Hollywood (Jan - Oct 1934)

Pointed comment on cinema affairs and people by W. H. FAWCETT Publisher of HOLL YWOOD Magazine The PWBUSJUER^PAGE ^^^T"^' Life's Irony When Marlene Dietrich returned from Europe, newspaper reporters quoted her as saying she never had heard of Mae West when they questioned her about various matters in interest, including her opinion of Mae West fashions. Marlene, however, claims she was misquoted; that she had said she had never heard of Mae West fashions. Now they aren't one bit chummy and Mae, who wrote a screen story especially for Marlene, probably will sell it to a rival studio. But that is not all! The story, designed for a mysterious, glamorous foreign personality, may star none other than Greta Garbo! Marlene Dietrich Charlie and Herr Hitler Herr Hitler cohorts are excited about — Charlie Chaplin's mustache! One version is that Charlie jokingly said he would not wear his mustache again because he might be mistaken for Hitler. Another is that the Nazi demands he stop wearing it because it ridicules the majestic person of their dictator. Charlie wore his mustache long before Hitler became majestic and the tumult probably bothers him little — although it undoubtedly will affect German distribution of his films. It is amusing — if not alarming, to consider how little it takes to start an argument these days. Wars have been started over less than the Chaplin -Hitler mustache farce. Charlie Chaplin W . C. Fields says the NRA is doing a great job in the picture business. Now, instead of dummies, extras zvill have to be placed in cars to be driven over cliffs and thrown from burning buildings. Ben Fields, husband of Blossom Seeley, says his bit in Broadway Thru a Keyhole will make more money than any other scene in the film. Because they're cutting it up for mandolin picks! Habits and Marriage Perennial Bachelors, whether they are movie stars or smalltown business men, are not good matrimonial risks as a rule. They have become too set in their ways to change. Hollywood believes that is why the Richard Dix-Winifred Coe marriage failed. He was generous in their separation settlements and they are truly good friends now. The same applies to William Powell and Carole Lombard. Both Dix and Powell were women-fearing, confirmed bachelors before their marriages. The eternal triangle does not always figure in Hollywood divorces. Very often the marital failures occur because the participants are merely human beings. Richard Dix Too Many Cooks Here Is A Man who astounds Hollywood with the theory that scenario writers should be considered important. He deplores the practice of having half a dozen writers give ^^ji separate treatments to a single story and says that if one competent writer can't make a worthwhile screen story out of his brain child nobody can. The man is Ray Long — editorial genius for years with Cosmopolitan Magazine. Perhaps if Mr. Long is permitted to put into practice his revolutionary ideas, writers will be able to recognize their work when it reaches the screen — and the movie going public will experience some pleasant entertainment surprises. Too many cooks sometimes do spoil the broth. Blossom Seeley Barbara Frietchie is in the movies but because nobody would believe that is her true name she zvill be known as Barbara Adams. She is not related to the Civil War heroine. Ethel Greer, whose 637 pounds will be seen in Hoopla, advises girls not to worry about their figures. Her 143-pound husband recently told her he was glad she wasn't skinny like Kate Smith. A Neat Artifice Bing Crosby V tainly caught appear Neat, 12 ime After Time a director has injected a "hot" sequence into a picture only to have it ordered deleted by studio executives who know the Scenes haven't a chance of passing the censors. Now a happy solution has been found. In a sequence of Bing Crosby's Too Much Harmony, a windstorm is supposed to whip most of the clothes off a bevy of beautiful girls. Lingerie flies everywhere and the censors most cer would not permit a view of the girls as the camera them after the wind finished its work. So — the girls behind a placard labeled "Censored!" what? And a spur to the imagination. Mae West Progress The Hollywood premiere of I'm No Angel was a refreshing treat for the stay-athomes if for no other reason that they were spared the ordeal of hearing "It's a grand picture — I'm having a grand time — wish you were here" from every star that stepped before the radio mike. Since the premiere became a Hollywood institution stars have been making that same ga-ga speech but for Mae West's opening Paramount's gag men wrote the clever greetings delivered by stars from that studio. Few actors have the ability to make clever extemporaneous speeches. Given a prepared speech they can put it over big. Let us hope the practice continues. HOLLYWOOD