HOLLYWOOD TENDENCY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21580, 26 August 1933, Page 10 (Supplement)

HOLLYWOOD TENDENCY

ENGLISH ACTORS PREFERRED .;.' ' ' t GRETA GARBO FILM It has been announced that Laurence Olivier, the English. actor who made a success/in "The Rats of Norway" at the Playhouse Theatre, has defin-; itely been engaged by the Metrq-Gold-wyn-Mayer Film Corporation to-play opposite Greta Garbo in hor next picture, " Queen Christina." To play opposite Miss Garbo is the heighir of every young leading man's ambition, and it is only after a prolonged search that Mr. Olivier has j been given the role. Mr. Olivier, who i is 26, and is married to Jill has already.had Hollywood experience.; His pictures include " The Yellow; Passport" and "Perfect Understand-. ing.'' - ' ■» > The choice of an Englishman has, caused . much, comment in - Hollywood. Marlene Dietrich's last two leading 'men, for " The Blonde Venus" and "Song of Songs," have both been English —Herbert Marshall 1 and Brian Aherne respectively; and Mary,, Pickford, for " Secrets," insisted on Leslie Howard. The conviction is growing in Hollywpod that when a romantic leading man is wanted none but Englishmen need apply..; t V j Hollywood's dismay is only equalled by its astonishment at the nonchalance with which its prize roles are accepted or refused. When Mr. Aherne played opposite Miss Dietrich in. "Song of Songs," and by all accounts made a great success —the picture has not been seen here yet—it was naturally assumed that, he would jump at one of the Cohtracts temptingly dangled before him.. It was even suggested that he might be next leading man to Miss Garbo'. Mr. Aherne politely replied that he had agreed to play in " Wild Decembers" in London, and departed with a 'sangfroid which Hollywood found superb. .