1935-06-04 — Page 15

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE

1985

MAKING A GREAT ACTOR

OF

F. BARTHOLOMEW'S GREAT ADVENTURE

By JULIA CHANDLER

In The Christian Science Monitor

his most beloved character Charles Dickens wrote: "I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. His name is David Copperfield."

A century after the great English novelist made this confession to a world he had incited to extraordinary love and sympathy for that boy, an English child was driving with an uncle from London to Dover,

The name of this child is Freddie Bartholomew.

It was one of those midsummer days when the English countryside lay new-born from a fresh shower; the cloudsl piled like mountains of soft down against a clear blue background, with plenty of rifts to admit the warm sun- shine. It was the sort of day to encourage a little boy's natural exuberance. Nevertheless, no smile came to the chubby little face to make the dimples dance; there was no laughter in the wide hazel eyes as mile by mile went by in silence.

Then, out of the stillness a sound not frightened. But he was im

patient to "spenk his piece." was made.

Turning, he called:

It was the sound of a solemn young voice saying:

"David must have been awfully tired when he got to Dover."

"What on earth are you talking about, Freddie?" asked his aston ished uncle.

"David Copperfield," Freddie re- pliest. "He was a very little boy for such a long walk.'

"When is the blind going up. 'Cissie'?"

PERFECT COMPOSURE

Very soon the big man in the wings raised "the blind," and the perfectly composed-little boy, stand- ing alone in the centre of the enor mous stage, reelted his piece with- out a mistake, and in a voice which, even then, hinted what he was go- In neither past, nor present was ing to do to the hearts of the there the slightest thing to sug-millions, who have recently felt gest that four years after this such love, anxiety, sympathy and inemorable drive Freddie Bartho-Judignation as they have watched lomew-in the person of David his adventures as David Copper- Copperfield-would have first-hand fell, knowledge of just what it means

A deep intuition, Born of her

· Here are the members of the Pontypridd, Wales, ladins? choir paradlug in their antional costume at Padding. England. During the celebrations in honour of the King's Jubilee this choir tang before Their Majesties in Windsor Castle. They are well-known throughout England for their fins performances and as the picture shows, make a colourful 'aggregation in their national dress.

from "Julius Caesar."

After that there was much talk. between "Cissie" and the producer, Freddie thought it would never end. Would they let him play David? He wanted it as he want- ed nothing else in all the world.

And when, finally, the long talk was ended, and "Cissie" told him Mr. Selznick had chosen him-out of thousands of other little boys |--he dashed down the street shout-

ing, "When do we begin?"

It was weeks before work on the

picture did actually begin. Fred- dle could hardly wait. In fact, he couldn't be entirely sure he was going to bo David until he was mensured for his quaint little suits.

After that he was satisfied.

FOUR HOUR DAY

Legally, no child is allowed to

for a very little boy to walk the understanding love, told "Cissic" work on the lot" more than four .72 miles from London to Dover.

after that performance that Fred-hours a day. It is also stipulated Well, yes-there was "Cissie." "Cinsic," whose love, care and die's education should include rid-that three hours must be given to understanding for Freddie haveing, swimming, tennis and cricket. outdone that of Peggotty for David Copperfield.

lessons.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer asked the Los Angeles Board of Six years elapsed between that Education to help them and a suit- spring afternoon when Freddie able teacher for Freddie. They When he was 3 years old, liv stood-a child of four years-on wanted an English teacher who ing with his parents in London, the stage of a big theatre-wish-could help him out of his confusion Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Bartholomew Ing "the blind would go up," and regarding the differences in Ameri were persuaded by Mr. Bartholo his engagement for the role of can and English money, and teach mew's sister Millicent that her David Copperfield by Metro-Gold: him proper arithmetic. It country place in Warminster was wyn-Mayor!

not easy, but it was at Inst accom- just the environment for a wee boy who clamoured for the out-of-doors.

plished. The minute Freddie saw Throughout the production Miss Murphy he adored her. "SHORT" VISIT

"David Copperfield he had three

Six years of just the normal life of an English child-lessons per sonally directed by "Cissie"; a pony to ride; trains, and soldiers and guns with which to play

and, best of all stories; stories told him by his discerning teacher and custodian.

"He may go with you for a short visit," agreed the Cecil Bartholo- mewa. That "short visit" hus never ended, and has ultiminted as no one could have dreamed, for there are no professional folk in Then one day, in the summer of Freddie Bartholomew's family, 1934, Miss Millicent Bartholomew His lineage is sturdy English stock decided she would like to see -people-of-modest-means; good America. So she gathered Fred- education, but with no distinguish die, such toys na he found indis ed talents. If somebody had told pensable, and the story of "David the London Bartholomews that, at Copperfield" which the 10-year-old the age of 10, their offspring would lad declined to leave behind, and stir the whole world through an took an exciting ship for New York, extraordinarily wistful and dis- Sluce she knew nothing, whatever tinguished screen performance as of the prospective production of David Copperfield they would doubt-"David Copperfield," her visit to less have questioned the prog America was not actuated by that. nosticator's reason. But had that She just wanted a holiday; to see somebody made the same predic-America, and to give Freddie his tion to "Cissie," her faith would first taste of travel. have responded Instantly. For "Cissle" knew.

