The Film World

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 33, 22 February 1935, Page 23

The Film World

What Does a Film Star Do , With the Rest Of Her Time?

WHAT does an actress like Anna Sten, who makes only one picture a year, do with the rest of her time? In "Nana" the world’ saw her for one hour and a quarter-the time it took for the film to be screened. What about the idle hours, days, weeks, months? "We Live Again," the Samuel Goldwyn production which has its New Zealand premiere at the Regent Theatre, Auckland on Friday of this week, is. the second film that Miss Sten has made in America. Retitled ‘from the great Tolstoy novel, "Resur- { rection." it follows her inaugural i"Nana." «In three years, she has made two pictures. Yet Miss Sten’s next door neighbours in Santa Monica Canyon hardly know her, for she drives away to the studio so early in the morning and returns so late at night.

i "Nana" was compieted in January, 1934. In February she went to New York for’ conferences with Samuel ’ Goldwyn, who brought her to America, and, with Rouben. Mamoulian, whom

Goldwyn had engaged to direct "We Live Again." With them and with Maxwell Anderson, assigned to the task of making an outline treatment of the Tolstoy novel, she ‘spent almost five weeks in daily discussions. In April Anna was back in Hollywood. With her came Sergei Soudeikin, famous Russian scenic artist, engaged to create the colourful settings and backgrounds. In a week or tivo Omar Kiam followed to begin work in the preparation of costumes and gowns, Sets had to be tested and costumes tried, and then costumes tested against

sets. In June the script was ready and rehearsals began. Anna Sten met her co-star, Fredric March. Day by day, behind doors locked to any intruders, the readings and rehearsals went ahead. Finally, early in July, Mamonlian and Goldwyn called a halt. Preparations amd rehearsals were over. Shooting would begin on Monday. Anna Sten breathed a sigh of relief. Six weeks later she went home one hight, tired but happy. The last "take? was "in the bag:’? "We Nive Again" was finished and ready for cutting, editing and an early release!