Category: Australian Papers

The second of the special films for December at the Ambassadors Theatre will start today. Last week brought the fine comedy “One Rainy Afternoon” – today will see the unspooling of “A Message To Garcia”, a good action drama of the Spanish-American war. On December 18 “The Last Of The Mohicans” will be presented and on Christmas Day “Sons of Guns” will start. The full cast of “A Message To Garcia” was:-

Sergeant Dory – Wallace Beery

Raphalita Maderos – Barbara Stanwyck
Lieut. Rowan – John Boles
Dr. Krug – Alan Hale
Henry Piper – Herbert Mundin
Spanish Spy – Mona Barrie
General Garcia – Enrique Acosta
Luis Maderos – Juan Torena
Rodriguez – Martin Garralaga
Chiquita – Blanca Vischer
Pasquale Castova – Jose Luis Tortosa
Commandant – Lucio Villegas
German Stoker – Frederick Vogeding
Irish Stoker – Pat Moriaty
Commandant – Octavio Giraud

The period of “A Message to Garcia” is the Spanish-American War of 1898 when President McKinley wants to send a message to General Garcia who, with his forces, is hiding somewhere in the Cuban forests. Lieut. Rowan undertakes the mission, and from then on it is a case of wading through swamps, dodging unexpected bullets, eluding Dr. Krug, the master spy, and lending aid to the charming Senorita Raphaeleita Maderos, whose father has been shot and his home burnt as he dies. it needs little imagination to realise that with the stage set in this fashion, anything may occur within its limits, and all that does happen is convincing. Lieut. Rowan, working as a stoker, closely questioned by Dr. Krug; hs escape in a boat; his landing at a small town with a dog barking in the tiny deserted street…something happens all the time. Beery is again the lurching bad man with the heart of gold and is a human figure as the thieving sergeant. Alan Hale is fine as Dr. Krug; John Boles leaves the fields of music and illicit love for action with success and Barbara Stanwyck continues her comeback as the Spanish girl.

The other attraction, “Two Against the World”, is a story of American radio. Humphrey Bogart as the networks manager and Beverley Roberts as his secretary, are the main players.

The West Australian (Perth) 11th December 1936

Current Picture Trends

by Winifred Sheehan

Significant changes in the motion picture map of the world, as forecast sometime ago by Winifred Sheehan, vice-president of Fox Films Corporation, and general manager of productio, are rapidly becoming a reality. “Several  months ago I predicted a general revival of pictures of the simple, human type, a renaissance of clean entertainment, an d of optimism and comedy in p[reference to sombre drama”, Mr Sheehan says. “It appeared to me then that the economic and political troubles of the world would necessarily bring about a reaction in favor of light entertainment as against sombre subjects. To-day this opinion is vindicated. From British and other studios, as well as from Hollywood, the current type of picture offering is markedly cheerful and entertaining. Musical films, animated by good plots, catchy turns and stellar personalities are coming in on a wave of popular acclaim”.

“New personalities, discovered through intensive searcc by film scouts throughout the world and developed in special studio training schools, are becoming the stars of tomorrow. I cannot, of course, set myself up as a spokesman for the entire industry, but the offerings we are making at Fox Film are typical of the new trends elsewhere in screen product. Of the 35 pictures we a re now producing or preparing, five are musicals, nine are feature comedies or comedy-dramas, ten are human, real life stories, six are Spanish language offerings for the Latin countries, and the remainder may be classified as mystery dramas and adventure dramas”.

“Tragic and sombre pictures are entirely absent from this list, while humor plays an important part in the majority. Comparison of our product with that of other studios would, I  believe, show these trends to be general. The public demands cheerful entertainment, not gloom”.

“In the matter of presenting new faces to American audiences we have been unusually successful. Many stage and screen players of prominence abroad but heretofore practically unknown here, are now to display their talents for our home patrons as well as for their admirers in their own countries. Madeleine Carroll, the British star, who will appear for us in ‘The World Moves On’, is outstanding in this regard, but in addition we are shortly presenting ‘Pat’ Patterson, Nigel Bruce, Mona Barrie, and other British players in their initial American films.

“Two French celebrities, Ketti Gallian and Charles Boyer; Blanca Vischer from Guatemala, Tito Coral from Venezuela, and Siegfried Rumann, of Germany, are among the newcomers who, we predict, will make a host of new friends among American picturegoers. These international movements of personalities are bound to have an important influence in cementing international relationships, and will further the accord already reached through the interchange of pictures between the various countries”.

Huon And Derwent Times (Tasmania) 24th May 1934

Frances Farmer wears a classically simple coiffure which is becoming to her type. This style is entirely different from the necessary for Blanca Vischer (inset).

Sunday Times (Perth) 18th September 1938

An excellent programme will be screened at the Wintergarden Theatre to-day and to -night, Laurel and Hardy appear in their latest comedy, “Busy Bodies”. John Boles, star of “Only Yesterday”, plays the lead in “Wild Gold”, and Guy Kibbee and Glenda Farrell will be seen in “Merry Wives Of Reno. Picturesque mining camps, abandoned for years, are taking on all the appearance of the good old days of ’48, according to “Wild Gold”. Ghost towns of the West are springing to renewed life and men and women alike scour the hills for new veins of the precious metal. Abandoned shafts are being reopened. Business is booming. Mine stocks are soaring. All because of feverish demand for gold due to the Government’s arbitrary fixing of ins monetary value.

“Wild Gold” features John Boles, Claire Trevor, and Harry Green. It is a motley hoard that swarms into the old diggings, lured anew by the siren call of “gold!” – finding romance, breath-taking adventure. John Boles has a he-man characterization as a mining engineer, who falls in love with Claire Trevor, the heroine of the drama. Harry Green has one of his best roles as the manager of a defunct show troupe. Roger Imhof brings to life a picturesque old prospector. Others in the cast are Ruth Gillette, Monroe Owsley, Edward Gargan and The Golden Girls (Suzanne Kaaren, Wini Shaw, Blanca Vischer, Gloria Roy, and Myra Bratton). George Marshall directed from the screen play by Lester Cole and Henry Johnson. Dudley Nichols and Lamar Trotti were responsible for the original story. A musical revue and news reel will also be included in the programme. Reserved may be secured at Buckley’s for 2/5.

Queensland Times (Queensland) 29th September 1934

Clad in an apple green swim suit with matching plaited sandals, Fox Star Rochelle Hudson turns an attractive back as she sun bathes on the sea front before taking a dip

Snappy sun suits are always to be seen on the beaches near Hollywood, and Ruthelma Stevens, Blanca Vischer, June Lang and Rosina Lawrence (Fox Debutante Stars) show individual tastes in a variety of styles.

Ideal for beach wear is this navy sailor play suit with its wide trousers slit and buttoned with white. The wearer is Rosina Lawrence, Fox Film star.

Just right for a game of cricket is the cool cotton beach frock, which buttons down the front, allowing freedom in the skirt. Blanca Vischer, Fox Player, chooses hers in gay red and white tonings on a navy background.

“Gypsiana” is the appropriate name of this white silk linen bolero frock worn by Claire Trevor (Fox Films). The head scarf repeats the colour note of the Roman-striped crepe yoke in tones of orange, blue and black.

Nambour Chronicle And North Coast Advertiser (Queensland) 8th November 1935

The Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 10th September 1935

Cairns Post (Queensland) 12th October 1935

The Northern Miner (Queensland) 26th October 1935

Someone we’d all like to meet is fascinating BLANCA VISCHER, a newcomer to the Australian screen, whose saucy good looks are a magnet for Universal technicolor cameras.

The Mirror (Perth) 26th February 1944