TALKIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 227, 18 October 1940, Page 6

TALKIES

MOVIE REALISM GETS TOO HOT TO PLEASE SCOT Realism in motion picture is n quality very mucli to be desired in the opinion of Will Fyffe, the great Scottish character actor who is making his American debut in a starring role as an engineer in Frank Lloyd's production of Paramount's "Rulers of the Sea.'" At least, it's a bonnie quality when it doesn't cause too much discomfort, according to Will, It seems that the script of "Rul- J ers of the Sea" and warm California weather conspired to make things verra uncomfortable for t.lie Scot during filming of the picture. The heat went up above ninety, and Fyfi'e had to perform in a set reproducing the engine room of the Dog Star, known in history as .the Sirius, first ship to cross the Atlantic by power or steam alone. In ordering the set built Lloyd insisted upon having not only a fullsized, working reproduction of the Dog Star's primitive two-cylinder engine, but also practical fire boxes. They must be realistic, he said. Set designers complied with the producer-director's wishes. They gave him the engine and the fire boxes, with real coal for fuel, instead of a synthetic fire-glow from red tinted electric lamps. Fyffc's reaction, after sweating through many hours in the hot set, amused Lloyd: "Phew!" said Fyffe, "to think I left home for this! When I played an engineer before it was in a comedy back home. The role required me to be a fellow "avlio kept falling overboard into the ocean, which was cooling e.nd refreshing. If I were to drop in now, I'd sizzle I like an oatmeal cake in grease!" I

JEFF LYNN GIVES HIS IDEA O* WHAT WIFE SHOULD BE There are girls and girls—biit the girl Jell'rev Lynn would have for a wife seems to be one such as he has not yet met/ * The young actor entered into a discussion of what a wife should be with the happily wedded Joel McGrea on the set of "Espionage Agent." And it all started because Jeffrey Lynn had a minor case of indigestion, "from eating in restaurants." Seriously pointing a linger at Mc-Crea,-Lynn remarked: "I need a wife, a wife that, can cook, manage my house, drive a car, and be a real partner." - McCrea thought Jeffrey was kidding, but soon realised that the bugaboo of lonesomeness was creeping upon the young Warner Bros, featured player, JeiF continued his wifely specifications Avith: "You know, I'm probably hard to please, as I'm looking l'or. a wife like my dad got. "She should like sports—tennis, swimming and boating. No afternoon playing around—except for occasional hen parties. I want her to be at the door when I get home at night. Maybe if she were 'a writer, a painter or a musician, it would 1 help our family life together.'' : Questioning by the now interested McCrea brought out these further specifications for the future Mrs Lynn; She must be between sft Sins and ; oft Gins tall, weight round 8 or 9 stone, may be blonde or brunette, but not a red-head, must be a fashionable dresser bu„t not an extremist. Most of all, she must have a real sense of humour. And she must like children, for Jeffrey admits he is looking forward to being the father of four children —two boys and two girls.