Our Fortnightly Book Review

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 31, 13 February 1931, Unnumbered Page

Our Fortnightly Book Review

" Harlequinade."

(By

Constance

Collier

with a Preface by. Noel Coward.)

RTISTS. and musicians ‘should not _ miss "The Three Titans," by Emil Ludwig, a ‘masterly and "sympathetic study:of Michel Angélo, Rembrandt and Beethoven. The preface’ is’ written by the author. himself. In. it he says that these three "accepted battle with the gods." Isn’t ‘that a great expression! The book arouses profound feeling, almost amounting to eihotion, and we rejoice with.the sculptor when he finished "David" or interviews the Pope about the paintings in the ‘Sistine Chapel. Medicis, Raphael and Savonarola .wander in the pages. His studies of. Rembrandt and the great Beethoven are no less well done. Truly there were giants in those days." We look back on the Three Titans and ask whether the twentieth century can approach these "Nragnificent names,

Miss CONSTANCE COLLIER, an actress of note and, as all the world knows, a ~ame to conjure with on the dramatic stage, has added to her laurels by trying her hand in another artistic field-that of literature. There are many ways vf writing an autobiography, and Miss_ Collier’s method possesses. the basic qualities of clarity and sincerity, coupled at times with an engaging guilelessness. Her knowledge of and love for the stage is lifelong and profound, and she tells the tale of her gradual emergence from poverty-stricken days of childhood and twilight of cheap boardinghouses without a trace of snobbery, and with unfailing joie de vivre. Always to Miss Collier the adventure of living has been a splendid one, and by dint of invincible grit and ability, coupled with beauty of the spectacular variety, she hag climbed the steep pinnacle of success and won her place in the sun. Love of the drama in its multifarious aspects would seem to be. inherent in the Collier family, who at times followed their star on a path of thorns, when threadbare garments with miserable food, and very little of that, were their daily portion. But through it all the singing heart prevailed, and one guesses that the darling of the London stage is still the same gay-hearted, lovable creature ‘as when she tramped the streets of London, looking for an engagement, with the mother she adored. In this raclly-written narrative we hear of life in New York, Hollywood, San Francisco, London in war-time and there is much interesting comment on’social life, from the days when Miss Collier started her career as a beautiful Gaiety girl, with a retinue of oftentimes unscrupulous admirers, to later times when she was treasured friend and collaborator of a brilliant galaxy of novelists, playwrights and dramatic stars, of whom she gives some excellent thumbnail portraits.

Of Sir Herbert Tree she says: "His vivid wit seemed to sparkle. Hven in his tired and dull moments he was still fascinating. Always the best conversationalist at any table when with congenial people, his vocabulary was remarkable, and he had a lovely and graceful sense of words. A gipsy, @ vagabond, and a great gentleman." of a beloved friend: "Of all the lovely women I have known, Lily Hanbury was the most beautiful. All frank gaiety of soul, and with a generosity that was unbelievable, full of tolerance, the kindness of her spirit shone through her eyes, and added to all’ the most appealing beauty." Of Coquelin: "The last of the great classical school, he had ali the elemental qualitiesstrength, passion, joy, generosity." Of Gertie Millar (Countess of Dudley) : "A figure like a reed and a face like an enchanting marmoset." , Miss Collier married a fellow-actor of note, Julian L’Hstrange,. and the union was a happy one until shattered by his early death. She telis: with engaging frankness of the casual manner in which she entered into’ the holy estate, and of the happiness. of the years that ensued. But it-is obvious the master passion. of Miss Collier’s life is her art-the urge of the stage is in her blood. A certain ingenuousness, usually the prerogative of youth, remains a characteristic of Miss Collier’s style, and we feel, in spite of her great career, there still lurks in her gay-hearted personality a good deal of the Nice Big Girl. Her comments are entirely free from bitterness, often very just and penetrating, and she has a gracious enthusiasm: for -high achieve ment, not only in those dear to her, but in the wider world beyond . the scope of her affections. Poignantly interesting, for instance, is the account of those last interviews of hers with Dan Leno, and his subsequent tragic iliness and death.

The book is‘illustrated with excellent portraits of Miss Collier in many. roles, including a superb "Cleopatta," and two beautiful portrayals of. the actress in the dramatised version of du ‘Maurier’s "Peter Ibbetsen.". | ph aye