IN MOVIE LAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 13 April 1928, Page 7

IN MOVIE LAND

DALE AUSTEN'S EXPERIENCES 'ALL SCTNSKIKE A.WD JJ.APPfIS T E3S'' A JiiV I* n-.,l all be >•: and -kittle-, and a movie actress - life is not one round oi' social functions and dressing in gorgeous frocks and ermines (says the Dunediu "Star*').

Male Austen, the Dunedin girl who is iniw at Hollywood, i- finding: screen woVk pleasant, but arduous and dis-

appointing at limes. In a long letter received by the Empire Theatre management (says the Dunedin "Star"'). Dale describes her latest experiences !,rightly and fully. She has had a ten weeks' contract with the Metrn-t'old-w\ n Mayer St u.iio. hui in her la -t lu'tter she does imi mention when she will be returning to New Zealand. Life is -n i|| all sunshine and happi-

u.'ss to Dale. ••Sunshine inside and out. because the sun has not ceased -hilling since we ai rived in Los Anmdes. exeejit for a couple of days, when We had a real California!! storm."

she writes to the management and patrons ol' the Knipire Theatre. "We thought it was just heavy rain, but the Californians thought it was dreadful. The car w hich came to take ns io I lie -t udio took over an hour to get

from llollywo.nl in Culver City. Can vmi imagine thai there are very lew drains in Los Angeles, and none at all in Culver City'.' Consei|iieiitly. when it rains the roads are Hooded, and the bridges are washed away. We had to try three dill'erent roads that morning, aii.l in each i ears were stuck in the water and (owing ear-; were doing a roaring business dragging them mil. We were told that the California lis are "0 busy putting up houses and big buildings that they don't bother about the drains until after. We ihoiigln that we were fortunate n not having the rain we have in X.'W Zealand, as they'd wanl boats, and not ears, half the t ime."

Pale was very nervous when she was told to make up for her first screen tesi. Sin- felt thai it was her lii«i chance, en which everything de[>t>7iclf>«l. The chief dross designer, (filbert (lark, ohoso for her a sports costume, a chic creation, with its jrreen and white check- trimmings. The test was taken by the well-known director. McCarthy, and .Arnold, the best of M.CM. camera men. Pale had to do a scene wit!) the veteran actor. Edward Connolly. "1 fell very nervous." she writes, "as the lights were so strong mii iny eyes, and it was hard to keep from 'blinking. And. tlien. flier.' was slid) a crowd watching. There is always on a picture sot a crowd of hangers-on and lookers-on. 1 counted ten idoii actually employed to give me i,iv test. These included the scene shifters, the lighting men. the camera nicii. the still photographer, and the man who looks after the cost of every lilni taken, and charges it to the right depart m'elit." While the camera clicked. Hale had to embrace Connelly, and. although she did ma show ' it. she was embarrassed—a nd what young lady would not he embarrassed when a score or so of others Hie looking on? Neui|V all after u was spent taking this scene, which had to bo rehearsed several times and shot from various ane-les. The work was tiring, and as she did not think the. test had been very successful. Dale was also depressed. Another screen tesi was made tic following morning. This time the scone was with Sam Woods, known in Xcw Zealand by pioturogoers as one of the foremost M.CM. directors. who made 'Hookies.' 'Bluebeards Righth Wife.' and other pictures. Dale describes him as a charming man. very patient and understanding. Arnold was again the en morn man, and he gave the Dnuedin girl every benefit from his fund of knowledge of screen work. For the next test Dale was in a scene with Jiininie Murray. King Vidor's find, who has his fust 'starring parts in 'The Crowd' and 'Hose Marie.' "He is a very handsome attractive boy. and this time f took quite an intelligent interest in the kiss which 1 had to bestow," writes Dale. "I quite enjoyed acting this scene, but when it came to 'close-ups' of me. portraying various emotions. 1 felt, dreadful. dazing right into the camera, trying to look sad and angry, was a dreadful task-, and f felt just' hopeless. With all the men looking mi and everybody waiting, it was really an ordeal, and I knew that T hadn't done very well." These scenes with others are included in the picture depicting Dale's arrival and adventures in "Movie Land," which is expected in New Zealand at anv time now.

What novel things would :i New Zealand "ill ilo in Amorioa'? Hale Austen had io make a selection for incorporating in her own picture, and she decided on "hot doe," traffic signals, eating with a fork, shoe cleaning by a bootblack, and having a haircut in a barber's shop with men undergoing tonsorial decoration in the neighbouring chairs. When she returned to the studio that afternoon she was shown her test on the screen, and was relieved * o find that she had "registered" quite well, and did not look so hideous as she had imagined she would appear. The M.O.M. people seemed quite pleased with the (est. Visits to the hi"' theatres and meetiue' famous people in the screen land have been sandwiched between work by .Miss New Zealand, who has become acquainted with Tim McCoy. Ramon Navarro (whom she likes best of all the stars'). (!wen Leo, William Haines. doorgo K. Arthur. Karl Dane, the romantic John (iilbert. Renoe Adoree (who expressed a desire to make a return trip to Australia). Lew Cody (who displayed none of his villany off the screen), and Dorothy Sebastian (a rising star). At the TTal Roach studio Dale met ••Our Oang." a good tetnpered band of youngsters. willing to have their photographs taken in any attitude or set tine. A o'u) was wanted to play in one of Stan Laurel's comedies, and tin' M/J.M. people thought that it would be good experience for Miss Austen. as their pictures were not starting >n production for another week or two. She had to take a "Sadie Thompson" character, and was dressed in a very tiijht-fit tiny black satin frock. with white boots, many bracelets ami handbags dangling. "I did niv best with Stan Laurel and Sam Hardy." she write-. "They ate a wonderful contrast. Stan Laurel is a little rather wizened Cockney, and Hardy is ihe highest and fattest of men. i did my host with the part, but the director said it was most unsuitable for me. as | coilldn'l hope to lie as 'tough' as the part demanded.'" .After describing her motor trips of the district and the visits to picture theatres, dinner panics, and cafes. Dale reports that her party lias moved to an apartment nearer (o Culver City than the Hotel Roosevelt. She describes it So ._'-It is a duckr little place, with

nun of those small kitchens that has evervthin" in labour savin" dc\ic?s and 'all sorts of cute utensils for cookiim. The bathroom is a symphom i„ white (at least, that is how we describe it), and the sitting room anil dininu alcove are very dainty and comfortable in grey and rose. There are certainly wonderful apartment houses, and we begin to understand why so many people here prefer living in apartments.' - ... ji.^::