Film Record

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 31, 13 January 1939, Page 15

Film Record

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GORDON

MIRAMS

NDREA LEEDS, A Goldwyn’s new star,has been described by a prominent American artist as the "Ideal American Girl.’’ High praise, but apparently an opinion widely held, for in the past five weeks Andrea has had no fewer ‘than nineteen proposals

of marriage-an average of almost one every other day. ; This reckoning, explains Miss Leeds, takes into account only those. offers made in person, and does not include the many score more she has received in her ‘‘fan mail."’ But Miss Leeds is not worrying very much at all these lost opportunities, she is much too busy making tests for her role opposite Gary Cooper in ‘The Last Frontier,’’ her most important picture to date. ;

According to cold statisties, fortunes which totalled into the tens of millions, status as wife of a commissioned naval officer, a foreign title, a cattle baronetey, and a South Pacific Island kingdom were laid at the demure actress’s feet. ._, But Can He Sing? HW AYRES continues his spectacular come-back by being made Jeanette MacDonald’s lead_ing man in "Remember Tomorrow." Fredric March and James Stewart had been previously considered. This will be Ayres’s fifth picture for M-G-M in five months. A year ago Lew, who sprang to overnight fame in "All Quiet on the Western Front" and, largely through indifferent vehicles, never quite lived up to the reputation he made in the Remarque picture, was almost inclined to agree with the general opinion in Hollywood that he was "all washed up" as an actor. He had, in fact, been trying to establish a- new career as a director. He made one picture, "Hearts in Bondage," with James Dunn (and, while we are on the subject, why, oh, why, do they neglect Dunn?) and Mae Clarke. In order to get the chance he had to sign a contract to play in two pictures, study three pictures through their entire course from the writing to the final editing-

without pay-and finally direct the picture for nothing. He worked for eight months without getting a penny. Then along came that role in "Holiday." Now Lew Ayres is back again at the top. His experience proves, he says, that a film actor is no farther away from the front rank than one gocd part. Rather A Shock FPWARD ARNOLD has played enough disillusioned business men to be glad of any kind of a

change; still, his latest assignment is a bit of a shock. B. P. Schulberg, who used to produce for Paramount and has always had an appreciation of Arnold’s fruity talent, plans to star Arnold as Caruso in a screen biography of the world’s most famous tenor. Arnold’s singing, of course, will have to be done by an uliseen somebody. It seems funny. Films spend their time trying to find slim singers. Now they take the one actor with a singer’s build and make him play a silent singer. All the same, if the picture’s halfway good, it’d make a nice change for Arnold from the plutocrat who discovers the worthlessness of money in the last reel. Start Them Young JACKIE COOGAN, Ff hear, has got a job as a tutor at one of Hollywood’s best-known dra-

matic schools for infant predigies. : As Lesson Number One he might instruct his charges on how to save their screen earnings. Romantic Rumours LOVE-IS-THE-SWEETEST-THING-DEPARTMENT: Ida Lupino has commissioned Duncan Renaldo, the actor and artist, to do a portrait of fiance Louis Hayward... Janet Gaynor describes rumours of a forthcoming marriage to Adrian as "premature"...

"War Hysteria" ‘WORRY over the recent war scare confined Merle Oberon to her ‘bed for several days. The actress collapsed when she

received a cable from friends thai entrenchments were being dug iz

Hyde Park, and in front of her London house. Dr. Grace, the attending plysician, defined the illness as "war hysteria." O.K. With The Oakies A ACK OAKIE and his divorted wife, Venita Varden, have be come reconciled and have decided on. a visit to Europe for a "second honeymoon" of six months’ duration. ‘ , Venita. declares that too many people intruded in their family life, and feels that the Wuropean sojourn, far from the Hollywood "srjends," will do much to promote their happiness. Overtime For Actors FOR years the studios have ree quired mechanics and clerks to punch the time clock, but now alf actors earning up to 1000 dollars per week must do likewise. The reason for this action is 2 new contract signed by the studios with the Screen Actors’ Guild, limiting hours of work to 48 a week, with provisions for overtime. The sum of 1000 dollars a week

appears to be the dividing line between Hollywood’s. aristocracy and the "also-rans." We all know the saying, "At a Hollywood party, if you. de not make more than 1000 dollars a week, you do not receive dessert with dinner." | And if an actor does not make over 10600: dollars a week, he now has to punch the clock! Work For Them Both YVALLACE FORD told me that he overheard the following conversation two. sweet young things ai the Brown Derby:"Aren’t her eyes wide apart?" "They have to be. She’s got one eye on her career and the other on her husband." |

A Seal’s Life "SLICKER," the seal who firs gained recognition in Para mount’s "Spawn of the North,’ wherein he affectionately kisse¢ George Raft not once but many times, is said to be the highest priced performing animal in the world. Commanding a salary of 1000 dollars a week, the contract for the seal’s services stipulates it must receive featured billing, along with the players, and must

have a special railroad car, containing a tank, if it takes any trips. *Slicker’s" next picture will be with Bobby Breen in "Wisherman’s Wharf."

The Little Darlings tT is estimated that one-tenth of the pictures to be screened

during the next few montns will have children in leading and featured supporting roles, Wise Addition ALLYN JOSLYN’S back at work, And about time, too. He’s the boy who made such a dry, callous but charming character of the busi-ness-minded reporter in "They Won’t Forget," I expected him to be starred long since, but don’t remember seeing him again, though he’s done some obscure pieces. Now Paramount have him play ing in ‘Cafe Society’ with Madeleine Carroll and Fred MacMurray. That cast gets added to daily. Joslyn would be a wise addition to any picture.

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