A KING OF THE MOVIES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19455, 14 October 1937, Page 13

A KING OF THE MOVIES

New Stories by Samuel Goldwyn

MANY stories are told about Mr. Samuel Golchvyn, who, at 53, is one of the biggest influences in the motion picture world. His tortured English has sent laughter echoing around the world. He has become a byword for lavish spending, wild enthusiasm, temperamental outbursts, and insatiable publicityhunting. Now a book has been written about him—“ The Great Goldwyn,” by Mr. Alva Johnston, and it is quite the liveliest ever inspired by motion pictures, glittering from the first page to the last. The reader begins by laughing at Mr. Goldwyn, denouncing him as a symbol of all that is wrong with moving pictures. In the end Mr. Goldwyn wears him down. You still laugh, but with tolerance, almost affection; and if you thank heaven you do not work for Sam you cannot help reflecting that those who do must have a lot of fun. The biggest stars, the most brilliant directors, are none too good for Mr. Goldwyn, but his special pets are writers. Writers, he says, are the real stars in film-making. He paid £32,000 for “Dodsworth,” £33,000 for “Dead End.” He has just given Ben Hecht a contract for £IOOO a week. He claims he has the finest writing team on earth. If Shakespeare were alive to-day, says Mr. Johnston, Mr. Goldwyn would have him on the pay-roll, perhaps with benefit to some of the bad plays like “Pericles” and “Troilus and Cressida.”

“We can get all the Indians we need at the Reservoir.” “I have been laid up with intentional ’flu.” “You’re always taking the bull between the teeth.” “A verbal contract’s not worth the paper it’s writton on.” “I’d be sticking my head into a moose.” (On a sun-dial being explained): “My, what XYill they think of next?” To a man who said, “What beautiful hands your wife has!”) “Yes, I’m going