Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27
+ lashes rom the Screen
By G. e. Nelson.

is preparing for the screen. Ro-
tund tenorS and rotund-er So.
pranoS are to appear in photoplay
versions of the grand operas, ac-
cording to those who are in the
know. Alice Gentle is the most
recent acquisition from the CLASH
cal musical stage, for she recent
ly signed a contract with First
National for a part in THE Song
of the Flame"
Other opera stars now undel
contract to the studios are Law
renee Tibbett, Tito Schipa, john
Mccormack, Michael Bohnen,
Mary Lewis and Jose Mojica. Leo
Forbstein, head of the First Ma
tional- Vitaphone musical depart
ment, Is quoted as saying that
grand opera will be on the screen
within two or three years. Nat
urally, they will follow the light
operas, which practically all stu
dioS in Hollywood are planning TO
make. Of course, the grand operas
will be OF the more popular sort,
such as Aida II Trovatore' or
Faust Many of the So-called
heavy ones will never reach the
screen, as they rarely reach the
stage. The story of the opera will
be strengthened and will be short
ened to the size of a feature pic
ture. Efforts will be made to keep
the players in character, and all
the singing and dialogue will be
in English for versions released
in this country. This, alone, will
play a large part in popularizing
grand opera. The players and
singers will come from the younger
members of the opera companies"
Short Flashes.
T AURA LA PLANTE has COM
pleted her work in La Mar
seillaise" and her next picture
will be the Rita Weiman story,
THE Poor Sport" which will be
released under the title of "The
Week End Girl"
Mary Nolan, whose latest picture
is THE Shanghai Lady," will ap-
pear in another story of the
Oriental peoples, "Barbary Coast"
This story was once known as
'MademoiSelle Cayenne"
Harold Lloyd's new talking pic
ture, welcome Danger" has been
in New York to enthuSi-
aStic audiences. 1.-THE comedian
will prove as big and probably
bigger money-maker in the talkies
than he was in the silents," says
one critic. 1T is the funniest
thing the comedian has ever
DONE" quoting another expert.
Having fallen off a raft while
working in Isle of Escape" Monte
Blue halted work on the picture.
Now, according to word from the
Warner Brothers, the star has re-
covered from his injuries and IS
back on the job. Myrna 10y and
Betty CompSon are in the cast,
while Noah Berry plays the heavy
role.
Lilyan Tashman has the mother
role in the Edith Wharton story.
THE Children" which is being
filmed by Paramount. Mary Brian
will be the daughter.
Dorothy Arzner, the only woman
director of the Hollywood studios
will have charge of the Ruth
Chatterton picture, SARAH and
Son." Frederic March will have
the leading male role.
Baclanova, who appeared in sew
eral American movies, has signed
a contract with a British company
to appear opposite Mark Ham
bourg in a talking picture. PIE
thoven.' It is planned to make
the photoplay in four languages,
with the two stars talking in
French, Russian, German and
English.
Lawrence Tibbett, Metropolitan
Opera star. has completed his
singing and acting in "The
Rogue'S Song" He is "concerting"
while en- route back to New York.
Eleanor Boardman, Jean Her
sholt and Ralph Forbes head the
cast of the Tiffany-Stahl produc-
ton, Manila"
Maria Alba will be heard for the
first time in Victor McLaglen'S
Hot for Paris" Others in the
cast are Rosita Marstini and Ag-
nostino Borgato.
The Warner Brothers are work.
ing on ten new Vitaphone pic
lures.
Bernice Claire and Alexander
Gray, musical comedy stars, hava
been cast for the leading roles in
Spring Is Here" being produced
rs a First ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
feature.
Among those who have parts
in the Marion Davies feature
"Dulcy" are Donald Ogden Ste
wart, the humorist; Sally Starr
Julia Faye, Elliott Nugent, Ray
mond Hackett and Franklin Pang-
born. King Vidor is directing.