When Were You Born? (Warner Bros.) (1938)

\N \ S & VKGO e 3 lls (Current ) Lola Lane Wants To Find A Zodiac Twin Lola Lane, who has the featured role in ‘‘Where Were You Born?’’ at the Strand, has launched a search for her ‘‘astrological twin.’’? She wants to determine whether their lives are parallel. An ‘‘astrological twin,’’ aecording to Miss Lane, who lives her life according to the stars, is a person born at the same minute of the same day and year in the same place as another. Miss Lane was born at 1:30 a. m., on May 21, 1911 in Macey, Indiana. She is searching for a young man or woman who was born at that time in the same town. Miss Lane, who has been studying up on the stars, since she was cast in “When Were You Born?” which deals with astrology, says that, according to that science, the lives of astrological twins parallel. She points out that history records one case of astrological twins — George III of England and John Hemming, an iron monger. They were born on the 4th of June, 1738, in the parish of St. Martins-in-the-Fields. In October, 1760, when George was crowned king, Hemming went into business for himself. On the 8th of September 1761, both men were married. Both had the same number of children of the same sexes. And both died January 29th, 1820. Miss Lane is anxious to discover whether the life of her astrological twin, if there is one, has been substantially the same as her own. Director McGann Is Setline Actor Director William McGann is a setline actor. He’s like the ringside manager or second who shadow boxes, makes passes, winces when telling blows are struck and works as hard as the fighters in the ring during a thrilling fight. But McGann, whose latest directorial achievement was ‘‘When Were You Born?’’? the Warner Bros. mystery melodrama now showing at the Strand Theatre doesn’t make passes, either in ring or Hollywood parlance. MecGann’s acting is all in his face. His countenance is a kaleidoscope of emotion during filming of a scene. When Anna May Wong was speaking her lines during the filming of ‘‘When Were You Born?’’ Bill looked exoctic and mysteriously Oriental. Which was a pretty good trick for Bill, who is a great big man with a ruddy, Celtic countenance. When Anthony Averill did a bit of dramatic acting, Bill went quietly dramatic, his personality seeming to pull the utmost in drama from the player. When Frank Jaquet, as the dumb Sergeant Kelly, pulled a comedy line, McGann smiled in intense appreciation. And so on down the line of the cast. “ey C Mat 205—30c MURDER WILL OUT — Anna May Wong, in the role of an astrologer, meets up with the law as police suspect number one in the thrilling murder mystery ““‘When Were You Born?” which is the current feature attraction at the Strand Theatre. ‘Pleasure First’ Was Good Motto Por Stephenson James Stephenson believes firmly that pleasure should always come before business. Doing this worked so well in his case that he lifted himself from obscurity to an enviable spot on stage and screen. At one time Stephenson intended to follow the profession of dentistry in his native England but for some reason the public refused to share his enthusiasm in his skill, So, to keep the well known wolf from the door, he turned to business. His pleasure, however, was amateur theatricals. They afforded him so much pleasure that he found he had little time for business, and so he decided to devote all of his time to the stage. He applied for an acting job to William Armstrong, noted English producer, who immediately cast him in “Counsellor at Law,” and he did his role so well that his professional future was assured. Among other successes that followed were his roles in “Post Road” and “Storm in a Teacup.” The latter role brought him a Warner Bros. contract and he appeared in a number of their English-made productions. Recently he came to Hollywood under contract to the same studio and was immediately placed in an important role in “When Were You Born?” the sensational murder mystery thriller with an authentic astrological background, at the Strand Theatre. The Stars Said No Lola Lane, promised a vacation by Warner Bros. upon completion of her “Torchy Blane” picture, was in the midst of preparations for departure when the studio changed signals. She was wanted at once, she was informed to play an important role in “When Were You Born?” The reason assigned was that Manly P. Hall, student of the occult and author of the astrological sereen play, had cast the horoscopes of a number of actresses considered for the role and had found the signs were right in only one case—that of Miss Lane. 18 CAS [17] Lunch For Fifty Price Of Tony’s Irresistible Pun When Anthony Averill began work in “When Were You Born?” the Warner Bros. mystery melodrama which is now showing at the Strand Theatre, he was issued an ultimatum. Averill, confirmed punster, was to commit no puns. “T know,” said Director William McGann solemnly, “that it will be a temptation to have fun with Anna May Wong’s name. It offers an inexhaustible source of puns but we are determined to break you of that vicious habit of punning.” “Okay,” replied Averill, “if that’s the way you feel about it, T’ll buy lunch for the entire company if I slip.” “That’s just what we were figuring on,’ McGann said. The days passed with nary a pun escaping Averill’s lips. Unknown to him, money was changing hands behind his back, with the various members of the company betting on whether or not he would slip. He remained immune until one day when Miss Wong wasn’t working and McGann asked Averill to phone her and discuss a sequence for the next day. “What’s Miss Wong’s number?” Averill asked with a gulp. He was told to get it from the studio switchboard operator. The company waited, tense and expectant, as they watched Averill stride to the telephone. Suddenly Averill snatched the receiver from the phone and his eyes gleamed. “T want a Wong number,” he shouted, “and lunch for 50 delivered to Stage 8.” Zodiac Governs Film Filming of the picture “When Were You Born?”, the astrologieal mystery thriller now showing at the Strand, was governed entirely by astrology. Production started at 10:45 A. M., when the sun, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter were conjunct in the 10th house. Casting was astrological. with twelve leading characters individually representing the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Dr. Manley Hall, noted astrologer and author of the story, had worked the whole thing out in advance. ‘ (Current) Miss Wong Makes Friends By Horoscope Anna May Wong wants to like everybody. Her chief worry is that she will accept an unfavorable first impression and permit it to be a lasting one. Accordingly she follows a most interesting procedure. Long before Warner Bros. ever thought of making “When Were You Born?” the mystery thriller based on astrology now playing at the Strand Theatre, the lovely Chinese player, who is featured in this picture, was a student of astrology. She has had her horoscope charted by leading American astrologers, including the celebrated Dr. Manly P. Hall, and on her recent visit to China she had one charted by an eminent Chinese astrologer. Everything she does is done according to the dictates of the horoscopes. Very often, like everybody else, she meets a person she immediately dislikes. Outwardly she remains calm and gracious; inwardly she frets and seethes until she contrives to get the birthdate of the disliked one. Then she departs to chart his horoscope. As she works she endeavors to find qualities in his character that should make her like him. And it is not at all uncommon, when she is finished, for her to seek out the disliked one and make a firm and lasting friendship with him. Star Party For Stars A “When Were You Born?” party was held recently at the home of Manley Hall, author of the original story and well-known astrologer. Besides the cast of the picture, which includes Anna May Wong, Margaret Lindsay, Lola Lane, Anthony Averill, Jeffrey Lynn and many other noted screen folks, nearly one hundred newspaper and magazine writers attended. Mr. Hall’s home is built in the form of an Aztec temple, and is one of the largest fiveroom bungalows in the world. The occasion for the party was the completion of the mystery melodrama, “When Were You Born?” which is now showing at the Strand Theatre. No Fatal Predictions Anna May Wong, who has been studying astrology under the tutelage of Manly P. Hall for some time, says that an ethical astrologist in charting a horoscope will never predict a death or advise of infidelity. Of the latter, all he will say is, “Keep your eyes open around your home.” Miss Wong is featured in “When Were You Born?” the astrological mystery play written by Hall, which is now showing at the Strand Theatre. Ye IG —— TAURUS a