PICTURE STARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 74, 18 June 1927, Page 15

PICTURE STARS

MARY BRIAN If her family had not decided to move from their home in Dallas, Texas, to Los Angeles, the screen might have missed one of its most charming young actresses in Mary Brian, who created the role of Wendy in “Peter Pan.” Born and educated in Dallas, Miss Brian spent 17 of her 18 years in that city. It was only a short time ago that her family moved to Los Angeles, where Miss Dallas pursued her hobby of portrait and water-colour painting. Her ability along these lines had earned her praise and advice on technique from the Austrian artist, Llnnekamp. Shortly after her arrival in the west coast city one of her friends entered Miss Brian’s name in a personality contest then being conducted by a Local newspaper. The winning of this contest brought her to the attention of Albert Kaufmann. manager of the Metropolitan Theatre in Los Angeles. Miss Brian’s youthful appeal and personality so impressed Mr. Kaufmann that

lie gave her a part in one of the elaborate prologues which are a feature of his photo-play presentations. At this time Herbert Brenon and the Lasky studio officials were searching high and low for a girl to play “Wendy ' in their proposed filming of “Peter Pan.” Miss Brian had acquitted herself so well in the prologue that Mr. Kaufmann arranged for her to meet the motion picture director. A film test at the studio convinced Mr Brenon that he need not look further for his Wendy. Her success in that role is now history, and next to the feat of Betty Bronson's achievement in the title role, is one of the most remarkable instances of immediate triumph in the annals of the movies. Since “Peter ran" Miss Brian has appeared in the following other Paramount pictures:—“The Air Mail.” “The Little French Girl." *The Street of Forgotten Men.” “A Regular Fellow,” "The Enchanted Hill.” “Behind the Front.” “Beau Geste,” and “Knock-out Rilev.”