OCCIDENTAL AND ORIENTAL

Evening Star, Issue 23219, 18 March 1939, Page 5

OCCIDENTAL AND ORIENTAL

DIFFERENCES IN DRAMA There are reasons why oriental races produce fewer theatrical stars than occidental races, according to Nick Grinde, who made this obsecration while directing Anna May Wong in Paramount’s 1 King of Chinatown.’ “ The average person has no conception of the Chinese theatre, where the audience has to be better educated in the drama than the actors. I witnessed one performance in which there was a scene where one actor and eight property men were on the stage. The actor presumably was in a boat approaching a forested shore. Four of the men were attired iri green smocks. They walked in undulated fashion alongside the actor. The green smocks and the undulations told the audience that they were depicting the waves of the ocean. Four other men attired in brown smocks stood at one corner of the stage. The brown smocks told the audience that they were the trees on the shore. “ Lines are enunciated in grandiloquent fashion with extravagant gestures. In our westerns the hero always rides a white horse and the villain rides the black horse. A Chinese villain wears one sort of a mask, a hero another, a merchant dresses in one fashion, a diplomat another. . “ Now with people trained to understand and appreciate drama with this technique, it is obvious that they would not produce actors and actresses who can convert themselves overnight into? players' with the occidental technique. *’* Miss Wong is a rare exception. But; it must be remembered that she is American-born, and that she has worked since a child in motion pictures.” HOLLYWOOD CINDERELLA Leni Lynn, 13-year-old singing Cinderella, who rode into Hollywood r,ecently on a silver chariot made up of “ dimes ” of 10,000 Passaic, New Jersey, school chums, found that her tiny feet fitted the glass slipper. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer proved to be her Prince Charming and signed her to a contract to appear in motion pictures. Leni’s story is almost as fantastic as the immortal fairy tale. Her real name is Angelina Ciofani, and she is the daughter of a poor Italian factory worker in Passaic. Blessed with an amazing natural coloratura voice, she gave vent to her happy heart in song at amateur and benefit performances in her home town. Howard Herty, promotion manager of the Passaic * NewsHerald,’ heard her sing in a show at a Passaic fire station and decided that something should be done about it. He enlisted the aid of the mayor and arranged for the use of the Passaic School Stadium for « concert. Ten thousand children and their parents crowded the stadium. They were thrilled by little Angelina’s voice. The mayor told them it was a civic duty to help this little girl bring fame to Passaic. The hat was passed. Each person was asked to contribute one dime —no more, no less. Herty changed Angelina’s name, choosing “ Leni ” because it was her favourite nickname among her school chums, and “ Lynn ” because it sounded well with Leni. When she arrived in Hollywood Leni’s unusual story broke into print. She was signed for an appearance at the Trocadero Cafe. Hundreds of celebrities, stars, and producers heard her. When bashfully she sought the autographs of these movie greats they in turn asked for hers. Two studio's gave her screen tests, and the tale came to a happy ending when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer signed her. No picture has been announced. England’s Shirley Temple. Hazel Ascot, the new British child star, and referred to as “ England’s Shirley Temple,” has been accorded a unique honour. A famous toy firm has placed on the market this Christmas a new doll, an exact replica of Hazel herself. Hazel will shortly be seen in her first starring production, ‘ Stepping Toes,’ in which Alfredo Campoli and his orchestra make their initial screen appearance. It is an Action Pictures’ release. * » • • As High As Tracy. Mickey (Rooney will be elevated to stardom in ‘ (Boys’ Town,’ in which he appears with Spencer Tracy. This is the culmination of an unbroken list of sensational successes during the past year, which have made him one of the screen’s most popular personalities. This honour will make him the co-star of Tracy in the Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer production which Norman Taurog is directing with John Considine, jun., as producer. • • • • Edith Fellows uses her own cradle, the 200-year-old one once used by Charles Lamb,' the essayist, for a scene in Columbia’s ‘ Tbe Little Adventuress,’