Variety (Feb 1934)

Tuesilay, February 6, 1934 P I C ¥ V II E S VAgltTY May Robson, 45 Yrs. in Legit, and 5 Yrs. in Pix, Gives It All to Ifwood By CECELIA AGEFl •The legit,* says May Rofeson, who for 50 years has been an actress and for the last five years a picture Ac- tress, >Is coming back; But by the time it doeB^t)ictiir^s Will bo a keeiier rlvaii than ever. "While the legit Is busy coming, back, pictures will have perfected color photog- raphy, the third dlmenislonal screen will be a reallty-^and then there's Miss kobsoh Is not one '' to look back; she looks forward. Yet she believes, and mind you, ; she says, it Is only her belief, that • though now forms airlse to compete with it, the legit will never b6 re- placed. Just as the impressionistic painting movement wiped oiit, so It claimed, the old art altogether, and now there Is a return to naturalism and impressionistie painting is >e duced to the status of merely an other iform of art, sp will the legit go, on forever, Personally, says Miss Robson, impressionism may all be very well, but she likes to look at a pialhting that really looks like what It's supposed to be. The legit will continue, she ex- • plains, because there will alWays be an audience for the deep plays. Pic tures, sh(B thinks, tend more and more to become a mediuni for educa tion. Ight now there is a distlnce difference between the legit and pic ture audience, a different viewjpolnt The legit followers are made UP of people who like to. go quietly to a theatre and have everything ex- I>lained to them. The picture audi- e^nce is more questing; it likes to pondei*, to probe for the reasons, for. what happened before and after in the story It sees on the screen. 'They: act for you in pictures,' says Miss Robson. 'Oh the stage, you " have to show- them every If, and, and but. The stage audience is not a more intelligent one—It's more blase. The picture audience is more alert; it has a childlike mind—not in its mental , age, but in its ques- tioning, in its seeklner the reason Camera Sees. Alii Tells All Miss Robsoti likes to act in pic- tures; it puts an actress on her mettlei. 'The camera has. the queer- est way of reading .your mind. You (ian't, you know, play a-close-up • In ■ pictures and wonder what you're going to have for dinner that night. The steaic and lima beans would show right through .your eyes. But you can do it on the stage. No body'll be the wiser.' That's because picture acting, she finds, is so concentrated. You must say In our hour what takes three hours to say on the. stage.. One close-up can tell a story that no amount ' of gesticulating,, grimacing and dialog explanation on the stage can equal for telling effect and art .istry. At the moment you're doing it, you must believe utterly what you're doing before the camera; on the stage you can cheat a little. Miss Robson glories, she con- fesses, in golnig to previews. It is so much better, she is sure, to see what not to do—thdn to be tol^ what .to ' do'. ■ Tou 'a^^yays h6ttc^ when' a thing is wrong;. you^re not (JO apt to notice when it's right. So "^Mlss Robson goes to previews whether they^re of her own pictures ,, or not, and always comes away with a few 'don'ts' and 'nevers' for the Uriprovemient of her technique. Miss Robson believes in. proflting by mistakes, her own as wiell as others. They do so many wrong little things on the stage, she sees now—now that she's become a picture actress. They show up so much when they'rie carried, into pictures. Watchinjg pi'€;vievv-s, you can sec them and re- member never to do them yourself. Miss Kobspn likes, too, to play character parts—^in good pictures. Sill' would, rather have flve charac- ter lim-.s in a good picture than the load in a poor one. Slie.doe.sn't be- Hevf ill being typed. Ciiaracter parts stand out, she .tays. She 'Ifaiiic'd' that whon at 38 she was hag of SI. 'They didn't fjo for type.s tlu-ii," Mis.s Robson recalls, and hriiscs ■ in contfnuiorary "vvord-, in;?: .<.i> 'aking ahvuys with a vigor ifihd fill lUislasin and arresting force tliiii mil si. sham 6 conlrhiporary lan- •iiiiil inaidc-us. She lovo.s above all Mi.rln'i-s. "A toiK'li of riiotlier I'l -. ui :iU.'