IN THE RANKS OF EXTRAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1939, Page 4

IN THE RANKS OF EXTRAS

FORMER MEMBER OF ROYAL FAMILY. An eleven-dollar-a-day extra wat-' ched at Hollywood with more than usual interest the royal marriage cere-, mony being filmed as the climax to the thrilling story of “The Man in the Iron Mask.” He kept his eyes constantly on Joan'Bennett, playing the role of Maria Theresa, infanta of Spain, and on Louis-- Hayward, appearing as King Louis XIV of France. For at one time, in years gone by, this particular extra was the central figure of many royal affairs in Vienna.- He is Count Rudolph Stephanelli von Prehterhof u-nd Hohenmauer, whose .family tree goes back 700 years and who once was captain of Arcieran Leiligarde, the personal bodyguard of the late Emperor Franz Josef of Austria. He is personally related to the late Franz Josef, the late Czar of Russia, former Kaiser Wilheim of Germany and King George VI of England. A couple of years ago, when conditions abroad made it almost impossible for a nobleman to earn a living. Count Stepanelli, as he is called in Hollywood, came to America and finally found a place in the motion picture business. A man of stately bearing, he is 'in constant demand for just such scenes as. that made for “The Man in the Iron Mask.” He wears a full grey beqrd and on' occasion uses a monocle. Despite the re-verses-through which \he has gone, Count’ Stepanelli spends little time worrying about the past. He is happy in his new found work as a motion picture actor and is determined to establish himself among the ranks of leading character players. In the supporting cast of the film are Warren William, Joseph Schildkraut and Alan Hale.