Screenland (May-Oct 1929)

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SC REENLAND ill Bennett the Third— Continued jrom page 55 back to the Wodens of Wales. And there were the sisters, Constance and Barbara, also noted in their line. But Joan had never so much as expressed a desire for the stage. Then there were physical handicaps which Richard Bennett thought would for' ever bar her from following in line of her heritage. Joan was beautiful, but she was shy. Her voice was musical, but weak. Her eye's were bad and she had a habit of drooping her shoulders, which ruined her poise and grace on the stage. But one day the unexpected happened. Joan returned suddenly from school in France. She went immediately to the theater where her father was rehearsing for the starring role in the play, "Jarnegan." "Father," Joan said quietly. "I have decided to go on the stage." "All right, Joan," the elder Bennett said, using his best acting to keep her from sensing his happiness, "but I don't believe you will be any good." "I'll show you," said Joan, the conqueror. Then her father told her he had just the part for her first attempt. It was the ingenue lead in "Jarnegan," a most difficult and dramatic part. Joan took the role and started rehearsals undef the direction of her most exacting parent. And what a rehearsal it was — all of them! "Father told me I was no different from a thousand other ingenues, and oh, how he worked on me!" Joan tells it with that slow smile of hers. "He made me stand 'way in another part of the house while I was rehearsing, so that I could learn to strengthen my voice. He made me take difficult exercises to strengthen my back and give me poise. Soon everything was all right except^ my eyes, which are gradually improving." Then "Jarnegan" had its premiere in New York. Joan was a sensation. Sam Goldwyn saw her — and you know the rest. Then began her breathless rise to fame in Hollywood where stars have worked years to become famous. Joan is a bit bewildered about her fame. She declares she owes everything to her father's strict training. "Father was my director. I am his daughter. He is an artist. So little Joan Bennett just had to make good," she naively explains it. Joan declares she wasn't a bit afraid, even on her first stage appearance. The fact that her father gave her the role and directed her as his leading lady in his New York production, calmed any fears she may have had, because she knew that her father, underneath it all, had confidence in her. And, according to Miss Bennett, that was everything. "Aren't you afraid?" her friends asked her, whereupon Joan replied that it seemed the most natural thing in the world to act, particularly opposite her own father. Joan was born in Palisades, New Jersey. As a girl she was educated at St. Margaret's a boarding school at Waterbury, Conn., and concluded her education at a finishing school, L'Ermitage, at Versailles, France. It is hard for a pipe-smoking reporter to select the best adjectives in describing Joan: her wavy blonde hair, her Banshee eyes, her voice and — Joan. Vivid adjectives are needed, so we'll just have to let you look at her picture and try to form a memtal description of her yourself. We found Joan behind the sets of a gloomy stage at United Artists studio, where she had been having a rehearsal with other members of the cast of "Three Live Ghosts." Max Marcin, the author of the play, was helping at the rehearsals. Joan plays Rose, a young artist, who is reunited with her sweetheart whom she believed killed in action, in the filmization of this unusual play. Miss Bennett learned oil painting in Paris, but when it came time for her to do a scene in which she was seen painting flowers and other decorations on pieces of chinawear, Joan admitted this phase of art was not familiar to her. So Thornton Freeland, the young assistant director, who won his spurs for his work as assistant to Roland West in "Alibi," and became a director for the first time in "Three Live Ghosts," hired Miss Bess Schubert, artist and instructor in china painting. Joan was receiving her first instruction, between rehearsals, when we saw her. So we pulled up a studio chair for Miss Bennett, ourselves and one for her Chow pup, who has been all over the country with her. We observed that Joan has splendid taste in clothes, and at the time we talked with her she was wearing a street ensemble of beige-colored woolen material with a sports hat of shiny straw in a color to match the ensemble. Joan declares she is very happy in Hollywood. Her sister Constance is here now making pictures for Pathe, and perhaps her other sister Barbara, who is now making talking pictures in New York, may come to Hollywood later. Also, her father may come out, if "Jarnegan" ever ends it run. The little actress in her spare time enjoys horseback riding, tennis and swimming for active outdoor sports. She has already begun to acquire a coat of famous California tan. From now on Joan plans to confine her activities to talking pictures. Would she return to the stage? Yes, of course, provided her father wants her to be his leading lady again. She whispers that the talkies have simply created havoc with the New York stage, what with all its players flocking out here with microphone contracts safely tucked way in their pockets. Personality, plus confidence and stage experience, which naturally includes a trained voice, form the necessary foundation to success in talking pictures, Joan believes. Naturalness, a stage trait her father drilled into her, is the essential thing needed in film work, she says. Joan bemoans that she seems fated to play clinging-vine roles, when as a matter of fact she would like to try her hand at portraying an independent-minded ingenue. She would like to play a young character who didn't have a girlish giggle and adoring eyes. But it hasn't all been as easy as it sounds. I believe I had more difficulties to overcome in both stage and screen roles than anyone else. I still have some trouble with my eyes," she concluded, rather seriously. But you'd never think it to look at them! ^/Uie io*Ainicn I cimMaticmm Your favorite Movie star will appreciate letters from you when written on FIFTH AVENUE stationery. It's the choice of Movie stars and society folk; More personal and distinctive; Socially correct. Your Personal monogram or Name and address beautifully embossed like die engraving (not printed) black blue or jade green, (gold or silver 00c extra). Exquisite Tuxedo linen, an exceptional linen paper jiBS. of fine texture and smooth writing surface white or Pearl grey in the ever popular Club size 63dr 5 1-2 100 Folded sheets and 100 envelopes S2 Packed in Beautiful box. Shipped Postpaid ma week. 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