PERSONAL TOUCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20851, 18 April 1931, Page 11 (Supplement)

PERSONAL TOUCH.

NO LOSS ON SCREEN. CHEVALIER IN LONDON. It is left for a woman correspondent «f an English film magazine to cast a jrevealing light upon the effect of personal tours by screen idols. After Maurice Chevalier paid his visit to London at the close of last year, the correspondent yvrote as follows: —

" The tumult and the shouting has iied. Chevalier has gone, and another notion has been exploded. Every filmlover h;jra that friend who dislikes pictures, and who brings forth long dissertations on the lack of personal touch, the .Superiority of the real over the machine, put what ''an effete argument it is! " For 5s 9d I sat in the gallery to .Bee Chevalier, and, .with the aid of muchehared glasses, managed to catch a glimpse of his famous smile, but a thousand little' gestures were lost, and only by reason of his excellent diction could ;we hear, though even in that huge theatre the charm of the man was apparent. " Now, as a contrast, I paid sixpence to see * The Love Parade.' Being in f. front seat, I heard every word, and )each little / aside and expression seemed to be directed to me alone. The screen personality/ was much more real than the ftage one, and at what a difference in .jcost!

Again, I saw Ch6valier at the Albert Pall. , Hq gave of his very best, but it was cruel to have made him sing. His voice was. hoarse with cold, and one had the fueling he should have been in bed, with an aspirin and a hot drink. 'That is not the feeling one should ever Entertain toward a famous star.

" On the screen a scene is shot many )imes. The cutting-room floor may be strewn -with film, directors may be wilfc-

•Ing, actors iriay be passing out, but tho nlmost perfect sceno will bo shown to the public. Thero is no clianco of the acting bc/ing off. colour or tired or weary •—another advantage) the film-goer has .jover the theatre-goer.

" This .does not mean Chevalier was A disappointment; considering the material ho had to work with bo completed a superhuman task; but it does show that not one whit, of charm is Inst, voice distorted by the talking machine."