Universal Weekly (1927-1930)

Vol. 26, No. 4 Universal Weekly 19 Reginald Denny Given Warmest Welcome Ever Accorded Screen Star in Britain REGINALD DENNY, British warbird and actor before he came to America and became Universal’s screen ace, has just returned to Hollywood from a long-deferred visit to his native soil. His welcome in England was one of the warmest ever accorded to a returning Englishman and far exceeded in spontaneity and real friendliness that ever given to any film star. Denny was welcomed by his compatriots, not as a curiosity to be stared at as a seven days’ wonder, but with an exceptional depth of feeling, as a brother Britisher who has won an undying place in the hearts of his countrymen by his screen work and his personality. Denny went to England on the first vacation he has had in several years. The tremendous vogue of his Universal productions has caused the Laemmle organization to keep the star well tied to the studio. Following his long illness as the result of injuries received during the making of “Fast and Furious,” his current success, and upon the completion of his latest production, “Out All Night,” which is to reach the screen next week, Carl Laemmle offered the star six weeks of uninterrupted vacation. The farce-comedy ace thought that he and his wife could slip out of Hollywood and ship from New York with no publicity, and thus spend their time in England quietly and without public function. He counted without realizing his popularity abroad. He found England keenly aware of his coming and eager to clasp his hand in welcome and in brotherly adoration. At the behest of prominent British film figures and important personages, the Universal star finally allowed his well-wishers to go through with certain functions planned for his homecoming. Outstanding among the functions was a big luncheon at the Savoy, London, attended by three hundred of Britain’s leading showmen and reviewers. E. Hewitson, president of the C. E. A., Britain’s great exhibitor organization, presided. Heading the list of distinguished figures at the lunch were Sir Alan Cobham and Lady Cobham, the Marquis of Done gal and others of equal standing. Denny voiced his ambition to make pictures in England and told the assemblage that Carl Laemmle has promised to let him do so some day. The affair developed into an enthusiastic testimonial, not only for Denny, on the part of the big exhibit o r s and trade represent peared at the Marble Arch Pavilion, London, in connection with the showing of “Fast and Furious,” and was received with tremendous acclaim. He also appeared in two Manchester houses, each time before a packed house. The streets about the theatres also were j ammed with people, eager to pay tribute to “Good Old Reggie,” as he is affectionately termed by his fellow countrymen. Denny visited several aviation centers while in England. He met many officers with whom he served while in the Royal Flying Corps during the war. He also tried out some of the new types of British planes. As a result, he bought three Sopwith planes to be shipped to California, where aviation is his hobby and where he is one of the outstanding members of the famous “13 Club,” composed of stunt and dare-devil aviators. Following Denny’s visit to England, the great national weekly, the Sunday Express, arranged to to publish the story of his life in three installments, written by London’s popular writer, A. Christiansen. More than half the theatres in Great Britain have been playing Denny Productions. It now is reported that as a result of the exceptional “good-will” reaction to the star’s trip home, hundreds of additional theatres are adding Denny to their program. He is said to have registered 100 per cent with his countrymen, judging from the unusual warmth of his homecoming. HERE is an abridged version of the account of the London luncheon published in The Cinema, one of England’s leading trade papers : “Welcome Home to our Denny — He’s a regular fellow.” This motto, suspended over the flags of Britain and America, hung side by side, greeted approximately three hundred guests of European who assembled for lunch at the Savoy on Friday to greet the British star. Pictures of (Continued on page 40) Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Denny a/rrived this week on the Aquitania from their vacation in England and left immediately for the Coast. atives, but also for Universal and Carl Laemmle. It is characterized as the most successful film function of the year in Great Britain. Denny was the guest of honor at other assemblies, one in Manchester, where he was feted by 160 Lancashire exhibitors at lunch, and another in Liverpool, where he was hailed at tea by more than 100 exhibitors. Everywhere the exhibitors, touching on the Quota agitation, assured Denny and the representatives of the European Motion Picture Company, British distributors of Universal pictures, that they meant to fight the Quota to the limit. While in Manchester, Denny officiated at the cornerstone laying of the new theatre being constructed by the Moorhouse interests. He was literally mobbed by more than 15,000 people, according to reports. The Universal star made several personal appearances during his stay in England, one at the Rialto, London, where the applause lasted many minutes and was characterized as the greatest ovation anv film star ever received in the British capital. He ap