FINDING STORIES.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20230, 26 June 1937, Page 17 (Supplement)

FINDING STORIES.

VIEWS ON THE BTARS. READS 30,000 NOVELS A YEAR. Edwin Knopf spends his life finding stories for famous film stars. He organises the reading of 30,000 novels, plays and short stories every year, and has scouts all over the world. He is the Story Chief of Metro-Goldwin-Maver in Hollywood, and he is now in London “getting to grips with the story situation in Europe'.” Here are Mr Knopf’s views: Clark Gable. —You do not have to look for a story for him. He can play anything. His force and honesty of personality are such that he can play a bad character and make you believe in his reformation. Greta Garbo. —She must be given fine characters. What is wanted most in Hollywood to-day is a first-class modern comedy for her. We have found nothing good enough to show how great a comedienne she' is. Joan Crawford. —She must fight her

way out of something. The odds must be heavily against her. 1 Myrna Loy. —A complex personality. Perhaps fllmgoers think she has done her best work in -clipped comedy. But when you see her in “ Parnell,” you will see a new actress. Norma Shearer. —She is apart from all the others. She has added dignity and loveliness to pictures. Her return to work is still uncertain, but it is hoped that she will choose “Marie Antoinette ” as her next film. Jeanette Mao Donald. Everybody wants to hear her sing. Therefore, we must find operatic or back stage stories. But in “ Maytime ” the wonder is not her singing, but her aoting. Late Jean Harlow. —For her we needed sprightly comedies. They were a pleasure to find, since she was exceptionally Intelligent—intelligent enough to play Dumb Doras, and only the oleverest actresses oould do that.