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Looking 'em Over
WITH
GAIL GARDNER .
Five Star Motion Picture Editor
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SO RED THE ROSE Stark Young's nostalgic
novel of the deep South and the war between
the states. Handsomely filmed. Skillfully adapted
by Lawrence Stallings, Maxwell Anderson and
Edwin Justus Mayer, with King Vidor directing.
Story throughout is a haunting, living thing.
Breath-taking photography.
Margaret Sullavan's performance as the South
ern girl is delicate and exquisite. Her acting has
depth and feeling. Walter Connolly fares well as
the plantation owner, and Randolph Scott as the
lover displays calculated tech
nique. Highly recommended.
I DREAM TOO MUCH In
which Lily Pons makes her debut I
as a comedienne, in this her first p
appearance on the screen. She is
delightful, with individuality and
personal magnetism to spare.
music lovers win De tnruiea at '"a t
her singing. The story itself isKf
neither original nor striking, buti
the supporting cast makes the , yl. . ,
most of it. Henry Fonda is bnl- ' 'uiy Pons
liant. Eric Blore and his trained seal furnish the
comedy, while Osgood Perkins, who gets a fine
break in the picture, comes through with a splen
did performance.
PETER IBBETSON Ann Harding handles the
story's fragile mysticism seemingly with appre
hension. Gary Cooper is ill at ease as the partner
of Miss Harding's dreamy love life, as he lan: idly
strolls through each reel rapturously recalling an
early love of childhood. He snaps out of it. how
ever, when he discovers that Miss Harding has
been the girl of his dreams all the time. An acci
dental killing and Cooper goes to the dungeon.
In delirium he discovers that he and his sweet
heart can dream the same thing at the same time.
That seems to help some. Dickie Moore, child star,
playing the role of the youthful hero, gives a
haunting performance at the death of his mother.
Exquisitely photographed.
METROPOLITAN A story of grand opera be
hind the scenes with the voice of
Lawrence Tibbett as an added at
traction. As an ambitious singer
who takes chances with his ca
reer for the love of Virginia
Bruce, Tibbett does some fine
acting and some finer singing.
Alice Brady plays the role of the
has-been diva, and George Ma
rion, Sr., makes the most of his
opportunities. Light but well
done.
Lawrence Tibbett THE STORY OF LOUIS PAS
TEUR Paul Muni in a difficult role, intelligently
and feelingly performed. A scientific biography, in
teresting to the layman. A film for thoce who like
to think. Packed with suspense and drama. Ray
mond Brown is realistic as Dr. Radisse. Akin
Tamiroff, Halliwell Hobbes and Fritz Leiber offer
skillful portraits. If you're a Muni fan, this is your
dish.
THANKS A MILLION Diverting with.unforced
gaiety. Fred Allen, radio and Broadway star, in
this his first screen appearance is a comedian, the
likes of which has never been seen in pictures.
He's much better. Dick Poweil takes the lead,
singing throughout the whole footage. Patsy
Kelly's role is not fat, but she makes the most of
it. Fast-moving and lilting.
SHIP CAFE From a ship's stoker, Carl Bris
son becomes the gigilo to a countess, Mady Chris
tians. Complications aplenty because Arline Judge
is back home and doesn't understand. But all's
well that ends well, and by the time the film un
reels the customers are satisfied.
Intimate camera studies of the exotic Swedish star reveal her in thrse interesting moods. At the camera
(center) is seen William (Bill) Daniels, ace cameraman who photographed all her pictures but one.
Ace Cameraman Believes Greta Garbo
Superior Person Who Walks Alone
Enigmatic Star Greatest Actress of Her Time and Most Human Declares Cameraman
' Who Photographed All But One of He Pictures and Knows Her "Other Self"
By DONNA RISHER
From the Studios and Social Centers
of Hollywood
by J
ane
r V i,
Donnn Risher
A BULKY, athletic man crowded into a chintz
covered chair in the richly furnished office on
the M-G-M lot, looked understanding through
horn-rimmed glasses and remarked, "Don't make
any mistake. Garbo is a superior person who walks
alone and I for one, am anxiously awaiting her
return from hnr homeland so we can get to work."