.. slir. pa yw. ACADEMY APPOINTMENtS Now Reundino Out Con^mittoes oh Rotating Pasis Net Loss $10,000 Hollywood, Feb. 6. A weeVa Imlng went Into the discard whMi Radio.; took Cprinne Griffith .out. of 'Crime- Doctor^ and replaced her. with Karen. Morley. Execs flgiired after a week's filming that Wbb Grififlth did not fit the 'Partk' Miss Grifflth was getting |10,000 for ai. four-week minimum' work period.' Hpllywopd, i'eb. B. With the Aciademy climbing back on its feet under guidance of its speciiU prbgiiam committee, deferred appointments to committees are..in order. Immediate addltloris to " the conciliation committee, and elec- tion of a chairman, must be nqiade to handle several cases .filed "before, that body. Majority of Acjeidemy committees have been organized on a rotating basis with 15 menibers, three from each of the five branched* bne man from each branch being ippoihted each yeiEir for a three-yeia^ teirm. W6 Would Bolster Ether Mu^cal vfith Broadcasting Names Warner is planning to use three Or four name radio acts to embellish 'Hot Air*, musical with a radio plot, which Is now in the Bur bank cut- ting room. Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler top the pic's cast as It now stands, First perisonallty, contacted here was Jack Benny who refused to en- tertain the proposition unle^ he would be worked throughout the film. This could not be done unless the picture was remade entirely. Not only singers and comedians but WB wants, some iia;me «ther band. Banquet Set for Hivood Mar. 15 A. P. and Hearst After More Film News, Adding Men and By-Unes for Coast BERGNER'S LEGrr, FILH PLANS ALLSET FOR U.S. llsabeth Bergner, star of 'Cath- erine the Great,' will do one picture for UA on the coast, accprding to Joseph M. Schenck, but probably not for some time. Miss Bergner is obligated to 'Nymjph Errant* ^s a legit show in New York for C. B. Cochran and Arch Selwyn, a,s soon as that play closps in London where It's current. Then she Is under option to iFpx for a film, which Fox may call hjer to take up prior to the UA deal. Uoyd Uses First Tune h Ifis 'Catspaw' Film tlollywood, Feb. 5. For the first time Harold Lloyd will feature ia, song in his ''Catspaw,' •I'm Just That Way' by Roy Turk and Harry Askt.. On loan from United Artists, Al Newman has Joined Lloyd as mu- sical director. Radio's *Wench' Script Readied- for Hepburn Hollywood, Feb. .6. Alnsworth Slorgan has finished treatment and script on 'Tudor Wench,' slated as Katharine Hep- burn's next at Radio and has left tha company. Writer has been oh. Radio's writ- ing staff for nine months. George Gukpr is due . to return to this lot to direct 'Wench.' Florence Reed's Par Pic Baltimore, Feb, 6. Florence Reed entrained yeater^ day (4) for Holly wood on a sln&le- pic pact with Paramount, Past, month has been guest star of Charles Rmerspn C'ook Players, Ktock tr6itpft at . Auditbriuni, ahd during that period has evinced greater box oflice draft than, any stock gueat artist- appoaring. here- IhWu t sfTiTpiCst'^ e^ HERSHOLT-'COPPERFIELD' . Hollywopd, Feb. 5. Jean Ilersholt is In line for .a feu- lured spot in 'David ("opperflel.d' at ^fetro.> f;(>ov£?c. f'Aikor will dirent. witb DTvid SolxnirU i)i'firliifiTi Hollywood, Feb. 5, With nomilnation blanks for its sixth annual at wards going out to memhers this week, Academy's steering iconamittee agreed on Mar. 15 as the a,wards banquet date and ; umped its awards committee from IB to 46 members. Awards rules and procedure 'will be used as for last year except for minor changes. Principal . rules revisions iare throwing votes on sound recording award, open to all members Instead of only by teOhnlcians, and- acces- sion to art directors demand that awards for their class be for only for plx 'made under nonnal produc- tion conditions in America/ ' Academyltes . flgiire sound has reached .technical. ' maturity and should be judged in th* future On a, showmanship basis by all mem- bers. Art directors' yell for limita- tion of candidates was based on the grounds advanced by lensers last yiear to get the same rules .change, that plx shot' on expeditions, etc., offer unfair compfetitldn to achieve^ ments under regular production conditions. Fix ni9.de over a year and a half period will be eligible for the 1934 awards,: as the - Academy switched this time to