What Is He?

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

What Is He?

THETJTC are times when Frank Harvey, writer, actor and instructor, becomee rather confused regarding what is his most important function at Cinesound studios. Sydney, X.S.W. Apart from his writing (he has written the scenario for the last four Cinesound pictures,) he also reads all the scenarios submitted to the studio. This task, in itself is formidable enough, and the volume of manuscripts that come along is steadily increasing. As director of dialogue he rehearses the ortists in their parts and also assists (ieorge Cross, casting director, in examining candidates for parts and in casting pictures. The. acting part of Harvey's work, is of course, child's play—not because it takes up so much less of his ti'ne, but because it conies so easy to him. (Jive him practically any kind of a part and Fronk Harvey will turn in a smooth and polished performance. In spite of hits deep interest in his motion picture production work, Harvey confesses to a loyalty to the stage —that is the stage of an earlier day. This will be understood by Aucklanders who remember the prominent place he held on the stage, the many plays with which he was associated. Apart from his own contribution to drama, he was always a student of plays and players and is steeped in traditions of the stage. He has a large library dealing with the history of the English stage and he enjoys nothing so much as a discussion about the great actors of the past— Maeready, FSeerhohm Tree, Irving or Forbes-Robertson. He will talk eloquently of the difference between the "Hamlets" as played by the lat?t two. Frank Harvey is not sure to-day whether he is a writer (he has written several successful stage plavs) or an actor, but there is no doubt about the directions in which his sentiments lie.