Screenland (May-Oct 1931)

130 SCREEN LAND If s just a Lot of Talk! That's what Evalyn Knapp has to say about her screen success By Helen Howard HERE'S a girl who calmly surveys her success in Hollywood and remarks, "It's just a lot of talk !" Modesty? Not particularly ! Evalyn Knapp means just what she says. Talk — the common garden variety that you and I use every day, has played such an unusual part in her life that almost every time she opens her mouth it seems as if it brings her either a triumph or a sorrow. Evalyn was born and educated in Kansas City, Missouri. The "you've-got-to-show-me" state. Evalyn started showing 'em at an early age — in high school, with her acting in amateur dramatics. In junior college it was the same way. Whenever there was a fat leading role to be played, Evalyn got it, and carried off all honors. When her school days were over, she got a job in a local stock company, and for a while it looked as though she had found a clear road to success. And then — she talked herself out of it ! Just as everything was at its rosiest, the manager came to her, and turned Evalyn's whole world dark with just one sentence. "You've got a perfectly horrible, middle-western accent," he said, "and you'll never get anywhere in the theatre until you get rid of it." Evalyn resigned from the company then and there. Talk had gotten in its first blow ! In spite of parental opposition, Evalyn went to New York. Her family felt that any success their daughter might win would be valued the more because she had earned it all herself, so she painted Christmas cards, laboriously, hundreds upon hundreds of them, to get the money for her ticket. Once there, she studied elocution and enunciation for six long months without once going near a theatre to try for a job. How she ever lived through it, Evalyn herself isn't quite sure, but there was a succession of unpleasant, poorlypaid jobs that helped her eat and pay rent for a half-year that she will never forget. Finally her teacher pronounced her ready, and Evalyn landed her first New York role, in "The Patsy." No chance to use the new cultured accent here, though, nor in any of the parts that followed. She went on the road, too, playing, incidentally, for several "7he" M?nionaZe weeks in Los Angeles without ever Arliss; and in ' going to Hollywood or any of the studios. Back east again, she was given a picture test, and because the studio liked her voice so much, she received a lead in a Yitaphone short subject. But — it was a ga-ga, baby talk role. Evalyn, imitating a soft-voiced Southern girl she had known, did it so well that the studio officials, thinking it the only sort of thing she could do, put her in twenty-eight more of them ! Even so, they won her a long term contract to make full-length pictures. After a month on a boat, to help her put on a little weight, Evalyn reached Cinema City, and reported for work. Darryl Zanuck, Warner executive, who was the first to interview her, drew back when he heard her speak. "Why, you don't talk baby talk at all !" he exclaimed. Another disappointment, to be laid at the door of talk. Seeing Evalyn's downcast face, Zanuck added kindly, "Never mind, probably we can find something else . for you to do." He gave her the JlK lead in "Sinner's Holiday." But Sg* — (yes, another one) — it was a penny arcade play, with a Coney Island accent ! Here was a jinx that could not be broken. Was the Kansas City manager wrong after all ? Evalyn despaired of ever winning a chance to use her dearly-bought cultured accent. Then, the jinx did break ! Out of a clear sky, just as she was about to give up, Evalyn graduated overnight from the language of the bowery to that of Boston. In other words, to the leading feminine role in a George Arliss picture ! Mr. Arliss, notoriously careful as to the quality of his supporting casts, was interviewing all prospective leading ladies himself. Nervous, facing tremendous competition, Evalyn read over the play with him. But Mr. Arliss' first words, too, were a disappointment. "Where are you from?" When Evalyn tremblingly replied "Kansas City," he answered "I thought so !" So the mid-western accent still clung. All was lost. Not quite. The eminent actor's next words reassured her. "I don't think there is anything in vour speech that cannot be over om you 11 see in J r~.r , with George come You get the Part You and I." Talk had scored again !