Girls of Whom The Studios Expect Great Things

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18991, 16 April 1936, Page 13

Girls of Whom The Studios Expect Great Things

CjEFOEE another decade has passed, D .most of tiic names which arc up : pearing in a blaze, of glory outside picture theatres will bo there no /longer. ", - ' The producers themselves do ntil feel indifferent about the lessor role:. In a picture. Knowing how eompara.lively short,tne film life of an actress : is.-they take good care to. note every .performer, however insignificant her part:-because pictures must go on, ami potential stars* have to be nursed and : groomed and trained in the nurseries of the film colonies until they are ieaay to shine.;" What names will,fill .'.the columns oi motion picture magazines' a few years hence?'Who will bo receiving all t»e ."fan "mail? Who will be the envy of half the girls in. the world} Who will dwell in the line homes of 111 inland; give the largest parties; be feted and adored by millions'*. Who will be Written up in dazzling lights'*

Every picture company hus its group of "starlets"—lovely, talented young women—favoured by the gods and the film magnates. Theirs will not bei the hard road 'which pioneers in talking pictures have had to take Not for them the ."anxiety incurred by Changing over from "silents" to "talkies.'/ They cannot fail because they were badly made-up; because their dialogue was badly recorded; because they were unbecomingly dressed. Everyone in the trade now is an artist at his work, and from the very beginning of their career skilled people will make the best of them and enable them to have a fair deal. They have every chance to benefit through the failures of others. In a Brttirth "Nursery." Outstanding in a British "nursery," is Nova Pilbeanf. Still in her early 'teens she has just delighted London Sir James Brirric—.•with her '''astonishing performance in "Peter Pan." At the same time, her picture audiences have hailed her as, a lem&rkahle girl because of her portrayal of the unfortunate Lady Jane Grey in the title role of her latest flini.

la an elaborate musical romance from Jlotlywood,' "Coronado," an experiment .haa< been tried. There is » famous dance band, a famous director. expensive" sets, and flacks of lovely dancing girls. But there -is an unknown feminine leadi- Betty, Burucss is an absolute outsider for all her prettinoss and cleverness. »She is an 18-ynar-otd Los Angeles High school girl, had never scon a motion picture camera before she stepped on the "Co ronado" sot. " She was awarded the lead ■ after tests had been given to 40 girls, and. the result of the breakaway will be interesting to see.

* Tn Jean Parker, Ann Loring. Cecilia P|ar'kc£, Irene Horvcy # . Lorraine Bjridges, and Jean Chatburn. another American comoany has a charming ;*extot of youthful feminine candidates lor high screen honours.

'* Of them; four have already played leading roles, the most experienced being Jean. Parker, whose work in "Sequoia."'"Murder in the Fleet." and other recent pictures has brought ier.well into public favour. i Next ■Mines Cecilia Parker, whose RetingHi "Ah, Wilderness," has won 'pffifi-'frroi'tle'e'rlties:' "

Found in Talent Contest. Ann ■ Lnring was discovered during a "talent contest iii New York, her home town, and signed a contract. Immediately she arrived in Hollywood executives were ho impressed with her possibilities that, they gave her the leading role opposite Warner Baxter in "Robin Hood of Eldorado"—a triumph for a girl with no previous experience.

Jean Chatburn stinted her career as a "stand-in"" for Barbara Stanwyck. After tiny roles in several pictures, .she has been given a fairly important vole in "Tito Great Zicgfcld," with the promise of more for the future. Looking for the stars of to-morrow, other executives have singled out three lovely and very promising young actresses, whom they confidently be : :icvc will develop into big box-ollice personalities.""'All still under the age of 2.1, Helen Wood, Astrid Alhvyn, end June Lung have had a thorough grounding in picture-making by worknig ill numerous small parts of all types. Astrid Alhvyn arrived in Holly-vb'od in 1931, and appeared in smaU, unimportant roles. One of these attracted the attention of director Frank Lloyd, who. gave her> a part in "Servants' Entrance." Since then she has played in numeroiisi other parts, all of increasing importance, until to-day she is one of tho busiest young actresses in Hollywood.

Helen Wood's beauty put her in the chorus, but her brains took her 0114; of