HOLLYWOOD REVEALED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20762, 3 January 1931, Page 9 (Supplement)

HOLLYWOOD REVEALED.

ENGLISH COUPLE'S VIEWS.

AN EXCELLENT TRAVEL BOOK-

Hollywood, seen through tho eyes of two very ordinary people, is claimed to ho tho subject matter of a book, " Star Dust in Hollywood," written by Jan and Cora Gordon. This i 3 correct for the most part, except in its referenco to " ordinary people." Mr. and Mrs. Gordon may be, as they say, ordinary people, but there is nothing ordinary in tho clear way in which tliey havo seen through the glitter and dazzlo of America's picture city, or in tho delightfully charming manner in which they havo written their book. Arriving in Hollywood at tho end of a motor tour of tho United States, this young English couplo spent several months in tho bungalow city of Hollywood, and they were able to seo a great deal of tho working and private life of screen celebrities. The experiences and observations which they havo set down are indubitably stamped as the work of the born raconteur, and the frankness and candour of their conclusions makes tho book a very convincing work. Tho production of a picture, tho art of make-up, tho armies of extras, oi screen writers, of electricians, and others who help in tho construction of every film, all occupy their place in the story. Tho vices and scandals which rumour attaches to everything which attains fame arc scrupulously analysed, and tho authors havo hidden nothing. On tho contrary they have been frank in speaking their minds, and while they have proved much of tho rumour to ho false, they have described honestly and truthfully the inner workings of the film city. They tell many stories of screen aspirants—"of tho thousands of beautiful girls who havo invaded Hollywood in search •of fame and fortune, have found that beauty is a glut on the-market, and are, now to bo seen filling positions as waitresses in the restaurants where tho moro fortunate (ako a snack during the rush of studio work. One of the paragraphs is worth quoting: "Twenty thousand extras, but work for one thousand at tho utmost. . , . * Some 'day,' each thinks, ' I shall catch the director's eye.' But. alas! the casting bureau has them in its firm grip. On its sheets, more remorseless than those of the Recording Angel—since the casting bureau clerk never drops _ a tear, though she might drop Iter lipstick—each extra Is immutably fixed in ni3 position. He is ticketed and labelled. A goodlooking young Englishman, a captain during the war, has once made a f.iccess as a valet. Henceforth and for ever he is to be a valet." In addition to (1m foregoing, and to meetings with people like Adolphe Men-

ion Betty Conipson and her husband, .Tames Orir/.e, the director, Douglas Fairbanks and Buster Koaton, tlio book deals with such outside subjects as the architectural beauties of Hollywood, its litciarv and recreational lite and its freak reiicrions, chief of which they consider the Four Square Gospel preached with commercial assiduity by Mrs. Aimeo AlcFhersori. r ~ Altogether tlio book is ono of widespread" interest, and tlio clever etchings and sketches by tho authors are a valuable addition. "Star Dust in Hollywood," by Jnn and Cora Gordon (ltnrrnp).