LUCKY THIRTEEN

Evening Star, Issue 23729, 9 November 1940, Page 3

LUCKY THIRTEEN

The thirteenth of each month is feared by superstitious show people in Hollywood as the day on which accident and disaster are most likely to befall them. On the thirteenth they steer clear of ladders and black cats, even hesitate to reach for the salt in case they upset it. Therefore, the choice of this supposedly unlucky day for the start of each new picture by film star Anna Neagle and her producer-director, Herbert Wilcox, has caused shudders and amazement in Hollywood. But to them the thirteenth of the month is their lucky day. They have chosen it as the starting date of every one of the 13 films they have made together. Their fourteenth, and the third produced in Holly wo °d under the banner of RKQ Radio, started on August 13. Few people know the reason for this. It was on October 13, some few years ago. that Marjorie Robertson, then a member of C. B Cochran’s London chorus in 1 Wake Up and Dream,’ got her first big part in a film starring Maurice Evans, and then and there decided to change her name to Anna Neagle. Six months later she was starring opposite Jack Buchanan in a musical production at the London Hippodrome. The piece enjoyed a long run. On the evening of that November 13 Jack Buchanan sent for Anna between acts. “ Herbert Wilcox is in tbe theatre to-night,” he told her. “He come in just in time for the second act, and saw us do our number together. He’s interested in yon for the part opposite me in ‘ Good-night, Vienna,’ his new ■film, and wants to talk with you after the show.” That night Anna Neagle was signed for her first starring role in pictures. A month later, on December 13, ‘ Good-night. Vienna ’ started. On its release Anna was hailed as Herbert Wilcox’s greatest discovery. Two tbirtoens had been lncky_ for them—their first meeting and their first picture. Ever since then each new venture has commenced on that day of the month.