1941-05-24 — Page 9

Second Section

Hongkong Telegraph.

SMILE, PLEASE!

A FIRST NIGHT

IN HOLLYWOOD

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SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1941.

Magazine Features

A beautiful blonde is better than a dummy. Edgar Bergen (above) leaves the famous Charlie McCarthy at home. and takes Joan Valerio to the premiere. In centre, Bette Davis arrives with her mother and her cousin, John Favor. you see Herbert Marshall with his wife, Lee Russel, and a friend, Jean Megulesco.

Below,

Thirty-four-year-old Bruce. Cabot, scen above with Judy Ford, was boxer, navvy, sailor and night club owner before going into films. The topmost picture shows the large crowd assembled outside the theatre, seeking a glimpse of famous stars. In the crush, they may see only the back of a police- man's neck—but still they come!

WHEN searchlights pierce the Hollywood skies it is a sign that a Hollywood film premiere is on. An expensive new movie is being officially and elaborately screened for the first time.

It is Hollywood's own show, a splendiferous affair, the biggest, brightest, most ballyhooed social event in the film city. At no other time are so many stars, celebrities, bright lights, loud-speakers or policemen gathered together; nor such a large public, crowding grandstands erected for the occasion, filling the streets. gaping, at every swish of ermine, every flash of sequins, cheering every expanse of teeth. The stars are on show, dressed to kill, for the benefit of their public and the Press photographers, who take record numbers of photo- graphs which never get published.

A big picture may take anything from three months to a year to make, during which time thousands of people. directly and indirectly are working on it. The Hollywood first night of the picture is their day of glory. Then, the stage is theirs. It is the only time the people who made the picture come face to face with their work.

It is not tho, first time the picture has been seen, for it is the practice of the film industry to hold so-called "sneak previews" in out-of-town cinemas before the official premiere. The reaction of the audience is care-

fully charted, and further adjustments are made before

the editing of the picture is completed.

In

But the Hollywood premiere is the first official screening, and generally the "world premiere," reality, it is the last night most of the people will have anything to do with the picture, for its screening means that their work is done, and the picture is ready for release to the great film public.

Most nerve-wracking is the stars' ordeal, as they parade. Many who think that they are on the top are sorely disappointed when they hear from faint cheering: that their following has dropped..

Who arrives with whom, who snubs whom, providos, gossip material for the fan magazines for weeks to come...“.

Some celebrities come only for the parade, to be photographed, to be applauded, making a hurried, exit from the back door. Others join parties in private rooms because they have already seen the picture too many times. But for many. It is a new thrill, gaining in value for all the showmanship that has gone into this single presentation,

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Most of the stars love premieres, though some, like John Barrymore, treat them as boring events. Most carefree and easy-going of all are Clark Gable and Carole Lombard who appear to enjoy every moment.