The speaker was William (Bill) Daniels, ace
cameraman who has filmed all save one of Garbo's
pictures and who knows Mrs. Gustaffson's little
girl Greta better than any of her studio associates.
It is Daniels, who by virtue of his job has been
allowed to share Garbo s thought,
to share her jokes, toMndulge in
"small talk" on the set, to watch
her reactions to other players and
to share with her the unalloyed
pleasure of strenuous working
hours. i
He knows the flesh and blood
woman, the lonely Swede who has
become and still is the enigma of
the industry and therefore his ob-
jervations are interesting.
Seeing her from a cameraman's standpoint he
confides at the outset of the discussion that, "she
has tricks with her eyes." "In the emotional scenes
she is unlike anyone that has come before my
camera. That is why she is so superb in the "
close-ups."
BUT what is the real Garbo like? Is she friendly
or hith hat? Is she tempermental? How does
she treat her fellow players ? Is she dependable or
does she have moods like certain other actresses
who complicate picture making? Is she maternal?
Does she. like children? What does she eat? What
does she wear and does she have a sense of
humor?
These and many other questions which have
long puzzled admirers of the lady behind the
monastic veil, Daniels answered.
"She is the fairest person I have ever known,"
he said. "When weget into the actual filming she
is most careful not to steal a scene from a fellow
player. It seems to be a high point of honor with
Garbo to give the other fellow his due.
"If the scene belongs to another actor he gets
everything he deserves and with Garbo's coopera
tion. I have actually seen her turn away from the
camera and remain obscurely in the background
to give another actor his opportunity.
TRANSATLANTIC TUNNEL A tense drama
based on a scientific subject. A very fine vehicle
for Richard Dix and Madge Evans, who acquit
themselves handsomely. Dix, as the intrepid en
gineer who sacrifices home and honor to his drei
of a tunnel between the United States and Eng
land, is excellent. The love story is somewhat over
shadowed by the graphic photograph of the work
ings of the tunnel. It's good entertainment.
TO BEAT THE BAND Hugh Herbert strug
gles to inherit millions, thus getting mixed up with
a radio band, a pretty girl, a scheming lady lawyer
and a suicidal young man. Helen Broderick works
hard to secure laughs. Eric Blore and Roger Pryor
make the best of their lines. Nothing to get excited
about
"Naturally," he added, "she dominates every
scene she is in but she never does it deliberately."
In photographing Garbo the big close-ups and
the long shots are used exclusively by Daniels.
"We never compromise with intermediate or
full-figure shots," the cameraman went on,
"because Garbo does things not so much by
gesture or posture but by little things with her
eyes and hands. Her hands are an unending source
of interest. She uses them in an eloquent way that
reminds one of the late Eleanora Duse. They are
unquiet hands as incessantly restless as is Garbo
herself.
"But the strange thing about Garbo's restless
ness is that it is coupled with a natural grace.
"Seldom is she still when on the set. She walks
all the time. Between scenes she invariably starts
walking around the studio and when the scene is
ready she may be a mile away peeking into other
sets, unnoticed.
"Often we have had to send a boy to find her
and tell her we are ready. When she returns she
enters into her work with a zest. She makes our
job easy for us because she takes direction easily.
"No matter what the 'business' is she responds
whole heartedly. Should the director be indefinite
as to a scene Garbo will help him outline it. She
displays a professional surencss which is the badge
of a real actress."
In the ten years Daniels has worked with Garbo
he has never seen her strut or pose. In his opinion
the most striking "pose" about her is her com
plete lack of posing at any time.
And yet despite this lack of pretense, there have
been times back in the early days, it is said, when
new directors assigned to Garbo were in a quan
dary regarding the little proprieties on the set,
although these same directors wou.dn't give such
things a thought with other actresses.
For instance, there is the amusing example of
the time when Lew Ayres was to plav opposite
Garbo. The first day arrived of the filming and
the two were asked to go through a love scene.
It was a fairly emotional one in which Ayres had
to kiss Garbo "as if he meant it."
WHEN the kiss was1 over and the cameras had
stopped grinding, Garbo walked over to her
director and with a roguish twinkle in her eyes
naively remarked, ''I believe it would be proper if
I were introduced to the young man."
