THE BEST “FIND”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1940, Page 9

THE BEST “FIND”

MADE FOR SOME YEARS. Of five newcomers to Hollywood William Holden is outstanding, and is one of the best “finds” Hollywood has made in years, especially among males. ■Holden, a product of that famous cradle of movie stars, the Pasadena Community Playhouse, was signed by Paramount, but allowed to languish for months without getting a proper break. Then Columbia started its famous search for a Golden Boy to play the title role in the screen-play of the same name. Holden was chosen from hundreds, among whom were many establishedmale stars, but who demanded too much money to play the role. Hollywood sneered a little at Columbia's choice of an unknown for such a good part, but Holden made them swallow their sneers when the picture was previewed. He turned in one of the finest performances for a newcomer ever seen, and infinitely better than most of established juvenile stars could have done. It was a difficult part, demanding sensitive and intelligent handling. He had to play the role of an artist who turns prize-fighter to earn a living. Charles R. Rogers, who first signed Deanna Durbin and set her on the road to success, has come up with another singing prodigy in Linda Ware, a 14-year-old orphan. Linda makes her debut in “The Star Maker” with Bing Crosby. She sings popular songs in her lower register and operatic airs in her upper register, irr which she's classed as a lyric soprano. Linda shows little acting ability in her first picture, but what she lacks in histrionics she makes up for with her golden voice.

Like all children who become famous in Hollywood, Linda already is having her share of legal troubles. Her father, who placed the little Cinderella girl in an orphanage at the age of four, when her mother died, is now seeking her custody. But the courts have decided that her aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Stillwagon, who took her from the orphanage at the age of five, and have raised her ever since, are to remain her legal guardians. Universal, which exists as a studio today because of that amazing little lady, Deanna Durbin, whose pictures have been such a financial success that they’ve kept the studio “out of the red” in a time when any serious setback might have closed them down, has come up with a new child discovery

in little Gloria Jean, 11-year-old product of Scranton, Pennsylvania, centre of America’s anthracite districts. Gloria made her debut in “The UnderPup,” and immediately won the heart of all Hollywood with her fresh personality and clever performance. She is being hailed as another Shirley Temple, but she’s not exactly that, even though she is splendid. Brenda Joyce, who is expected soon to start the climb to stardom, was a co-ed at the University of California at Los Angeles when from out of a clear sky came a call from Darryl Zanuck, and eventually the coveted role. Brenda, who was born in Kansas City —year undisclosed by her studio, but looks about 18 —used to pose for magazine advertisements to help pay her way through college. According to her studio, Zanuck saw. her picture on a magazine cover and decided there and then she was to be “Fern.”