REGINALD DENNY WELCOMED HOME

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 206, 19 November 1927, Page 23 (Supplement)

REGINALD DENNY WELCOMED HOME

TREMENDOUS RECEPTION BOOST FOR HIS FILMS Reginald Denny, British warbird and actor before he came to America and became Universal’s screen ace, has just returned to Hollywood from a long - deferred visit to his native soil. His welcome in England was one of the warmest ever accorded to a returning Englishman and far exceeded in spontaneity and real friendliness that ever given to any film star. Benny was welcomed, not as a curiosity to be stared at as a seven days’ wonder, but with

an e x c e p tional depth of feeling, as a brother Britisher who had won an undying place in the hearts of his countrymen by his screen work and his personality. Benny went to England on the first holiday he lias had in several years. Following his long illness as the result of injuries received during

the making of “Fast and Furious,’* his current success, and upon the completion of his latest production, “Out All Niglit,” Carl Laemmle offered the star six weeks of uninterrupted holiday. The farce-comedy ace thought that he and his wife could slip out of Hol-

lywood and ship from New York with no publicity. He counted without realising his popularity abroad. He found England keenly aware of his coming and eager to clasp his hand. At the behest of prominent British film figures ft he Universal star finally

allowed his well-wishers to go through E with certain functions planned for his liomecoming. Outstanding was a big luncheon at the Savoy, London, attended by three hundred of Britain’s leading showmen and reviewers. E. Hewitson, president of the C. E. A., Britain’s exhibitor organisation, presided. Heading the list of figures at the lunch were Sir Alan Cobham and Lady Cobham, and the Marquis of Bonegal. Benny voiced his ambition to make pictures in England and told the assemblage that Carl Laemmle had promised to let him do so some day. Benny was the guest of honour at r Manchester, where he was feted by 160 . Lancashire exhibitors at lunch, and another in Liverpool, where he was ( hailed at tea by more than 100 exhib- £ itors. Everywhere the exhibitors, touching on the quota agitation, assured Benny and the representatives of the European Motion Picture Company, i British distributors of Universal pic- ( tures, that they meant to fight the quota to the limit. ( While in Manchester. Benny oflT- : ciated at the cornerstone laying of the new theatre being constructed by* the t Moorhouse interests. He was literally mobbed by more than 15,000 people. • The streets about the theatres also ( were jammed with people, eager to pay tribute to “Good Old Reggie,” as he is affectionately termed. More than half the theatres in Great Britain have been playing Benny productions. It is now reported that as a result of the exceptional ‘‘good-will” reaction to the star’s trip home, hundreds of additional theatres are adding Benny to their programme. He is said to have registered 100 per cent, with his countrymen.