Picturegoer (Jul-Dec 1937)

Director Ernst Lubitsch was leaning forward in his chair, listening intently to Claudette Colbert and another player going through their lines. When it was over, Lubitsch's face was wreathed with smiles. He turned to the sound man. " How was it for you ? " he asked. "Somebody coughed," the sound man announced morosely. Lubitsch's face fell. "Who coughed?" he demanded indignantly. "You did !" said the script girl. School for Stars • M.-G.-M. has been importing so many foreign players lately and has invested so much money in them that they are not taking any chances and W. P. Hendry, the studio Chief-of-Police, has had to start a traffic school on the lot to make them familiar with the American motor regulations. Hendry is using model sets of streets and cars to demonstrate safety measures. The idea received immediate response and his pupils attend the school for an hour each morning, three times a week. In the class are Hedy LaMarr, Ilona Massey, Miliza Korjus, Rose Stradner, Stevan Bekassy, Gilbert Russell and Lionel Royce. If the school proves of value, Hendry plans to extend its scope to include younger studio players. New Tunes from the Films # One of the best of the month's H.M.V. film recordings is Roy Fox's rendering of "Whispers in the Dark" and "Stop, You're Breaking My Heart," from Artists and Models (BD5277). He orchestrates both very well. You Can't Have Everything is represented by " Afraid to Dream," played by Benny Goodman in swing time on B8631, and the same number sung tunefully by Jean Sablon on B8635. Roy Fox scores again with a tune that is calculated to make you dance from Toast of New York, "The First Time I Saw You," and another, the theme-song from Gone With the Wind (BD5279). The former is also played by G. Henry Jacques on BD5276. % On BD5275 there are two very good numbers, "Old Man Moon," from Topper, and "The Loveliness of You," from You Can't Have Everything. The first is sung by George Hamilton and the other by Hal Kemp. Rfey Fox, whose popularity can be judged by the number of his contributions, pleases us again with "Can I Forget You" and "Folks Who Live on the Hill," both from High, Wide and Handsome (BD5270). A record not connected with pictures but which should find a place' in all music lovers' collections is Jussi Bjorling's, the new tenor's, rendering of "Ch'ella Mi Creda Libero" and "E Lucevan le Stelle," from Tosca. They are brilliantly sung and support the contention that here, at last, is a new Caruso. Annabella Knew Best • After two strenuous days of film testing for make-up and hairdressing, Annabella, about to make her Hollywood bow, asked to be granted one request. "May I have just one test of myself as I like to look?" she asked. In less than fifteen minutes the French star, with the aid of her own comb and her small vanity case, stepped before the cameras. The other styles required two hours to do. When the tests were being shown next day, Darryl F. Zanuck, studio projection chief, had the film stopped on Annabella' s own make-up. "That's what we want," he exclaimed. "It's perfect." So Annabella will enjoy the rare privilege of making herself up according to her own ideas We wouldn't mind if these two Hollywood lovelies deputised for Father Christmas at our house. for her first Hollywood film role in Jean, opposite William Powell. Short Shots • James Stewart has been given a new contract — Carole Lombard is to have the role in Midnight originally intended for Marlene Dietrich; it will be strong drama for a change, and her leading man will be Georges Rigaud — Holiday, in which Ann Harding scored one of her biggest hits, is being dusted off as a come-back piece for Gloria Swanson under the title of Vacation Bound — -Nelson Eddy and Ilona Massey will be featured in the 'Hollywood version of Balalaika. Phil Lonergan Sends it Hot from Hollywood VIRGINIA BRUCE'S ROMANCE HER marriage to J. Walter Ruben, the director, will have no immediate effect on the career of Virginia Bruce. She was chosen to play the lead in Arsene Lupin Returns, for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where she is under long-term contract. The picture is now in production, with George Fitzmaurice as director. Announcing her engagement to Ruben, Miss Bruce said the actual date of the wedding had not been fixed. Instead of a Christmas ceremony. as was reported, the marriage will not take place until next spring, the actress said. Miss Bruce recently completed the feminine lead in Bad Man of Brimstone, starring Wallace Beery, which Ruben directed. Their romance developed during the filming of that picture on location in the mountain region near Kanab, Utah. A Ghost Walks # Mysterious sounds were heard in Jane Withers' home in the wee sma' hours. Search after search failed to explain the reason, and the frightened cook threatened to leave. Finally the mystery was solved. The ghost was Jane's cat, who, like all felines, likes to prowl around. Bells were placed on the cat and all is serene. Society Lady # Many young Hollywood actresses are chuckling over the fate of Mary Brill, a member of New York's society set, who was recently signed by Universal as a possible future star, and placed in the studio training school to learn the art of acting. Miss Brill angrily said that she could not ge*" on with the school's director, so was dropped from the studio pay roll. Universal executives say that the young lady made an unsuccessful screen test, hence the reason for her departure from the studio. Actresses who depend upon the films for a (Continued on page 6)