|

With friends in New York, she By the time Freddie was four learnail that Dickens's characters years old his devoted teacher and were to be reburn, She then read custodian knew that here was no about the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ordinary child. Not that he is, or plans for the production of "David ever was, a child prodigy. Noth-Copperfield," the book which, of all ing so ephemeral as That. But he wrote, Dickens loved best; the "Cissie" recognised the fine quality by who was a "favourite child." of his imagination; his keen inder. She was told the filming of the atanding; his exquisite sensitive famous story was to be a true ness, and his abnormal intelligence. saga of the movie industry. Al-A It was her habit to tell him nursery ready a great organisation of ex- rhymes when he first came to her. Herts and specialists had been at After a single recitation on her work for a year. The scenario had part he would repeat them accur- been written; the director selected; ately, and with inflections all his the east assembled.

own. A little later, as the stories All but the boy who would port- grew longer, he grasped them com- ray David in his childhood. pletely, and lived them over and

over in his young mind. Thus it

was when he was six years old,

SAW OPPORTUNITY

and made the comment about David "Mr. Selznick has been unable Copperfield's walk from London to to find just the right child for little Dover, his thought was saturated David Copperfield," the newspapers with the Dickens story which, even told the world. nt that tender age, "Classic" had read to him until he knew it almost by heart.

1

When David Selznick selected

the little English lnd from among literally thousands whom he had

When "Clasie" read that her heart stood st..

In two hours Miss Millicent Bar- tholomew and her young charge

were westward bound.

how secured an appointment with Arriving in Hollywood she some- Reen In looking for someone to play David Selznick. the role of David in the Copper- "It will do you no good at all," field picture, Freddie had had pracher New York friends protested tically no experience in either the the long trip to the Const. "Mr. theatre or on the screen. Once or Selznick has seen thousands of twice he appeared in amateur per boys. They have gone to him formances in London. The first of from every State in the Union, and these occasions occurred when he from every country In Europe." was barely four years old. It was

a children's performance aht Fred--

"I know," said "Cissie," politely. Five days later a little English

die was to Bay, a nursery rhyme boy of 10 summers, with limpid in which his beloved "Cissie" had oyes, soft brown hair with a curl coached him. He stood, tiny that makes all women onvlous; an speck, in the centre of the big irresistiblu smlle; a curiously wiat stage. The curtain was lowered, ful voice that does things to the and he could hear the music, and heartstrings, and a perfectly fear- excited voices. A big man stood less outlook on life, stood in the in the winge, and "Cisste" was office of David Selznick and recited comfortingly near, so Freddie was for him Mark Antony's speech

Was

of

constant companions-his own dear

A new and formerly unpublished portrait of Har Highness, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, daughter of their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of York, and grand-daughter of Their Majesties, King George and Queen Mary, Princess Elizabeth celebrated her ninth birthday anniversary on Easter

Sunday, April 21,

ance of the padding, and relieved his mind.

the little boy was still shaken with sobs, Basil Rathbone would have comforted him. But Freddie, who loves and admires the actor pro- foundly, pushed him away.

"Clasie": Miss Murphy, his teacher, and Ray Sperry, his "stand-in" in the picture. Ray Sperry was 10 years ok-Just Freddie's age-and they had great fun together. Miss Murphy taught Ray also, using a baby!" Freddie's dressing-room on rainy The second time the director days, and a tent in the open when said that to Freddie it made bimWhen the scene was over, "and" the weather was ine.

so indignant he never again ran George Cukor, who directed away. "David Copperfield," established an Immediate friendship with little Freddie Bartholomew by treating him as an equal. Even when twice, Freddie's natural love of rid. ing induced him to mount Basil Rathbone's flue black horse and take a run down the beach when he should have been on "the lot," delaying work for more than an hour, the most cutting rebuke Cukor could find for him was: "Freddie Bartholomew, I thouhgt you were a big boy, and not just

The only scene in the entire story Freddie approached with apprehension is that in which Murdstone gives David a severe thrashing. No one had thought to tell the little boy his clothes would be padded for the beating until just before the scene was "shot." Seeing the strong cane with which David's punishment was to be administered, Freddie's un- easiness becare so evident that Mr. Rathbone guessed his ignor-

"Why, Freddie, what is the mat- ter?" the distressed Mr. Rathbone asked, fearing the boy was mixing the actor with the odious man h portrays in the picture.

"You can certainly hit hard," Freddie's voice quivered.

"Why, surely you didn't feel it with all those pada!" Mr. Rathbone exclaimed.

"The pads slipped," said Freddic.

Que of Germany's most-famous-wavėsime commanders, Field Marshal von Mackenson, was honoured at a reconcillation meating recently batween him and Chancellor Hitler, once à corporal in a German line regiment.

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