Screen and Stage

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27358, 6 April 1950, Page 4

Screen and Stage

By JAXON

“ SIR BUTCH ” OF HOLLYWOOD

It was just 15 years since Sir Cedric Hardwicke journeyed to Hollywood to make his American debut in ’’ Becky Sharp,” at the RKO Studio. Today Sir Cedric remains in title, dress, bearing and habit the very model of a model English actor. But the impeccable speech and natty suits serve merely as a facade, behind which lurks the soul of a prankster and the practised wit of a cultured man. For, if his years of commuting to California film stages have failed to establish him as a star in the public mind, his gentle jests have long since made him a favourite at every studio. When he arrived there in 1934, his brightest assets were his reputation gained in many of George Bernard Shaw’s plays and his new title, which had been conferred in January of that year. He had played in British films since 1931, when he made his initial appearance in “ Dreyfus,” but his fame, then as now, rested more on the boards than the screen. Nothing he has done in the intervening years has tarnished the reputation of a solid craftsman, although his title has suffered a slight transformation in the mouths of studio workers, who refer to him affectionately as “ Butch.” The stories of Sir Cedric in Cinemaland would fill many a column, but a few sentences picked at random will indicate why his presence is regarded with pleasure.

On his contribution to the films: “I am the man who brought this industry to its knees singlehandedly.” On his romantic prowess off the screen:

I’ve broken up hundreds of marriages. As a result, my Christmas mail consists largely of cards from grateful husbands. ’ On ‘travelling: "You can’t begin to see a city until you’ve completed all the sightseeing. As for Paris, the best view of that city is from the top of the Eiffel Tower, because from there you can’t see the Eiffel Tower.” On hearing of a California couple who were to be married on roller skates: ” Things like this resign me to the thought of death." On the difference between a good and a bad director: "A. bad director asks you what you are doing; a good one asks, • What are you thinking? ’ ” On the possibilities of his becoming a film director, his answer is longer and less flippant. He confesses he would like to direct a picture, but is perhaps the only man anywhere in the world who

adds the qualification, ” I’m not sure I’m not suit me,” he says. First of all. a producer can get someone to do that, someone who has already done it. I tea Jy see no chance of my being allowed to direct a film my way. I would w ,L n \he be a director in the stage sense of th word, and be in complete charge ot the entire project, without having to defer to the producer, the front ®L the others who infringe on the dilector s processes in Hollywood. It would be na difficult to assemble a group of film oeople who would want to experiment. P A P constant traveller between London, New York and Hollywood, Sir Cedric £as no home, but lives m. hotels, which en ables him to describe himself as a strolling player.” Reticent about his private affairs he talks chiefly about his so*] 1 Edward, who attends school in England When the boy recently hinted that he might like a stage career, Sir Cedric ad vised him. "Don’t become an:actoi. Theie are too many good ones. Why don t y° u enter politics where there s no competi Edward is the central figure in Hardwicke’s best Shaw story. He took his son then quite young to see the pla> wri’ght The boy was well behaved while tlie two men Concluded their business. At its close, Shaw walked over to Edward. Shook lus hand and said ” Young man in years to come you 11 be pioud to tell your friends that one day. you shook hands with George Bernard Shaw—and your friends will say. Who the hell is GeorHe Bernard Shaw? _ . - Adding up his 15 years in and ou Hollywood Sir Cedric claims he has re ceived more than he has given. When pressed for details, he replies characterlstically, " I’ve been oveipaid and unaei worked/' *

The world premiere of the Austlalian ballet ’’ Corroboree ” will be given by the National Ballet Company of Melbourne In its Sydney season, which begins oA June 30 y Joyce Graeme formerly of the Ballet Rambert, will diiect the company. „

Outstanding new film of 1950 is ‘‘Morning Departure,” a tense drama about a submarine which strikes a loose, mure In the Channel, writes our Lond °£ IH c '^ r< L spondent. Many critics are saying it is the most moving film since In Which We Serve ” and are handing out lavish verbal bouquets to the star, John Mills. Two more fine British pictures ju- - . leased are ’’ Madeleine and Angel with a Trumpet.”

The beautiful blonde bead °f Hollywood film star Virginia Mayo has become the target in a ... n 1 f w fil ® t ° r S 11 dios has blown up in British film studio*-. Miss Mayo has been in England for several weeks playing opposite Gregoiy Peck in the British-made Warner Bio thers’ film version of “Captain Hornblower ” She has already had a taste of British technicians’ hostility. As soon as she arrived they made no sect et that they regard her as a ‘ ring-m. me same fate is in store for Irene Dunne. Miss Dunne is booked as the American film star to play British Q uee ? Victoria in another British-made Amencan mm. “Mudlarks.” Both actresses are in Dutch" with British actors and film technicians’ unions because they have got jobs which could have been taken by first grade British film stars. British Actors’ Equity claims that in the case of Miss Mayo they submitted a long list of potential players. It contained many names of star status , but they were passed over without being tested Even those who had a screen test Jater dis covered that it was a cover as Miss Mayo already was under contract for the part.

Save your cash is the advice to Hollywood stars by actor Jean Hersholt, who is head of the Hollywood Relief Fund Said he: "I do not believe more than 12 of our big names would enjoy financial security if their careers were cut short tomorrow."

Film stars will soon be able to get caught in more convincing rain showers than of yore. Gone are the old overhead stationary sprinklers. At Paramount the equipment consists of a series of motoidriven rotary sprinklers suspended over the set The rotating motion throws the water so that it falls in a rain-like spray.

Although he is one of the first stars eligible for a retirement pension alter long service with M-G-M, veteran favourite William Powell has no intention of retiring. “ I am not geared for retirement. ’ Powell said after he had completed “ Dancing in the Dark.” ’’ I tried a full-dress rehearsal of it in 1930 during a three-months’ vacation on the French Riviera—and I was never so bored in my life. 1 have no hobbies, no manual talents, and I am strictly a spectator at soorts. So I will stick to the screen as long as the screen will tolerate me."

Bettv Grable and her dance-band-leader husband, Harry James, may soon be seen together on the screen. The actress, now before the cameras in Twentieth Centur.vFox s " Mv Blue Heaven." has asked her studio to look out for a story suitable for a joint appearance. Script writers are already at work on James's own life story, with its background of his early days in a circus.

The president of the Zenith Radio Corporation, Mr Eugene McDonald, has given details of " phonevision ’’—a new American television device. He said that the device could be attached to any television set It would cost about 10 dollars and would enable the viewer to see on his private television screen films showing in his town’s cinemas. Mr McDonald said: “ You will call a central operator, give your telephone number and your choice of the pictures being shown that night. Your telephone bill will include a charge of about one dollar for the screening." Mr McDonald said that ' phonevision ’’ would save the film industry financially, unless " somebody fumbles the ball.”