HOLLYWOOD IN PERSON.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20441, 20 October 1934, Page 24 (Supplement)

HOLLYWOOD IN PERSON.

(BY MOLLIE MERRICK). HOLLYWOOD. September 24.

The following was contributed by Evelyn Lave, the famous star of Noel Coward’s “ Bitter Sweet,” who is now in Hollywood to co-star with Ramon Novarro in a musical film:

“ They told me that I was going to Hollywood, the hedtic! Instead I found Hollywood, the soporific!

“That’s the only way I can describe the September climate that greeted me on arriving, after passing the hottest summer England has known in years! “ There’s something about the film capital that makes a newcomer get sleepy in the middle of the day. Basil Rathbone, a friend of mine, and now an acclimated Tlollywoodite. telss me that it’s nothing to worry about—that you get used to the Southern California climate in a couple of weeks and get over the tendency to get sleepy early in the afternoon of a warm day. Rut right now it just makes me pulpy-mindedr-that's the only word I can think of for it. Basil Rathbone says that once I’m used to it Hollywood will be a siesta city to me without the siesta.

“ The first thing I did on arriving was to buy a motor-car, just a sma-11 one to run around in, because I don’t know how long I’m going to be here. It’s a nice little thing, cream-coloured. I’ll be able to see all the orange orchards, and the sandwich stands built to resemble dogs and pigs and things. That is—l’ll be abler to behold all these wonders when I learn how to drive the car! In England, the steering wheel is on the right hand side and we drive on the left side of the road. In Hollywood, driving is a reverse process to a British driver. I’m taking lessons —again; Basil tells me one gets used to these American cars very rapidly.

“ I was rather eager to visit Hollywood this time. This new picture. “ The Night is Young,” intrigues me. I met Ramon Novarro when we got together for a reading of the script and listened to the libretto and musical score. I had always been eager to meet him. His concert successes in Europe had created no end of talk, and his picture successes even more. It was an interesing meeting. Oscar Ilammerstein read the libretto, and Sigmund Romberg, who composed the music, played, with two other pianists, on two grand pianos, and gave us a perfect idea of the score. It is a Viennese story.

“ I’ll have to take ballet lessons. I danced as a child, but then went for singing and haven’t been up on my toes for years. They tell me that Chester Hale is a splendid ballet master and that I’ve nothing to worry about.

“ Everyone is very kind. Harry Rapf, the producer, Dudley Murphy,

the director, Ramon Novarro, Edward Everett Horton—everyone, and, of course, I have a number of friends in Hollywood from across the pond. ‘David Copperfield ’ is partly responsible for that. Basil Rathbone and his wife are here on that account, Frank Lawton plays David, of course—and Charles Laughton has just joined the cast. The most interesting people are Mr Laughton and his clever wife, Elsa Lanchester. “It was rather funny—l met Basil in the studio photograph gallery and then we found that we lived next door to each other in Beverly Hills. It makes it nice for tea-time. He and his wife were very good friends of mine over in England. “ T am sure I’m going to love Hollywood—and T do hope Hollywood likes | me a little.” Hollywood Entertains. I Hollywood is embarked on an unj precedented round of social gaiety. I The people who make pictures seem to find an amazing amount of time to | make merry aside from their screen I work. Merriment which, in the old days, merely meant making whoopee, is taking on new aspects. There is, for instance, the midnight j dinner recently given by Max Reinhardt following the opening of his “ Midsummer Night’s Dream ” in the Hollywood Bowl. It was somewhat different in tone and setting from the usual Hollywood party-—ho “ gate crashing ” and no brawls. There is the cocktail party given by Rouben Mamoulian, Hollywood director, for Max Reinhardt at which some of the best brains of the world talked art conditions in all countries. There are the Richard Boleslavsky dinners where Hugh Walpole may be found and where both the director and his wife contribute their share of the clever talk. Norma Boleslavsky is not only one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, she is also one of the cleverest. Her husband directs for Metro-Goldwyn-Maver; she arranges the musical scores for R.K.O. Radio. Mme. Berthold Viertel has a dozen or so brilliant minds in her little circle and sometimes, when the circle is rlown to its smallest, there may be found Greta Garbo —no less —with her hands clasped about her knees and her laugh ringing out freely. “ Come up to my house on Sundav about four.” from Joan Crawford, means that twenty or so of her closest friends will be grouped about her swim-

ming pool. The group will often include Helen Hayes, Francis Lederer, Madge Evans and Franchot Tone. There is a long refectory table with a hot and cold buffet. All Hollywood parties, by the way, have two kinds of coffee—the usual type and the decaffeined type—and there is food for the dieters at every social gathering. Sunday dinner parties at Ramon Novarro’s house are always treats. His home is ultra-modern, but his hospitality is of the old-fashioned sort. His music room, which looks out over a hillside which he himself helped plant, is beautiful in a simple way. His swimming pool seems hung on the very edge of the world; from its parapet—a broad stone balustrade with occasional seats and lazy cushions—the myriad lights of Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica may be seen. Great clusters of fresh gardenia% home grown, are for his women guests.

At the Robert Montgomerys you may always find Chester Morris. The two are rivals at tennis and often play through the afternoon and on into the cool southern evening. Norma Shearer has achieved that envious position in Hollywood when everyone accepts, but come only when invited. No “droppers in” for Norma Shearer. Her six o’clock Sunday dinners are famous. By invitation only, they never fail to attract the most interesting people. Pictures are shown afterwards and there are always games or a swim for those who do not care to see the newest film. Strange to say, picture-makers are the most ardent film “ fans.” Seldom is a guest found not looking at the screen.

Una Merkel is the ideal “backyard” entertainer. Broiled steaks from a charcoal burner—and you cook your own. if you please—are her favourites. Ihe Rober* Youngs are nearly always there, and many people not in films at all .may be found at this hospitable establishment.

Kay Johnson and John Cromwell either spend the week-ends at their San Fernando Valley farm or may be found in their box at the polo field. A group of the younger players. Bill Henry, Betty' Furness, Jean and Cecilia Parker, Henry Wadsworth, Irene Ilervey, are all enthusiastic over and generally spend their Suncidv afternoons this way. They generally end up at someone’s beach home for a plunge and a game of ping-pong or badminton.

“ The Student Prince.” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have acquired talking picture rights to the operetta, “ The Student Prince.” This was produced seven years ago as a silent film by the same company, with Norma Shearer and Ramon Novarro in the principal roles.

“ Romantic New Zealand.” “ Romantic New Zealand,” which liaa enjoyed a most successful season in the principal cities and towns of the Dominion, will shortly be shown in Australia, where arrangements have been completed for its handling by the Gau-mont-British and Fox Film companies.