Myrna Loy's New Roles

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22444, 13 June 1936, Page 16 (Supplement)

Myrna Loy's New Roles

Leading Comedienne SEVEN YEARS OF SCREEN VILLAINY After playing "heavy" roles in. pictures for seven years, Myrna Loy suddenly delighted film patrons by appearing as the model (screen) wife. That was in "The Thin Man." Since then she has continued to play domestic characters with a charm and naivete far removed from her old roles. Her fascinating, slightly slanting eyes, inevitably assigned her to "alluring" parts.

AS a child, Myrna Loy went with her mother to California. After graduating from college she studied dancing under some of the best teachers in America, for in her Myrna's mother envisaged a great dancer. But fate, in the person of the beautiful Natacha Rambova, intervened. Natacha Rambova was then the wife Of Rudolph Valentino. At that time the voung Italian was at theheight of his fame. One night he visited Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles then as now, the recognised place jr those extravagant premieres so beloved of Hollywood. Myrna was dancing in the ballet and Rudolph was introduced to Struck by her beauty, he introduced her to Natacha, who was selecting a cast for her production, What Price Beautv?" Natacha, too, saw possibilities in the girl, and gave her a good part in the production. . Unfortunately, she also discovered that Myrna could be made up to resemble a half-caste, and that became o handicap which pursued the girl tor seven years. Myrna could never persuade casting directors that she could play /any other roles than those or slinking women. Although on the screen she played the most undesirable of character parts Myrna lived very quietly during those seven years of screen villainy. She made no attempt to carry into

film Myrna Loy reached the top. She became one of the screen's leading comediennes and heroines. Her services were in demand by all producers at the Metro-Goldwyn-Maver studios, and were constantly requested by other companies. After making "Evelyn Prentice," "Wings in the Dark," and "Broadway Bill, she took a long vacation in Europe, lier first in many years. Now, she is back at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, resuming her career. She has just completed "Wife v. Secretary," in which she appears with Clark Gable and Jean Harlow. She is also appearing with William Powell and Luise Kaincr in "The Great Zicgficld," and with Robert Montgomery in "Petticoat Fever."

ker private life the glamour of her film roles. Indeed, the only reputation that she Won in the film colony was that of a good cook! Her first opportunity to break away from such parts came when Rouben Mamoulinn offered her a small comedy role in "Love Me To-uiglit.". She was not keen on the role, but at least it gave her smart modern clothes and a chance to speak pure English. But ,tlie man who gave her a real chance to show what she could do with a modern role was 15. H. Griffithes. Assigned to direct "The Animal Kingdom," with Leslie Howard and Ann Harding starred, he faced the difficulty ol finding an actress who could portray a wife whoi used unorthodox methods to hold her husband's affections. He offered Myrna Loy the role, and it proved a turning point in her fortunes. There was, however, another man in Hollywood who knew her possibilities. He was Irving Thalberg, Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer's star-maker, and he had just previously placed her under contract. Following her success in "The Animal Kingdom" he assigned her'the leading feminine role in "Penthouse.'' opposite Warner Baxter. The film was directed by W. S. van Dyke, the man ■who was eventually to complete her reformation. Following "Penthouse" the team of Loy and Van Dyke were associated in the production of "Every Woman's Man," the boxing picture ,which starred Max Bacr and Primo Carnera.' All this led, inevitably, to The [Thin Man." With the release of this