A STAR’S HEALTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 July 1939, Page 5

A STAR’S HEALTH

CAUSES DEEP CONCERN. Bette Davis’s friends are deeply concerned about the star’s health, especially now that she is about to start work in. “The Knight and the Lady," and will have to wear heavy period costumes and stand under the fierce technicolour lights. Her studio is worried also, and technicians have rigged up a stool that can be concealed beneath Bette’s voluminous skirts, and that will enable her to appear as if standing when actually she will be sitting down. They say that Queen Elizabeth herself used the same deception when she attended long Court functions. The studio is working Bette hard, and she is hardly more than a handful at any time, and lives on her nerves. HISTORICAL PICTURE “CAPTAIN FURY.” United Artists announce that Hal Roach’s “Captain Fury,” the first important Hollywood production with an ’\ Australian background is now ready for release in New Zealand. Australians overseas who have seen “Captain Fury” express amazement at the authenticity with which Australian atmosphere and backgrounds have been credited. “Captain Fury” was given a special preview at the Australian Pavilion of the New York World’s Fair. Brian Aherne, who toured Australia and New Zealand several years ago with the Dion Bacieault Co., Victor McLaglen, June Lang, John Carradine are prominently cast. STORY OF HOLLYWOOD LAWN CREATING THE MAKE-BELIEVE. The chances of a lawn remaining a lawn in Hollywood are about 1000 to 1. Just as the kleptomaniac cannot resist his host’s silverware, the producer has an inner urge to create make-be-lieve. For no showman, bursting with the tricks of his trade, can pass a lawn casually without visualising it as a Roman Colosseum, a baseball diamond, a polo field, or a Yorkshire meadow. Thus, most lawns within the bounds of Hollywood studios can vie with the stars when the roles they have played are publicised. Furthermore, unless a lawn is of just ordinary dimensions, it generally goes through a series of make-believe experiences in the course of a single picture. A case in point is the lawn which is located at the Edward Small studios. This lawn is considered one of the most glamorous in the film precincts due to a gaudy past. During the making of “The Duke of

West Point.” which stars Louis Hayward, Tom Brown, Richard Carlson, Joan Fontaine and Alan Curtis, it doubled for the Rugby field of Cambridge University in England. Later, its personality was completely altered and it was used as a parade ground for the extras who played roles as ca? dets in the film whose story is unfolded against a background of the United States Military Academy. ROGER DANIEL BEST DRESSED BOY IN U.S.A. Roger Daniel can now lay claim to being the best dressed boy in America. For the youngster, only a few short months ago an obscure grammar school pupil in his home town of Glendals, has recently acquired the most elaborate and fashionable wardrobe owned by any youngster in the country. The clothes were made for Roger for his role as the juvenile lead in "King of the Turf.” the Edward Small production, starring Adolphe Menjou, and includes a full array of evening dress clothes, street wear and sports clothes. Producer Small decided they should go to Roger on completion of the picture in appreciation of his splendid work in "King of the Turf."