GEORGE ARLISS.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19911, 13 June 1936, Page 17 (Supplement)

GEORGE ARLISS.

; THREE NEW FILMS. ‘ PLAYS INDIAN RAJAH IN FIRST. George Arllss isn‘t letting the Shepherds ‘Bush grass grow under his feet. says a London writer. Recently he announced he was going to play In "The Nelson Touch" now that“ East and VVesl " (In which he plays an Indian Rajah) is finished. Now comes the news that, his pro-

ture to follow that will be “Jim the Penman.“ based on the life of forger James Saward.

Arllss (68 years of age) stands head and shoulders above the rest as Britain's G.O.M. among screen actors. Off—screen he is dignified without pamposity, knows what he wants—and gets it. He shares with the Duke of W'ellington a. healthy respect for punctuality.

The first time I met him was after I had kept him waiting (through a third party‘s mistake) for two hours. Mr Arliss was stiff and sticky but in—exorably polite. The secvnd time he opened up a bit. DESSPd the cigarettes and [alkml vcr) frankly. After that we got on to one of his favourite topics: his barn—storming (lays at the old Elephant and Castle Since then I have discovered that he has more charm than half a dozen ordinary actors put together. He is conservative in politics. and practically vegetarian in diet. He explains that he doesn‘t like to

eat anything he might have wanted to pat While it was alive, and adds that he eats flsh because (sly smile) ” you can't really pat a haddock."