PAID TO INSULT

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1934, Page 20 (Supplement)

PAID TO INSULT

QUEEI HOLLYWOOD JOB. FREAK OF GREAT MOVIE COLONY. Hollywood is a strange place—full of queer customs, unusual people—and freaks. There is. no other place like it in the world. There, millionaire movie stars out-of-work extras, film-struck chorus girls, confidence men and gangsters go to make up the most intriguing and outlandish metropolis to be found in civilised countries. Not the least among its freakish inhabitants is one Vince Barnett, professional “ribber.” In English this simply means that he makes a living out of making other people miserable and uncomfortable. There is the woman who makes a living selling spiders and spider-webs to the studios; there is the man whose services are always in demand because he can imitate the noises of various animals; but surely the man who goes about taking rises out of people for monetary gain wins first prize in the strange-calling competition! Americans much have a queer

sense of humour, for it seems that some of the notables in the film world find it. extremely funny to play callous, practical jokes on their friends and acquaintances. And when. they feel in this kind of playful mood they employ Vince Barnett to do the “insulting.” Some of the little “jokes” he has perpetrated are well worth relating. On one epic occasion, Raoul Walsh, director, brought him to a. party where four hundred .of Hollywood’s elite were gathered, masquerading as a head-waiter, he accused some of the guests of stealing the silver, others of drinking too much, and Charles Chaplin of “trying to attract attention.” Matters came to a head when Winston Churchill, the noted Englishman, was approached by Barnett and told to take his arm away from the back of the chair on which a young lady sat. “We have rooms upstairs for that,” he told the astonished visitor. Only the timely intervention of the host prevented Barnett from being thrown out on his head. At another party Maurice Chevalier was made the fool. Barnett was once again in the role of butler. As he took the cocktails and other drinks around to the guests, he purposely missed the Frenchman on each occasion. When Maurice grew desperate and' followed the butler about endeavouring to reach a glass from the tray. Barnett would draw it away. A scene followed in which the bogus butler openly upbraided Chevalier for drinking too heavily. On another occasion Barnett attended one of Norma Shearers parties in the guise of a big business man from the East. When the hostess ventured an opinion on a business matter, Barnett told her to mind her own business. “Housewives shouldn’t discuss business,” he told her. “If you paid attention to your house it wouldn’t look so awful.” The indignant servants threw. Barnett out of the house. In each -of these cases Barnett was paid to do the insulting by someone who thought it worth while to discomfort the victims. A VERSATILE ARTIST ■ FROM DRAMA TO MUSICAL. For the second time within a few months Constance Bennett appears as chief contender for the title of Hollywood’s most versatile star. After establishing herself in popularity as a dramatic artist, Connie surprised her fans by stepping into a new medium and scoring a hit in “Moulin Rouge,” her first film under her new contract with Joseph M. Schenck ano Darryl Zanuck’s 20th Century Pictures. Although this was her first musical picture it proved to be one of her biggest successes. With the applause of that effort still ringing in her ears, she now ventures into the field of romantic comedy in “The Affairs of Cellini,” in which she is co-starred with Fredric March. With this picture Connie achieves a distinction that has fallen to no other out-: standing star in the dramatic film field. Hollywood tradition seems to requite that " a star who wins success in drama, i comedy or musical' pictures remain thereafter in that category. Constance Bennett, however, has been able to make the transition that embraces the whole entertainment cycle. “The Affairs of Cellini” will be released by United Artists. ANOTHER BOXER STAR JACK DOYLE FOR 8.1. P. Jack Doyle, one of the best looking fighters who ever stepped into an English ring, has signed a contract with 8.1. P. to become a film star. His first film will be “Radio Parade of 1935.” He will play the part of a lift-man who is discovered to be the possessor of a fine voice, and he is, of course, brought to the microphone. He will then play “ McGlusky” in the film version of A. G. Hale’s book “McGlusky the Sea Rover,” —which just suits his rugged personality. It is doubtful if any man on the screen to-day has such a fine body and splendid physique as Jack Doyle, the screen’s newest type of lover. He is due to start work at the studio this week. His tests have proved excellent, and. a great film career is predicted for him by 8.1. P. experts. His career as a boxer has been one of the most colourful of any rno d"«— • c -' ki —