Actors are Men

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 430, 11 August 1928, Page 25

Actors are Men

Young Star Defends Hollywood’s Heroes MANY GOOD BOXERS Prompted by the oft-repeated assertion that motion picture actors are but imitation men — exquis-itely-gowned but wealcly-muscled representations of real males Richard Arlen, the popular youngster of “Wingshas sprung to the defence of those engaged in his profession . The handsome heroes of Hollyicood may powder their noses, but they can also fight, he says , proving his contention by relating an experience that cost him a tender jaw for a week.

“When I was a newspaper man in Des Moines, I believed that one “regular fellow” —meaning anyone who was not an actor —could licit a dozen movie heroes every morning before breakfast,” says Ai'len. “Shortly after I came to Hollywood I humped shoulders in a crowd with an extra I’d worked with the day before. One of us said something, and I was about to reduce the surplus of movie extras right speedily, when something hit me. That was the only blow struck in the battle. “I’ve boxed since I was a youngster, so I think I am qualified to say that among Hollywood motion picture stars are some of the best amateur glove men in the country.” According to Arlen, George O’Brien is the best boxer in the film world. He is a cat in the ring, and a man who can hit hard and fast. Reginald Denny is another good boxer, but he was a professional fighter before he came to Hollywood. His work in “The Leather Pushers” series gave an excellent indication of his worth in the ring. • Larry Kent was Reginald Denny the middle-weight ■hampion of the University of Cali'ornia. None other than Jack Dempsey is said to have stated that if Norman Kerry had gone into the ring he would ie a champion.