The Swedish star lost her heart to young Fred
die Bartholomew when that youngster played with
her in one of her late pictures. During the filming
the two sat on the set with their heads together
talking of many things, what things only they
themselves knew.
When the picture was finished Garbo gave a
party for Freddie in her dressing room, serving
among other delicacies the child's favorites Eng
lish muffins and strawberry Ice cream.
During the party Garbo promised Freddie she
would immediately learn the American game of
baseball, bo that their discussion of it in the future
would not be so one-sided Freddie having learned
all about it during his first 'veek in Hollywood.
"So you see," concluded Daniels as he arose
from his chair to answer a call to the set, "Garbo
really is a superb person. In fact, she is a superior
person who walks alone."
And by the
WORD comes from London that Doris Kenyon,
who is working in films over there, has taken
a charming house and is very happy in dear old
England. She has sent for her mother and little
son,. Kenyon Sills. With Ramon Novarro, Doris
will take a fling at musical comedy. . . . Doug Sr.
is still seen around London with Lady Cynthia
Ashley, and according to reports, isn't looking any
too happy. . . . Doug Jr., on the other hand, is
going big, and backed by English money, he now
has his own producing unit.
way, who do you think was the first
to congratulate Joan Crawford .
' and Franchot Tone upon their
marriage? Doug Jr., Joans ex.
Young Fairbanks heard of the
marriage when attending a party
given by Merle Oboron at one of
the popular London cafes, and
Doug left the party to put In a
transatlantic phone call to talk '
to Joan. . . . Saying it with flow
ers seems to be the best way,
after all.
Joan Crawford Grace Moore . .. . Mrs. Valentin ,
Parera at home ... is offering her favorite recipe '
for soup. It's called Onion Soup Provencal. Grace's '
colored cook, Myra Williams, slices six medium
onions and cooks In two tablespoons of fat until
light brown. t .
Then she adds three cups of plain stock or three
cups of plain boiling water in which four beef
bouillon cubes have been dissolved. One-half tea
spoon of salt, one teaspoon kitchen bouquet and
one-eighth teaspoon celery ,:alt and a speck of
pepper is added. The stuff is poured into a cas
serole, with six rounds of bread on top, sprinkled
with Parmesan cheese. It is baked at 350 degrees
until the cheese is melted and well browned. This
will serve six, she assures all hostesses.
To see Joan Barrie, Mona's sister, walk around
the stage with her balsam shoes with their six
Inch soles is a treat. Joan is Mona's stand-in and
she has to build up her height to make her as tall
as her sister. . . . Mae West has gone Garbo with a
vengeance. . . . Her stage is the hardest to crash
and the set of "Klondike Lou" is conspicuous for
the absence of visitors. In this picture Mae plays
the parts of a religious cru- Wmamem
sader and is on her way to Y- ' ''I
A 1 ,w,l. lA . . i IL. 1 r ' -A
nioona iu v;unvuil LIIC UUVH. ... '
Her scene calls for a song. Mae
drawls "My Medicine Man." . . .
I hope the censors won't be too
hard on Mae . . . for the song
isn't torrid, it's Inflammable.
WWW . 1
oji:uiwiik ui uirae ueprnssion
years, the Warner Olands (Charlie
vnunj live in lour nouses . . . a
bungalow in Beverly Hills when . '
warner is maxing a picture ... a Mae weit
bcacH house at Carpinteria on the sea ... a beau
tiful farm house out of Boston, and on a 7000-acre
island off the Gulf of Mexico. Aside from that, they
. must be content with a trip to Europe every year
or two.
That swanky Reliant airplane which flashes over
Hollywood daily and which, incidentally, cost $12,
000, is that of Ruth Chatterton. When she is not
working, Ruth is usually winging her way to Palm
Springs. Ruth says she can't relax until she gets
in the air.
w
Now comes the title changers to announce that
Universale "Captain Commanding" with Jack Holt
is to be "Dangerous Waters," the film being based
on a story by Theodore Reeves called "Glory
Hole." That's when a story goes Hollywood.
PAGE FIVE
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