MGM Studio News (December 3, 1938)

NEWS S T Paulette Goddard Declares She 9s No "Mystery Woman 1 The world may regard Paulette God- dard as Hollywood’s “mystery” woman, But Miss Goddard insists there is no mystery about her at all. “If I am considered a mystery woman,” said Miss Goddard, “I never knew about it until I saw it in print.” Miss Goddard appears in Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer’s “Dramatic Goddard School” with Luise Rainer. “The reason I have not given inter- views is because I have done nothing to be interviewed about,” Miss Goddard con- tinued. “Now that I am back at work in pictures, I am willing to discuss sub- jects of interest concerning motion pic- tures. “As for being a mystery woman, I see no basis for it. In fact, I deny it. Prob- ably the big reason for giving me this unwarranted title is that I spend my time with people with whom I know very well. "Then, again, I am seldom seen in the customary places familiar to Hollywood. This is not because I do not approve of them, but because I love to travel be- tween pictures. Naturally, while work- ing, it is not possible to participate in night life because of fittings and, as in ‘Dramatic School,’ studying and rehears- ing fencing, dancing and several other subjects that this picture demanded of us.” ♦ ♦ ♦ Lulse Rainer Plans Long Vacations Luise Rainer has completed plans to run away from Hollywood once every two years. And, each time, she will remain away for at least six months. She was given her first six months’ va- vation from Hollywood upon the com- pletion of her starring role with Paulette Goddard in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Dramatic School.” “Hollywood has been good to me,” said Miss Rainer, “but I need a change and must get away from it. Although I love California, I realize the necessity of meeting the world face to face and touch- ing everyday life.” ♦ ♦ ♦ Marshall Advises Kids To Study Shakespeare Alan Marshal, appearing opposite Luise Rainer in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Dra- matic School,” believes that playing in Shakespeare is the greatest training in the world for youngsters ambitious to be- come actors and actresses. “The overplaying gives an excellent training in the value of gestures and voice,” said Marshal. “It is easy, then, in a modern play, to tone down this broad system of histrionics in screen work.” ♦ ♦ ♦ CHEER LEADER Kay Stewart, Northwestern Univer- sity’s famous acrobatic yell leader, makes her screen debut as a classmate of Luise Rainer and Paulette Goddard in Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Dramatic School.” ♦ ♦ ♦ RE-ENACTS OWN LIFE Luise Rainer went through the same experiences in her own dramatic school days as those in her new Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer picture, “Dramatic School.” u D I O Noted Star Once Thrown Out of European Theater, She Confesses One of the darkest secrets of Luise Rainer’s life has come to light. She was thrown out of one of Europe’s most famous theatres. Miss Rainer confessed her early “disgrace” while comparing events of her struggling years with the role she plays in Metro-Gold- wyn-Mayer’s “Dramatic School.” Just Like Dad In their fathers’ footsteps, three Hollywood youngsters are bidding for success in the motion picture world. They are Edward Arnold, Jr., son of one of the leading character ac- tors on the screen; Robin Page, daughter of Chico Marx of the Mad Marx Brothers, and William Tan- nen, son of Julius Tannen, stage and screen comedian. Because the three were so de- termined to carry on the traditions of their families, Director Robert Sinclair gave them their first big break in Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer’s “Dramatic School.” Other sons of famous acting fa- thers who followed their sire’s trail with eminent success on the screen are Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Tyrone Power, Tim Holt and Lon Chaney. Mickey's Girl Friend In "Dramatic School* Ann Rutherford, known principally to film fans as Mickey Rooney’s "steady girl,” Polly Benedict, in the Hardy Family series, received her greatest opportunity to date when she was cast in “Dramatic School,” starring Luise Rainer and Paul- ette Goddard. Miss Rutherford is seen as Yvonne, the youngster whose dramatic training means far less to her than the fact that she is in love with the son of the president of the school. ♦ ♦ ♦ FAT ROLE Dorothy Granger, flaming-haired com- edienne, had to increase her weight fourteen pounds to play the role of the fat girl, Luise Rainer’s classmate, in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Dramatic School.” Reaches Stardom Sn Three Pictures Paulette Goddard, steadily emerging from the cloak of seclusion that has sur- rounded her since coming to Hollywood a few years ago, has reached stardom in her third picture role, with Luise Rainer, in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Dramatic School.” A year after she left school, Miss God- dard was a principal in Florenz Ziegfeld’s “Rio Rita” and continued with her stage career. Her first picture was as Charlie Chap- lin’s leading lady in “Modern Times.” Upon the conclusion of the Chaplin pic- ture, Miss Goddard chose to prepare her- self carefully for a dramatic career in pictures. She engaged a professor from the University of California at Los Ange- les to instruct her and at the end of two years she had majored in English diction, English literature, English history and psychology. Certain that she was ready to launch her career, she was teamed with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Janet Gaynor in “The Young In Heart.” She was next chosen by Mervyn LeRoy, the producer, to ap- pear with Miss Rainer and Alan Marshal in “Dramatic School.” ♦ ♦ ♦ SILENCE IS GOLDEN Cecilia Callejo, noted European dancer, plays one of the most important roles in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “D ramatic School,” starring Luise Rainer, yet she does not speak a word on the screen. “The company I was with,” said Miss Rainer, “was traveling through Europe. In one of the largest cities which I will not name, the man who played the meister- burgher had a cold. I was always happy when I was acting and I was always laughing, often at nothing. "While I was in a scene with the meister- burgher, he continuous- Rainer ly sniffed and twitched his nose. I could not help it, but I laughed in his face. Even after his cold was cured, I could not keep from laugh- ing in the scene with him. Then one night my laughing became so contagious that the whole company and then the audience burst into hysterical laughter. Naturally it broke up the show. “And I was thrown out of the theatre.” ♦ ♦ ♦ RASCH VS. JITTERBUC Jitterbugs do not arouse the wrath of Mme. Albertina Rasch, who directed the dances in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Dra- matic School.” “The people are beginning to revolt against the Shag, the Big Apple and the Jitterbugs, but I have no objections to them if they remain off the ballroom floor,” said Mme. Rasch. ■♦ ♦ ♦ TWO WINNERS IN ONE Two Academy Award actresses, Luise Rainer and Gale Sondergaard, appear in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Dramatic School” together.