Faults of Stars

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 24, 29 January 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

Faults of Stars

pRACTICALLY anyone can 1 look glamorous on the screen -—Lizzie Glurz, Garbo, or you. That's what "ace" photographers, make-up men and dressmakers are for. But in private life that's different. A girl is on her own to make the best or worst of herself. And some of the Hollywood stars make a good job of deglamorisation. The greatest glamour girl on the screen, Marlene Dietrich, is a distinct •hock when you see her lunching at the Brow* Derby or bowing languidly to her dear public at previews. .She "indulges bi a very pale make-up, intended "to enhance her classical features. Instead, ▼ou're so busy wondering whether she feels well, you forget the face behind the powder. And her drese colour sense is not over-strong. I remember seeing her at the Vendorne in a green and red ensemble that clashed badly. For all I know, (linger Rogers' wardrobe is as large as they go, but. judging by the clothes she wears, 1 estimate her evening gowns aftwo or three, her daytime apparel at one, her slacks and

8y... Harold Hef f ernan

—COPYRIGHT

sweaters at 1(\0. At previews of her pictures, (iinger "goes to town" with ermine, oiled hair and glittering gowne. But that's only about once every six months. In between, she can be viewed anywhere in cute but uninteresting trousers and blouse, her face shiny and her hair-line, part a trifle awry. Loretta Young's favourite daytime enstume is a mink coat over pvjamas, which Is no way for a "glamour girl" to show herself to the public. Me Was Surprised * '** I still remember the shock of my flret lunch with Merle Oberon at her "Santa Monica Beach home. Her hair was rough end stringy from over-exposure to wind and sun. Her woollen sweater did things to her figure. Luckily for my girlish ideals of film stars, I saw Merle a few weeks later at a party given by Sam Goldwyn, and she was her "reel" eelf, hair well groomed, face powdered, and • white filmy dress that spelled Glamour with a capital "G." Fra not suggesting feminine stars should romp on the beach in make-up and evening dress, but I think they should at least look as attractive as the average girl who peys ♦» see them on the screen. Or if this is too much trouble, to follow Garbo's lead and do their swimming "alone." If you were 1h a room wffh 30 "extra" girls and Janet Gaynor and were asked to .point out the one person in the room who had no chance whatsoever of film success, you'd pick Miss Gaynor. Janet is lots of fun, but in a quiet, unexciting way. She looks like a small-town girl who might be the eashier of the cinema showing "A Star is Born," starring * glamorous creature called Janet Gaynor. The first time someone safd: That's Margaret Sullavan," I flatly refused to believe it. Maggie was wearing ultrashort shorts that detracted from the allure of her legs. Her hair was too long end her ekin as freckled ias Myrna. Ley's and Jean Arthur's underneath their allhiding make-up. Fortunately, however, for the Illusions vt your correspondent, there are a few Hollywood stars who realise it is almost as important to look as attractive, if not as glamorous, in the revealing glare of daylight and electricity as before the beautifying camera lights. Gladys Swarthout, chosen by a New York group as the best-dressed singer in the business, has never _yet appeared

without being suitably and glamorouslv turned out. At Adolph Znkor'a juUil.-V flinner she. wore a flaming velvet Imi"--! sleeved, tight-wateted gown with a iin~v tlame skull cap at the back of her head, j _ IMnt-sized Dixie Diinbar does a good job of glaniorisation in private '"life | Kverywliere she goes—and. she poos 1 everywhere-heads are turned to follow! her chic little figure. I Joan Blomloll has improved considerably since becoming .Mrs. Dick J'owell. Her clothes are less flamboyant, without being dull, but she will have to lose a few mure bulges to look glamorous in j a bare-backed, two-piece swimming suit. Virginia Bruce is another habitual "stepper-outer" who continues t<) be, steeped in glamour. She's probably the' only film actress who looks more like a' star in private life than on the screen.: Margot Crahame read somewhere that ' the definition of glamour is "startle "em." Which slie certainly does. It" you, want to know what the female back j divine looks like, go to the Coconut <irove when Margot" is there. Tier hnir' and face might also look phi morons if! the colours weren't so exaggerated - hair too pink, face too white. But her j jewellery! And that, with the exception of Helen Vinson, about closes the list of real-life "jrlamour girls," unless you count the myriads of "extras" and'stock players.