the calehdar year in- stead of starting , the awards year every July. Peirlod will be from Aug. 1, 1932, to Dec. 1, 1933. After nominations have been made by the yarlbtis. branches and sec-^ tlbnsi' in secret balloting this months nominees will go on one ballot to the entire membership for final se- lection. Same Awards Same awards classification will prevail as last year, including best achievements In. production, acting* male and femm^, direQUph, writing, original and adaptation, cinematpg- raphjr, art direction, sound record- In^, short subjects, technical 'achievements, and special awards at the committee's discretion. Increased committee to supervise the anual passing put of gold statu- ettes.will meet next week to organ- ize and pick a chairman. Commit- tee Includes: Actors: Lionel Atwill, Warner Baxter, Marion Davlcs, Leslie How- ard, DeWltt C. Jennings, Mary Pickford and Lewis Stone. Directors: Lloyd Bacon, Frank Capra, C. B. DeMllle, Frank Lloyd, Robert Z. Leonard, Mervyn LeRoy, Norman Taurog, King Vldor and Henry King. Producers: E. H. Allen, Emanuel Coheh^ 4larry Cohn, Walt Disney, B. B. Kahane, Winfield Sfaeehan, Irving Thalberig, Walter Wanger and J. L. Wamer; Technicians: John Arnold, .George Rarnes, Carl Dreher, HB'rrls Ensign; Robert Haas,. Fredrlc Hope, Wathfli-h .Leylnson, Wesley Miller, jf. Mi Niok- olaus, Max Parker, Van Neiat iPol-. glase and L James Wilkinson, •Writers: jack Cunningham, iaow- ard j. Greeiij.. Grover Jones, Jane MUrfln, Robert Riskln, Carey Wil- son, and Waldemar Young. Gilbert Sues Metro 1j6s Angeles, • Feb, Contending that a contract en- tered Into late last fall between John Gllbfert and Metro Is Inequit- able while it gives the studio an option on the actor's serv- ices oyer a p:elriod Of. siCVen years, and also stipiilates salary to be paid if and when using him in a production, or in a directorial ca- pacity; Gilbert,, through attorney Peyton H. Moore, bias filed s, tiew cpmplaiht; In. Superior Court .for declaratory relief. Complaint is virtually a dupllpatei of an action started by Gilbert in December, at which ttm^ he spught to have the court declare the con tract void. Action was withdrawn When a cofnpromlse loomed, but this having failed to materialize, the hew action has been filed. Gilbert's contention .is tha.t there i^ nothing in the contract that stlp Tilates that Metro Will utilize his services, either as actor pr to di- rect at any tim* during the seyen year period, and his appeal tp the Superior Court is to permit him tp make an alliance where he will be assured a financial return; Soviet Will m TravelDg Cdmeons For U. S; Citizenry Hollywood, Feb, Russia will use pictures as one means of propaganda to attract American tourists to Russia under setup where the Unitied States recognizes U. S. S. R. . Films will be mainly triyelogs to show main points of Interest to pleasure-seeking travellers from this country* John Boyle, camera- man who made 'Sweiflen—La,nd of the Vikings,' has been approadhed by Soviet representatives to make a similar scenic in color. Hollywood, Feb. 5, Conipetiton among, various news seirvices for copy oh Hollywood, as a result of demands of dallies iii^ the middle: west and east for moife detailed, coverage, has resulted In the Associated Press adding .another man to; the .studio beat* Newcomer Is Robert B. Hargrove, on the night shift of the local A-i*. office fPr years. Hiargrove will han- dle, marriages, divorces and other spot news, pf the film colony for tho^ night wire, Hargrove's assignment is to com- pete with Lpuella Parsons and Hearst's Universal Service which has been scooping most of the press services on such news.: A. Is also ready to put addltionial men into Hollywood if necessary. It has had two men on this beat for some time, Hubbard Keavy and Robhln GOonfl. ; , Hearst outfit ha;s also rearranged its setup of picture. columnists oh the -afternoon Los Ang.eles Her:ald,: effective today (Monday)i Lloyd Paiitages tak^ over Harrison Caf- roli's daily column, which is syndi- cated by King Features. Carroll will laiunch a new by-line column on pictures and film -personalities along the lines of O. O: Mclntyre's column.. Carroll's new coliimn yi albo be syndicated by Hearst. Rearrangement of columnists