Many Film Players are Coming Back

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 218, 3 December 1927, Page 23 (Supplement)

Many Film Players are Coming Back

CLIMB TO FORTUNE FATE’S UNEXPECTED OFFERS f ' | A FTER discouragement and misfortune had dogged their footsteps for months—sometimes years and it seemed they were dropping from the picture, a dozen or I more widely known screen players are coming back.

Careers which appeared ready for the moth balls and sacred-to-the-memory wreaths, have been resumed at the very moments they appeared to be ended. Cullen Landis, for instance, had almost dropped from view when he was haled to the studio to play the leading role opposite Marie Prevost in “On to Reno.” What the hoodoo was, writes a Hollywood correspondent, no one could exactly explain. Cullen was a goodlooking chap, a good actor—not a star —but capable in leading roles. Then something happened. A period

of idleness set in, broken only by occasional calls fromsmall independent producers. His name was becoming little more than a memory when Cecil De Mille sent for him. Now it appears that he is reinstated and will keep going. Ruth Taylor, who is to play the title

role m “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” was at the point of quitting entirely when the announcement came she had been selected to portray the little golddigging “Lorelei.” Martha Mattox fought for 15 years to get somewhere and was utterly discouraged when she was cast for a big featured part in “The Cat and the Canary.” She is now working in “The Devil Dancer” with Gilda Grey. Harry Pollard, who will direct the filming of Edna Berber's “Show Boat.” insists that Martha shall have the big feature part. Rex Lease, a handsome chap, for years could get little to do except on “Poverty Row.” He was “considered,” looked over and ultimately rejected. Recently the turn came, and he got leading roles in “Not for Publication,” “Moulders of Men,” and “Clancy’s Kosher Wedding.” Grant Withers, too, struggled along in F. 8.0. productions without any great success, when suddenly Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer sent for him and cast him in the leading role of “Bringing Up Father.” David Butler, son of Fred Butler, the impresario, wondered if he i was done for when he suddenly turned j in such a splendid performance as a I gutter rat in “Seventh Heaven” that j the producing company gave him a j long-term contract as a director, j Then there is Carroll Nye, who has j been plodding along, slowly winning j recognition but doing nothing great until he burst into the limelight the j other day as leading man for Dolores | Costello in “The Heart of Maryland.' 5 | This probably will “make” him.