The New Movie Magazine (Dec 1929-May 1930)

A beautiful cinematic moment in "Pointed Heels," with the Rasch Ballet in action. That Old Gang of Mine But the act eventually broke up and Winnie singled it. And now looka ! Did you miss that picture, "Gold Diggers of Broadway?" Well, you've missed the hit of the hit. Her quickly-tempoed melodies not only leave you limp with laughter, but her scenes, in which she enlivens the proceedings, are masterpieces. And see and hear her trying to study a few lines in which she says: "I am the symbol of civilization." It is one of the more hilarious laugh-provokers. Winnie Lightner is destined for grander roles; watch her. HELEN MORGAN'S head still is the same as it was before she was "discovered" by the Paramount crew for "Applause" and other starring vehicles. Helen is the little girl who came from Chicago not five years ago with a letter to Florenz Ziegfeld. The letter was a fervent one from Amy Leslie, Chicago's woman drama defender, who hoped that Ziggie would place Helen in a show. Ziegfeld, however, wasn't impressed with Helen at all. But, to oblige Miss Leslie, he placed her in the back row of "Sally," which was going on tour, and Helen accepted the assignment, money being as scarce in those days as it is now. Last season it was Helen's great privilege to star in Ziegfeld's "Show Boat" at $1,200 per week, which was 81,150 more than he paid her five years before. The vengeance beautiful, what? _ But I was disappointed, in the decision of the Paramount officials when 120 (Continued from page 46) they cast Helen Morgan in "Applause." While she creditably accounted for herself and sang delightfully, Helen was cast for a role that certainly did not offer her much. She is a beautiful woman, whose excellent taste in clothes is well known in New York, but the Paramount firm dressed her up in rags and made her play an old lady. I understand that the next Morgan picture will not give her the chance to be much different, and this is a pity. The women picture-house goers are being robbed of a treat. When Helen is seen in one of those chin-emas dressed up in class, those women will be thrilled, and the sooner those officials realize that, the sooner will Helen Morgan be a box-office breaker. "Applause" was distinguished by Rouben Mamoulian's great direction. PERHAPS Rudy Vallee belongs in this list of People I Knew When. I knew Rudy when he came to New York and played with an obscure crew of syncopators at the Rendezvous cafe in which Gilda Gray starred. It was one of the smart places but Rudy was just so much of a sax footer. Today he is a matinee idol and he regrets it ,too. The other evening I sat with him at his Villa Vallee place on 60th street and among his admirers was Theda Bara, who sat there from 8 till 1 a. m., adoring Rudy. Rudy waxed sentimental, because I had chided him for permitting ghost writers to make him say things in the magazines and newspapers that made him look ridiculous. He agreed that it was silly and argued that he was writing his own book and that, when it was completed, he would let me read the original. It sounds promising and most sincere. The poor guy hasn't any privacy any more. "Gee," he gee'd, "they make fun of me now because the girls send me fan mail. Do you know I can't have any fun at all? Every time I'm seen with a girl, the papers try to make it frontpage stuff by hinting that I'm in love with her or that I will marry her." I told him that he was excellent copy these days and that whatever he did was practically news — so far as that army of hero-worshipping girls was concerned. He couldn't see it that way. "Why didn't they mention me in those days when I made fifty bucks a week?" he cried. "In those days the fellows in my orchestra would join me for a long walk along Riverside Drive because we were so lonesome and without friends. In those happy days a flirtation with a girl was a thrill. Because they came so seldom, I guess. We couldn't get girls to look at us ! Now I must not be seen with the same girl twice or I find myself engaged!" So you see, girls, what you are doing to him? It really is pediculous of you! The poor feller is unhappy because he makes others happy. But that's what he says! Poor Rudy. Yet, with all his fame, the sign that covers a corner of 42nd street and Broadway (announcing the "Glorifying the American Girl" picture) spells it "Rudee Valle". Poor Rudolph!