The filmgoers' annual (1932)

The Filmgoers' Annual OF THE STARS — and of the road each one has travelled to fame. The cold facts may be gathered from many other sources expressly devoted to that purpose. GEORGE BANCROFT As an Easterner, on his first day in the West, George Bancroft won honours and a long term contract with Paramount because of his remarkable characterisation of Jack Slade, the Wild West's most noted bad man. It was Bancroft's work as Slade, the bad man made famous by Mark Twain in " Roughing It," and the principal character in a picture entitled "Driven," that brought him to the attention of James Cruze when he was casting "The Pony Express," and made him the outstanding character " heavy " in Hollywood. Not that there were not plenty of bold, bad villains to be had in the film colony. But Bancroft created the " smiling villain," something then really different and novel in screen characterisations. For a number of years he was one of the best-known Broadway actors, some of his important plays being " The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," " Paid in Full," "Old Bill, MP.," "Cinders," and " The Rise of Rosie O'Reilly." He enlisted in the navy while he was still in his teens. As an apprentice aboard the frigate " Constellation," sister ship of the famous old " Constitution," he learned sailoring as only it could be taught in the days when ships were of wood and men of iron. His period of training ended, he was transferred to the " Essex " and took an eight-months' cruise to South America and the West Indies. The outbreak of the Spanish-American war shortly thereafter found him in Admiral Dewey's command, a youthful gunner aboard the " Baltimore." On that famous vessel he participated in the Battle of Manila Bay. Later he served during the Philippine Rebellion and also the Boxer Rebellion. A distinct turning point in his career came the day the " Oregon " struck a submerged rock off Chefoe lighthouse, near Pekin in 1900. Bancroft was a member of the crew of another vessel in the fleet, and as he always had been an athlete of real ability, especially proficient at swimming and diving, volunteered to dive under the hull of the " Oregon " to ascertain the extent of the damage. For this feat of daring and skill he was recommended for an Annapolis appointment. But the confining life imposed by the Naval Academy restrictions drove him wild and he decided to try his talents as an actor. Born in Philadelphia, September 30. Height, 6 feet 2 inches. Heavy dark-brown hair, blue eyes. JOHN BARRYMORE Despite the fact that John — or Jack as he was called in those days — was brought up in surroundings that made it seem inevitable that he should follow the stage, nothing was farther from his intentions. He meant to become an artist and studied drawing and painting. Eager to put his work to practical use, he sought a job with a New York newspaper. It is a matter of history that he worked for exactly twenty minutes on the Morning Telegraph, leaving immediately after he submitted his first sketch. He served on other newspapers a bit more successfully as a reporter, illustrating his own stories. At the age of twenty-one years, he abruptly decided to devote himself to the theatre. Since then his career has been one of the most colourful of American contemporary actors, both on the stage and in motion pictures. In 1903 he made his stage debut as Max in " Magda." He then starred in " Toddles," " The Fortune Hunter," " A Slice of Life," " The Affairs of Anatol," "A Thief in the Night," "The Yellow Ticket," "Justice," " Peter Ibbetson," " Redemption," " The Jest," " Richard the Third," and finally — after a triumphant characterisation of " Hamlet " — he was acclaimed by many prominent critics of New York and London as the greatest Shakespearean actor of the day. His screen career includes " Raffles," " Here Comes the Bride," " Sherlock Holmes," "The Lotus Eaters," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," " Beau Brummel," " The Sea Beast," "When a Man Loves," " Don Juan," the first Vitaphone picture to include synchronisation, " General Crack " and " The Man from Blankley's." Born in New York, February 15, 1882 ; height 5 feet 9 inches ; brown hair ; blue eyes. RICHARD BARTHELMESS Richard Barthelmess first felt the lure of motion pictures while working in a small Connecticut town. A film company on location near by was the magnet that proved an irresistible attraction and so he deserted a business career for the pictures. When he was two years of age, his father died. Faced with the problem of supporting herself and her small son, his mother turned to the stage and became a character actress of note. When she was on tour, Dick was sent to a military schooi, and after that entered Trinity College, Hartford. On graduating, however, he turned to business, but with the result stated. His screen career dates back to " War 153 Brides " ; but it was not until " Tol'able David " that he " hit his stride." He had, however, prior to that, won great popularity through his work in D. W. Griffith's productions, his characterisation in " Broken Blossoms " being especially notable. For First National he made, among others, " Shore Leave," " The Beautiful City," " The Enchanted Cottage," " Classmates," " New Toys," " Soul Fire," "Just Suppose," ' Ran son's Folly," " The Amateur Gentleman," " The White Black Sheep," "The Patent Leather Kid," " The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come," " The Noose," " The Wheel of Chance," " Scarlet Seas," "Weary River," "Drag," and " The Dawn Patrol." Born in New York, May 9, 1895; height 5 feet 7 ins. ; brown hair and eyes. WARNER BAXTER He was born at Columbus, Ohio, on March 29, 1893, and educated at the grammar school and high schools of that city. His father, who was a banker, died when Warner was not quite a year old. He began showing a passion for the stage when he was ten years old. His mother disapproved. She wanted her son to acquire a college education. Leaving school, he became a salesman for farm implements, but continued to dream of a career on the stage. An accident gave him a chance. Dorothy Shoemaker's partner was taken ill on Saturday night ; and Miss Shoemaker, who was to open at Louisville the next Monday afternoon, was frantic. One of Baxter's friends heard of her predicament and sent for him. He met Miss Shoemaker, learned two songs and the " business " on Sunday and on Monday morning, opened on Monday afternoon, and remained in the act for two months. His mother made such a fuss about it, that he finally returned to Columbus, became an insurance agent and was placed in charge of the Travellers' Insurance Company branch at Philadelphia, but didn't care for the job, and made up his mind to quit it. He had saved his money and invested it in a half interest in a garage at Tulsa, Oklahoma, whereby he lost every cent of his capital, and joined the North Brothers stock company in Texas. Two years later he went to California in hopes of getting a job in motion pictures, and canvassed all the studios, but nobody would hire him, and after six months gave it up, joined the Burbank Stock Company and remained in it seven years and eventually returned to Los Angeles to play leads in the Morosco Company. Soon after his arrival on the coast he met Elmer Harris, who offered him the leading role in a Paramount picture, " Her Own Money," in which Ethel Clayton starred. He had scarcely started in the picture when he was called by Morosco for rehearsals in the stage production " A Tailor Made Man." He has appeared in a long list of pictures, including "In Old Arizona," " Behind that Curtain," and " Romance of Rio Grande."