Picture-Play Magazine (1935)

18 "I'm no Clark Gable in the matter of looks," says Mr. Clive, "and I require a good dramatic play before my fatal charm is discernible." This is the keynote of his sense of humor. CLIVE OF ENGLAND Colin Clive, who portrays morbid, menacing or harried souls on the screen, is by nature addicted to humor, sports, gardening and other quite normal pursuits. By Madeline Glass COLIN CLIVE was born in Saint Main, France." After reading this item in his studio biography I looked up at this very English actor and requested an explanation. "You see," said he, blandly, "my country was engaged in the Boer War. My mother went to France to get away from the turmoil at home, and I wanted to be with her when I was born, so I had to be born in France " A wink and a grin accompanied the explanation, for this actor, who portrays morbid, menacing or harried souls on the screen, is by nature addicted to humor, sports, gardening, and other quite normal pursuits. His enthusiasm for the latter had brought about a temporary distress, as was evidenced by his bandaged hands. While weeding, digging, and planting in his garden he had contacted poison oak. "The doctor told me to use a disinfectant on my hands," said he. "I did, but I didn't know it was necessary to dilute the stuff. It cured the poisoning, all right, but left some lively burns." As in the case with many actors, Colin Clive did not set out in life with Thespian ambitions. His clan, from the time of his celebrated ancestor, Lord Clive, whose life was recently recorded in celluloid, down to the present generation has been rigidly identified with the English army. It was assumed that Colin would carry on the good old family traditions, and he was accordingly attending the Royal Military College at Sandhurst when an accident occurred which rendered a military career inadvisable. At eighteen young Clive was thrown from a horse. That might not have been a serious matter had the horse not fallen on top of him. After recuperating from two broken knees he decided to become an actor. Under the kindly guidance of the famous actor-manager, Sir Charles Hawtrey, Colin made his stage debut in a play called "The Law Divine." Later a young English clerk, of vast obscurity, wrote a war drama which he called "Journey's End." So far as Colin was concerned it might have been called "Journey's Beginning," for it marked his start as an actor of importance. It was be who created the role of Captain Stanhope, and during its eighteen months' run in London he never missed a performance. Five years ago he came to Hollywood and enacted the same role in the screen version of the play. Recently R. C. Sheriff, author of "Journey's End," and Jeanne de Casalis, who in private life is Mrs. Clive, wrote a play which has Colin's enthusiastic indorsement. "1 hope it makes a lot of money," said he, with gay candor. "It would help pay the taxes!" This particular expense is something of a cloud in Mr. Clive's otherwise clear sky. Besides the usual taxes, which spring from a dozen sources, he has to pay income lax in both the United Stales and England. "Last year," he told me, "my agent found that only thirty per cent of my earnings accrued to me. The rest went for taxes. My English income tax could be avoided were I to become a citizen of this country, but 1 want to remain an English subject. "Americans feel that a foreign actor who is earning his living in this COuntr) should take out citizenship papers, but there are many angles to be considered in the matter. For instance, I want to be able to offer my services if England should become involved in a war. 1 was too young for the list conflict, but to-day T am ready to do :rt." This was stated in the casual tone that he used when expressing a liking for tennis, roast beef, and good 1 ooks, For there is nothing florid or melodramatic in the Clive temperament. ContiniK il on page 55