STUDIO AND STAGE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21413, 4 March 1935, Page 12

STUDIO AND STAGE

AUSTRALIAN ACTRESS INTERVIEWED MISS JOCELYN HOWARTH'S IMPRESSIONS

"Our reception last night was marvellous," :*id Miss • Jocelyn Howarth, the leading lady of the company now playing "Ten Minute Alibi" and "The Wind and The Rain" in Christchurch. Miss Howarth was interviewed by a representative of "The Press" yesterday afternoon, after she had returned from what she described as a most enjoyable motor trip over the Cashmere Hills and through Lyttelton. "I don't know whether I ought to have made a personal appearance on the stage in this country where I was known only through the films," said Miss Howarth, with a smile. "In Hollywood the idea seems to be that the actress should be surrounded by a sort of mist and illusion, and it might have been better if I had left people to think of me as they had known me on the screen."

The warmth and response of the audience was, however, very noticeable to Miss Howarth.

Australian Films Speaking of film work in Australia, Miss Howarth said that there were bound to be important changes in the next 12 months. Mr Ken Hall, who had directed "The Silence of Dean Maitland," one of Miss Howarth's starring pictures, and a most successful production, was now in Hollywood studying film production there. Mr Basil Deane, the English director, was coming to Australia to make a £20,000 production which would take the form of a "Cavalcade" of Australia. The script was being written by Mr Eric Baume, and the picture would be produced at the Cinesound Studios. Miss Howarth thought that the Australian studios would go ahead faster than those in Hollywood had done: they could learn from Hollywood and profit by its mistakes. "The silence of Dean Maitland" and Miss Howarth's other picture, "The Squatter's Daughter," had both been shown in London. The part she played in "Ten Minute Alibi" gave Miss Howarth more scope for acting, she said, than that of Anne Hargreaves in "The Wind and the Rain," but it was a less sympathetic and less pleasant character. "Ten Minute Alibi" was definitely a men's show. Acting- and Personality

Comparing acting on the stage and on the screen, Miss Howarth said that the former probably gave more scope for acting and the latter for personality. In Hollywood especially an actor generally played one type. "Of course they have such wonderful personalities that one docs not get tired of them," she added. "George Arliss is always George Arliss, yet he is always fascinating and one can see him again and again without the slightest loss of interest.

For three years, since she began her professional career as the star of "The Squatter's Daughter',' Miss Howarth has had a break of only one week in her work. With film work, personal appearances at screenings all over Australia, and then stage work, the last three years have been very crowded and very busy. Yet Miss Howarth has further plans in mind and is thinking of going to London, possibly via America, with the intention of taking up further screen work. "But there is always something turning up in my work," she added, "and my plans may easily be interfered with." Off the stage Miss Howarth takes a large part in sport. She is particularly fond of riding and swimming.