Personal Maids Secret (Warner Bros.) (1935)

© Publicity Actress Has Trouble In Controlling Rubber Face Ruth Donnelly Finds ‘‘Mugging”’ a Handicap in *“‘Personal Maid’s Secret’’ For Ruth Donnelly these are troublesome times. She has had to put a leash on her ‘‘rubber face.’’ Miss Donnelly, who is ‘‘thirty-seven going on thirtyeight,’’ has played in nearly two score motion pictures. Virtually all have provided her with comic roles, in which she could let her elastic features run riot. Her latest assignment, which she considers her most im portant to date, is the role of a maid in the Warner Bros. comedy drama “Personal Maid’s Secret,” which. comes: towthe:.: 22.0 .'... theavremone =... een The part, although it has its light moments, is also dramatic to the extreme. “And my rubber face is giving me no end of trouble,’ Miss Donnelly commented. The veteran character actress and comedienne inherited her rubber face from her years on the legitimate stage. “Behind the footlights,” she explained, “one can exaggerate gestures and expressions because the audience is quite some distance from the stage. As a matter of fact, ‘mugging’—exagger-: ating gestures and expressions— is almost a requisite. “On the screen, however, it’s entirely different. I remember the first time I ever saw myself in pictures. I had ‘mugged’ through eight reels of film and when I saw the magnified image of my expressions on the screen in close-ups, I almost cried. Believe me, that was the last time I made the mistake of ‘over-acting’—in— “My features expressed themselves all over the screen. When I moved my eyes it appeared that my whole face was moving. The camera emphasized every line. “Not only that, but it made me look older. I don’t mind ad mitting Tm thirty-seven, going on thirty-eight, but I do hate to look like fifty. “In roles of a humorous nature, which have been my forte in films, a certain amount of ‘mugging’ is permissible, but in a decidedly ‘straight’ role such as the one ’m now playing it has absolutely no place. “I have discovered a ‘rubber face’ is a liability as well as an asset.” “Personal Maid’s Secret’ is based on a Saturday Evening Post story by Lillian Day. There is a talented cast including Margaret Lindsay, Warren Hull, Anita Louise, Miss Donnelly, Arthur _ Treacher, Frank Albertson, Henry O’Neill and Ronnie Oosby. Arthur G. Collins directed the production fromthe-sereen_pley by FE, Heeh Herbert and Lillie Hayward. Actress’ Screen Career Saved By Reeall of Gold The fact that the United States went off the gold standard just when it did, prevented Anita Louise, who has the romantic role in the Warner Bros.’ picture, “Personal Maid’s Secret,’ Weichecomes: to: the... a... CHOAETO MOMs. cis ne se teca ats ,» from abandoning her career in pictures to concentrate all her time and talents on her music. “Mother and I were in New York, preparing to sail for Europe for a long stay so that I could study music there,” she says, “when the United States called in the gold. Foreign exchange fluctuated so for a few days that we couldn’t tell what the money we have saved would be worth after we got to Europe. “So we gave up the idea and went back to Hollywood.” Anita has studied music energetically almost all her life. Her mother wanted her to be a musician—not an actress. She plays the harp, the piano and the lyre and the three instruments are grouped in one end of the Louise living room in Hollywood. “Of course ’m glad now that we didn’t give up pictures and go to Europe,” admits Anita. “Personal Maid’s Secret” is a rollicking comedy interspersed with dramatic situations and a glamorous romance. The plot carries a most unusual twist and is based on a Saturday Evening Post story by Lillian Day. There is a talented cast including Margaret Lindsay, Warren; Hull, Miss Louise, Ruth Donnelly, Arthur Treacher, Frank Albertson, Henry O’Neill and Ronnie Crosby. Arthur G. Collins directed the production from the screen play by F. Hugh Herbert and Lillie Hayward. Actress Expects To Spend Rest of Her Life in Films Ruth Donnelly expects to remain in pictures for a long time. “T’ve been an ingenue and a leading lady, a character actress and a comedienne,” she explained. “Some of these days I’ll be a dowager and then I’ll turn to nice old grandmother parts. “What more could anyone want?” Miss Donnelly, who has a leading role in the Warner Bros. comedy drama ‘Personal Maid’s Secret,’ which comes to _ the arrestee cs theatre: on: 2.4 spoke with conviction. “I like pictures, and I like Hollywood,” she said, “I think T’ll stay around here for quite some time. Miss Donnelly has the part of a maid who brings riches to the family she works for in “Personal Maid’s Secret,” a rollicking comedy with tense dramatic situations and a fascinating romance, based on a Saturday Eveing Post story by Lillian Day. Grown-Ups Get