AIDING THE WAR EFFORT

Evening Star, Issue 23687, 21 September 1940, Page 5

AIDING THE WAR EFFORT

The best evidence of the efforts of Hollywood Britons to give of their services aiding the British cause in the direction in which they are most suited and most beneficial is the story brought back from Canada by Anna Neagle and Herbert Wilcox. At the request of the British Ambassador, Lord Lothian, the couple flew from Vancouver to assist the opening drive for the sale _of Canadian War Savings Stamps, which was inaugurated with a _ broadcast covering the* dominion. Miss Neagle and Wilcox spoke from Vancouver, along with Canadian notables. From Toronto Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Vivien Leigh, and Laurence Olivier were picked up Flying from Hollywood to Vancouver, the star and producer of ‘ Irene,’ their latest (RKO-Radip picture, arrived at 6.80 p.m. Within the next five hours they were on a whirlwind tour that left no time even for dinner. Ten of the principal theatres

were visited, everyone of them jammed to the doors in anticipation of Miss Neagle’s personal appearance. At each theatre the star was introduced from the stage with Herbert Wilcox, and spoke to the audience on behalf of the drive relating news from the “ home front,” received in letters from relatives and friends in England, all of which emphasised the calm, confident spirit of the British people in ultimate victory. Following the theatre tour, Anna and Wilcox were guests of honour at a huge charity ball, which aimed to raise 80,000 dollars to purchase war planes for the Old Country. The affair resulted in 140,000 dollars being subscribed”. j Tolling of her experiences on her’return, Miss Neagle said: “Our whole trip was made within the space of 36 hours, including three and a-half hours in ‘ detention ’ at Seattle by the United States immigration authorities until reentry permits arrived for us from Washington. But it was worth it_ to see Canada’s war effort in full swing and the exhilarating spirit of determined aid to the Motherland. It .is the ambition of every young Canadian to get into ttye Air Force. Air-Marshal Bishop, V.C., told us that the aim is for Canada,to have 50,000 trained pilots by the end of the year. So keen is the will of those training to get overseas that the penalty for any hreach of discipline is three weeks’ suspension from an oversea draft.”

Miss Neagle is soon to join Grade Fields in her long tour of Canada, in which she will make benefit appearances in 40 cities. Anna will visit as many of the west coast Canadian cities as possible. She is . due in New York in the middle of August to make a short film entitled, ‘ Information. Please,’ based on one of the most popular “ quiz ” programmes over the air; then returns to Hollywood to start work on her next picture. ‘ No, No, Nanette.’