CLEOPATRA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 566, 19 January 1929, Page 23

CLEOPATRA

Pola Negri Meets “Kind” Bernard Shaw NEW FILM DISCUSSED During her recent visit %o London Pola Negri lunched with Mr. George Bernard Shaw. Prior to the meeting she said: ‘i am thrilled to death.” Mr. Shaw said: “I have no emotional reaction whatever.” As a result of their conversation Shaw has permitted Pola to arrange for the filming of “Caesar and Cleopatra.” The famous star came to Loudon to plead with Shaw to release

one of his plays — a thing that Shaw had 'never done — and everyone told her that it was an impossible guest. There was a private luncheon at Mr. Shaw’s flat, and afterwards Pola seemed the happiest person alive, says a London paper.

“He was so kind, so sweet,” she said. “Of all the statesmen, artists, musicians and other eminent men I have ever met, Mr. Shaw is the mos.t fascinating. I “It was a delightful lunch. There was Mr. Shaw and Mrs. Shaw, myself, my sister-in-law, and an English man of science, who was a terrible antifeminist and had never been into a cinema in his life. “Aim of My Career” “Mr. Shaw has a most hypnotic j personality. We had a long aiscus- J sion, in which I explained that it has been the aim of my career to play Cleopatra. He did not demur. He said his plays would have to be filmed sooner or later, and as he had not much longer to live he would like to have the privilege of seeing his own films. “He said I would make an ideal Cleopatra, and then w-e talked about a Caesar. He suggested an Englishman and a German. We decided to ask these two to test the part. “Everything will be done to keep to the play. “We shall have no difficulty in using Mr. Shaw’s own words for sub-titles.” Pola added that she hoped to be able to start on the production about July. The interiors would be filmed in England, and the rest in Egypt