John Russell Fearn, the Wells II of England, informs of "Once in a New Moon" whose central theme-sensational for the screen-is that of a portion of Earth torn loose and hurled into interplanetary depths! The completed picture, which has been showing in England, screens the super-scientale of a dead star that collides with the moon, the suddenly increased gravatational attraction wrenching an entire English village off Earth and out into space! The sturdies survive the astounding transplantation, political factions are formed, and there is a romance on the pirated planetoid. There is a happy ending as the kidnapped community returns to Earth.
(It is not clear to me, from the information I have on hand at this writing, whether the village is actually shot into space, or whether it hangs suspended somewhere in the stratosphere, but either event must be interested.)
Rene Ray, the heroine, it is perhaps news to note, played her first picture-part as an extra in the ace-high "High Treason," film of the future.
"Plan 16"
RKO, following up "Most Dangerous Game," "King Kong," "She," and its other 'unusual adventure' stories has announced Preston Foster to play in the picture of an investor who creates a magnetic ray which influences ships off their courses and into unknown perils.
"The Phantom Fiend"
featuring Elizabeth Allan, heroine of "Mark of the Vampire," is reviewed as a blood-curdling paralyzer-picture. From Britain, it is based on Mrs. Belloc Lowndes' novel, "The Lodger."
"Dancing on the Moon"
a Paramount color-cartoon, features a slick model rocket which shoots off Earth, transporting animal characters for an evening's entertainment, to our satellite.
Tarzan Tales
"Tarzan in Guatamala" is completed, a serial, I believe, which may or may not be all-same as "The New Adventures of Tarzan" announced last column; "Tarzan and the Green Goddess is to star Herman Brix; while Jungle Johnny, the bonafide 'Tarzan', his mate, Maureen, and 'Cheeta', will be back with us in about another six months in a tale of the times titled "Tarzan and the Vampires." The picture's climax is scheduled to be reached in a hidden valley of giant bats...
Merritt Movie
MGM will probably produce his shivery scientifantasyarn, 'Burn, Witch, Burn!' a film to frenzy fans! More of this in the months to come. To prepare the public, "Witch of Timbuctoo," a weirtale, will precede.
Stratosphere Stories
"Death from a Distance," a Chesterfield production, and "Air Hawks," Columbia film of an aeroplane-exploder ray, are now playing around the country. "Air Hawks" may possibly be the outcome of "Above the Clouds," tale of a diamond death-ray bolt, which I forecast in my August, 1935, column.
"Study in Blue"
a fantasy in color synchronized with sound. Possiblt the most astonishing, intriguing, fascinating filmagic I have ever seen. A sensational short subject not to be missed by any science-fantasy enthusiast. At five performances I attended, ordinary audiences applauded; so count on devastating delight, all you fortunate enuf to find it at a filmhouse! It's super-super!
"Transatlantic Tunnel"
is the newly descriptive title for Gaumont's undersea epic of the traffic-cylinder from London to New York.
Bela Lugosi Abroad
The Hungarian horror-actor is in England, scheduled to make one fantasy film for Gaumont, "Secrets of the Marie Celeste"!
Scientifilmistakes
It was a bad break, of course, that, as older readers know, Wells' "Island of Lost Souls" was banned in Brittain, so that our English cousins never saw the evolutionaryarn. The French played it, but one of their cinemagazines did a funny job of translating the title into English-they called it "Island of CostSouls" (rather an expensive-sounding production!) The best (or worst), however, occurred recently when I was securing scientifilm stills from one of the Distributing Exchanges. "Who should I make the form out to?" asked the clerk (for release of the stills). "FANTASY magazine," said I, of course. But later when I noticed the slip (with which two carbon duplicates went), I discovered myself to be a representative of 'FANCY Magazine'!
"Popular Science"
Paramount has released an interesting color subject of this title.
"Liebe, Tod und Teufel"
>From Stevenson's story, "The Bottle Imp," this UFA film, in German, unfolds a fantasy of a bewitched bottle which fulfills for the owner his every wish-at the expense of his soul being claimed by the devil.
SRO Contest Results
Due to the amazing total of fans who sent in their Scientifilm Review Opinions-two!-each winner receives two Prizes.
The Contest was originally calculated to give all interested domestic and foreign fans ample opportunity to enter; but due to our unfortunately unpredictable date of appearance, the close of the Contest came too early for many who might have wished to prepare and send their submissions.
Clay Ferguson, Jr., the prominent young stf artist, named his favorite reviews in order of merit as: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," "By Rocket to the Moon," and "The Cataclysm." He chose them because of their length and elaborate detail. Complimented my "Jekyll-Hyde" review because in it I "did something very commendable...gave a good-sized section from a speech, by one of the characters in the picture, that had a definite bearing on science-fiction." I was very pleased to find my conviction concerning that review bourne out at least by one prominent fan, as there was some unfavorable comment on the review at the time it appeared. Mr. Ferguson's entry contained other approving paragraphs, and included some good suggestions. Accordingly, he has had his subscription lengthened four issues, been sent the scientifilm story "Last Man on Earth," received a still from "F. P. 1," and may have two original "Scientificinematorially Speaking" manuscripts to add to his collection. In place of the quarter cash, also due him, he requested a special scene from "The Werewolf of London," which has been supplied.
The well-known writer, Mr. J. Harvey Haggard, was Second Winner, naming "The Young Diana" his favorite because I was "enabled to present it in detail" and because he was "not familiar with the production." Both he and Mr. Ferguson expressed a desire to read reviews of the silent scientifilms, those of the early talkie era, and foreign fantastic productions. Mr. Haggard flattered that he does not believe I need suggestions in composing my film-columns. He has been sent two exciting scientifilm scenes, an 8 X 10 inch studio portrait of his favorite actor, Warner Oland, is entitled to a manuscript, and has two months added to his FM subscription.