oh the Herald gives that sheet three picture pillars dally, Carroll, Pan- tages« and Jimmy Starr by-Uned.' The .L. A. Times is also expanding On film news, with Edwin Schal- lert, Grace Kingsley and Read JCen- dall contributing daily and Sunday. Examiner carries daily coltjmns on plx by Miss Parsons and Jim Mitch- ell, with report that Jerry Hoff- man may soon. be . handed a daily column in that sheet. LE MAIRE'S BROADWAY PRODUCTION PLANS Par Takes Helen Mack Paramount wanted Helen Mack so it got a release on her from RKO and handed put ia. Ipng-termet' am the first step in plans to Irlve the ^Irl this big push. She'll be teamed opposite George Raft as a starter. SLQAH'S husigal Hollywood, Feb. 6. ' Paul Sloane, who decided Upon a vacatipn following completion of his Paramount ticket, is ready to go to work again. New move puts him on, Radio's payroll to direct 'Down' to Their Last Yacht', musical feature which JvOU=-Broefc=wlll"SupecvlHe. r —— Hollywood, Feb; 6. Rufus Le Maire leaves the Twen- tieth Century fold May 1 to go to New York to put three plays in motion for' production in summer stocks to be readied for Broadway in the fall. Le Malre then plans to return to Hollywood on a new pic dfeal with a major organization. Le Malre walks from the Zanuck outfit on the completion of the cur- rent season's crop at 20th Century. Last three plx there are 'The Fire- brand,' going Into production sobnr 'Bull Dog Drummond Fights Back' and 'Head of the Family,' No definite plans have been fpr-' mttlated by ZanuCk for next sea- son as the. producer wants to make only star product that will avern age around $400,000 or. more a pro- ductipn With the ppssiblllty that not over eight plx will he made by Zanuck ahd ppsslbly only six. Chevaiier's Widow* with Special French Songs Andre . Homez arrives In New York Wednesday (6) from Paris to write the French lyrics for Cheval- iers Metro picture 'The Merry I v.'idbw.' He goes right to the coast Metro will not m\iViQ a direct French Version of the film, but will haVe Chevalier's and all other songs done by the artists themsblves. Rest I will be. dubbed in. Mary Pickford's General Denial in $250,000 Suit In ah answer filed with the New York .Federal court last week Mary Pickford categorically denied every allegation maide by Edward Hemmer in his $250,000 suit against her. Replying papers declared that h© had been fully paid for any services he hawi performed for the screen star and her late mother, Charlotte, and. that if there was, any cause for the suit It has been invalidated by the statute of limitations. Hem* mer'is clalni goes back 12 years while thei statute allows for a six-year period. " Hemmer based his action on a, claim for managerial and personal advice which he said he gave Mary Pickford and her mother during the early part of former^s film career. Loan Befte Davis Hollywood, Feb. .B. Bt^to ].)avi3 gots the fcmme lead oppo.sitc Leslie Howard in RKO's .isc r(!<?iijng.._.of..^.'5fj[mcrjaei_Maagl^^ RAPT WITH MAE Hollywood, Pol).. . George Raft, scheduled for 'isflck the Greek,' will go Instead into Mae West's 'It Ain't No Slrt'. Aftpr finishing that picture rtaft (•ontcrripiat.eB a trip to Kurop*» 'OC Human Bondage.' M1^3S Davis is on loan from Warners after six weokH' effort by RKO execs, lui'i-ently in \Va:rncr.s' 'Gonth.-man frorti San Franci.sco,' Miss Da,vlB i.s liaviiJK her sc(>n»?s Klven prcfftrcnfie In iinip In .orflf-r that .««hc may h( ■rol'Tif'"',! sojin as pos.sib.lf for *i.!(,ii<l.ig^.' Trankie and Johnnie' Set with Lllyan Tashman siet, Chester Erskin's cast, for 'Frankle and Johhni0' is completed. Other names to be featured are Helen Morgan and Chester Morris, latter two in the title roles. Picture goes into production Feb. 12 In the Biograph Studios, Niew York for Reliance Pic- tures and United Artists release. Moss Hart wrote the scenario. MEBWIN LIGHT AT BEG .Merwin Light, stage juve, has betln signed by Radio starting at $200, with options up to seven years. Light's last appearance oh Broad- way was in 'Thoroughbred.' Denis Dui'.' .set tl»e' deal. JOE MORRISON SHOVES OFF Joe Morrison shov<'d off h^atur<iay {Hjt for Hollywood and I'araiflfcirit oil hi.-! new MTin oontract. Foi-jiK-r J..;inil vi>fvilivst will ht> a.S' oir-tiire afiC'i