Freddie’s Aunt

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19371, 8 July 1937, Page 13

Freddie’s Aunt

TN Freddie Bartholomew’s case, his * Aunt Millicent is responsible for his success. It was she who first discerned his acting abilities: and she who developed them, and found his screen engagements. She gave up all her time for him, only to meet rebuffs which would have dispirited nine people out of ten. She paid visit after visit to London, going up from Wiltshire. But there was not much for him. He was too young, and English laws forbid the engagement of children. Nevertheless, she succeeded in getting him into one or two pictures, despite the legal ban. Then came the great chance when he was tested for “David Coppcrfield,” to be made in Hollywood.' Once again, though, there were legal difficulties. Freddie was turned down simply because it was illegal for him to be taken out there to work. So Aunt Millicent took a big chance. She got together all the money she could, and took Freddie for a holiday in America. She arrived there to find that another boy was being considered for the part. But she managed to persuade the company to give j Freddie another interview. Inquiries were made, and it was found that it | was quite legal for him to be engaged,