Silver Screen (May-Oct 1939)

82 Silvkr Screen for July 1939 West Coast Whispers YOUNG Gary Crosby, 'tis said, croons exactly like his old man. So when a baby crooner was needed as a gag in Bing's latest picture, "The Star Maker," the casting director immediately pounced upon Bing and begged him to let his young offspring appear in the picture. "Nope," said Bing, "too many other kids need the money."' When Bing and Joan Blondell were making "East Side of Heaven" over at Universal the casting director on that picture also went after Bing to let his youngest play the Baby Sandy role. When Bing refused, the ambitious director with his eye on a publicity break tried to talk Joan into letting little Ellen play the part. "Good heavens no," said Mrs. Powell, "if Ellen and Normie ever go into pictures Dick and I will have to retire. Heaven forbid. They can act circles around us already." Neither the Powells nor the Crosbys ever intend pushing their offspring but, as Joan and Bing say, "If they want to be actors when they grow up, we won't stand in their way." =fc ^ ^ When young Gary Crosby was visiting his father at the studio the other day he ran right smack into Gary Cooper, whom he is named after. "Hello, there," said Gary, "I know you. You are Gary Crosby, aren't you?" "My Daddy," said young Gary with great dignity, "calls me Bucket-pants." ^ ^ There's a guy who sells newspapers at the corner of Vine and Sunset in Hollywood who is going to grow up to be a press agent. The day the Dorothy Lamour divorce was announced and all the newsboys were yelling, "Dorothy Lamour sued for divorce by Herbie Kaye," this youth was startling the natives into buying papers with "Dotty's in the Doghouse! Read all about it! Dotty's in the Doghouse!" % ^ There are two girls in Hollywood who never go home alone. Every day Robert Taylor drops by the Columbia Studios around six o'clock and sits in Barbara Stanwyck's dressing room until she is ready to go home. And Charlie Chaplin has one of the sacred Lemon Grove passes which admits him and his car on the Paramount lot — where he can be found late every afternoon waiting for Paulette Goddard to finish her day's work. % H« All the gals who will play in "The Women" are as busy as bees these days trying to get new — and sensational — ■ hairdos. Norma Shearer thinks she will stick to the "Baby Bob." Joan Crawford spent a week in New York studying up on new coiffures. But so far it is Rosalind Russell who has burst forth with the most daring new hairdo. It is called the "Poodle Bob" and is a combination of straight hair and curls. A little something Hair Designer Sidney Gidlaroff dreamed up. 5|s ;f; The Hollywood Press got quite a delightful chuckle out of the cast-and-credit sheet handed them at the preview of "Calling Dr. Kildare," the other evening. Concerning the gowning of the breath-takingly voluptuous Lana Turner it said, "The wardrobe department studied her psychology to work out the right combination." When Robert Taylor appeared at the Metro studio to start work on "The Lady of the Tropics" after a few weeks' vacation which he spent on his ranch, the Metro officials took one look at his suntan and called a board meeting. It seems that Bob's suntan is too deep and that the make-up men will have to bleach his features so that he'll contrast with the natives in the picture! And when Louise Campbell appeared on "The Star Maker" set the other day with a nose that was red and swollen from one of those spring colds the make-up man was summoned immediately. Louise finished the picture in a "prop" nose. Nature hasn't a chance in Hollywood. ANNOUNCEMENT THE winner of the Star Information Contest, which appeared in our April issue, is Helen M. McClendon of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the prize, a lady's Wittnauer wrist watch, has been forwarded to her. Of the many contributions received in this contest not one contained the ten correct answers. A number of contestants had nine answers correct, but the prize was awarded to Miss McClendon because her letter explaining why she liked pictures made from books, which she sent with her list of nine correct answers, was the best in the opinion of the judges. Below is the correct list of stars in answer to the ten questions in the Star Information Contest. 1. James Stewart 6. Humphrey Bogart 2. George Brent 7. Nelson Eddy 3. Loretta Young 8. Bonita Granville 4. W. C. Fields 9. Gene Raymond 5. Ann Sheridan 10. Leslie Howard Reviews [Continued from page 80] May Robson, "the grand old lady of the screen," celebrates her 7 5th birthday by blowing out 7 5 candles on a huge cake, with seven-yearold Janet Chapman helping to blow them out at a gala studio party. of villainy. The "heavy" is the Banker Henry Kolker who has all his money invested in the rival Central Pacific, and it is he who secretly engages a notorious gambler, Brian Donlevy, to destroy the morale of the Union Pacific's workmen by bribery, free liquor, and dance hall entertainment. As the guardian of law for the Union Pacific, Joel McCrea is perfection itself and does his best work. STOLEN LIFE A Worthwhile Importation — Paramount Release MADE in the Pinewood Studios in England this picture blends most happily the artistically beautiful with the good old mundane box office. Elizabeth Bergner, the greatest of the foreign cinema stars, plays a dual role, that of twin sisters, and has for herself a veritable field day. As Sylvina she is coy, flirtatious and selfish; as Martina she is charming, honest and sincere. The story concerns a mountain-climbing explorer, excellently played by Michael Redgrave (remember him in "The Lady Vanishes?") who meets Martina in the Alps and promptly falls in love with her. Then he meets her twin sister Sylvina who flirts outrageously with him and contrives to lead him to the altar a few days before he leaves for Tibet. Martina is heart-broken but gallant, and when Sylvina drowns one day when they are out sailing together she decides to masquerade as her sisteff^ This brings on a fine set of complications) including several of her sister's indis^ cretions. But the real tragedy occurs when the mountain climber returns from Tibet and she discovers that he is wise to Sylvina and her tricks, and is hope lessly in love with Martina, whom he believes dead. It is a hauntingly beautiful picture that is bound to interest you. In the English cast are Wilfrid Lawson ("Pygmalion") and Richard Ainley. THE CUNEO PRESS, INC., U. S.A