DEPLETED "HERO" RANKS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 14 September 1940, Page 6 (Supplement)

DEPLETED "HERO" RANKS

Screen Page

ALREADY desperately short of leading men—to a point where 50-year-old heroes regularly make love to 18-year-old debs Hollywood studio heads are scrutinising contract lists to-day to see what effect the compulsory military training law will have on badly-riddled male ranks.

First to be called out, presumably in October, will be men between the ages of 21 and 30, without dependents.

While hero roles in most of the bigger productions are being carried to-day by men well past the 31-year mark, Hollywood still has a flock of promising new candidates who would fall within first<s/

By Harold Heffernan

draft limits. If their numbers should turn up a.nd a sizable portion forced to desert pictures, even temporarily, it would mean a liasty revision of all scripts and schedules. Talent Scouts Out As matters stand even to-day, screen writing mills are busy deleting the "eternal triangle" out of forthcoming productions. The scarcity of leading men is responsible for this move. At every studio starting dates have fceen repeatedly deferred during the past few months because leading men of even the slightest marquee strength aren't available at any price.

Talent scouts Lava been scouring the country, have even gone over Hollywood with a fine comb, and still the shortage has reached a more acute stage than at any period in the colony's history. Among the more promising "free and 21" leading men who would be eligible for the first call to training service are Robert Preston. William Holden (his engagement to Brenda Marshall wouldn't count), Robert Paige, Alan Curtis, Robert Shaw, Rand Brooks, Alan Curtis, Dennis O'Keefe, Olenn Ford, James Stewart (if he isn't already wed to Olivia de Havilland), Charles Lang, John Shelton. Dan Dailey, Lee Bowman J John Carroll, Wayne Morris (divorce action under way), Jeffrey Lynn, Dennis Morgan, Johnny Downs, Tom Brown, Eddie Albert, and Robert Cummings. Rooney Is Too Young The real box office names, however— with the exception of Stewart—would not be affected. The leader of them all, Mickey Rooney. Nt 19, is too young as yet, so the Hafdy family series wouldn't lose its motivating factor.

Other males in the "ten best money making" tabulation are either too old or have "dependent" wives and families. This would doubtless eliminate them, unless, of course, they insisted on leaves of absence.

Clark Gable, for instance, is not only nine years past the proposed first call's age limit, but he has his wife, Carole Lombard, who gets 150,000 dollars a picture, to look after.

Tyrone Power, second best money maker, was only 27 years old last May, but he's married to Annabella. who doesn't act any more.

Spencer Tracy, an even 40 in April, lias a non-professional wife and two children. Errol Flvnn passed his 31st liirtliday in June and is wed to Lily Damita.

The remaining male among the leaders is .James Cagney, 30, a family man also.

Producers .were of one mind in declaring that any drastic shortage brought on by a draft bill would necessitate rewriting stories so that feminine roles would be emphasised and male parts subordinated to the minimum.