HOLLYWOOD IN PERSON.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 579, 8 October 1932, Page 24 (Supplement)

HOLLYWOOD IN PERSON.

(By MOLLIE MERRICK.)

HOLLYWOOD, September 5. Chaplin's Plans. Charles Chaplin is busy getting- a staff together for his next picture venture. He will not play a part in it but figures that he can give the world the perfect talking picture. The comedian. feels that he can do the same thin- for the new film art as he did for silent films. Chaplin reanimated the silent technique with _“ W oman ot Paris ”, a picture presenting Edna Purviarfce and Adolphe Menjou in unforgettable roles. Chaplin’s Youth Rcalled. What memories crowded through Charles Chaplin’s mind as he sat in Court battling to keep his children from the screen? Back of his statement, “ I want them to be happy, normal children,” is the recollection of his own sordid boyhood. The worldfamous comedian, who is seeking to keep Charles, jun., aged six, and Sydney Earl, aged five, from the screen (and 10,000 dollars each they will earn for the work), jigged for pennies on the street-corners of London slums. Those pennies went to keep body and | soul together in a haphazard fashion for himself and his mother. The little boy lived in continuous fear that the authorities would take the sick woman away from him, so his life was a wretched progression from basement room to base ment room where his tiny, halfstarved little self cooked for her and tended her when his street entertaining was done. That same little boy was doing six and eight turns a day in the Lion and Crown inn before he was any size at all, and his devotion

to his half-brother Sydney dates back to that day when the older Chaplin came home from a sea voyage and found little Charlie making the heartbreaking fight to keep his mother with him against the grisly handicap of poverty in London’s Limehouse. Charles Chaplin says that he doesn’t want the “ spiritual handicap ” of picture work for his children while they are so young. When he says that, he knows of what he speaks; but few in the jammed Courtroom were aware of the youthful background of the little grey-haired man with the faun-like eyes, a grey flannel overcoat hunched over his shoulders, grey muffler up about his throat and, sometimes, a grey look of defeat across the face that has kept a world in hilarious laughter. British Films’ Progress. Roland Young, who has made pictures in the British studios ‘this summer, is back on the United Artists lot for “ The New Yorker.” Ilis commentary on the British-made product leads us to believe that there is great hope for the success of the industry in the British Isles during the coming year. Pictures have been made with far finer technical finish, clearer film and more perfect lighting than pictures made there previously, according to Young. Alexander Korda, who directed in Hollywood for some time, is the acknowledged genius of direction in England to-day, according to Roland Young. One of Korda’s successes here was “ Helen of Troy,” which starred his wife, Maria Korda. Frederic March is Young’s choice as the most capable actor in Hollywood to-day (mine, too), and a film in which March and Sylvia Sidney appear together, Young considers the best thing made during his absence from Hollywood. The Newest Star. It was difficult to arrange an interview with Hollywood's newest star. It took the persuasion of his manager, his publicity man and his producer to make him face the Press. Rin-Tin-Tin, jun., yawned heavily and dropped into a comfortable position' when presented to me. The casual glance of appraisement he granted me was without a complimentary light; but I knew how to act about that —I had interviewed Marlene Dietrich—and here, one lives and learns. I tried to keep from the banal, but immediately dropped into that timehonoured old bromide: “How does it feel to be a star, Mr Rin-Tin-Tin? ” Rin-Tin-Tin, jun., eyed his manager, who nodded approval to the question, and laid a paw alongside an ear that Clark Gable might envy, and said:— “ I really feel no different to-day than I did yesterday or the day before; stardom is a matter of temperament and the heart. Producers do not give it to one. The public demand it and producers must yield to public demand. I have always been great ” “The great son of a great father?” I interpolated nervously. “ Great fiddlesticks,” said Rin-Tin-Tin. “ I consider being my father’s son a great handicap. Look at Douglas Fair-

