The Screen's 'Dumb Clucks'

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 250, 22 October 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

The Screen's 'Dumb Clucks'

By Sheilah Graham —Copyright

Film Page

yOU have to be smart to be 1 dumb in Hollywood. Take the long ]„t of boys and girls who earn a handsome living acting as celluloid "fall guys." They are not so "dumb"— if you l ook at their real-life records. Mario Wilson, tagged the "Blonde Dumbbell,"» and now emoting as the cute -but stupid waitress in "R,, v r.1r1," has certainly capitalised* on her ga" appearance. "With a face like mine," *ays Marie, "everyone expects me to bo ,i" v So when I firat came here. I pretended to be dumb." I bought a mink coat -to impress the producers with the fact I didn't have to work (Mane was down to her last can of

beans before they "caught on."). I'm still dumb, but I've got in v mink coat." Because it was a sensible thin" to Mnnp prepared herself for a movie career at the Pasadena Coninuinitv I lavhouse "Hut even there tliev said I looked too •dumb' to act." Marie ha> a pleasant habit of smiling innocently into masculine eyes. "It gives them a protective feeling for me saves me s., much trouble." This "dumb" blonde's favourite literature comprises works on philosophy. .lames Branch Cabell's •lurgen. ' Washerman's "The World's Illusion, etc.

Frankly n Pa upborn, host -dressed fool on tlip screen, takes liis "dumb"' roles seriously. He lias been acting since IDOS —start ill" as a stage heavy with Xazimova. William (lillctte and Pauline Frederick. It took the movies—to which lie came in 1W27 -to see the comedy possibilities of his plump, "dead-pan" face. I'angborn works out each piece of "dumb" business with diagrams, showing his exact position before the camera and the exact timing for his movie inanities. "If I've got to be 'dumb.'" says hranklvn. "I might as well be successfully 'dumb.'"' liis private-life culture includes music, vocal lessons and a library filled with books on the theatre. .Vat Pendleton, wlio is always cast as the most feeble-minded member of his pictures, is so intelligent in private life that there are few people in Hollywood who come up to his intellectual demands. Consequently, he's a lone wolf. Pendleton. who majored in economics at Columbia I "niversity. speaks five languages in addition to English -Portuguese. Spanish. Italian, French and (iertnan- and is fond of music. Nat does not neglect the brawny side of his make-up -is still the best wrestler in Hollywood, is goodnatured and can be "ribbed" bv youngsters—or undersized men. '"If you're a big guy, what do the little fellows matter?"' says Xat. "Slow-burn"' Edgar Kennedy began his successful "dumb" career by accident. Several rears ago, an irate director

1 yelled, "Wipe that smile off your face." ; "'All right." said Kennedy and proceeded i to wipe it off with his hand, at the same time peering through his fingers to > see how annoyed the director was. '"Do i it again." said the amused megaphonist. ■ And Edgar has done it again and again ' in each subsequent picture. It always f pets a laugh. Edgar admits to only one "dumb"' deed in his private life. Some years ago, lie was offered the present ■ site of the Lakeside Golf Club—"for a ' soup but I didn't know a song." The property is now estimated at 500,000 dollars. "Being 'dumb' is a tribute to my • intelligence," Maxie (Slapsie) Rosenbloom. boxer, actor, and restaurant ; owner, tells me —adding, with great insight, "in real life or for the screen, the smart guys like to have a 'dumb' guy around." People flock to Maxie's nightclub, just to hear him give out similar witticism. One of his funniest "gags'' is a cover charge of 15 cents— "to keep out the riff-raff." In his nightclub he is a genial host—and a smart one. He sits down at your table, orders drinks all around-and lets you pay for them. "Dumb," is he? Like a | fox! Hugh "Woo-woo" Herbert alwavs seems on the verge of entering an insane asylum—in his pictures. In real life he's smart enough to be elected mayor of Studio City, runs a profitable ranch and is head of a concern bottling "WooWoo" water!

"Man Proof' "Algiers" 'Mr. Moto Takes a Chance" "The Missing Witness" "Submarine D-l" "The Great Carried" "Who's Your Lad\j Friend?" "Bo}, of the Street"

Myrna Loy, Franchot Tone Chas. Boyer, Hedy Lamarr, Sigrid Curie Peter Lorre, Rochelle Hudson Dick Pur cell, Ann Sheridan Pat O'Brien, George Brent Brian Aherne, Olivia de Havilland Francos Day, Betty Stock field Jackie Cooper, Maureen O'Connor

AUCKLAND RELEASES FOR NEXT WEEK

I know lots of people—self included— who would like to be as "dumb" as <itacie Allen, those silly radio and screen questions of hers have netted her a sizeable fortune—most of it invested in "sure-fire" securities. Graiie's privatelife conversation is minus all inanities — she is quick on the uptake and can talk interestingly on most subjects vou name.

Frank Morgan, actor, earns approximately 3000 dollars a week—for looking blank, spluttering and leaving his sentences unfinished, Frank Morgan, gentleman, lives on a company-controlled budget, studies international affairs, owns profitable oil wells in Louisiana, real estate in New York, is kind and courteous, reads all the latest books and is so crazy about music that he does not allow anyone but himself to work his precious phonograph. "Brittle-Bones" Alice Brady —she has broken every bone in her body at least once—introduced the addle-pated society woman to the screen. Alice is really the serious, intelligent type. She loves dogs—she was president of the Tailwaggers until Bette Davis took over. She reads biographies and is at present writing a "History of To-morrow." Alice is a hard worker. She is considerate of fellow workers and visitors to her sets. After a particularly bad dose of illness, her director wanted to close her set. "Xo," Alice replied diplomatically, "If I can stand visitors, they can stand me!"

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