She Refused £10,000

Radio Record, 19 August 1938, Page 18

She Refused

£10,000

Danielle Darrieux is Hollywood’s newest million-dollar | glamour girl. At the age of 21 this Parisian actress has the world at her feet -including an offer of £10,000 for a few brief appearances before the microphone. But she. won’t be heard on the air.

*& . New Zealand picturegoers will soon get their. first. glimpse of Danielle Darrieux in. the New Universal film, ‘’The Rage of Paris.’’ She became. a sensation . with a tragic role in the French film, 'Mayerling," but Hollywood is said to have remodelled her, ‘emphasising . the glamour and making her a comedienne.

OT many people — even the biggest stars of stage, screen or radio-would care to turn down £10,000 just for making a few appearances hefore the microphone, Danielle Darrieux. the French star of the New ()niversal film, "The Rage of Paris," did it recently when offered that sum by an American radio station for a fourweeks’ contract. The offer was made to her just before she left America to

return to France after finishing work on ‘The Rage oi Paris,’ her five-year contract with Universal] stipulatiug that she shal) make pictures in America and Franee alter: nately throughout the period of the contract. Explaining why she had turned down £10,000 Danielie¢ Darricux said: "It’s not a matter of ‘rejecting’ a radio offer. The fact is that the time cuestion alone prevents m¢ from considering it "Yet, apart from that, it is not wise that I should he heard over the air before my first American-made film hus actually reached the screen. I believe my voice, and anything I had to say over the air, would have far more sighificanee and he much more appreciated after audiences had made their first personal contact with me on the screen, At least they would then have a little first-hand knowledge and sight of the person to-whom they would be listening _ However, that is quite out of the question, as my contract that I leave America immediately at the conelusion of every production in this country, and that similarly Y return to America from France immediately my French

film is completed. In fact, for the next five years my life will be a constant tripping backward and forward between Paris and Hollywood That allows no time whatever to interest myself in broadcasting work. Whatever, if any. leisure hours I am able to. snatch will be devoted to. rest and exercise." Danielle Darriewxs will not return to Hollywood tili December; but already she has the satisfaction of knowing that her frst Universal film, "The Rage of Paris," is a success. This must be equally heartening to the studio, which gambled a mil-

lion dollars on it. Other American studios are now seeking to borrow the star, yet when Universal signed her up to a five-year contract. a year ugo-on.the strength of a screen (test from Paris, but without having seen her iu person-the studio was criticised for taking possibly the longest bet in screen history, Danielle did not then speak more than a-few words of fnglish. To-day she speaks English fluently. though with a delightful Parisian accent. Slim. bronze-haired, with a variety of expressious which is one of her greatest charms, Danielle Darrieux has won a remarkable reputation on the Continent, with starring roles in 24 films-comedies, musicals and romances. But it wasn’t till she appeared with Charles Boyer in the prize-winning French film, "Mayerling," that Hollywood took notice of her, Danielle was on holiday with her husband (Henri Vecoin, a Parisian journalist whom she married four years ago at the age of 17) when her chance in "Mayerling" came. Charles Boyer wired M. Decoin asking whether he thought’ that Danielle had progressed: fur enough to attempt the role of (Continued on page 68.)

She Refused 810,000

(Continued from page 18.) Baroness Vetsera opposite Boyer’s own role of Archduke Rudolf in the screen play of the famous tragedy at the Hapsburg hunting-lodge. Previously Danielle had specialised in comedy parts: this was stark drama. Yet Decoin was confident. In reply he telegraphed to Boyer suggesting that he see Danielle’s film, "The Green Domino," in which she had an emotional part. Boyer did so; and Danielle got the role which made her famous in France and, eventually, in America. . Danielle’s father was a doctor who died from wounds during the war. Her mother was a singing teacher, and if Mama Darrieux had had her way

Danielle would have become. a musi-cian-a ’cellist, to be exact. She really can play tlre instrument expertly. In her first American picture, "The Rage of Paris," Danielle is seen as a comedienne with the accent on glamour. She was eight months in Hollywood before the story for her debut was finally chosen. Perhaps we may later get the chance to see what she can do with a dramatic assignment like that she lad in ‘‘Mayerling."