"NOT 'ARF A ROW"

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 53, 28 June 1940, Page 9

"NOT 'ARF A ROW"

Gracie Fields On Her Own Voice

(An interview for "The Listener" by

BEULA

HAY

Fields comes in for as much criticism as anybody in the public eye. I was talking to her in her suite at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, recently and casually mentioned that I had never heard any unkind criticism levelled at "Our Gracie." She threw back her head and laughed. "You should see some of the letters I received again this week about that song ‘Out in the Cold, Cold Snow’ which the troops like so much. Some dear old souls seem to think that it has a very bad moral for young people. _ "But," continued Gracie, with a sweep of her hands, "you'll. always find someone, wherever you go, who will take the wrong meaning from. anything. Anyone listening to the emphasis I. put into some of the words in that song would realisé that, if anything, it should have a sobering effect on girls’ morals. Heaven only knows I don’t encourage that kind of thing. I’m looking after enough people’s 7 probably wouldn’t think so, but Gracie

babies as it is." (Miss Fields has a country home for children, where she is "Auntie" to them all). "When girls come to me with such troubles I say, ‘Well, you’re not the first one it’s happened to, so snap out of it and look at the matter in its right perspective and make up your mind what you're going to do,’" said Gracie. The Stuff to Give the Troops Since her return from America and her marriage to the film star Monty Banks, she has been continuing with her marvellous work entertaining the soldiers. The mothers feel that there is a connecting link with their sons when they are all listening-in and enjoying the same entertainment. Gracie Fields looks a new person since her illness. I was amazed to find such a young-looking woman after seeing so many unflattering press photographs. She has golden hair swept back from her forehead and ears and her complexion is fresh and lovely. However, as some of the most beautiful schoolgirl complexions belong to Lancashire girls, this is not

so very surprising. It is a constant wonder to visitors in Lancashire that girls who work in mills and factories should not have pasty-looking faces. A Voice Over Wellington When Gracie returns to her own country she receives a welcome equal to that given to Royalty. She said that she had often wanted to see Australia and New Zéaland but could not say whether she would ever have the opportunity of doing so, especially now that,the war had upset so many plans. I mentioned’ that six years ago one of the Wellington picture theatres ‘had amplified her records from the roof to advertise one of her films and that I used to pause and listen on,the Terrace to the haunting tunes. floating up to. the _hills. "Haunting!" exclaimed Gracie. "A damned awful row I should say, and ‘not'’arf a row at that! It’s a wonder the Wellingtonpeople put up with it. And I suppose they were those. awful. old songs I sang at first, which sound so hideous;to me now." The Humbug "About. Gracie Seeing that she apparently doubted my appreciation I hesitated’ before adding that I wondered whether she, herself, could possibly realise the full extent of the great war work she was doing to make people happy with her songs. To which she answered simply, " Yes, thanks to God’s great gift." There is no humbug about Gracie Fields. yg Ws; i Dis? i —