JUVENILE COMPETITION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 12 September 1935, Page 8

JUVENILE COMPETITION

ADULT PLAYERS’ RESENTMENT The refusal of many adult players to appear in. the same picture as the brilliant, juvenile Freddie Bartholomew, who made his debut in “David Copperfield,” lias caused producers much worry. This remarkable youth is reported to have scored another outstanding success iu “ Anna Karenina.” . American-critics suggest that in the i latter film he has done something

hitherto considered impossible—he has “stolen scenes from Greta Garbo,” and it is this which has made several leading players announce their, refusal to *play with the boy. Several well-known artists have, recently’ declined roles in Shirley Temple pictures, on the grounds that competition with a child is not fair to their reputations. The child invariably receives all the praise, simply because she is a child. In Freddie Bartholomew’s case, it is even more serious as he is both a child, and a born ■ actor. Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer will probably have to adopt the expedient of starring him on his own with a supporting cast of players who arc not sufficiently eminent to lie disturbed by strong juvenile competition.

Warren William. Warren William always wanted to lie an actor, but it wasn’t until after he had served in the Engineers’ Corps of the A.E.F. and the armistice had been signed that he joined a theatrical troupe, organised to tour the army camps in Europe. When he returned to America, the soldicr-cngincer-aclor decided to lind out whether lay audiences might not approve of his ability as definitely as his doughboy audiences on the other side had done. The Broadway managers inclined a favourable ear and sooix Warren found himself in a road company of “I Love You.” A season in stock ensued, then Broadway gave him a chance in Rachael Crothers’ “Expressing Willie.” ftis more recent pictures include “Smartv, ” “ Uppcrworld,” “Goodbye Again,” “Gold Diggers of 1933,” “Employees’ Entrance,” and “The Match King.” The latest film in which he appears is “The Dragon Murder Case,” which] comes to the Grand Theatre on Tues- j day and Wednesday. ,

Charles Laughton has been offered the part of Bill Sikes in Metro-Gohl-wyn-Mayer’s “Oliver Twist.” with Freddie Bartholomew in file title role. He is, due bark in England first, to play the lead in London Filins’ “Cyrano <le Bergerac.”