Early Glimpses Of Big Careers

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 72, 18 December 1937, Page 26

Early Glimpses Of Big Careers

XTO matter how often it’s told aud retold, there’s one Hollywood story of which the world never seems to tire. That’s the glowing account of “how he got his start” —the “he” in this particular instance being virtually any star, masculine or feminine, in the film capital. Here, in tabloid, are a few of the “hows” recently culled from the studios: —

Sylvia Sidney, star of Samuel Goldwyn’s “Dead End,” made her bow before the cameras with real machinegun bullets whistling all around her. She had been imported from New York to replace Clara Bow, who had been taken ill, opposite Gary Cooper, in “City Streets.” And her first day’s work was in a room which had to be well riddled with machine-gun fire, thus necessitating the use of real bullets.

Charles Boyer, star of Wanger’s “History is Made at Night,”. couldn’t even understand the director the first day he walked on a Hollywood set. That was in 1930, and he had been imported from France for the French version of “The Big House.” An interpreter had to be on the set all the time to give him instructions. Boyer later learned English, then decided he wasn’t getting the breaks in Hollywood and was all set to return to France when Wanger signed him to a long-term contract.

Joan Bennett’s first work before the cameras consisted of being shoved around with a group of extras by a very authoritative assistant director. Yes, Joan, who is soon to be seen in “Walter Wanger’s Vogues of 1938',” was an extra, for several weeks before going to New York to appear on the stage with her father in “Jarnegan.” Then she came back to Hollywood to play with Ronald Colman in "Bulldog Drummond,” and was treated with such deference that she could scarcely realise she was the same person.

Madeleine Carroll, starring with Ronald Colman in “The Prisoner of Zenda,” spent her entire first day in pictures putting on and taking off clothes. She wasn’t signed until the day before the picture was to start. Then designers and a dozen seamstresses tried to complete her wardrobe In the short space of 24 hours. Needless to say, they work farther ahead now.