ADVENTURES IN THE MOVIE CAPITAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 335, 21 April 1928, Page 23

ADVENTURES IN THE MOVIE CAPITAL

“MISS N.Z.” ABROAD “Miss New Zealand” (Dale Austen) writes interestingly from Culver City, California, of the interesting personalities she has met in screenland. Relating her experiences, she says: j T DID my test with Stan Laurel and Sam Hardy. They are a wonderful ; contrast these two —Stan Laurel is a little, rather wizened Cockney, and ' Hardy is the biggest and fattest of men. I did my best with the part, but ; the director said that it w r as most un-1 suitable for me, as I couhln’t hope to ; be as “tough” as the part demanded. That night we had dinner at the Montmartre Cafe in Hollywood, whibli is the favourite haunt of moviedom. It has a very fine dance orchestra, and has a comfy, intimate atmosphere, which explains its popularity. Sally O’Neil was there, looking very cute in a navy tam, with a bright red jumper and navy skirt. She is no longer with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, having got “upstage,” as they say, or as we would say, “a swollen head.” Lloyd iSughes was there, looking very handsome, and apparently he prefers blondes. Friday morning was mainly taken ‘ up with having some portraits taken by Ruth Harriet Louise. She is one of the cleverest photographers in America, and has her studio at Metro-j Goldwyn-Mayer. She is quite a young girl, and very bright and attractive in appearance and manner. During the next few days I met John Gilbert, who has the sauciest brown eyes and such flashing teeth. His hair seemed very long, but he is probably growing it for his next picture. 1 had afternoon tea with Renee Adoree and her friend. Renee speaks half French and half English, and is most attractive. She has such big blue eyes. She talked about her experiences 1 in Australia, and said that she was anxious to return. Next I met Lew I Cody, just as he was about to step into his Lincoln car —a beautiful green limousine. He has the same charming manner off the screen, and did not display any of his villainous qualities to me. To see Dorothy Sebastian, I had to go to the Tiffany-Stahl studios, where she is working until the end of the week. She returns then to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to make “Diamond Cuffs” with Conrad Nagel and Lawrence Gray. She is a very beautiful bfunette, and rumour says that her engagement to Clarence Brown, the notable director, will soon be announced. We went to see ‘'The* Student Prince” at the Million Dollar Theatre, another magnificent building. Ramon Novarro is adorable in this fine. Lubitsch production. The musical accompaniment is specially attractive, ! and for the prologue there were cxi cerpts from the musical comedy, with soloists.