RISE TO FAME

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20740, 25 February 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

RISE TO FAME

FILM ACTOR IN DEMAND STORY OF JAMES STEWART Bov organ-pumper at his local church, then assistant projectionist at the cinema round the corner, now Hollywood's most sought-after actor. That roughly represents the ladder of success climbed by shy Gft 3in James Stewart, who is undergoing his severest acting test in ‘‘You Can’t Take It With You.” Back in Hollywood he is co-star-ring with Joan Crawford in “Ice Follies,” and between times dashing over to the United Artists Studios to be Carole Lombard's husband in “Made for Each Other.” Little wonder, then, that James Stewart finds himself incapable of putting on weight. Even now Hollywood physical training experts are endeavouring to add a roll or two of fat, but as they put it on one night r so Stewart loses it in front of the cameras next day. Tribute to Personality Frank Capra's choice of James Stewart for “You Can’t Take It With Y r ou” is the greatest tribute yet paid to his personality, for it is the ace director's belief that the more natural a person is in front of the cameras, the greater is his or her ability. It never occurs to you while watching James Stewart that you are in a cinema. He is even more natural, more self-effacing, Than Gary Cooper —up to now belt holder for natural demeanour on the screen. But Stewart, all the time he is on the screen, is ac ti n g—hard, sound acting that comes from long experience in stock companies and on Broadway. lie was meant to be an architect, but the lure of the amateur theatrical society at his university touched the chord of his real ambitions. He drifted into amaleur productions, and within a few months he knew that architecture was not for him. He was Spotted on Broadway It was while he was acting in the Broadway version of “Journey’s End” , that a Metro-Go Id wyn-Mayer talent- , spotter picked him out as screen material. “Bose Marie.” “Wife versus Secre- 1 tary,” "Small Town Girl,” “The Gor- j genus Hussy,” with Joan Crawford, ■After the Thin Man.” and “Of Human Hearts’’ are some of the pictures he ; made in quick succession. Apparently he worked too hard, for his health gave way, and for six months he was off the screen. Now, apparently, he is working too hard again.