Screenland (Nov 1934-Apr 1935)

for December 1934 33 Will He Rival Chaplin? While Charlie thinks about a new picture, meet Jimmy Savo, now making his first film comedy By Leonard Hall OUT in California a little white-haired gentleman named Charles Spencer Chaplin (remember?) is getting ready to start another movie. Between dreams of Miss Paulette Goddard, the greatest pantomime artist of his time is preparing his first picture since "City Lights." This will go on for months, for The Great Man has a way of shooting a scene and then getting out his violin and fiddling while his public burns. But while Chaplin and his genius go into their slow waltz, you are about to be introduced to another master of pantomime, which is the foundation of the motion picture art — another mighty little man who can make you laugh and blubber at the same time. Shake hands, folks, with Jimmy Savo ! Fans — Savo. Savo — fans. Jimmy is now being whipped and cajoled through his first feature film by the irrepressible Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. They are chasing him up the hills and down the dales of New York State, to the huge delight of both the gentry and peasantry right across the Hudson River from the manor house of Squire Franklin D. Roosevelt. And who, you ask, is this Jimmy Savo? This Jimmy Savo, I answer, is five feet four of wistful wop. A little Italian born in New York's own Bronx. One of those inspired souls who have raised the business of face-making from a bad boy's trick to a full and perfect expression of the myriad moods of man. For ten years American theatre-goers have known this Savo and revelled in his work. Thou, Fm wagering, will go to the movies and do likewise ! His film debut at this time is of big importance and interest. For over twenty years Mr. Chaplin, the Little Grey Genius, has ruled the pantomimic world alone. He now has a formidable rival in the movie world. I make no comparisons. I say that Savo is good, too, and leave the rest to you. Ah, this Hecht and this MacArthur ! They're no ninnies ! In pantomime, the eyes have it. Watch Savo's. They are big, and brown, and very sad, like those of a spaniel who has just been booted in the ribs for no reason. He wears a long, raggy coat that hammers down his height, and a tired felt hat some large man has sat upon. Jimmy's no copy-cat — but, like Chaplin, he is the futile, puzzled little man who is forever being kicked in the trousers by Life. He can look wistful in forty-two languages and dialects. The producers got Savo-conscious one night at the Casino de Paree. Jimmy was appearing at that gaudiest, loudest of Broadway's night spots when Hecht and MacArthur saw him. Savo was pantomiming the famous old American folk song, "River Stay Away From My Door." But he wasn't just singing at the river. Oh, dear, no! The raging Mississippi was threatening poor little Jimmy and his door, right there on that night-club stage ! He begged it to stay away — he ordered it — he tried" to push it away with his feeble little hands. Thanks to the little man's genius, the watcher could see that mean old river thundering through Jimmy's door and wetting him all over, though the only thing pouring in the Casino that night was Scotch and soda ! In no time at all Hecht and MacArthur were waving a movie contract at him. He'll work that sort of magic on you, too, when he hits the screen, and it will knock your spectacles off ! Having caught their star, the boys cooked a gay, sad story for him. They call it — imagine ! — "Little Clown, Laugh!" Jimmy's a little {Continued on page 88) You may have seen Jimmy Savo on the stage. Now you'll be seeing this great little clown on the screen in "Little Clown, Laugh," the second Hecht-MacArthur production. Watch for him!