GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 697, 25 February 1933, Page 24 (Supplement)

GENERAL FILM GOSSIP.

NEWCOMER TO SCREEN. Katharine Hepburn, who appears opposite John Barrymore in “ A Bill of Divorcement,” at the Plaza Theatre, is a newcomer to the screen. ** When Katharine Hepburn walked into the Hollywood studios,” writes a correspondent in the American film capital, “ the men who had been notified of her arrival gasped and wondered what the New York office had been about when they had signed her for film work. Could you see a photograph of her then,” the correspondent adds, “ and a picture of her now, you wouldn’t have any difficulty realising just what is meant by that. Katharine Hepburn wore her hair combed back straight and in a washerwoman’s knot at the back of her head. She liked the eccentric clothes, which she still affects, but what a difference it made when her hair was given a long cut, a la Garbo, and her face was made up! ” As a result of public acclaim following the release of “ A Bill of Divorcement," her first talking picture, Katharine Hepburn was given a fiveyear contract. Lovable Actress. The lovable Marie Dressier, whose brilliant performance with Wallace Beery in “ Min and Bill ” will never be forgotten by the picture-going public, will be seen at Everybody’s Theatre on

Monday in “ Emma Marie Dressier, like George Arliss, has won for herself a particular niche in the hall of screen fame, and, like that Grand Old Man of the screen, will always have a tremendous following. Marie, whose real name is Lelia Koerber, was born in

Cobourg, Canada, sixty-two years ago, and made her stage debut as Cigarette in “Under Two Flags”, by Ouida, as far back as 1886. She has had a long stage career, both in New York and London. She was starred at the Palace Theatre, London, in 1907, and went into unsuccessful managemet at the Aldwych Theatre, now the home of Tom Walls and his company, in 1909. Marie has had a long record of film successes, her pictures including “ Tillie’s Punctured Romance ”, in which Charles Chaplin and the late Mabel Normand first made their names, “ Breakfast at Sunrise ” and, more recently, “ The Girl Said No! ”, “Caught Short ”, “ Reducing ”, “ Anna Christie ” (with Greta Garbo), and “ Let Us Be Gay” (Norma Shearer). Bom in Canada. Norma Shearer, the delightful actress who has the feminine lead in “ Smiling Through,” which is now in its second week at the Regent Theatre, was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1904. Her parents were wealthy, and she had many opportunities for a life of leisure, but she wanted to be an actress. Norma Shearer started her screen career as an “extra” in a New York studio in 1921. In 1922 she signed her first film contract, and then followed a series of pictures, each better than its predecessor. Her talking pictures include “ The Last of Mrs Cheyney,” “ The Trial of Mary Dugan,” “ The Divorcee,” “ Let Us Be Gay,” “ Strangers May Kiss,” “ A Free Soul,” and “ Private Lives.” London Actor. Herbert Marshall, who appears with his wife, Edna Best, in “ Michael and Mary,” the romance at the Civic Theatre, was born in London in 1890. He made his legitimate stage debut in 1913, and appeared in many important stage productions until 1927, when he made his first picture, which was produced in England for an American company. The picture’s title was “ Mumsy,” and Marshall was cast with Pauline Frederick in one of the major roles. Following on his fine work in this film, Marshall rapidly came to the fore. He made his talking picture debut with the late Jeanne Eagles in “ The Letter,” and has since appeared in many successes, both English and American. Third Time Lucky. Due to running into Gene Gerrard by chance, for the third time in his stage career, Gus M’Naughton has become one of the biggest British screen discoveries for comedy parts of recent years. Though a stage player of great repute, Gus is comparatively new to films, and had it not been for his for- ! tunate encounter with the 8.1. P. star might have been neglected by British studios for some time. Born in London, M’Naughton is a member of a family that is famous in the theatrical profession. His father was George le Clerq, of “ Black Justice ” fame, and

his mother, Georgie Wright, a Gaiety favourite in her day. Related by blood and marriage are many celebrities, including the late Marie Lloyd, Jack and Evelyn, the Poluski Brothers, and in America the noted Nelson family, of circus fame. At fifteen years of age, Gus began his stage career with the celebrated Conquest family (the great rival to the Lupinos) and within a week had replaced the principal comedian in a burlesque on

“ Hamlet.” A tour of the British Isles followed in “ Sentenced for Life,” and indeed M’Naughton thought that he was, for the show played on for over two years. He next became a comic singer and joined Fred Kamo’s company, of which Charles Chaplin was then an unimportant member. From this time until the outbreak of the war, when he joined up, Gus, with his brother Fred, played in variety and pantomime as “ The Two M’Naughtons,” a turn that has long been popular. It was at this time that he met Gene Gerrard, then assistant to George Mozart, for the first time. Gus M’Naughton is the star of “ His Wife’s Mother,” which began at the Crystal Palace Theatre to-day. A Trick of Fate. Odd the tricks Fate sometimes plays. About twenty-one years ago, Jacob Krantz, a Jewish boy, born in AlsaceLorraine, emigrated to America and took up a position in a shipping office. He threw up office work, turned actor, and when the craze for Latin lovers was at its height, was actually “ boomed ”as a rival to Valentino. By the time “ The Torrent ” was made, Ricardo Cortez, as the suave young star now called himself, was so important that nobody bothered about the new and unknown leading lady from a land America then associated mainly with plodding farmers in the Middle West. Her name was Greta Garbo. Cortez never quite succeeded as a great lover; his stock began to fall. He walked out of one studio, maointaining that a story was silly, was allegedly black-listed by other studios for two years, and took to vaudeville. At last, Pathe gave Cortez another chance —in “ Her Man ” —and he began his slow climb back to fame. He moved to Radio, gave an unforgettably sinister portrait of a gang leader in “ Bad Company,” a quite different, but equally vivid portrayal of a flashy professional gambler in “ Men of Chance,” and now gives probably the best performance of his career in “ The Phantom of Crestwood” (Karen Morley), whicb comes to the Majestic Theatre on Monday. Unassuming Star. Acclaimed as one of the foremost Western actors on the screen to-day, a remarkable all-round athlete and one of the strongest men of his size and weight in t'-'-'+ures, an expert horseman and a champion boxer, George O’Brien is also the possessor of a winning personality. His infectious Irish smile is a certain indication of his talents at long range. Studio electricians, carpenters and prop boys join w’th executives and stars in admiration of this unassuming actor. No matter what the conditions, the O’Brien smile is always ready. Not long ago he was badly hurt during the final week of making a picture. But he went through his scenes for five days with yards of adhesive tape holding a fractured rib and a sprained back in place, rather than cause the company the delay and expense that would have been incurred had he taken to his bed. No matter how many other “ outdoor ” films may be in the making, the cream of the crack riders, ropers and gun experts in the film colony is always available for O’Brien’s pictures. These men know the actor for what he is, and their eagerness to accept even an “ extra ” part in O’Brien’s productions is a significant tribute. George O’Brien was a prominent athlete in his high school days. By dint of constant exercise he developed an ability that, enabled him to win the light-reavy-weight championship of the American Pacific Fleet at the age of eighteen. Desti led for a medical career, he refused many offers to become a professional fighter, but he subsequently abandoned the pursuit of medicine for that of scieen honours, and, single-handed, made a name for himself in his chosen profession. George O’Brien ippears in “ Robbers’ Roost,” one of the new films at the Liberty Theatre.