Picture Play Magazine (1932)

37 Though kin to stars and the cinema great, they prove that pull helps not at all in making a name for themselves. By Ben Maddox mount contract, changed the odd name to Bruce, and announced that another idol was about to emerge. When the first option time came around, Bruce reverted to Bh without ever having had a role. In this case, however, we do not need to waste any sympathy as he married a wealthy girl and learned to shoot a corking game of golf — all on Paramount's time. Valentino. His second wife, Natacha Rambova, was intensely ambitious. He financed a picture which she directed — -and it wasn't worth releasing. In fact, it was his unsuccessful efforts to have her established as story editor and supervisor on his pictures which led to his costly break with Paramount. And remember Valentino's brother who came to Hollywood to succeed Rudy ? Or maybe you don't, for no offers were made him. Clara Bow. Every film magazine once ran the photograph of her personable young cousin, William, who left Brooklyn to move into her Beverly home and become a star, too. Though Clara was the biggest boxoffice draw of the time, William got nowhere. Could the all-powerful Constance Bennett revive interest in her sister Bennett's Being Joan Crawford's brother has brought scant success to Hal LeSueur who wants to act, too. Barbara ? As Richard daughter, Barbara was given a chance along with Constance and Joan to make good in the talkies. The third Bennett girl evidently hasn't enough pull to get starring roles. Laura La Plante's sister, Violet, had a terrific yen to be a star, too. Despite plenty of pull, the unknown sister is still unknown. Charles Seiter, younger brother of Laura's husband, William A. Seiter, prominent director, wanted to be a screen juvenile. The influential Seiter hasn't landed his brother in the big time yet. Lupe Velez. What producer wouldn't like another sexy whirlwind? There are other Yelez girls available, Lupe's sisters. No one appears interested. Being married to a star, and a creditable actor or Carmelita Geraghty is the daughter of a famous scenario writer, a pal of Douglas Fairbanks. How often do you see her? Buddy Rogers wangled a contract for Brother Bruce who hadn't had a role when it expired. &f~M actress yourself — now what could be a better situation? If your own merits could not arouse enough enthusiasm, certainly a word from your better half would turn the trick. Again I say — yeah? Take a look at some of our wedded stars and notice how much good pull is doing the lesser lights. At Charlie Farrell, for example. His wife, Virginia Valli, works occasionally for obscure companies. Once a star herself and Mrs. Charles Farrell now, but what of it ? Maurice Chevalier ought to have a little drag, don't you think? His wife made a name for herself in France as Yvonne Yallee. In Hollywood she has received only one request to make a cinema appearance, and that was in a foreign version. Mrs. Wallace Reid. the widow of another idol, capitalized on her husband's name in a few productions after his death. Though an actress of repute before marriage, too, she was unable to create any stir. How about some of our famous feminine stars who have actor husbands ? Ralph Forbes got a part in one of his wife's talkies, and Ruth Chatterton helped him get a lead with Clara Bow. . Claudette Colbert is starred by Paramount, but her husband, Norman Foster, fights his own battles for supporting roles. When Dolores del Rio was getting $8,000 a week, her husband, Jaime del Rio, was trying to sell a play in Hollywood. She did what she could ; no buyers materialized. Recently she was out of the running herself for a year, despite the fact that her second husband, Cedric Gibbons, is art director for M.-G.-M. Her return is being made not at her husband's studio. Think of the famous male stars whose actress wives have not found their husbands' pull sufficient. Reginald Denny tried to help his wife, Bubbles Steifel, up the ladder. They Continued on page 72