banks, jun., and what Doug, senior’s reputation as a motion picture star has done for him. Nothing at all, unless to retard his progress. I am even sorry I bear my father’s name—it will be an artistic deterrent. My father was a great man; he made film history. I am potentially great, but, if I do not outdo my own parent, people will think I have done nothing. Another dog could have come in with a mere pleasing talent; I will have to show genius. My father was on the eve of a big come-back—this makes it harder for me —the public were all prepared to see the great Rin-Tin-Tin himself. My father’s long suit was closeups; he held his head magnificently for the camera and never flinched from the lights.” “ I understand you’ve been ‘ doubling ’ for your father for some time in long shots and action scenes. You should have picked up a great deal of the Rin-Tin-Tin technique by this time.” “That,” said Junior, “is one of those Hollywood stories that hasn’t a grain of truth in it, like the ridiculous rumours they circulate about Greta Garbo. My father never used a ‘ double ’ in his life, even for the most dangerous scenes. He leapt from the top of fastmoving trains and rushed into burning buildings; many a time he had to be taken to the hospital after these tremendous achievements, but he never condescended to have a ‘ double ’.” Such loyalty is admirable, even if not strictly veracious, but an interview is an interview and stars always speak for publication. I hastened on to finances, always interesting in these days of cut salaries. Finances brought another yawn from Rin-Tin-Tin. “ I am leaving all that to my manager. I have the same manager who takes care of Austen Parker and Miriam Hopkins and Claudette Colbert and, oh, a number of stars. I get three bones a day—and a ration of Hamburger. When other dogs try to borrow from me, I refer them to my manager. All the stars do that to protect themselves, chiefly about lending money. A man cannot lend what he hasn't got; and the manager pays all the bills, merely gives one enough to live on.” “ Is there any particular role you’d like to play? ” “ For the present I shall take what ; i s offered me: later on I’d like to do some character roles, and I’d also like , to direct a picture. Several of the stars have done that—Lionel Barry- : more and Ramon Novarro both have directed films, why not I ? ” “Who is your favourite film actor? ” Rin-Tin-Tin stretched his paws and “ Ay tank ay go home,” he said slowly, without another look in . my direction. Music to Return. If music is to return to pictures, producers are missing no opportunity of hearing all of the best singers. The . Hollywood Bowl concerts have had

their share of motion picture scouts ; and executives for all solo appearances. , All this is an indication that the Lawrence Tibbetts, Feodor Chaliapins and other big voices of the day will be back with us again—on the screen. Chaliapin’s picture is being made in Paris, and Lily Pons will possibly score a tremendous hit with film executives when she sings here as an event of the winter season. She has the beauty of a film star, the silhouette of a Paris mannequin and the voice of a great artist. Just an Extract. Here is a little extract from the biography of Irene Dunne: . . she rubs cucumbers on her face as a beauty lotion and likes to eat ice cream in bed: she dotes on buttermilk, wire-haired terriers and slinky white evening - gowns: she wears low heels . . blue ; negligees and never pulls up her gar--5 ters in public: she smokes cheap cigarettes; uses expensive perfumes; is a : little nearsighted and once spent a 1 night in conversation with the Brussels police because she lost her temper at the same time that she lost her trunk ’ on a Eureopean trip . . Here and There. Sari Maritza, who has been getting ) i g®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®!:

; orchids pretty regularly from a pro ducer, will soon be seen in a picture ! This beautiful young star is bcin; “ groomed ” for talkies, and will ?ppea in “ Evenings for Sale.” It is reported that Frederic Marcl who has been toga’ing around in Cec B. de Mille’s “ Sign of the Cross,” isn' going to sign with his studio agaif He is peeved because Gary Cooper go his favourite role of Frederick Henr in “A Farewell to Arms,” the Hetninj way picture for which March waited a the year and for which he was bille earlier in the season. Gary, makin the death scenes already with llele Hayes, isn’t bothered. His canary ye low and apple green super-car may b glimpsed before all the haunts of gaict at night. Only a bachelor coul afford such a motor-car; and do th married men gaze at it with envy? Ruth Chatterton Brent and her ne husband enjoy having ex-hushan Ralph Forbes to dinner occasionally. Hollywood is marathon dance-ma< Such plavers as George Raft and Buc Jones go dow T n and do stunts while th money rolls across the floor for th dancers with their swollen feet. 1 (Copyright by the “ Star ” and the I N.A.N.A. All rights reserved.) ]®s®®s®®®®®@®®®®®@®aij