HOLLYWOOD PARTIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 14 March 1939, Page 8

HOLLYWOOD PARTIES

When Hollywood stars gather at informal parties, they don’t exactly "talk shop,” but very often they see each | other's films. In fact, often a busy star never sees a fellow player's pictures ex- ! cept at one of the "picture parties” of 'the screen capital. An evening at the home of Joan ; Crawford and Franchot Tone almost invariably means a picture after dinner, j They have a little theatre, with both ! stage and projection room, which can seat about fifty guests. Less, frequent, but fully as interesting, are the occasions when William Powell shows a picture. He. too. has a complete projection room with modern I sound. Janet Gaynor also has a home I projection room. Films are borrowed by stars for such private showings, through their studios, or. in many cases, through Danny Gray, chief film editor at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. who docs a regular exchange business booking pictures for not only the stars at his studio, but many others. 'lt is a friendly service he is glad to give. Marion Davies’ theatre, in her Santa Monica Beach home, is an elaborate affair, with most modern equipment, and almost every night pictures are ; shown when she is home. Gloria Swanson's home is equipped with a standard projector; Mary Pickford has a complete installation: Warner Baxter's i home has a projection room. Others i w-ith home theatres are Fred Astaire. Ginger Rogers. Ronald Colman. Tyrone Power. Miriam Hopkins. Constance Bennett. Claudette Colbert and Katharine Hepburn. All have been loaned films ! by Gray. Robert Taylor. Wallace Gecry. James | Stew art and Jean Hersholt show pictures at home. too. but only their own productions. All are amateur camera enthusiasts. Beery and Clark Gable film action during their hunting trips. Gable has made a complete feature of a cougar hunt on 16 millimeter film. Stewart made an all-colour feature. How Talkies Arc Made." during the making of "Of Human Hearts.” when he filmed all the details of the work of production. Beery has a number of exquisite colour effects made by himself in the Sierras in 16 millimeter, and also has some films of his recent European trip, as well as many hunting scenes. Hersholt has filmed complete travelogues of his trips to Denmark, which he personally edited and titled Pete Smith, “unseen star.” has a nrojeetion room at Palm Springs, when he goes there to meditate on a new commentary for Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer short subjects. Mervyn Lo Roy. Harry Rapf. Howard Hughes are others, connected with the screen aside from acting, who have their own projection rooms in their homes. These are largely for business, seeing “rushes,” current pictures, or tests.