MARTYRS OF HOLLYWOOD

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1930, Page 8

MARTYRS OF HOLLYWOOD

LON CHANEY AND OTHERS. One more name has been added to the tragic list of those who have paid the Hollywood price for fame. Lon Chaney, whose sudden death from bronchial pneumonia and pernicious anaemia lias shocked his millions of admirers, might have been alive to-dav had he lived less wholeheartedly for his work. It is a tragic fact that the deep devotion to thenart that makes so many of the leading film people also helps to break them. ‘

Chaney was a great enthusiast for make-up. His strange and varied film characterisation's, including the grotesque “Hunchback of-Notre Dame,” are well known to all picture-goers. He would go round in the acutest physicial discomfort day after day in order to create a new film role, and years of this seriously undermined his health.

He grew anaemic and was advised to rest for a while, hut the advent of the talkies convinced him that he could not take a holiday until he had proved himself in the new medium.

In his first talkie, “The Unholy Three,” lie played a ventriloquist, and upheld his reputation for versatility by speaking in five different voices. The strain on his throat was the last straw. He developed bronchial trouble, and had no vitality left with which to' fight it. Hollywood is a vampire city—a voracious monster demanding a man or a woman’s whole life and personal happiness for a bauble of wealth and fame. Beautiful Barbara La Marre fell a victim to its sinister influence when she chose to risk death rather than lose tire place she had won as a worldfamous film star. She fatally starved herself in an effort to fight the increasing weight that kept her from playing her usual slinky vamp parts. Alartlia Mansfield, another oldtime favourite, was burnt to death on the set a year or so ago in the middle jhf making a picture. Valentino died of peritonitis because he insisted on finishing his last picture instead of going into the hospital for an operation. Had the measure been taken in time he might have been alivie to-day.

Not very long ago‘ Director Kenneth Hawks, husband of the very beautiful Mary Astor, crashed to bis death while trying to get a particularly dangerous shot- when he was directing a big car picture.

His life was only one of many that have been sacrificed recently in order to give tire, 'public entertainment. “Hell’s Angels,” an “air epic” that took two year's in the making, bad a huge casualty list. “Wings” and ' “Flight” left their dead behind them. One is almost remind'ed of the days of the ancient Romans, when human beings were sacrificed in the arena in order to amuse the crowd. There is a note of impending tragedy behind the story of the making of “Trader Horn,” tho latest travel picture. The cast, including Harry Carev, Duncan Ronaldo, Direction Van Dyke, and a gang, of cameramen and technical experts, went on location into the heart of Africa..

They took with them, as leading lady, a little golden haired extra girl. Ed win a Booth, whose first big part it was. The men wore pith helmets and snin.e pads to protect them from the pitiless sun, but Edwina’s role, as a girl worshipped bv the natives as a goddess, called for her to wear a thin wisp of a costume that left her a prey to the dreaded tsetse fly. Sunstroke and malaria have left their mark on her. and she is back in Hollvwood. her health seriously undermined. She may regain her former vitality, and if not she will be one more sacrifice to the Hollywood vampire.