DIETRICH "DOUBLES" FOR BERGNER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 89, 1 May 1937, Page 10

DIETRICH "DOUBLES" FOR BERGNER

It has often and wrongly been said of Elisabetlx Bergner that the slightest interruption on. the set makes it impossible for her -to concentrate on a diffienlt scene. An incident which happoned oue day during the making of lier current film, ' ' Dreaming Lips," illustrates how she. allows her delightful sense of huaiour to intrude into the niost moving and tragie of scenes. Paul Czinner, her h'usband, was directing a particularly difficult scene in which Romney Brent, in the role of Elisabetli's husband, was lying dangerousJy ill in bed. ' ' The camera' was iraincd on him while ho was calling for lils wife, then swuhg to the door through whicli she entcred. After the normal. rehearsals, Paul Czinner announced a "take." "Whistles were blown i'or silence. There was the usual hush of expectancy. As the camera j turned to the door, it opened, but, instead of admitting Elisabeth Bergner into the room, Marlene Dietrich apjjearedy dressed in widow.'s weeds (she had been having a test on a neighbouring stage), and, having been rehearsed by Miss Bergner behind the door, went through the scene word-perfect. This was -the first intimation that anybody except'-Elisab'eth Bergner had that Marlene Dietrich wai present, and it speaks volumes for Roomey Brent's acting ability that he showed not a traee of the astonishment he must have felt. ...