The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-08-20

who didn't look or act in the least
like a cinder maiden discov-
cred that nobody who played in CO.
ed dramas ever went to college.
That was part of the show -. be-
ing what you weren't.
once in a while Frances renenl-
~ bered that she wanted TO go on
the legitimate stage when she I'm
ished college.
That brought her up with start.
For six months she had been Hol-
lywood extra. She loved it. She
didn't want to finish college. She
didn't want to go on the real stage.
She wanted to be in the movies.
Maybe some day she would win
the role of leading lady opposite
somebody like-like Maurice Che
Waller. OF course, that was just a
dream, she realized. Hundreds Of
others girls would like that, too, and
it took years to win such perfec-
ton.
Nevertheless. Frances saw Che
Waller around the lot when she went
to Paramount to do a small bit in
Follow Thru" for which she OBJ
tanned a six-weeks' contract at a
moderate salary.
The very next day after she had
signed this contract, Fox offered her
a part the best offer she had
had and she had to turn it
down.
CHE wasn't hungry for several
- days after that. She smiled as
as ever acted as
and graciously as ever.
A good actress had to play a
part even when she was disap-
pointed.
But she was feeling like Gin
derella who almost had the glass
slipper on her foot, and had oad
to run home Just a minute too soon.
When noon came people ate or
pretended to eat. So Frances walked
into the studio cafe and ordered
food, too.
And there Maurice Chevalier
found her. He needed a new lead
ing lady. He had one in mind. A
girl-of my dreams proposition. But
not one actress whom others sug-
gested suited the picture.
Then he saw Frances. And he
picked her for the part without try
ing on the slipper, which we call
a movie test today.
Perhaps, it's best to tell you just
how Frances happened to get her
Cinderella break"
Ct HAD looked at tests of quite a
i number Of girls and hadn't
found any one who suited me-" the
French actor said. Then 1 saw
Frances in the studio cafe. Right
away I knew that physically she
was just the girl for the part.
L didn't know anything about
her acting ability, but asked to
have her come over and rehearSe
with me that afternoon, instead of
taking one of the standard tests.
After the rehearsal I was sure that
she was the right girl.
Then I had to convince our di-
rector, Ludwig Berger, and the
studio executives that she should
have the part. I felt confident that
she could do it, but they were
afraid.
They didn't want to trust such
an important role to a girl who had
such little experience. However,
I finally persuaded them to put
her in the picture for couple OF
days tryout anyway. They did, and
now everyone in the studio is en-
thusiastic over the way she took
hold of things"
That was the way the silver lin
ing in the cloud hanging over
Frances was revealed. In fact, it
might almost be termed gold lin
ing, because in additionto the lead
with Chevalier she was given FIVE
year contract by Paramount at a
salary considerably larger than she
had expected to earn for some years
to come.
It's not big as movie salaries used
to run. but it is right in keeping
with the best contracts being hand
ed out to newcomers these days.
Also, she has been selected to play
the lead opposite Buddy Rogers in
his new picture.
L never cared much for extra
work. but I am just BEGINNING to
realize how much good it did me, "
Frances remarked. For one thing,
while never had a great deal to do.
I learned the technique of motion
picture acting.
Il also learned how foolish it is to
become high-hat over a little sue
cess, because that might come to