HOLLYWOOD GUEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 7

HOLLYWOOD GUEST.

H. G. WELLS HONOURED CINEMA LIGHTS SPARKLE. « AN INDTJSTKIOUS PIACE." (From Our Own Correspondent.) HOLLYWOOD, December 10. The occasion of the visit of the British author and world traveller, Mr. H. G. Wells, aroused intense interest and he was given probably the most hectic time in his colourful career, for no one knows how to be a more gracious host than Charles Chaplin. His party for Mr. Wells, with that gentleman in a merry mood, was a completely charming affair, and undoubtedly one of the most enthusiastic British-American events staged in California for many years.

Although Herbert George Wells was born in September, 1860, he did not seem a day over a gay 45, and there was no evidence of being patriarchal. He was as excited as' a boy about meeting all the Hollywood celebrities, and asked lots more questions than he answered. The picture he has written for Alexander Korda for a British film is wholly prophetic, beginning in 1940 —when, by the way, he warns the world the next real war will materialise.

Paulette Goddard, in a tawny metal gown and a perky little pointed cap, proved an indefatigable hostess, being so much more piquant and individualistic in her own dark hair than as the blonde she arrived in Hollywood originally. Her mother also wore a saucy hat and was telling everyone what a thoroughly natural girl her little Paulette is. Gene Tunney Present. Prances Marion, the genial authoress and scenarist, attracted all eyes in her swanky furs, and was escorted by the magnificent Gene Tunney, former world

heavy-weight champion boxer. Maureen. O'Sullivan lopked positively puritanical wearing a dainty little hand-made lace collar, which belonged to her husband—. Johnny Harrow's Australian Maureen had.a dress made especially to, go with that collar.

The British contingent was very repre-. sentative, and included Mr. C. Aubrey Smith, Sir Guy Standing, Major R. V. C. Bodley, Herbert Mundin, Freddie Bartholomew and his aunt Milyce'nt, of London, Ralph Forbes and Heather Angel, his wife, and Hugh Walpole. Some of the distinguished Americans gracing the function were Freddie March, Edward G. Robinson, Ir'vin Cobb, the noted American author, who, incidentally, was the object of great interest on the part of Mr. Wells.

One visitor, Stanley Lupino, of London, the well-known English comedian, almost stole the show as he knew Charlie Chaplin many years ago, and felt that Ma party, during his brief visit, was * particularly fortunate circumstano*. Hedda Hopper, Anita Louise, Mr. and Mrs. Ernst Lubitsch all added to the gaiety of the memorable occasion, and tiny Anita- Loos was by way of being the arch celebrity on her own account. Wells Explains. Mr. Wells made himself a sort of Diogenes, seeking not an honest man, but a Hollywood man or woman who would not talk about Hollywood. The noted author, in Hollywood to observe the ways of the American cinema, capital while he was engaged writing an English picture, complained: "I've crossed an ocean and a continent to learn about Hollywood. But every time I ask a resident to tell me about the motion-picture industry he skips right over my question and asks me about England. "I don't want to talk or my conceptions of the future world or the prospects of war. I want to talk about moving, pictures. I've got a- job to do." Looking not at all afraid, he said he came to Hollywood very much, afraid. He said he expected to find it a giddy, riotous, silly, lazy, wild sort of place. "Instead, I find it an industrious, interesting and entertaining place," lie said.