Hope Hampton

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 65, 9 December 1938, Page 18

Hope Hampton

Star Of Silents Who Let Fans Hear Her Sing QILENCE may be golden, but it did not prove to be so for Hope Hampton. During the later days of “silent' motion pictures, it was literally through singing on personal appearance tours that she carved herself a new career. In 192 S critics discovered that Hope Hampton, then a young cinema star, had a voice. As result, while the majority of silent screen luminaries have gone into oblivion, Hope has not only won for herself a niche in grand opera, but now is making, her talking picture debut in Universal’s “The Road To Reno,” in which she is co-starred with Randolph Scott.

It was her desire to “do something different” that ■ marked her out from the other young stars in the silents, whose only duty was to be lovely and glamorous, make convincing love with gestures, and ’ obey implicitly the orders of the directors. “I was so tired of simpering before the camera and not having any individuality of my own,” she said. “I had been on a number of personal appearance tours, and I had learned that audiences were deeply disappointed ■when all you did for them was to smile, say how happy you were to appear before them, and then bow yourself off into the wings.” So, about 1927, Hope Hampton decided to do something about this. Ever since 1925, she had been making personal appearance tours at the conclusion of every film. This time she was to visit many of the principal Pennsylvania cities. When she appeared before an audience in Reading, Pennsylvania, she surprised' and delighted them by singing a song entitled, “Rose, Fairest Rose.” She got. a big round of applause, and that started her on her singing career. Hope'Hampton added new songs to her repertoire, and soon critics were stating that she should look to grand opera.

Ambition then began to burn in her heart, and soon s-he was taking singing lessons from the best American teachers. Her progress was so swift that, in 1928, while she was on holiday in Europe, she obtained the title role in “Madame Pompadour.” The critics acclaimed her, and so she gave her 'entire attention to preparing for grand opera. Since that time, Hope Hampton has won honours in grand opera in all the principal European centres of culture, and also has had success in the United States.

Last year, while visiting in Hollywood, the screen called again to Hope Hampton. She was attending a party with many motion picture executives and actresses, and the discussion turned upon the fact that movies had now progressed to the point where it was possible to reproduce even the most intricate musical selections.

“Why don’t you return to the screen?” inquired an executive of Universal Studios.

“I’d like nothing better, if the tests demonstrate I would succeed,” replied the diva. “I believe that a person with a voice should share it with the greatest number of people.” And so, the little girl who insisted bn singing out of turn, when most of the cinem stars were silent, is back again on the screen.