NEWS OF THE CINEMA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21206, 31 August 1940, Page 13 (Supplement)

NEWS OF THE CINEMA

Orphans Move to Hollywood As the result of Noel Coward’s representations to President Roosevelt, the entire British Actors’ Orphanage will be evacuated to Hollywood, where the British film colony will maintain it. The orphanage is heavily endowed, but only £lO for each child can be taken from Britain. Dress Cost £50,000 Rita Haworth at a fashion parade in Hollywood wore the world’s costliest gown. Made of 40,000 cultured pearls, sewn on a chiffon foundation, it is valued at £50,000. It took fifteen dressmakers six weeks to make it. Ti a Mickey Rooney Doesn’t Grow Mickey Rooney hasn’t grown a quarter of an inch during the last year. All his screen sweethearts have shot up so that they tower over him. His studio chiefs are watching him anxiously, for they hope to have in him another Spencer Tracy. Jack Holt’s Contract Ended After all these years Jack Holt, square-jawed prince of thick-ear melodrama, is reported to be winding up his contract with Columbia, for whom he has made 20 pictures. It seems that once again the war is to blame. Jack Holt’s popularity largely depended on the money he drew into box offices in England, Canada, New Zealand, Australia; not on what he took in the United States. And revenue from Empire spots has declined..

Arguments with the studio developed. . . Then came the split.

Richard Barthelmess’ Come-back It looks as though Richard Barthelmess’ screen come-back will be permanent. Dick is now working in an important role in “The Sentence.” Oddly enough, the crew on the picture is made up of almost all the men who worked on the last picture he made before his retirement six years ago. To Marry Soon Vivien Leigh has rented a home in Hollywood. This, in addition to the fact that both she and Laurence Olivier have their divorces, confirms the report that these stars will wed any day. They hsrve finished their successful stage tour with “Romeo and Juliet.” As soon as they return to Hollywood they will begin work on “Cyrano de Bergerac.” Their reported intention of returning to England for war work seems to have been delayed. Illness of Film Stars Because of his demand for a rest Joel McCrea has had to withdraw from the cast of “Arise My Love.” Ray Milland takes over. Alice Faye was forced to undergo a major operation just as her new picture, “Down Argentine Way,” was due to go before the cameras. A holdup costing thousands of pounds has resulted. Then there was the bad luck of Cesar Romero. As you know, he has taken over the Warner Baxter part in the Cisco Kid seriies. It meant a lot to him, for the series enjoy world popularity. “Ghost of the Cisco Kid,” his latest effort, has had to be shelved because he has suddenly gone down with typhoid fever.