RUSH TO SEE TALKIE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20724, 18 November 1930, Page 9

RUSH TO SEE TALKIE.

SEA CAPTAIN'S INTEREST. ACTOR AS SANDWICHMAN. LONDON, Nov. 12. Hearing that the film "Windjammers" was featuring his former ship, the Grace Harwar, Captain K. G. Svensson, now master of a small motor-ship, rushed his ship from Holland to England to sec the picture.

Talkies are a complete novelty with Captain Svensson. His interest in them was sympathetically intensified when he met Charles Levey, a sandwichman parading outside tho theatre, in which his voice as impersonator of the master of the Grace Harwar echoed each evening.

Captain Svensson condoled with Levey, who was formerly the hero of numbers of plays.

The film critic of the Evening Standard, writing recently, said: "One of the bestknown character actors in British films — a, man who has appeared in more pictures inndo in this country than any other artist —has been forced by circumstances not of his contriving to become a sandwichman. Ho will now, in this capacity, "cover" the districts which include many of the cinemas on the screens of which his features have been seen so often. He is Charles Levey (born O'Shaughnessy), grandson of a celebrated Irish composer and brother of the Three Sisters Levey, former "stars" of tlio music halls.

Film-goers have seen Levey's bearded, kindly face and tall athletic figure in 100 different minor roles. Ho has been farmer rajah, Beefeater, high priest and country gentleman.. He was the benevolent old gardener in "Kitty," the steady-eyed captain of tho sailing ship "Grace Harwar," tho Sultan of Turkey in "Balaclava," and (lie Rabbi in "Teslia." It is impossible to recapitulate all tho films in which he has appeared ; but among the most popular (in addition to those already mentioned) have been "Atlantic." "Tho Ring," "The Farmer's Wife," "Piccadilly," and "High Treason."

Mr. Levey was a stage actor for 2G years, during which lie played leading parts in such plays as "Tho Silver King" and "The Prisoner of Zenda." and was a film actor for 10 years. Until a year or so ago he was in constant employment. Then tho "talkio" boom brought British production to a virtual standstill, and although he has played in several talking films, his engagements have grown fewer and fewer. He has had to sleep in Salvation Army shelters and sometimes in the public parks. His evening dress was sold months ago, and he has had to hire it when required from the man to whom lie sold it.