Field "Boom Town"
There was a time not so many years ago when the star cast was a new thing in pictures, although it was by no means uncommon on the stage. Critical opinion was divided on its merits. There were some who thought that too many stars spoiled the performance. It was even believed that the general public preferred one star or, at the most, two to a multitude. On the silent screen certain outstanding names shone in single splendour. Chaplin, Fairbanks, Pickford, Lloyd and Garbo, to name no others, stood and drew alone.
But the arrival of sound and dialogue led to a change. Plots became more complicated and characters more diversified; the screen began to approximate to the stage; the all-star cast became a possibility. "Grand Hotel" and "Dinner at Eight" presented whole groups of distinguished names and since then the star-cast has persisted in the film although the single star still holds his or her own.
Metro are providing an example of the outstanding star-cast in their forthcoming picture "Boom Town." In it will be seen Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert and Hedy Lamarr. This is star-casting of the first magnitude. When we consider that Gable and Tracy are at the very top of the list of popular favourites and that Claudette Colbert was the most highly paid of all the stars for 1938, it must mean a tremendous outlay in salaries.
So far as the fourth star goes, it is difficult yet to decide the position of Hedy Lamarr. She has enjoyed a great deal of publicity of late and Joan Bennett has just picked her out as the most beautiful woman in Hollywood, but we have still to see whether she has the makings of one of those who will hold the popular favour year in, year out, as have the other three, None the less, "Boom Town," which is the story of the Texas oil fields, will count high amongst the pictures with the greatest collection of great names.
Refloating "Show Boat"
It would appear that producing companies believe that the public will never tire of "Show Boat." With Jerome Kern's haunting tunes it still holds the stage, and, in memory, one still sees and hears Paul Robeson. singing "El Man River." Already it has been twice made as a sound film, once with Laura La Plante and John Boles in the leading cies, and leter sith Irene Dunne and Alan Jones.
Now it is to be made a third tine, with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Two such singers leave no ccubt about justice being done to the film, ard the general production will be on a lavish scale with technicolour and all the latest ingenuities on the cinema studio. Those filmgoers with retentive minds, eyes and ears will be able to revel in a feast of retrospect and comparative values.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.