A FILM ROMANCE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21236, 7 August 1934, Page 7

A FILM ROMANCE

PRODUCER AND STAR

ENGAGEMENT REPORTED AND DENIED (CHITED I'EXSS ASSOCIATION—BT ELBCTJ&IO TELEGKAPH—COPYRIGHT.) LONDON, August 6. A romance which recently began in London has continued, and the engagement is announced of Miss Merle Oberon, aged 23, the Tasmanian film actress, to Mr Joseph Schenck, aged 51, president of United Artists' Film Corporation. A London message states: "There is much interest in film circles in England in a telegram the 'Daily Express' has received from New York. This states: 'American friends of Mr Joseph Schenck, the film magnate, are expecting at any moment the announcement of his engagement to Miss Merle Oberon. She is a member of a house party Mr Schenck is giving at Monte Carlo. It is expected that their marriage will take place in Europe. '"lt is surmised that Mr Schenck will make Miss Oberon a star, as he did his former wife, Norma Talmadge.'" A Monte Carlo message states that Miss Oberon and Mr Schenck attended a gala dinner at the Casino on Sunday night. Mr Schenck, interviewed, said it was quite correct that he was engaged to Miss Oberon. Miss Oberon, however, said she was not engaged, and this is confirmed by her father, who is also at Monte Carlo. Mr Schenck will go to New York on Wednesday, when Miss Oberon will i return to London to play in the film "Scarlet Pimpernel." She is under contract for four years, but the contract contains no marriage clause. The Monte Carlo correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says the engagement is most probable, but it will not be announced officially before Mr Schenck returns to England in October.

I Merle Oberon rose to fame almost overnight with her fine performance! as Anne Boleyn in the British film "The Private Life of Henry VIII." This brought her many attractive offers from Hollywood producers, but she announced her intention of staying in England. She has been chosen to play the role of Anne Boleyn again, in another British historical film, "The Field of the Cloth of Gold," and in the meantime she has appeared as a Japanese wife in "The Battle," and with Douglas Fairbanks in "The Private Life of Don Juan."]