Doors To Fame

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 257, 28 July 1939, Page 14

Doors To Fame

Various Ways Of Joining The Famous ALTHOUGH it is extremely hard to break into the film world and Hollywood’s doors are not easily opened, there are numerous ways in which this screen- citadel can be stormed. The majority of them require a certain amount of good luck, wbtle other entries are obtained by family connexions, facial resemblances, and success in broadcasting or stage work. Perhaps the most unusual introduction to a film career was obtained by David Niven, who. following :i party in a British battleship at Santa Barbara, was taken ashore in a film ccmpany launch, and favourably impressed the producer. Another method which has proved successful in the case of Wendy Barrie, Maureen O’Sullivan and Sally Eilers, is to attract attention when dining out. These three were discovered at cafe tables in London, tfiiblin and Hollywood respectively. Family acting traditl ,ns have helped Joan and Constance Bennett, Tyrene Power, Douglas Fairbanks, jun, and Ida Lupino, all of whom have adopted the surnames made famous by their fathers. Another suggestion, which may be a little difficult for most people, is to be a quintuplet or head for Los Ang'fles in an aeroplane and land in Ireland. Of course, the family Dionne and Mr. Corrigan are rather lucky in this respect. Film players whose facial specialities have helped their screen careers are Jimmy Durante, Simone Simone. Ned S-parks, Joe E. Brown, ami Guy Kibbee. Beauty Contests. Winning a beauty contest sometimes opens the Hollywood studios’s dimrs. and Gail Patrick, Ann Sheridnh- and Marjorie Weaver still find them open. Photographers’ models who have made good include Norma Shearer. J tan Arthur, Kay Francis and Alan Curtis. Even Garbo was modelling hats in Sweden before she became an actress. Singing with a well-known orchestra has helped Alice Faye, Dorothy Lamour, Harriet Hilliard, Priscilla I/me, and Leah Ray to land screen contracts, while Joan Crawford caught the eye of the talent scout when she was la the front row of the chorus. If you make a hit in a night club you may attract the producers’ attention. Consider the Ritz Brothers, Mari ha Raye, Margo, Ella Logan, Ann Miller, Beverly Roberts and Doris Weston. Cesar Romero got his chance after he had been spotted doing a tango t.i a night club. Successful appearamfis in Little Theatre productions near Hollywood were responsible for the film breaks of Robert Young, Gloria Stuart, James Ellison and Jane Bryan. Radio singers whose faces were “photogenic” include Bing Crosby, Don Ameche, Gene Autry, Jack Benny and Joe Penner.

Wayne Morris got his chance by looking like the drawings of the hero in a magazine story which was about tn be made into the film "Kid Galahad. ’ By doing impersonations of movie stars at charity benefits in Hollywood Jane Withers cultivated fame, while Ray Milland, formerly a sharpshoJter, was noticed when he was shoiiing glasses out of a film star’s hand .from off stage. Judy Garland, aged 12, with eight years of vaudeville behind her. merely walked Into a casting di'.'e< tor’s office and said “I’m looking for a job”— she got it.

Perhaps the best way to become a film star is to learn the rudiments of acting in stock, vaudeville or some little theatre, and polish off youi | fd ication with a post-graduate course on the New York stage. Some of the more famous stars took this road to Holly-wood-Paul Muni, Silencer Tracy. Margaret Sullavan, Claudette Colbert, James Stewart and Basil Rathtona Many of the stars were famous before they went to Hollywood.

T YA LYS, who made her film debut in “Confessions of a Nazi be featured in “Return of Dr. X.” for Warners.