brltlsh Dominions Film Distributors Ltd of which Mr. E. Turnbull Is managing director.

Broadcast particularly such a tragedy as that of CEdipus. Here Is a fine, human story, horrific in development, but with a final exaltation that overbears and dignifies mere horror. The translation by Gilbert Murray has the verbal beauty and dramatlo power which have made Murray the most striking Greek scholar of the century. The chorus of the Elders of Thebes will be spoken by members of the Mel bourne Male Verse-speaking Choir, and the production will be by Frank D. Clewlow.

-0- One-Act Plays Miss Doris Hayball, of Melbourne, who has returned from a fifteen months' tour of Europe and America, brings information of the publication in New York by Contemporary Play Publications of a monthly one-act play magazine, edited by William It is proposed to acquire and publish in this form 60 plays a year. The annual subscription Is 5 dol. In the second Issue, June, 1937, con taining four plays, Dr. Isaac Goldberg contributes notes on the one-act play. He shares with Mr.

Archibald McLelsh, who has written a poetic play specially for broadcasting, enthusiasm for the radio as a medium for the presentation of one-act plays. Radio-ilstenlng, he says, la more concentrated than listening In a theatre. The problem of the radio-dramatist is to suggest, within an hour at most, the passage of many noun. Perhaps the radio hour will force upon the radio dramatist a unity of time more valid than the unity or time supposedly enjoined upon the Greek dramatist. But in the shorter radio play lies a marvellous opportunity for a dramatist who retains his conscience.

The half-hour period is admirably adapted to the one-acter. Every new medium suggesting an alteration In technique, the dramatists, so far as concerns the radio, are in a far better position than they are in the caso of the cinema. I. Give him CEdipus, the Greek play by Sophocles, is to be broadcast by radio. Gilbert Murray, in the preface to his translation of this play says: "It has thrown its spell on me as on many other translators." It is not only translators or students of Greek who have felt the spell of this great stage masterpiece of Sophocles, first produced between 431 and 421 B.C.

It still can "hold the stage," as witness the production of Martin Harvey some years ago, and the revival Just a few months ago at Covent Garden. Of all Greek drama, only The Trojan Women of Euripides has yet been broadcast in Australia. No one need be overawed by the prospect ox Beating Greek tragedy, ARTHVB RUBINSTEIN. The famous Russian pianist will be associated in a programme with the Canberra Musical Society to-night. He will open his Australian season at the Federal Capital; will play at the Sydney Town Hall on September 2, and come to Melbourne later in a tour of 20 concerts for the Australian Broadcasting Commit' sion.

-0- iii ft "i Apples are the most beneficlat fruit a child can eat. Apples aid the digestion of other foods, provide sugar for energy In Its best form, and promote the growth of sturdy bones with their valuable mineral salts. The consensus of dental opinion Is that apples are essential to strengthen tiny teeth and protect them against decay by perfect natural cleansing. See that your children, from on early age, have a liberal supply of apples in their diet and you will assure the growth of perfectly formed, milky white teeth and build up their stamina and resistance. Remember pear are Atliciou tool FREE! If Too clip this eon pan bearing a 2d.

ttamp to sad 161111 It with ilf id Jrwird mvtlop th Atutrallin Appli nd Feat Council, Mil Bo 1712P, P.O., Melbourne, Recipe Book contatnlnf doien of apple and peat fedpee to tether with Important Information on diet will be poind abiolutelr FREE OF CHARGE. luued in 'the 'Intefrcsts 'of the htdlth of the community by the Australian Apple end Pear Council. il.