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The Times (07/May/1930) - The film world

(c) The Times (07/May/1930)

Entertainments

THE FILM WORLD

"THE VAGABOND KING"

Though it has been said that the true development of the talking film as a form of art lies, not in borrowing from the legitimate stage, but in supplementing silent technique by the particular emphasis of sound, there are still no obvious signs that producers are moving in this direction. The latest theatrical production to be transferred to the screen is The Vagabond King, which will be shown at the Carlton Theatre to-morrow, in succession to The Love Parade. Mr. Dennis King, an English actor, who recently returned from America to play at Drury Lane in The Three Musketeers, appears in the film as Francois Villon — the part which he created in the original American production of the play. He is directed by Mr. Ludwig Berger, the Ufa producer, and from beginning to end the film is in colour. Miss Jeanette McDonald appears with Mr. King, and Mr. O. P. Heggie, another English actor, plays King Louis XI. In the singing of the songs Mr. King and Miss McDonald are supported by a chorus of 500 voices.

Another transition from stage to screen is Lord Richard in the Pantry, which is being made by the Twickenham Film Studios for distribution by Warner Brothers. It is claimed that this farcical story of a young peer who is forced to serve as butler to an attractive widow with whom he falls in love and at the same time has great difficulty in escaping the attentions of the cool is particularly suitable for presentation on the screen. In the screen version Mr. Maude's part of Lord Richard Sandridge will be played by Mr. Richard Cooper, a promising young "actor. Miss Dorothy Seacombe will play the leading woman's part, and other members of the cast will include Miss Barbara Gott, Miss Marjorie Hume, Miss Violet Lyel, Miss Gladys Hamer, Miss Helena Pickard, and Mr. Leo Sheffield, who will be making his first appearance in a "talkie". Mr. Walter Fordo will direct the film, of which a French version is also to be made at Twickenham under the direction of Mr. Grantham Hayes.

The British International Pictures, Limited, have increased their studio space at Elstree and are now making rapid headway on nine productions, which from time to time have been announced separately. In Loose Ends, winch Mr. Norman Walker is directing, Mr. Owen Nares and Miss Edna Best will appear together for the first time. Mr. E. A. Dupont will be the first director of an English producing company to handle a trilingual talking picture, Two Worlds, which is being made m English, French, and German. The cast will include Mr. John Longden, Miss Norah Baring, Mr. Handle Ayrfcon, Mr. Donald Calthrop, and Mr. Andrews Engleman. The cast tor the screen version of Mr. Patrick MacGill's war play, Suspense, which is now nearing completion, includes Mr. Cyril McLaglen, Mr. D. Hay Petrie, and Mr. Walter Patch. Something new in mystery "thrillers" is the description given to Enter, Sir John, from the novel by Miss Clemence Dane and Miss Helen Simpson, which is being directed by Mr. Alfred Hitchcock. This bilingual "talkie" will be Estree's third, and will introduce to the screen Mr. Herbert Marshall. Another thriller now being made under the direction of Mr. Harry Lachman is a screen version of Mr. Edgar Wallace's play The Yellow Mask, with special music by Mr. Herman Darewski. Other productions are Young Woodley in which Miss Madeleine Carroll and Mr. Frank Lawton will play the leading parts; The "W" Plan, directed by Mr. Victor Saville ; and Almost a Honeymoon, with Mr. Monty Banks in the principal part.

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