Screenland (May-Oct 1934)

for September 1934 73 when I came away I felt that I'd found the actress for whom I'd been searching. When I was in college we were taught much about "cause" and "effect," and assured that he who adopted the scientific, intelligent attitude was destined to conquer. Yet how many college girls have made good on the screen? I'd very nearly concluded that a girl had to emerge from a theatrical atmosphere, or had to rise to riches from rags. Fatal beauty or persistence, sharpened by poverty, apparently was infinitely more help than a methodically trained mind. And then I encountered this astute Madeleine Carroll. Her tale will encourage every well-bred, middle-class miss, for she is the daughter of a professor at the University of Birmingham, England, and she received her B.A. degree there before she ever attempted to become an actress. She majored in French. "I can't boast of my high marks in French, though," she said to me, "because my mother was a native of France and I learned the language as a child ! But it was participating in a college play that did inspire me to act." A group of noted London critics had journeyed to Birmingham to review a new play and, while there, chanced to take in the university show. They unanimously praised Madeleine, its heroine. "When I graduated I told my parents what I wished to do, and my father was horrified. With traditional gusto he forbade me to set my foot on any professional stage. He is a native of Ireland, and I must have inherited some of his determination. I vowed I had the necessary qualifications for acting !" There was a Big Scene. Madeleine, secretly supported by her mother, stalked out of the family abode. Having no money with which to storm London, she took a job as French coach in a girls' school at Brighton. In three months she'd accumulated $100 and with it she went to the metropolis and made the rounds of the theatrical offices. Because she'd had a good start in life, she wasn't sidetracked by any of the foolish theories which are thrown at novices. College had drilled in the notion that all results come from specific actions. She knew she was pretty and capable. Before her funds were exhausted she'd landed a bit with a touring company. A year later, having progressed to secondary roles, she applied for a picture part and was awarded the lead in a film with Brian Aherne. That occurred back in 1927, when she was twenty-one. Since then she has ali ternated screen and stage, appearing on the London stage opposite Charles Laughton and other major performers. A purposeful, intent woman, Madeleine Carroll was wise enough to tie up with a bright agent. Faithful concentration, abetted by his knowledge of jockeying her salary as she increased in popularity, is what zoomed her income. Producers know that her charm is unquestionable box-office, so they are willing to pay plenty. They are sure, too, that temperament, scandal, and folly are foreign to her nature, and this pleases them. My own analysis is that she stood out from the average because of her discriminating mind. She never deviated from the ideal she set for herself: an admirable career, a happy marriage, worth-while friends. A star who can stick to these desires is such a rarity that triumph is inevitable. "My husband came over with me, but he's a business man, a real estate broker, so he had to return to London," she smilingly informed me. Captain Philip Astley, her husband, is a member of one of England's finest old families and wealthy in his own right. He prefers to manage his af fairs himself, and devotes his time to them. Until she was introduced to him, threeand-a-half years ago at a ball given by the Marquis of Milford Haven, she gave no thought to love. She was all for getting ahead as she'd planned. When she wasn't asked out by people she considered worth knowing, she stayed at home. The details of her romance are as fascinating as any Hollywood star's love, which just adds to my argument that the intelligent can be rewarded ! Who do you suppose called for her and escorted her to that fateful ball? The Prince of Wales, no less ! So you can see that even before her marriage Madeleine Carroll was traveling in first-class society ! Captain Astley, she recalls humorously, made no impression that night. He tried sitting in the front row of the theatre "Our friends are non-theatrical. London is so large a city, too, that the theatrical people do not flock to particular restaurants or haunts as they do in Hollywood. The English do not expect their stars to be continually on display. Which makes it nice foi Philip and me !" The _ Astleys have a beautiful home in Mayfair, a town mansion whose walls are panelled and which is furnished in Queen Anne style. The old family estate, a vast place which has belonged to the Astleys for generations, is in Warwickshire. Not long ago Madeleine and her husband bought another country home just forty miles from London, for week-ends. And, of course, there is the picturesque Italian estate. Mistress of all these elegant houses, an associate of England's foremost social figures, owner of priceless jewels and count Madeleine Carroll and Franchot Tone in a scene which brings together the English actress who has captivated America and one of our most popular and gifted players of romantic heros. where she was acting. This went on every evening for two weeks, and he sent flowers regularly. He told London society that he was wild about her. Finally, the same marquis gave another ball, this one in Madeleine's honor. The ardent captain insisted upon taking her home. A five months' courtship ensued after he'd said good night at her doorstep. "We had fun eluding the press when we married ! I said I was getting my weddinggown and veil for a picture !" Separately they went to Italy where, at the Astley villa, they were united in a colorful ceremony. The retainers on the estate, which is near Rome, threw rose petals in their path_ and feasted merrily on the weddingeve in good old feudal fashion. _ She completely drops her professional side when she has finished work for the day — in London. Captain Astley is essentially a sportsman and he loves to entertain. Madeleine is the perfect hostess. less Paris creations, Madeleine Carroll came to Hollywood in what might be termed practically incognito fashion. Accustomed to Rolls-Royces, she used a Ford sedan here and had her secretary drive it instead of a liveried chaffeur. She reported at the studio at eight every morning during production. The only jewelry she displayed was her plain gold wedding ring and an emerald cross necklace. She wore informal, quiet clothes. What was most incredible was her profound humility. "I want to make good in America. But I wish to register with the American public on the strength of my screen performances.^ I requested there be no advance publicity campaign. I don't expect anyone here to be impressed by my past actingachievements in England, or by my personal life in London." When she told me this I almost pinched myself to be positive I was fully awake ! Are you sensing more and more why