Evening star., 1930-04-06
Flashes From the Screen
By C.. E. Nelson.

stances may be a mechanical
fault and may be corrected.
One of the peculiar phases of
"voice searching" is the fact that
actors of considerable experience
are the most timid and Self-con-
Scious when it comes to taking the
voice tests in the studio labora-
tories. 1t is the old case of au-
dience psychology. If these same
players were placed upon a stage,
an audience before them, they
would be at their best. But when
they face a bit of machinery,
alone in studio, they usually be-
come frightened and cannot OBJ
tain the best results from the re-
cording machinery.
x x x X
GRACE MOORE, a Tennessee
- girl who has made quite a
name for herself with the Metro
politan Opera Co., has gone to
Hollywood and she is promised
one of the most ambitious of
schemes for her sound movie de-
but Nightingale Jennie Lind"
will be the subject of her picture
and, of course, Miss Moore will
sing the leading role.
Other we'll known singers who
are to appear in pictures soon are
Mary Lewis, Lose Mojica, Everett
Marshall and John Charles
Thomas. Plans are already being
made for the new Lawrence Tib-
bett vehicle.
X x x x
A BOUT the biggest single piece
of news from the Hollywood
sector is to the effect that John
Gilbert is starting work in a new
sound picture. This may be Johns
last effort to re-eStablish him.
self as a darling of the movie
fans. Much thought and effort
has been expended in the selec-
ton of a suitable story for the for
mer screen idol, and Lawrence
StallingS has written a compact
sea yarn. John will play the role
of a brawny salt-Sea hero.
1t may not be generally known
that the first talking picture with
Gilbert as a star, which was a
dialogue version of Redemption" "
remains in it's original tin can,
decorating a shelf in the cold Stor-
age room of Hollywood studio.
The producers lacked the nerve to
place it on the market.
The second venture, a Molnar
comedy, received the laughs at
the wrong time when it was re-
leased, a fatal thing in the movie
game. In this particular case the
producers thought the picture was
about as good as many others.
But when reports of its reception
began to trickle into the produc-
erS' offices, they rather lost in
tereSt in Gilbert and his work.
Now it is up to Gilbert to show
that he possesses a voice and that
he knows how to use it. A good
story may make all the difference
in the world-and we hope so, for
Johns sake.
x X y X
Short Flashes.
DIR. MARAFIOTI, the man who
was Carusos guide in singing,
states that, in his opinion, the
first opera to be given movie au-
dienceS should be Carmen" This,
he thinks, has the color required
for movie debut, together with
action, deathless music and a faS-
cinating love story. Aida" he
says, should make the most spec
tacular story of all time when it
is produced as a sound picture.
The world will listen to it and love
it, for it is colorful and tuneful." j"
From Hollywood comes the
news that Mary Nolan'S difficult
ties with Universal have been
patched up, and she will remain
with that producing company.
From many quarters, it is ex-
pected that the self-imposed CEN
sorShip inaugurated by the Mo-
ton Picture Producers and Dis
tributors of America will do much
to quiet cries for national, State
and municipal boards of censor
ship. The producers feel that
they have found the logical meth
cd of solving the censorship prob
lem.
1t is now planned to open the
new John Mccormack picture,
Song O. My Heart" in Los An
geles, April 18.
Stage personalities are grad
ually drifting into the photoplay
industry. For instance, Col.
Stanley Bell, formerly stage direc-
tor for Sir Beerholm-T Tree in Eng
land, is spending some time at the
Paramount Long Island studio,
making study of production
methods. Col. Bell directed the
eight road companies of Jour
ney's End" and also designed the
sets for 'Dishonored Lady," cur
rent Broadway drama.
Ona Munson, musical comedy
favorite, is making a two-reel
comedy with Eddie Buzzell, stage
comedian.