Screenland (Apr-Oct 1930)

98 SCREENLAND Here's Hollywood Continued from page 76 MODESTY is a prevailing trait among the Hollywood stars, who are quieter than our satellites of yesteryear. Katharine Hepburn frankly says, "I made good in a part that was fool-proof (in 'Bill of Divorcement'). Wait until I get another picture before you call me successful." Jean Harlow says : "I have nothing to offer the screen except a low-brow sex appeal, and I'm cashing in on that." Richard Arlen says : "There are thousands of better actors in Hollywood; I've just had the good luck to get the breaks." r^\ID the jungle superstitions of interior Africa cast an evil spell over the cast of "Trader Horn," picture produced on the dark continent two years ago ? Edwina Booth, one feminine member of the cast, was stricken with a jungle fever after her return, and has been confined to her bed for almost two years. Harry Carey, who played the title role and gave a fine performance, has hardly been heard from since. The only other principal of the cast is Duncan Renaldo. A few weeks ago he was sentenced to serve two years in prison and pay a two thousand dollar fine for making false statements in order to obtain passports to go to Africa to play in "Trader Horn." W. S. Van Dyke, director of the picture, is now "iced in," far up North in the Arctic circle, by winter snows. He is producing a new film, "Eskimo," near the Pole. TTERE'S something new — a race with the ■»■ 1 stork ! You all know the Edward G. Robinsons are "blessed eventing." They have been living in New York awaiting the arrival of their heir. But a studio call came ordering Edward G. to hurry to Hollywood to make "The Little Giant." This gave him eighteen days to make the picture. At this writing Robinson is rushing through the film, and the stork hasn't been spotted as yet. SLIM" SUMMERVILLE says the day he visited San Quentin penitentiary, the Governor was also there. A convict bumped into His Honor, according to Slim, and cried, "Pardon me, Governor." But the Governor didn't do it. WILLIAM HAINES has the softest racket in Hollywood — his Antique Shoppe. The stars have gone daffy over Billy's interior decorating. (After I saw director Richard Wallace's sitting room, done in mulberry walls with old rose chairs piped in pink, I nearly went crazy, too. ) Particularly do the film greats like Bill's antiques. Someone very close to Haines informed me that he makes a four-to-one profit on antiques, but that hardly sounds reasonable. Llowever, one thing is sure : Haines profits at least as much from his business as from his movie contract. Helen Hayes bids fair to give one of her most appealing performances in the sound version of "The White Sister," in which Lillian Gish scored one of her greatest triumphs in silent days. Clark Gable looks more romantic than ever as the officer in love with Helen. DROBABLY the greatest amount of 1 money ever paid an actor in a lump sum was that $250,000, which represented the final instalment of John Gilbert's contract with M-G-M. Because the human mind has difficulty in imagining so much money, these comparative figures may interest you : The picture for which Gilbert received his check • was made in one month. The average working girl is paid $75 a month for her services; therefore, for every dollar the average girl is paid, Gilbert received $3,333.33. Of course, the average girl has this advantage over John : The government won't take nearly half of her earnings. GRAND HOTEL" still keeps on garnering honors! Now it wins first place in the list of the ten best pictures of the past year, as chosen by 368 film critics and editors in the eleventh annual poll conducted by Film Daily. The other nine, in the order of preference, are "The Champ," "Arrowsmith," "Smilin' Through," "The Guardsman," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," "Emma," "Bill of Divorcement," "Back Street," and "Scarface." Pictures voted on include only those released during the fiscal year ending November 1, 1932, which of course excludes from the running a number of excellent recent films. LEG and hand doubles often save the ■/ studios oodles of money. Frank McDonald, who has doubled hands for James Cagney, Richard Dix, Leslie Howard, Charles Bickford and others, saved one film company several hundred dollars recently. Howard's hands were needed for a scene in "Secrets," after that picture had been completed. To have recalled Leslie meant a full day's salary, or several hundred dollars. McDonald was called, instead, and when the scene reaches the screen, nobody will know the difference — until they read this item ! SPEAKING of movie doubles, there is a woman in the publicity department at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer who is a counterpart for Kay Francis. Her name is Eleanor Packer, and she has often been confused with Kay. A MAN I know is out of a job. He is the guy who formerly painted and removed names on office doors at one of the film studios. He had himself quite a position, for hardly a day passed, what with hiring and firing quite the fad, that he didn't have at least a few names to erase and replace. But a new building on the lot features on office doors brass holders into which cards may be slipped, for identification of occupants. Anybody got a job for a swell name-painter-on ? IN CASE you think you've seen something in the line of movie shockers, just stick around until Paramount releases its "War of the Worlds," based on the fantastic novel by H. G. Wells. It's all about a band of creatures from Mars who invade our poor planet and start messing things up. They're a gruesome lot, those Martians that Mr. Wells imagined, and if the picture portrays them faithfully you'll want a light burning in your bedroom for a good many nights after you've seen them.