Walter Connolly A Player In Demand

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 70, 15 December 1939, Page 14

Walter Connolly A Player In Demand

WHENEVER a Hollywood casting ’ V director gets a harassed look in bis eye he has probably liecn requested to gel Walter Connolly for an important part in a motion picture. Reaching for the telephone in a resigned manner. the easting director calls Connolly, fully expecting to hear that he is working on a picture, that lie is already cast in another, and is' reading the script for the third. Too often his attempts to get Connolly are futile.

The man who once thought lie was not fitted for films is today one of the most sought actors in Hollywood. Enough roles are written to keep five Connollys busy.- He is in demand, not only for pictures at Columbia studio, which tinally persuaded him to forsake Broadway, but also for other film companies in the cinema city. Years ago. when lie was one of Broadway's reigning favourites. Connolly appeared in a silent picture. When he saw himself on the screen lie threw up Ids hands in despair and returned to the stage. For 17 years following that unfortunate experience he steadfastly refused flattering offers from picture producers. He finally succumbed to the temptation when offered a role in one of Frank Capra's early pictures.

That is the story of Walter Connolly who plays the irascible sea captain in “Coast Guard." Columbia’s attraction, and who played an entertaining part in “Good Girls Go To Paris.” Connolly is now a film personality. He thrives on activity. He is intensely interested in creating characters, and the variety of roles offered him by Hollywood has appealed to him, so that be is perfectly ba ppy.