IDOLS OF THE SCREEN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 306, 20 August 1932, Page 7

IDOLS OF THE SCREEN

MAURICE CHEVALIER. One day toward the end of the war Maurice Chevalier came back to his native Paris from a prisoner's camp in Germany, a poor poilu in a faded, ill-fitting uniform, with his small successes as a musical h'all singer almost forgotten. Because of a wound in his chest, which doctors said would prevent his ever singing again, he was robbed of his self-confidence. He did make a new debut at the Casino Montparriasse, however, but to him it was a failure. Gradually his confidence returned, and before long his infectious charm, his sparklirig sense of humour and his superb powers as an actor and mimic made him tbe idbl of France. From an English Major imprisoned with him at Alten Grabow, he had already learned a good bit of English, so when an engagement at the Palace music-hall in London was offered he accep'ted. His English debut was made in a revue with Elsie Janis. He next appeared in Buenos Aires and won the hearts of the South American throngs as easily as he had charmed France and England. Then came talking pictures, and his introduction to movie fans in his picture "Innocents of Paris" was an instantaneous hit. The rest you know. "The Love Parade," "Paramount on Parade," "The Big Pond" and "Playboy of Paris" followed in quick order. And to-day, a few short years after his prison camp experience, Maurice Chevalier stands( as the outstanding figure in the international screen and romance, love, song and laughter.