Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-04
STAR SPURNS FILM
TO VISIT DAUGHTER
Irene Rich Declines Role in
Will Rogers Picture to
Attend Commencement.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch 10 Ine SJhr.
NORTHAMPTON, Mass, June 4 IN.
A.NA).-Irene Rich has refused
chance to be co-star with Will Rogers
in his new motion picture to be the CO.
star with her daughter in Smith Col
lege's commencement.
Smith College will be more excited
over the presence OF Irene Rlch tnan
any other individual who will come to
commencement, but that Is only halt
the story.
irene Rich is coming to Northampton
to find her 2l-year-old daughter the
star of Smith College. So far as can
be discovered, she is not only the star.
but half the cast. There just isn't
anybody else in sight when Frances
Rich is around.
She's going into the movies, too, and
it's just about enough to convert any
one to going to the movies.
She is just about everything that
girl should be to succeed in college
beautiful, popular, clever, competent.
friendly and real. She's president OF
her house. She's president, too, of the
House of Representatives. Shes the
senior judicial board member. That's
the top branch of student government.
Shes. on the all-Smith swimming
team and the representative OF the sport
of swimming in the Athletic Associa-
ton. She's life guard at the pool.
She's vocational guidance chairman.
She's been pictorial editor OF the college
weekly and makes her own pictures all
around the campus, and she's a men,
Der of the Phi Kappa Psi, where mem
barship depends on high academic
standing and ability in at least one Oh
the arts.
Has Difficult Role in Play.
When Irene Rich comes she will see
her daughter take the hardest part in
chic in 1.-The Tanning of the ShreW."
Frances final role in her under
graduate life her mother won't witness.
Only her classmates will be there. AT
the senior class supper, when the week
end festivities are over and the last
undergraduate rites are said, 1t fails TO
the part of Frances Rich to speak the
valedictory, and that is the last star
part tht comes to Frances Rich as
college girl.
Then she's going out on the lot at
Hollywood and hustle to learn 10 ne an
extra.
She's all enthusiasm as girl OF 81
ought to be. She's enthusiastic about
the glorieS of the Connecticut Valley.
Enthusiasm for the hills and the out
doors mingleS with regrets that maj
exams and midyearS always seem to
come when the weather is most sublime.
INTERVIEWED in her talk of her college
life was her ambition for the future and
her happiness with the present.
Frances Rich is perfectly frank about
her movie hopes. Il want to try for
the pictures" she said They've been
awfuIly good to mother, and she's loved
it. What sort of parts? I don't know.
I can't tell. I really don't have much
idea. Ill just have to find my place.
I'll have to go at it from the bottom
and see what I can do. It's still great
question.
I'm going into the movies when don't
know yet if can make it. But think
the business is tremendously interesting
and I'm interested in the people in 1t
and in everything about 1t. Do you
know Will Rogers children? Oh, they're
real people"
Likes Going to Movies.
Last Summer she did some apprentice
work at the movies. She was an extra
in Sonny
ct was grand to be all together and
all working and going home together"
she said. and now she's looking forward
to it again.
why, / haven't seen mother since
Christmas" she emphasized. Irene Hlcn
manages her time so as to have some of
it herself, when her girls have their
vacations, Frances says.
Everybody is in pictures and 1t just
isn't anything unusual to be a picture
person." she explained simply.
Here don't think it's made bit OF
difference to me. My friends are my
friends and We enjoy each other for
ourselves"
Does she go to the movies? Well,
rather-that is, the good ones
You mean the ones Irene Rich Is
in?" she was asked.
why, of course" she laughed.
Irene Rich and Will Rogers, George
Arliss and Charlie Chaplin come about
at the top of her enthusiasm for the
people in pictures.
She took English courses for her
major" because she liked it. And art
courses, too, and the history of music.
Her interests lay that way. Her mother
never prescribed a course OF studies
for her.
Tie blare of publicity that beats upOn
the movie star doesn't disturb Frances
Rich. Evidently it has not disturbed
her mothers household. If people are
interested enough to want to read about
ones personality, that doesn't seem to
me to be anything to be disturbed
about" she said thoughtfully.
(Copyright, 1881. by North American News
paper Alliance, Incl