Secrets of an Actress (Warner Bros.) (1938)

(Fashion) Newest Frocks Introduced By Kay Francis Orry-Kelly, who designed the glam orous garb Kay Francis wears in the Warner Bros. picture, ‘‘Secrets of an Actress,’?? which opens Friday at the Strand Theatre, divulges a secret of successful actresses. It is that they are not afraid to introduce a new silhouette, a new material or a different combination of materials. Miss Francis mutely testifies as to how the autumn silhouettes will run with a street dress combining dull black crepe and sage green duvetyn. The pencil slim skirt is black while the generously bloused tunic is green. Kimono-like sleeves extend to the wrist and cut-outs of black calf trim the belt placed at the normal waistline. The high neckline is detailed with a paisley scarf. A hostess gown Miss Francis wears in the picture has been draped on unusual lines by Orry-Kelly. The body of the dress is of white chiffon, fashioned with wrist length sleeves, softly draped bodice and girdle, while the skirt falls in soft folds to the brief train. A scarflike drape of Chinese red chiffon is looped across the back of the shoulders and is caught at the waist with brilliant encrusted gold leaves, the ends falling to the hemline. Kay wears slim chalk white crepe pajamas with a straightlined coat of spongy crepe printed with white, blue and red flowers on a black background. In another scene she appears in a Mat 102—15c Kay Francis simple navy crepe evening dress, the waistline of which is accented with blue, silver and gold sequins, sewed on to resemble coq feathers. The broad-shouldered cape of matching blue broadcloth with which she tops this has the same unique treatment marking the square shoulders. A dashing street costume of deep green gabardine is made with slim skirt and fingertip tunic. The latter is belted in black suede and has a big triangular plastron outlined with filigreed silver buttons. Cupid Rushes Film Director William Keighley did a speedy job of directing this picture. The rush was to get Kay Francis’ quota of films before her vacation period readied so she might make plans for marriage soon with Baron Raven Erik Barnekow. The result of the hurry was that a big, important picture was completed in the record time of 22 days. To make that time, however, two companies worked simultaneously. (Review) ‘Secrets Of An Actress’ Gay And Entertaining Running Time — 70 mins. If there is anyone who is still un certain as to precisely what Hollywood means when it applies the adjective ‘‘glamorous’’ to an actress, he can gain a complete understanding of the term by going to the Strand Theatre to see Kay Francis in her latest Warner Bros. picture, ‘‘Seerets of an Actress,’’ which opened there yesterday. Which does not imply that Kay Francis has never been glamorous before, for she was one of the first actresses to whom the term was applied, but it does mean that this film gives her ample opportunity to project the type of charm which has made her such an outstanding favorite. And in this day of Mat 101—15e former ‘‘ glamour girls’’ going slap George Brent : : stick, that is some thing—something for which most picture-goers will feel very grateful. Kay is an actress — a stage ac tress — and the period with which the story deals is that in which she seores her first Broadway success. There are two men in her life, George Brent, an architect, and Ian Hunter his employer. Kay likes the producer and is grateful to him for backing her show and, as he loves her, it seems for a time as if they will be married. But Kay’s heart really belongs to Brent, and he guardedly reciprocates her affection, although he is married. His marriage, however is more legal than actual, and his thoroughly heartless, mercenary wife, played by Gloria Dickson, is about to divorce him when she learns of his love for Kay. The wife proceeds to try to exploit the situation for her pecuniary advantage. Then, unknown to Kay and Brent, Hunter gallantly withdraws from the field to clear the way for the eventual marriage of Kay to the man she loves, and then actually clears the way by tricking Gloria into a solution which makes everyone happy except himself. All this is told, in a moving but more often amusing fashion, with the skill that is guaranteed by the names of Kay Francis, George Brent, Ian Hunter and Gloria Dickson. Helping nobly, mainly in the humorous sequences, are such fine entertainers as Isabel