Picture-Play Magazine (1934)

64 : inucd from pagi 39 I arae the dawn. Rather, Lilian, who turned out to be a woman of beguiling friendliness and amazing candor, when the topic is hersel I . She is exactly as she screens. Her loveliness enchants but, as soon as she commences to talk, you are thrilled with the discovery that she is much, much more than you anticipated. Gracious and intelligent, she is that rare creature — an artist who can handle her ambition sensibly. Daughter of a London broker, and grand-daughter of an English rector, she was taken to Germany when a child and War conditions forced her family to remain there. Her good breeding is quite evident. Coming to Hollywood from Berlin's UFA studio, where Negri and Dietrich preceded her, she has little resemblance to those two glorious pretenders, except the common bond of charm. Lilian is the essence of sincerity, the enemy of temperament and newly-rich front. "I see you are gazing at that lamp," she said, detecting my glances. "It's caused me more trouble! I didn't ask tor this fancy bungalow. T don't even understand what they mean by glamour. This silly publicity has not been my wish. And I think it must have reacted unfavorably on the fans. "When the public read superlatives about me. they must have remarked, 'Well, now the world's wonder is about to appear.' They looked, and nothing stupendous materialized. They may have liked me, but my stories — too trite!" Lilian, believing in loyalty to one's employers, requested T skip the "once in a lifetime" details of the manner in which her vehicles were concocted. It has been a most disheartening year for her. particularly as she followed orders implicitly. "I came here to take the final step upward, professionally. In Europe I was the highest paid, with my say-so on everything. Yet I saw what marvels Hollywood had accomplished with players, and I was anxious to come and improve here. "I expected to begin anew and I've done everything the studio lias desired. Somehow, so far. I haven't jelled!" She means, of course, that she hasn't achieved the same standing with the American public that she had abroad. "Whose fault it's been, I don't know. All I can say is that I've tried my best and I believe the fault has been poor stories. Mow we've one which is good. We are making every Last Try for Lilian effort on it. I read seventy scripts myself before finding this one. I do so hope it will click big! "If it doesn't, what's the use of going on? I will finish out my contract if they insist, but why? It's so discouraging to keep reading, 'She isn't what she was in Europe!' And in Europe I've suffered a drop in prestige. In Berlin, for instance, the most important newspaper ran an open letter asking me why I'd fared so badly in Hollywood." Unwittingly she wrung her hands. Her face, generally a mask of gayety, betrayed her innate seriousness. Her Hollywood experiences have taught Lilian Harvey to speak in our colloquialisms. She seems American, and still she relies strictly on merit to get ahead in pictures. Which, ahem, can't be said for most of our natives. She has never sought to advance by any means but bard work. As a consequence she is bewildered by Hollywood's fondness for ballyhoo, social connections, and strange studio methods. "There are enough politics in the studios here to start a world war," she commented. "The main difference I note is that the studios, controlling chains of theaters, can be sure of a release for mediocre films. Abroad, a picture has to be entertaining or it's withdrawn immediately. Consequently foreign producers are directly concerned with utilizing talent." She has not attempted to impress Hollywood society. She is a recluse. not from any wish to be mysterious but because she has always found joy in concentrating on her work. "I don't know a soul here, outside of business friends. When do stars have time to party? I'm always busy doing something pertaining to work. This is no sacrifice, mind you. I'm a social flop. I've never cared for society. Even in Europe I'd only a handful of truly intimate friends. "In Germany I usually arose at sixthirty every morning and went to the studio. I got home about ten at night. We shot German, English, and French versions simultaneously. That meant two hours studying on my scripts when T returned home evenings. In the two years before coming to Hollywood, there were just fourteen days that T didn't have make up ' >n." This steady grind has been Lilian Harvey's routine ever since she entered films at sixteen. She was an overnight hit. Now. presumably in her late twenties, she is different. also, in not claiming that her career has been too stern a master. On the contrary, she assured me she's reveled in every minute of her acting job. "I don't object to working hard all the time. I have continued the same schedule here, too. I've had no dates, nothing but work in Hollywood. Only once have I had on an evening dress away from the studio." All work and no play might have made Lilian a dull girl had not her work been the business of being alluring. She rents a very large home in lollywood proper, but does no entertaining. "Why so big? Oh, I'm home every night and I get pleasure from walking around the rooms myself!" This complete concentration of hers hasn't blinded her to the fundamentals of life. "I've had a nice career; I'd like to go on a while, advance to deeper characterizations. But I'm not .avaricious for fame or money. I haven't forgotten that a husband and family are the lasting happinesses for a woman. "I shan't go on acting here in Hollywood if I'm given mediocre role-. I'd rather not take money I don't earn. Anyway, as for money, already [ am well set." Even should Lilian resume her European career she won't go on indefinitely. "I shan't step down there, either. When there's no way but gradually down, I'll stop. I can 'take it,' so why hang on?" Whatever the outcome of "Serenade" and her American venture, she intends to marry Willy Fritsch, German film star, next year. She fell in love with an actor, naturally, because she has spent all her time in studios. Her refusal to exploit her devotion to Willy is typical. Fox could endeavor to make her glamorous, if that's what American fans want, but she'll lie darned if she'll resort to romance publicity. She didn't have to in Europe. "fin's new picture is the love story of Schubert, with all his wonderful music. We've uncovered original material on him and it should be grand," she said enthusiastically. If it isn't, and Lilian Harvey's sensitiveness Eorces her to abandon her fight to give her admirers their money's worth, Hollywood will have another black mark on its record. As for Lilian, I'd like to remind her that one of the noblesl Romans of them all left us this axiom — "In great attempts it is glorious even to fail!"