Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1938)

Busman's Holiday (Continued from page 12) a wonderful job of the epileptic in "Un Carnet de Bal" and is in England to costar with Miss Chatterton in "A Royal Divorce"; and Rosalind Russell, who plays opposite Mr. Donat in Dr. A. J. Cronin's "The Citadel." I had talked at some length with Dr. Cronin on the phone and had learned from him the interesting fact that he had sold the movie rights of "The Citadel" to Metro on the understanding that Robert Donat would play the part of Dr. Manson. WhEN I told this to Mr. Donat during our luncheon he was very pleased, for he had learned this for the first time. He told me: "I'm really a little frightened at what this new contract of mine means. This part in 'The Citadel' is by no means sympathetic — I'm wondering if the general public will accept me in what is really a character part. And then when this is finished I'm to do 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips.' These parts are so different from what people expect of me — and yet that's the very reason they interest and excite me!" I think that Donat is one of the few actors whom you and I can accept in whatever role he decides to play, even if it is at moments unsympathetic or distinctly a character part, rather than an obvious romantic lead as in "The 39 Steps" or "The Count of Monte Cristo." I feel also that Mr. Donat's illness has prevented him from becoming one of the world's greatest box-office bets, and now that he's well again I prophesy — as I told him frankly — that he will be right up there with Gable after his next films are released! Prophecy is a smart business. If you're right, you remind people of it. If you're wrong, just don't say anything. So I will attempt another prophecy. Stockholm, which was not very impressed by Mr. Stokowski on his recent visit with Garbo — principally because his tie, suit, and socks matched (all blue) — Stockholm is graced by a very charming movie star who has rarely been seen here. She is Aino Taube, whose picture, "En Saga," is to be seen in a few foreign-language movie theaters. I had the good fortune to meet her through my friend Tor Eliasson, her fiance. My prophecy is that one day Froken Taube will be in Hollywood, for she has the charm and talent that Hol lywood seeks. Like most Swedish men and women, she speaks perfect English which is why American men and women like you or I never learn Swedish! If my prophecy is wrong, then it's Hollywood's loss. I ES, scratch a European and you'll find a movie fan! The great H. G. Wells, whom I was fortunate enough to interview for almost an hour in his home facing Regent's Park, proved himself to some extent a movie fan. We discussed Things to Come in Movies, inspired by the title of his famous if unsuccessful film, and he shocked me with this statement: "How do we know what place movies will have in the future world — there are so many social and political factors we cannot foresee? Perhaps movies won't exist — perhaps they'll just be a vestige — kept up as a courtesy by the Japanese!" But he smiled with gratitude and approval when we discussed one of our great movie phenomena — the March of Time! And even those in the theatrical business turn with eager eyes toward Hollywood. Tamara Geva, after a vastly successful run in "Idiot's Delight" opposite Raymond Massey (whom you will see in London Films' "Drums"), asked me plaintively, "When do you suppose I will be back in Hollywood?" Lupino Lane, who has produced and starred in London's greatest musical success, "Me and My Girl," which has created a dance more popular than the Big Apple — called the Lambeth Walk — smiled sadly when I talked to him in his dressing room and he asked me if Hollywood had changed and would I please send him those pictures of himself and Myrna Loy in "Bride of the Regiment," which are Photoplay's exclusive property and so dear to his heart. In another way, too, I was made to feel very much at home in every city I visited because Photoplay, sporting the Clark Gable cover of recent issue, was widely displayed in London, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Paris. And, of course, it isn't news to you that the most popular star in Europe, as well as in America, is Shirley Temple. That made me feel at home, too, which is the main advantage of taking a busman's holiday. Freshness is the secret of Charm. . .in a Movie Star or a Cigarette From Photoplay's Executive Editor, Ernest V. Heyn, Robert Donat learned for the first time why he was selected to play Dr. Manson in M-S-M's London-made picture, "The Citadel" Fear that freshness may some day fade is a Hollywood headache to every star. For even the greatest talent loses much of its appeal when freshness "goes stale". But freshness can be protected — and Hollywood spends fabulous sums to hold that priceless charm. Likewise with cigarettes . . . Even the finest tobaccos lose their appeal when dampness, dryness or dust is permitted to rob them of freshness. But tobacco freshness can be protected— and Old Gold spends a fortune in Cellophane, to give you the rich, full flavor and smoothness of prize crop tobaccos at the peak of perfect smoking condition. You can't buy a stale Old Gold — anywhere, any time. The extra jacket of moisture-proof Cellophane on every pack brings you Old Golds with the rich, double-mellow flavor sealed in, exactly as they were made. And that, we believe, is as fine as a cigarette can be made. Try a pack, and see! TUNE IN on Old Gold's Hollywood Screcnscoops, Tues. and Thurs. nights, Columbia Network, Coast-to-Coast. Every pack wrappedin 2 jackets of Cellophane; the OUTER jacket opens from the BOTTOM. OCTOBER, 19 38 83