Jeans, Penny Singleton and Dennie Moore. Direction by William Keighley keeps the picture at top movement, but this is no surprise, since Keighley was identified with the stage for a number of years before coming to Warner Bros. Mat 107—15c Isabel Jeans ® Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment @ STORY SYNOPSIS (not for publication ) Kay Francis, a talented actress, has her own play produced by Ian Hunter, an admirer. Hunter’s skeptical partner, George Brent, an architect, helps by making the sets. Both fall in love with Kay, while she loves Brent, who is tied by a selfish wife whom he has been trying to divorce. Hunter, about to win Kay, discovers her real love for Brent, and in a noble series of moves, clears the way for Kay and Brent. Gloria Doeswt Forget Gloria Dickson, who leaped to film fame from the stage of a Federal Theatre project house, still keeps in touch with the WPA drama folk and often takes parties to their showings. The hit of the film ‘‘They Won’t Forget,’’ Gloria’s latest role is that of wife to George Brent in ‘‘ Secrets an Actress,’? the Warner Bros. film with Kay Francis heading the east, which opens Friday at the Strand Theatre. GLORIA DICKSON began her ca reer in a Federal Theatre Project in Los Angeles, where she was seen by a movie scout. Her first role was in ‘¢They Won’t Forget.’’ Fashion Layout for Woman’s Page Joins Warner Colony George Brent has joined the migration of Warner Bros. stars to Coldwater Canyon — in the mountains north of Beverly Hills — which already boasts such residents as Bette Davis and Kay Francis and where James Cagney is also building a new home. George and Kay play opposite each other again, incidentally, in ‘<Seerets of an Actress,’’ the Warner film opening Friday at the Strand Theatre. GEORGE BRENT fled to Canada from his native Ireland when a youth, having been an aide to rebellionist Michael Collins. Kay Francis in ‘Secrets of an Aciress,”’ is seen at left in a street costume of chalk stripe flannel with full length coat. Her slim white chalk crepe pajamas are highlighted with a paisley scarf, while at right her evening gown is of white chiffon with draped bodice and girdle of sequins. (Biography) British Army Ian Hunter’s Background Tan Hunter is probably the only actor ushered directly into the theatre by the World War and the British army. % He was 16 when he shouldered a Lee-Enfield and entered the war, but he didn’t really get into it until next year, when — that being 1917 — the Yankees began pouring into France. What he saw was a pretty stunning thing for a boy just turned seventeen. Moreover, the army life got under his skin. When the war was over he finished college, and then travelled. His parents being wealthy South Africanders, and Ian having inherited a ranch of his own in Rhodesia, this became possible. Some brothers had gone on the stage and were living an exciting life. He went to see them, met Basil Dean, was given an opportunity to act, and soon became a London matinee idol. The screen soon claimed him, and finally he was brought to America by Warner Bros., to whom he is now under contract. His latest picture for Warners is ‘¢Secrets of an Actress,’’ now playing at the Strand Theatre, in which he and George Brent are rivals for the love of Kay Francis. His role ig another of that type of mature romantic part no one else seems to do so well. Mat 104—15¢ Usually, he loses the girl he’s after. He lost Bette Davis in ‘‘That Certain Woman’? to Henry Fonda. He lost Kay Francis for the third time in his film career when George Brent got her in ‘‘Seerets of an Actress.’’ Today his wildest adventures are taking his sailing yacht out in a heavy sea. One of his interests is food — from a chef’s point of view. He claims ability to make many a fine culinary concoction, and should he retire, you’d probably find him on that Rhodesian ranch of his. TST Tan Hunter Gets Cellophane Tan Kay Francis has built a thing she calls her ‘‘sun coop’’ on the garage roof of her Coldwater Canyon home. It’s a collapsible structure of frame and cellophane (cellophane lets in the ultra-violet rays of the sun, whereas glass excludes them) which fits over a canvas cot and permits her to take sun-baths and get an early coat of tan. 2s GEORGE BRENT spurned the use of a double in a scene he made for ‘“Seerets of an Actress’’ in which he jumps from a ship’s gangplank to the dock at the end of the film. Mat 301—45c Page Nine