Cinema... Snapshots

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20952, 3 November 1939, Page 8

Cinema ... Snapshots

Ann Sheridan Says Pooh-Pooh To Oomph. “Oomph!” says Ann Sheridan, redheaded Texas beauty, "may be a very fine titie and I’m grateful to those who voted it to me—but I did not come to Hollywood with any thought of trying to be a glamour girl. I want to be an actress.” The above statement is Miss Sneridan’s summation of tne title "Oomph girl,” recently bestowed upon her by a group of 20 eminent Hollywood judges of what a girl must have to really upset the male population. “Versatility and intelligent character portrayals mean more to me than all the titles that I could receive,” Miss Sheridan modestly says. “My understanding is that the word ‘oomph,’ for all its unpleasant sound, is supposed to denote a certain type of attractiveness. But I don’t care about that kind. I think the flaming Mamie era has passed and I don’t want to be the one who revives it. From a practical point of view, any label more or less types an actress —and I don’t want to get into any set category. I believe every actyress—whether she is on the radio, stage or screen—strives toward a variety of acting abilities. While I have been cast in many roles which portrayed characters I definitely disliked, the assignments were of inestimable benefit and training. lam often asked just what I do want to be on the screen, and my answer is, ‘any characterisation that really makes me work to put it across, whether it be highly dramatic, sophisticated, comic, tough or refined.’ Off the screen I just want -to be myself. In a good many of my previous roles I have portrayed gun molls and hard characters, so • when Walter Wanger offered me the role of Jill in ‘Winter Carnival’ I was extremely happy. Jill is widely travelled, refined and a darling girl. While I do not approve of everything • Jill does in the story, that is all the better because it imposed a more rigid requirement upon me.” “Winter Carnival,” in which Miss Sheridan is co-starred with Richard Carl- ■ son, was directed by Charles F. Ries- • per for United Artists release. The Stars Look Down Film Weekly critic says:— There was a time when I didn’t like Margaret Lockwood at all. I thought her just another insipid leading lady doomed to appear in a series of sweet-heroine roles and then fade out. Having seen the rushes of her latest picture, “The Stars Look Down,” I am convinced that she will very soon follow Merle Oberon and Vivien Leigh right into the frontrank of stars. Margaret is really a very lucky young woman in that her career has run parallel with that of Carol Reed, director of “Bank Holiday,” who is destined to become one of the big directors of tomorrow. Reed is that type of person all too rare in the world of films—a genuine artist who is interested purely and simply in the manufacture of entertainment. During the past five years his talents have pushed him from a job as a very small-time cameraman into being one of the most sought-after directors in the British film industry. Margaret has risen with him. Chance first threw them together on “Loma Doone,” in which production Reed was Basil Dean’s cameraman. Several times after that they found themselves working on the same production. They became friends. When Reed was given his own films to direct it was only natural that he should choose for his leading lady somebody who understood his ways and appreciated his talents. He chose Margaret. Under his guidance she developed from a decorative ornament into a useful ornament. Together they made “Bank Holiday” and “A Girl Must Live.” • When Carol was given “The Stars Look Down” to direct, Margaret was in Hollywood. This was his biggest assignment to date, and he needed her desperately for the chief feminine role—but there were many complications. ‘ Hard-drinking and Heartless In this film she has the role of a heartless little strumpet, and Gainsborough, to whom she is under contract, feared that the part would injure her reputation. Carol argued, fought, wangled and eventually arranged for her to come home in time for the film. If the rushes which I saw are any indication of what the finished picture will be like, “The Stars Look Down” will more than repeat the success of “Bank Holiday.” FLASHES XTANCY KELLY, having been replaced by Andrea Leeds in “ Swanee River,” is down to be Tyrone Power’s leading lady in “ Johnny Apollo.” TJENE RAY, who went out to Hollywood as one of the candidates for “ Rebecca,’ has now been making tests for the part of Maeve in “ My Son, My Son.” * * * * TJENRY FONDA has been chosen as the star of “ Grapes of Wrath,” which John Ford is directing for Twentieth Century-Fox in spite of reports that influential newspaper interests have been trying to stop Zanuck producing the Steinbeck story.