a Kick From Boy’s Airplane The eight year old child star who has a featured role in the Warner Bros. production, ‘“Personal Maid’s Secret,” which comessto: the... theatre on Re a Na Ot ae , did not lack for playmates when working on the film. Having been presented with a toy airplane by his mother, he took it to the studio with him. Everyone on the set, from Margaret Lindsay, star of the picture, down to the electricians and prop men, took turns in helping him fly it around the stage, and seemed to enjoy it even more than Ronnie. At The Strand Margaret Lindsay, Warren Hull and Anita Louise (top to bot tom) who have the leading roles in “Personal Maid’s Secret,” the Warner Bros.’ comedy hit now showing at the... Theatre. Mat No. 103—10c Lesson to Butlers Is Taught in Film Warren Hull, who plays the leading masculine role opposite Margaret Lindsay in the Warner Bros. production, “Personal Maid’s Secret,” which comes to the theatre on dispute with Arthur Treacher on a matter of etiquette in one of the sequences. Treacher, a butler, accidentally comes upon his master dining with a blonde. The script called for him to bow. Hull said a butler should recognize his master on all occasions. “Not if he is with a strange blonde,” said Treacher. And so the scene was filmed without speaking. Famous Star Of Stage and Radio Now in Pictures Warren Hull, long prominent on the New York stage and the nation-wide radio hook-ups, is the newest convert to the silver screen. Hull comes to Hollywood with nearly a decade of stage and radio eperience behind him, During his years on the stage he starred in numerous musical productions. Now under contract to Warner Bros.’ studios, Hull is playing the featured male lead opposite the dark-haired star, Margaret Lindsay, in the comedy-drama, “Per sonal Maid’s Secret,” which comes» tos thes. re eens. TPH CATEO WON aa A ene Warren Hull, Radio Star Makes His Bow In Films Has Leading Role Opposite Margaret Lindsay In *“*Personal Maid’s Secret’’ Hollywood, ever on the lookout for new talent, has drafted another star from radio. He is Warren Hull, whose mellow baritone voice has been heard by countless radio listeners who tune in on the nation-wide chains. Hull has been given a long-term contract by Warner Bros. His first assignment is the male lead opposite Margaret Lindsay in the comedy-drama ‘‘Personal Maid’s Secret,”’ which comes to the..>....... Despite his comparative youth —Hull is only thirty, though he looks even younger—he comes to films with a colorful career in the legitimate stage and radio behind him. It musical comedy, was on the ether waves, however, that he gained the national fame that led to his being tested for the screen. At the time he was signed by Warner Bros. several weeks ago Hull was under contract for three radio programs. All three of his sponsors cheerfully abrogated their contracts with him when the screen opportunity came. Hull studied voice at the University of Rochester, New York, under the same instructor who started John Charles Thomas on his brilliant career. Hull found radio engagements before he was able to get stage roles. Later hig activities in musical comedies occupied so much of his time that he was forced to abandon his broadcasting entirely. He had featured parts in “The Student Prince,” “My Marylerd,? —Rain—or—Chire,s “Follow Through” and other productions. Hull now intends to continue his radio career in Hollywood, as his Warner Bros.’ contract permits him to do. “Personal Maid’s Secret” is a hilarious comedy interspersed with dramatic situations and a glamorous romance. The plot, carries a most unusual twist and is based on a Saturday Evening Post story by Lillian Day. There is a talented cast including Margaret Lindsay, Hull, Anita Louise, Ruth Donnelly, Arthur Treacher, Frank Albertson, Henry O’Neill, and Ronnie Cosby. Arthur G. Collins directed the production. Their Maid Made ’Em Per sWOoUhes OMe eae ota. sas New Screen Find Warren Hull, famous radio and musical comedy stage _ star, makes his screen debut in “Per sonal Maid’s Secret,’ Warner Bros. laugh hit of domestic spending which opens at the —__— Theatr Cae Mat No. 102—10c Ruth Donnelly Learns To Cook for Film Ruth Donnelly lessons in cooking. Miss Donnelly, blonde comedienne, has a featured role in the comedy drama “Personal Maid’s Secret,” which comes to the thestrecon. tee... She plays the part of a maid and was called upon to prepare meals. Unfortunately, however, she didn’t know how to cook. “Pinky” Weiss, the property man, set up a stove on the stage and instructed her in the art. recently took Warren Hull grumbled, but Margaret Lindsay, in the role of his wife, spent his money and made his fortune in Warner Bros.’ “Personal Maid’s Secret,” a romantic comedy coming to the... ake Ee Th ee eet DLCOLT CO) Mette ie ee a ee Mat No. 201—20c Page Seven