Picture-Play Magazine (1933)

Continued from page 23 "I did five shows in England, though I never played in London. The friend wrote a New York agent that a very promising actress was sailing for America. Before T landed on native soil — I was two weeks late on purpose in order to stir up the proper anticipation — I'd heen sent cables with play offers." What value build-up ! The Broadway agent scurried around the town and quickly placed her in the lead of a new play. She expected to score in New York and then go West. The production was delayed for a fortnight, due to a controversy over the film rights. And Margaret, impatient, requested her agent to arrange for screen tests. Various studios tested her. Universal wanted an English actress for "The Old Dark House" and signed her, but before she arrived in Hollywood Gloria Stuart was put into the role. For six months Margaret collected a modest salary and, aside from a Tom Mix lead, did only bits. Then Fox began casting "Cavalcade," seeking an all-English cast. She was called for a test and O. K.'d for a prominent role. It was her long-awaited break. "I was in a quandary. Although I looked and talked English, to tell them that I was actually from Iowa would have lost the assignment for me. Yet I was conscience-stricken at fooling them. "English Gel" From Iowa "The upshot was that I resolved to investigate the rest of the cast. 1 f any of the leads were not English, I'd go through with it. Who do you suppose was less authentic than 1 ? None other than Beryl Mercer. She was born in Spain." You'd hardly recognize Margaret if you've not seen her since "Cavalcade," in which she was sincere but not seductive, good but not glamorous. She was obviously talented and it won her the necessary notice. However, she realized she required something more. "It was a marvelous picture. But I feel that on the screen how you look is of more consequence than how you act. A plain, typically English type would have little chance for widespread popularity." So what did she do to climb out of the merely among-those-present category? She took to heart the volumes of glamour advice expounded in the magazines. Lessons in make-up have transformed her into a beauty. Her figure was lithe, but it hadn't been gowned right to be luring. She's learned to pour herself into tightfitting dresses. Hey, hey, Jean Harlow— are you looking? The simple English girl has evolved into a stunning young modern. If you glimpsed her opposite William Powell, in "Private Detective 62," you know her as she is to-day. She resembles Mary Duncan and has the 63 superb poise of Kay Francis. Which is amazing in one of her tender age. That broad "a" accent is the only remnant of her pose. It is slated for tlie discard, too. "It's no joke to lose," she continued as we readied for seconds on coffee. "I was taught a stage accent. It wasn't difficult to slip into the British vocal swing. The job is to get rid of it. I practice on 'can't' instead of 'cawn't,' for instance. An hour afterward I catch myself saying, 'I can't take a bawth,' or some such incongruity !" Before I departed and she returned to the set, I discovered she lives serenely by herself in a Hollywood apartment. Her mother, who is just forty-six, visits her whenever possible and no doubt is certain this well-trained daughter can handle any situation which may arise. Between pictures Margaret indulges in a heavy program of dancing, horseback riding, tennis, and golf. She has numerous admirers and so far has never sung a torch song for one of them. Her aim is to be as fine an actress as Helen Hayes. Already she's displayed exceptional ability in characterizing, don't you think? The toughest audience in the world — Hollywood itself — was convinced she was English un til she chose to unmask. A modern maiden with her flair for fooling is bound to dent the talkies. r *■ ,t « They Continued lrom page 25 ' providing himself with ready cash. Mrs. Howard sent him off to the bank, where he ran into old friends and somehow or other forgot all about the details of his departure. Say in New York — When he got back to the hotel a lobby full of interviewers and debutantes streaming out from a party in the Victorian suite were lingering about to catch a glimpse of him. Mrs. Howard put in a few frantic minutes making telephone calls to get old friends to bring up any cash they could spare, and what with one thing and another there was a wildly confused traffic jam in front of the hotel for twenty minutes. Incidentally, Leslie was the boy who planned to live simply and not let that movie money change his thrifty habits. However, he reserved the Prince of Wales suite on the ship for his trip to England. Fashion Notes. — Your favorite fashion models may be Lilyan Tashman and Joan Crawford, or Kay Francis and Norma Shearer, but they are not the big influence on the garment trade at the moment. Katha rine Hepburn and Gloria Swanson are largely responsible for the clothes in the advance showings of new fashions. Katharine Hepburn has been ordering much of her wardrobe from Elizabeth Hawes, the ranking young American designer, and Gloria Swanson orders frocks by the dozen from Schiaparelli in Paris. Manufacturers are making copies of many of them to be sold throughout the country. The new Hawes models have discarded the padded shoulders in favor of natural ones, and burst into fullness in the sleeves. Most of them are high-necked. There is a half belt across the back and many of the frocks have tunics. Wooden buttons, butterplate size, and bell cord are used as trimming. Oxford gray is favored by Hawes for suits and with these are worn velveteen overblouses in gay colors. The necklines are tricky and can be arranged high, low, or tied this way and that. Many of them lace at the neck and suede is used for trimming. The outstanding feature of the Schiaparelli collection which Gloria Swanson has taken up in a large way is one of those inspired dresses that masquerade as several. There is a slip of synthetic silk jersey over which hand-knit jackets, short ones like boleros, are worn. Sometimes these are the same color as the slip ; more often they are in contrasting colors. A turtle-necked top makes it a sports dress, a tailored jacket makes it a street dress, a bolero with soft, draped neckline gives it the air of an afternoon dress. Not only Hollywood, but probably the whole country will be wearing these after Gloria comes back and displays them. Composite Picture Star. — McLelland Barclay started a new argument among fans when he confided to the press the features of an ideal film beauty made up from the best features of several. His choice would have Kay Francis's gait, Marlene Dietrich's legs, Wynne Gibson's knees, Miriam Hopkins's chest and shoulders, Carol Lombard's hips, Sylvia Sidney's hands, Mae West's teeth, Helen Twelvetrees's lips, and Elissa Landi's carriage.