The Picture Show Annual (1931)

142 Picture Show Annual AL JOLSON'S "FIND" IT was Al Jolson who turned Josephine Dunn's failure into success. Her film career had begun most promisingly She had a contract, several well-played supporting roles to her credit, and every assurance that her contract would be renewed when it expired, for the company had practically told her that she was to be the blonde in the film version of " Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." The author, Anita Loos, however, had the casting vote, and she gave it in favour of Ruth Taylor. So Josephine who, on the strength of her contract being renewed, had brought her entire family to Hollywood, was told that two such similar types meant one too many in the studio and she was the odd man out. For nine months she was without work. Her family were practically dependent on her, and Josephine was desperate an agent got her the leading lady role opposite William Haines in " Excess Baggage," and she signed a contract. Then right on its heels came an offer from A! Jolson. He had seen her in a film and wanted her for the role of his wife in " The Singing Fool." And it was her clever study of the selfish .Molly that made her in such demand for talkie parts. OBODY who saw " The Big Parade " will ever forget " Slim," the big doughboy with the accurate aim in expectoration. This was Karl Dane's first real part after four years of Hollywood, four years spent working as an engineer in order to live, while he studied film acting in his spare time. He had gone to America in 1917 and played extra parts in New York until he was given a big part in " My Four Years in Germany," a sensation in America. No more parts were forthcoming, so he went into vaudeville, and in 1920 arrived in Holly- wood. As this was the hub of motion picture production, and he was determined to become a film actor, he stayed there. Now he has achieved his ambition, and with his soft voice and quaint accent, promises even greater fun in talkies than in silent pictures. BORN RICH ITS bad enough to be poor, but it's worse to become poor when you've been accustomed to wealth. That is what happened to Robert Montgomery. He and his brother were still at a fashionable prep, school when his father died and, when the affairs were seuled, it was found that his sons were penniless. They had to forego the university for which their father had entered them when they were liny, and set about earning a living. They had not been brought up to expect to have to work, but they put their backs into it, and got jobs as mechanics' helpers in a railway yard. Next Robert Montgomery signed on for a job in an oil tanker, and when he got back, through sharing a room with another boy, he was introduced to the stage. His first job was in " The Mask in the Face," in which he played seven different characters at five dollars a week each. Then he played for a year and a half in stock, in seventy-two different plays, after which he returned to Broadway. He was one of the most promising young actors on the stage there when he was chosen to play in " Three Live Ghosts." " So this is College," " Untamed," " Their Own Desire," and other talkies followed in quick suc- cession, and Robert Montgomery found himself climbing to fame even more rapidly than he had done on the stage. If he is not one of the most popular stars of the near future many prophets will be confounded.