Hollywood's Big Charity Effort

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 225, 21 September 1940, Page 6 (Supplement)

Hollywood's Big Charity Effort

By Bill Mooring

PJ.ANS for the gigantic, all-star British and American charities film, in which practically the whol<v of the British colony in Hollywood will take part, are now complete. "The Rafters Ring," an original tlierae by Robert Stevenson, who also will act as producer of the picture, has been selected; adaptation is reaching the final stages and shooting was scheduled to begin at Selznick International Studios, Culver Ci,ty, on August 19. George Sphaefer of R.K.0.-Radio Pictures has arranged for his company to advance the costs of 'production at bank interest only and to distribute the finished film at cost. Stare, directors, contributing authors and supporting players will give their • services free, and the whole of the proceeds will go to American and British charities. Stars who have already agreed to appear in the film include: Brian Aherne, Freddie Bartholomew, Madeleine Car-

roll, Ronald Colman, Gracie Fields, Flynri, Joan Fontaine, Greer Garson, Cary Grant, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Charles Laughton, Anna Lee, Vivien Leigh, Herbert Marshall, Victor McLaglen, Ray Milland, Anna Neagle, Merle Oberon, Maureen O'Hara, Laurence Olivier, Sabu, C. Aubrey Smith and Claude Rains. In addition nearly 100 leading and supporting players have volunteered their services and will be used as far as suitable roles can be found. Directors who will share responsibilities include Edmund' Goulding, Alfred Hitchcock, Zoltan Korda, Frank Lloyd, Vicior Saville and Herbert Wilcox. "The Rafters Ring," a novel group story of separate, but closely interrelated episodes, provides excellent opportunities for the concentration of the many roles to be by different

stars and for tlie utilisation of some ot Hollywood's most , successful stardirector combinations. Authors who have contributed include Dr. A. J. Cronin, John Van Druten, James Hilton, Aldous Huxley, W. P. Lipscomb, R. C. Sheriff and Dodie Smith. Lipscomb is retained as co-ordinating writer to work with Producer Stevenson, and Alma Reville (Mrs. Alfred Hitchcock) will work on the final screen play. The story is set in London and covers a period of 200 years—from 1780 to 2000 A.D. The film will create some interesting Hollywood precedents, for not only will highly paid stars be found working without salary, but many who vie year in and year out for top billing and larger screen credits," have agreed to submit to the caprices of the alphabet. They will each receive identical credit, tendered in strict alphabetical order, thus making Hollywood history.