RIFTS AND FEUDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1940, Page 3

RIFTS AND FEUDS

STARS AND RELATIVES. Many wore the notorious rifts and feuds churned up by the appearance of a relative bent on cashing in on a family name made famous by another. The record looks pretty ugly: Charlie Chaplin, at the height of his career, became upset when his brother, Syd (an excellent comic, too) began making comedies. Charlie finally induced Syd to pull out and leave the field clear for him.

The fact that Sally Blane and Polly Ann Young were sisters was kept a dark secret from fandom for a long time. And when Loretta Young, the third sister, came along, the family implored her to take another name. Viola Dana and Shirley Mason were sister stars —and important ones —in the same silent period, but both denied relationship unless pinned down. The same was true of Katharine Macdonald and Mary McLaren, who reigned at the same time.

• The Costello family rows were famous. Dolores and Helen were jealous of each other’s billings and roles, and father Maurice (once the matinee idol of America) managed a pretty good job of snubbing both. For many years, Al and Harry Jolson were on speaking terms only on those rare occasions when the less famous brother was not vainly trying to crash the movie gates and capitalise on Al's valuable monicker.

Wallace and Noah Beery were bitter rivals, neither tolerating the other’s presence in the movie running. For many years they did not speak to each other, and it was only a few months ago that mutual friends got them together to heal the breach. However, by that time Noah had retired from pictures.

Many remember the consternation of Douglas Fairbanks when young Doug., then sixteen years old, accepted his first'screen offer. The elder Doug, all but disowned the young man because it brought about a division in the public following of a famous name. And what huft more, it let the fans know that the bounding, athletic young Doug.

the first was old enough to have a grown son. Yes, your movie favourite has mellowed. Yesterday his favourite nursery rhyme was “Brothers and Sisters Have I None.” Today he chants, “I Am My Brother’s Keeper.” And it makes Hollywood a better place in which to live.