FILM TESTS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3843, 7 December 1936, Page 2

FILM TESTS

HOW 14,997 YOUTHFUL ASPIRANTS FAILED. Parents everywhere harbour the secret thought that their Mary could be as “cute” on the screen as Shirley Temple, or that Johnny would put Freddie Bartholomew to shame. Yet for three months, a Hollywood director and his assistants have been searching for youngsters between the ages of ten and fourteen to portray roles in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” More than 15,000 children have been interviewed, but only--125 were considered suitable for screen tests. Of the tests, only three were saved for further consideration. William Wellman, the director, explains how or why 14,997 hopeful Tom Sawyers and Huckleberry Finns fell by the wayside. “Size ruled out forty per cent. Fifty per cent, more were dropped on general appearance. “At this stage, the survivors underwent closer inspection on physical details alone. Ten major’ defects took a toll of forty-seven per cent, of those left. They were:“Misshapen or extremely badly spaced teeth, the largest single physical defect. Ten per cent, of the survivors lost here. “A short upper lip, which gave the child an unattractive smile. This eliminated three per cent. “Eyes too close together. Six per cent failed in that regard. “Swarthy skin, lending a foreign touch —one per cent. “Hairline too low to make a finely balanced face—two per cent. “Poor posture, flat chests, drooping shoulders—five per cent. “Defects in speech, such as stam-mering-five per cent. “Ears too large—four per cent. “Oddly shaped noses three per cent.” With this chart in hand fond mothers and fathers should take another look at their offspring.