CRITICISM OF ACTORS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 May 1938, Page 4

CRITICISM OF ACTORS

‘ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE PAY CUTS.’ HOLLYWOOD, May 6. One film actress, interviewed by the “Daily News,” regarding the advertisement published by the Independent Theatre Owners’ Association, which declared that many of the most highly paid stars were no longer box office attractions, said: “This is an attempt to scare us into taking pay cuts.” The “Daily News,” However, quotes other critics. In an interview. Air. Irving Carlin, representing the Association of Southern Californian Exhibitors. said: “Some of these pictures have been put on with a 1,000 dollars bingo night, and still failed.” The Artists' and Alanagers’ Guild says that criticism is the work of “brain-fagged individuals trying to kick up a fuss whore non either exists or belongs.” Meanwhile hundreds of telegrams and letters protesting against the charge are pouring in from members of the public. Producers, who arc most indignant about the advertisement. are delighted to receive them. SYDNEY EXPERIENCE. SYDNEY, May 7. The manager of a city theatre said yesterday that many of the most highly publicised stars of the screen were equally “box office poison” to -Australian theatre proprietors as to the American Independent Theatre Owners’ Association. Some of the waning stars, he said, had obtained new life through a novel twist being given to their parts, as David Selznick did for Janet Gaynor in “A Star is Born,” but the public had grown tired of a great many stars who were “typed” by their producers into a narrow rut.

Only a small percentage of Hollywood’s highly paid stars made money for Sydney exhibitors. They were Nelson Eddy, especially when teamed with Jeanette MacDonald. Deanna Durbin, Sonja Henle, Ronald Colman, Spencer Tracy. Irene Dunne, Paul Muni, Gary Cooper, William Powell, and Myrna Loy. Overshadowing all these, however, as a money-maker, especially in 'the “family” type of theatres, was William Boyd in the role of Hopalong Cassidy. Walt Disney's cartoons and the March of Time were both better box office attractions than half the stars.

Mr. S. S. Crick, formerly managing director of 20th Century Fox films, and an executive of Hoyts Theatres, said that the old days, when the personalit.v of a star alone drew crowds to the theatre, were gone. To-day there must be a good production as well. Production costs were risingin Hollywood. The costs of the industry must be lowered, and the only way open seemed to be by cutting out the extravagantly paid stars who were slightly passe. Mr. Stuart Doyle said that attacks on particular stars were uncalled for, because a star varied in his or her appeal according to the vehicle which he or she was given. The action of! the American exhibitors, it seemed to him. was designed to better their own conditions by eliminating the players who did not appear to be good box office for them.